A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
American Airlines DC Flight Delayed By 1400 Pounds of Government Paperwork
On Monday there was so much government bureaucracy that 1400 pounds of federal paperwork actually delayed an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles.
American Airlines flight AA163, the 5:30 p.m. LAX departure, was delayed while the airline offloaded cargo. The pilot explained to passengers that “government documents” had to be removed.
This Delta Baggage Handler is Everything That’s Wrong With Air Travel
It’s often been said that there are two kinds of luggage: carry on and lost. It turns out there’s a third kind.
Joshua Dwain Frith captured a Delta baggage handler on film Wednesday at New York JFK “recklessly tossing bags and a strollers… [h]e was assaulting those bags. But the stroller was attempted murder.”
Should US Airlines Be Outsourcing More of Their Maintenance?
American Airlines gave employees across the board raises without insisting that the pay changes be part of a contract. The airline says that’s made it harder to get mechanics to agree to a contract. American mechanics have already gotten much of the money they’re going to get with a new contract, so there’s less incentive for employees to agree to rules changes the airline wants.
The carrier is offering terms they say are more costly than what United and Delta have with their mechanics, so a common refrain from management has been that they would happily sign either the United or Delta deal today.
Your Child’s Health Isn’t This Airline’s Concern During Flight Delays
So what happens when a Paris – Islamabad flight was delayed on August 3rd, it was hot outside, and there’s no working air conditioning on the plane? The aircraft doors were closed for a couple of hours. And passengers onboard flight PK750 were in extreme discomfort. Indeed, “a mother was begging for to open the door and to save her child who was completely unconscious when the air conditioning system was completely off” according to at least one report.
There’s footage from onboard the plane “show[ing] a woman pleading with the airline staff to open the door as her infant was experiencing breathlessness before take off.”
Pilot Who Died in Crash Listed Taylor Swift as His Emergency Contact
A Canadian pilot with a history of bank robberies died in a crash 5 years ago. He was legally drunk when he attempted to land his Cessna 172R in Nashville fog — despite a plan to fly to Pelee Island Airport in Ontario, Canada.
For the record my emergency contact is Michelle Pfeiffer in The Russia House.
The End of Best Airfare Guarantee and Hotels With a Secret Password
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Watch American Airlines Breakfast Carts Fall Over in Turbulence
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.
This is video from an American Airlines flight from Miami to Buenos Aires in the past few days. American operates both a Boeing 777-200 and a Boeing 777-300ER. It appears to me this video is of the aft galley on a 777-300ER.
Two Gulf Carriers Working to Link Up With Star Alliance
Etihad has talked up a strategy of linking up with several Star Alliance airlines saying that since they are no longer ‘their own alliance’ this isn’t in conflict with Star rules.
Etihad isn’t the only Gulf carrier pursuing closer ties with the Star Alliance though. Gulf Air says this is their objective as well.
Chase Launching New ‘Sapphire Banking’ August 27
After Chase introduced their Sapphire Reserve Card they immediately took a $200 – $300 million hit to their bottom line. They took another $330 million charge in the just-completed second quarter for rewards expense.
The strategy then for making money on affluent customers moves to cross-selling, which is why they’ve offered points bonuses for new mortgages. Here’s the next stage.