View from the Wing

US and Qatar About to Announce Settlement in Open Skies Dispute

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2018

Jan 29 2018

This will eliminate an area of friction between the U.S. and Qatar, and allow Delta to claim victory, without Qatar Airways having to give up anything of significance.

Since the agreement covers only Qatar and not Emirates or Etihad it’s unclear what the future of the Delta, American, and United campaign looks like. Qatar is likely the most subsidized of the 3 carriers. Qatar’s CEO is the most likely to say offensive things. So they’ve been the target of US airline racist attacks. Will they be emboldened by progress, or stalled by the removal of their juiciest enemy?

Instagram Fitness Star Booted from American Airlines Flight to New York

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2018

Jan 28 2018

Jen Selter who is apparently a well-known fitness model but whom I had never heard of got into an altercation with an American Airlines flight attendant on Saturday during a delayed Miami – New York LaGuardia flight.

Lecturing the flight attendant and telling him to ‘relax’ was mistake number one. Telling the flight attendant that indeed she wanted to be kicked off was mistake number two.

I Flew American Airlines Basic Economy for the First Time — and Liked It

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2018

Jan 28 2018

Basic economy isn’t supposed to be a new cheaper fare. It’s supposed to be new restrictions on what used to be the cheapest fare. That way people who don’t like the restrictions are supposed to spend more money to avoid the inferior experience.

But American offered me such a spread between Basic Economy and regular coach fares that I couldn’t justify spending more money, and I wound up flying Basic for the first time.

How to Break Into a Hotel Safe and FAA Cover-up

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2018

Jan 28 2018

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 On-Time Departures Taken to a New Level of Absurdity

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2018

Jan 28 2018

American Airlines believes that the number one thing that they can do to make planes arrive on time is to depart on time. So they’ve made it a company priority to the exclusion of most other things to ensure that flights leave exactly on time or even early.

If gate agents don’t bother processing upgrades, let alone coming onboard to move customers up when a first class passenger no shows, that’s acceptable because D0. If seats leave empty with passengers on the standby list that’s ok. If flight attendants don’t have time to offer predeparture beverages in the 30 minutes the flight is boarding that’s fine too.