An African President Calls Out British Airways Poor Planes and Service

british airways plane
Apr 16 2017

Given our politics in the U.S. over the last 20 years perhaps it’s not at all strange for the President of Ghana to be complaining to British Airways about specific elements of their service.

Here’s what Ghana’s President told British Airways’ head of sales for the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia when the BA sales officer came to congratulate him on his election:

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American Airlines Puts Premium Lie Flat Seats on Two Hawaii Routes

airline cabin
Apr 16 2017

West Coast – Hawaii flights are about 5 hours long. That’s not much shorter than Eastbound flights from the Northeast to nearer Europe. Flights from the East Coast to Hawaii are longer than most Europe flights.

And yet while there’s a product war across the Atlantic, trying to provide premium experiences that will attract lucrative business class flyers, premium cabins on Hawaii routes tend to be more modest.

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Just How Far Has American AAdvantage Fallen?

Apr 15 2017

As an earn and burn program — the value of a program’s miles, not its elite status — it’s hard to imagine a program that’s done more to become less useful.

Members want to fly places from their home city, usually on American and usually domestic. And what’s most striking to most members is the sheer lack of award availability — which means awards at the saver level, not awards where American wants 55,000 for a one-way first class seat from Austin to Dallas.

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Apportioning Blame for Dragging Passenger Off United Flight Helps Figure Out What Should Be Done Differently

david drao
Apr 15 2017

It’s simply disgusting what happened to the doctor booted from the flight in Chicago on Sunday. Watching the videos of the incident is hard, it’s disturbing, and cringe-worthy. And that’s just watching, even now, several days later. That’s not actually living it, the way Dr. David Dao did.

Outrage can be useful in focusing attention and agitating for change. It can also act as a fog making it difficult to see clearly, internalize facts, and target problems correctly.

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3 of the Largest US Airlines Have Announced Changes to How They Handle Denied Boarding (And One Hasn’t)

american plane
Apr 15 2017

The US airline industry was rocked by public backlash after a passenger was dragged off a United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night.

Now airlines are adapting their policies as a result. While involuntary denied boarding are increasingly rare, a similar situation could have happened to another carrier.

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No, 23 Cruise Ship Passengers Weren’t Injured By EVA Air 777 Dumping Lavatory Poo on Their Heads

Apr 15 2017

Things falling from the sky cause grave problems.

In The Gods Must Be Crazy, a biologist who analyzes manure samples and his tribe live off the land, believing that the gods have provided for them until a Coke bottle is thrown out of a plane and comes to earth unbroken. They believe it’s a present from the gods, and make use of it as a tool, but since there’s only one Coke bottle the tribe descends into chaos not knowing how to share it.

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