In light of the United Airlines decision to roll out Starlink internet across both its mainline and regional fleet, giving the carrier the fastest, best performing wifi in the sky (eventually) and making it free to customers, folks are asking will American make its wifi free also?
I don’t like lining up to board on Southwest Airlines because I don’t really want to board 30 minutes prior to departure, and stand at the gate even earlier than that. But I do like Southwest’s first-come, first-served style of seating. Southwest says I’m in the small minority on this, but hear me out. I’m really going to miss the Southwest Airlines boarding process when they move to assigned seats.
I checked into the Grand Hyatt in DC earlier this week. Or, should I say, I tried to check in. There was a long line at the desk, but no line for elite check-in. Of course, there was nobody working elite check-in, either.
Most small rural airports aren’t ever going to be served by the major commercial airlines. 90% of the airports in the country aren’t usable by part 121 carriers but most are open to part 135.
Even where they can use the airports, it’s not economical for their pilots and planes with just a few passengers on board. But new, fuel efficient planes are a few years from market… as long as there remains a market.
A South Carolina man is facing felony charges after allegedly making terroristic threats at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on September 9, 2024. The incident occurred when Jared Peeler, frustrated by the lack of direct flights from Las Vegas to South Carolina, reportedly threatened to blow up the airport and made political remarks supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
American Airlines is getting an Admirals Club in San Antonio. It’s the first new airport they’re adding to the lounge network since Houston Intercontinental in 2017. And it’s one of only a few in the pipeline.
American Airlines is about to take the last standard domestic planes that still have seat back video screens, and rip those out.
Airlines may give you a free room when you’re faced with a controllable overnight delay. But you get what you pay for – you probably don’t want to sleep in the room they’re going to give you. There are exceptions, but it can be very much worth venturing off on your own rather than rolling the dice on free.
Here’s a woman who got upgraded and her husband didn’t. She takes video of him in back. And he clearly gives her stink eye.
It will take time for United’s fleet to see the new fast, free inflight internet. 1,000 aircraft is a lot to deploy, even taking just a single overnight per airframe to install (and not wanting to limit schedules in the meantime taking planes out of service). But it’s a future we can now look forward to.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
