View from the Wing

Man Overdosed on Heroin, Spoke to God, and Went Looking for a Date on Southwest Airlines

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2018

Oct 19 2018

On a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Dallas this week a man — who admits to using methamphetamines the day prior to travel and to overdosing on heroin two days before that — says God was speaking to him on Flight 859. His God, apparently, is not a part of the #MeToo movement because he proceeded to lean “closer to her and put his arm over her armrest and onto her leg” and then “play footsie.” He also “kept pulling on her sweater, asking her to go out after the flight and if she was staying alone in her hotel room.” She changed seats with the help of a flight attendant. He “tried going over to [her] with a drink.” The pilot diverted to Albuquerque. In the man’s statement he claimed that they…

Report: Hyatt Gutting Cash and Points Awards, Adding Premium Suite Redemption

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2018

Oct 19 2018

Members are going to have different views of these reported changes, which have not been confirmed by Hyatt.

My own view is that while I like the value cash and points offers now at the category 2-6 level, now that full points redemptions earn elite night credit cash and points is no longer as crucial a part of my arsenal.

Meanwhile premium suites is huge — the major constraint on my travel is time rather than points. Since I’m not working hard to stretch each point I’d rather use them for the best experience possible.

American Airlines President: We Didn’t Mean It When We Promised Free Texting

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2018

Oct 19 2018

Delta, Alaska, and Southwest Airlines all offer free inflight texting. In September 2017, at American’s Investor and Media Day, the airline announced they would offering free inflight texting however that never happened. Last month I asked them about it and was told they aren’t doing it after all.

American got its media for improving customer experience, and then didn’t have to actually improve customer experience.

Emirates Flight Attendant Charged With Stealing $5000 From Passenger Wallets

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2018

Oct 19 2018

Other passengers may try to take your belongings from the overhead bin. Usually though it is other passengers, rather than crew.

Don’t leave thousands of dollars lying around the cabin outside of your control.

Blood-soaked Towel as Passengers Hospitalized After Turbulence On Miami-Buenos Aires Flight

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2018

Oct 19 2018

When the seat belt sign is on, wear your seat belt. When the seat belt sign is off, but you’re in your seat wear your seat belt.

Yesterday’s Aerolineas Argentinas flight AR1303 from Miami to Buenos Aires provided a strong reminder of this important lesson. Our of 192 passengers on board 15 were injured in turbulence after the plane reached cruising altitude, including 8 who were taken to the hospital on arrival in Buenos Aires.