Here’s What the Brand New American Business Class Seat Will Look Like

by Gary Leff

May 04 2016

I broke the news yesterday that American Airlines had selected the B/E Aerospace Super Diamond business class seat as their new standard as they introduce the Boeing 787-9 into their fleet this year, as they continue to retrofit Boeing 777-200s with fully flat seats, and as they bring the Airbus A350 online in 2017.

This replaces the custom Zodiac fully flat business class seat that’s been getting installed in American’s 777-200s and Boeing 787-8s as a result of challenges the seat manufacturer had delivering on time.

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American Airlines Confirms B/E Aerospace Super Diamond as New Business Class Seat

by Gary Leff

May 03 2016

B/E Aerospace was announced as the provider of American’s new premium economy seat and new domestic first class seat, and outed itself as the supplier for all 3 classes of service American’s Airbus A350s on order.

American has confirmed to me that B/E Aerospace will provide the new business class seats, not just on the Airbus A350s, and that the seat will be the Super Diamond which is a fantastic product.

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Rapper 50 Cent Takes Video of Himself Mocking Autistic Airport Employee

by Gary Leff

May 03 2016

Rapper 50 Cent, more known these days for his body spray and condom endorsement deal than the music he pioneered with Eminem and Dr. Dre — as well as a pump and dump stock scheme and the excellent TV drama Power — videotaped himself mocking an airport employee that he assumed was high.

However the Cincinnati airport janitor is autistic and hearing impaired.

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B/E Aerospace Confirms They’ll Be Supplying New American Airlines Business Class Seat

by Gary Leff

May 03 2016

American dropped Zodiac as their seat supplier and went looking for a new business class seat.

The 777-200 retrofit project has been slow. Deliveries of the 787s had been delayed. And that’s long been thought to be the result of slow deliveries of seats from Zodiac. American cancelled their Zodiac contract, filed a lawsuit, and went looking for new seats.

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Does First Class Breed Resentment — and Cause Air Rage?

by Gary Leff

May 03 2016

A new study contends that resentment of first class leads to air rage in coach. I decided to spend the $10 for two days of access to the article so I could see what’s actually being claimed.

The authors here want to “posit that the modern airplane is a social microcosm of class-based society” and that “inequality can trigger antisocial behavior” and thus inequality is bad. Unfortunately they’re using travel for their own purposes, not really trying to understand travel.

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Up to 125% Bonus on Purchased Star Alliance Miles, as Low as 1.47 Cents Each

by Gary Leff

May 03 2016

Last week Matthew Vincett, CEO of LifeMiles, told me to expect a return of their 100% bonus on purchased miles May 3. And indeed it’s back. Go to the purchase miles page and log in. I’m actually offered up to a 125% bonus through May 31.

Vincett sees offering miles for sale inexpensively as win-win for the program and the consumer. Flexible consumers who can travel on award tickets gain access to travel less expensively than if they were buying tickets directly. And the program generates revenue that’s greater than its redemption cost.

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