Jun 06 2017

Alaska Airlines is doing things differently, as a business strategy. It has the operational reliability of Delta (or better) and the financial performance of Delta (or better, relative to size).

And it’s working to make its customers happy, with a frequent flyer program that’s different than others in the U.S. They still award miles based on distance flown rather than ticket price. Six weeks ago they re-affirmed their commitment to a generous frequent flyer program and upgrades.

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Jun 06 2017

I mentioned in my report on flying Etihad first class Dallas Fort Worth – Abu Dhabi that the cabin was hot and I woke up mid-sleep sweating.

European and especially Asian carriers tend to keep the temperature on their planes hot. JAL can be like a sauna. US airline flights tend to be at a cooler temperature.

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Jun 06 2017

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.

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Jun 06 2017

Will R. points me to a do-it-yourself ‘extra shelf’ that window seat passengers can bring with them onto the plane.

This seems like it could appeal to someone in a window seat. And it would be a great conversation piece with your seat opponent when you whip it out.

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Jun 06 2017

It’s unclear how this resolves itself or how quickly. Qatar is facing enormous pressure to tame its foreign policy and fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. If they don’t the crisis could escalate, and there have even been threats of attempts at regime change.

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Jun 06 2017

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.

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Jun 05 2017

Trump hotels are nice, though the DC property reportedly fails to change bathrobes between guests.

That’s good practice, it would seem, for Trump Hotels to launch a midscale brand, a category which includes Best Western, Baymont Inns, Knights Inn, and Quality Inn. And apparently that’s the market they’re going for, to Make La Quinta Great Again.

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Jun 05 2017

Donald Trump proposed to reform air traffic control today, and reaction to it seems to break down largely along party lines (except that the air traffic controllers union is supportive).

US air traffic control is antiquated, leads to delays and fewer flights, and is one of the major things creating frustrations about air travel today though most passengers don’t realize it.

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Jun 05 2017

On Thursday a pilot for Cathay Pacific subsidiary Cathay Dragon (formerly Dragonair) was flying a charter from Hong Kong to Komatsu airport in Ishikawa, Japan when he turned flight KA8348 around just over Taiwan.

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Jun 05 2017

Etihad operates a Boeing 777-200LR, rather than an Airbus A380 — which means no First Apartment — it’s a far more convenient flight for me to take living in Austin than flying up to New York (although since Etihad went double daily with the A380 out of New York JFK a few days ago it will be easier to connect there).

There are some evident cutbacks in Etihad first class, mostly the menu, the cabin remains gorgeous and the suites are comfortable so it’s still one of the top 10 first class products in the world.

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