An American Airlines pilot, in making remarks to the cabin before taking off from Los Angeles and heading for New York’s Kennedy Airport, asked passengers to identify themselves if they were Christian and suggested that those who weren’t were crazy.Passengers complained, and obviously felt a bit scared of a pilot making religious pronouncements. The pilot then apologized to the crew for putting them in the difficult position of having to respond to complaints.The flight landed safely. (Link via the Volokh Conspiracy.)
Slot restrictions and air traffic control
Lynne Kiesling over at The Knowledge Problem relates a tale of woe returning from Washingon’s National airport to Chicago’s O’Hare, and offers some constructive suggestions for pricing takeoff and landing slots to alleviate congestion in addition to noting that pink shoes will be in this spring. Lynne suggests: *Treat the time slot as a property right to a scarce resource, for which airlines must pay. This would enable pricing of 5 PM, 6 PM, etc. time slots to reflect their true value to customers and, through them, to the airline. *If those time slots are really that valuable, then customers would be willing to pay more for flights that land in those hours. Otherwise, they’ll shift to earlier or later flights. This is the most effective mechanism (and yes, it deserves the word) for reducing…
First Class as the Carrot.. Finally United Gets It
Register for United’s new offer — Fly three qualifying roundtrips on United, United Express
For New Readers, All About this Site
Since this website is brought to you in the form of a blog — daily commentary offered with the most recent items first — older items quickly fall off the page. I only display the most recent week’s worth of content at any one time. I like to think, though, that some of the entries retain their value even after the week has passed. And you can still read them — just click on the Archives link or pick one of the entries labeled “Greatest Hits” at the right (under my picture).Don’t want to miss a single deal or offer? Just be sure to enter your email address under Subscribe for Updates and each night you’ll receive an email with the day’s content. And I will never use your email for any other purpose. For…
Links are wonderful things
United’s “48 Hour Sale” has been extended for select members. You can click here to be a select member. 🙂You can also click here for 5% off your United flights at United.com. When United’s phone lines are overloaded they offer a 5% discount for folks to use the web instead. The link they use changes each time. But fortunately there’s a permalink.
Traveling with a Pet? Connect through Phoenix
America West may have to be my carrier of choice the next time I fly with my little Yorkshire Terrier, so that I can connect through Phoenix. The Sky Harbor airport has opened a new ‘Bone Yard’ dog park and rest area outside of terminal four.
Notice of changes in frequent flyer programs
Last month I noted that Korean airlines were being forced to give their frequent flyers at least a year’s notice when making changes to their programs which are detrimental to consumers.It seems that Korea’s Fair Trade Commission will actually be looking for two years’ notice on program changes.Somehow that seems a bit extreme, though I’ve long been an advocate for advance notice on program changes. Waiting until the end of December to announce the terms of a program beginning in January — as is industry standard practice in North America — has always seemed unfair. Travelers spend all year earning benefits for the following year. Their purchasing in one year is predicated on an expectation of benefits for the following year. Once the spending is done, the benefits change. This is common practice. A year’s…
More Room Throughout Part of Coach on Some Airlines
United will finally offer economy plus seating on all of its aircraft by May. Three types of aircraft haven’t offered the extra legroom:United’s 767-200 aircraft (flying primarily New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco)Their 737s which used to fly as United Shuttle (the worst thing is that it’s become a bit unpredictable which routes they’d turn up on)Several 777s, especially those flying transpacific routes The 767s will be retired, replaced by 757s flying in a three class configuration.United offers the additional legroom at the front of the coach cabins, and reserves those seats until day of departure for full fare passengers and elite frequent flyers. American offers more legroom throughout the planes but has taken away the perk from a quarter of its fleet. Meanwhile, JetBlue has removed a row of seats from its…
Comings and goings
Linda Burbank is the new travel troubleshooter for USAToday.com, replacing Chris Elliott, who they let go a couple months ago.
Valentine’s Flower Offers
FTD looks like the winner so far, offering 20 United miles per dollar spent or 15 American miles per dollar spent.On the whole FTD is pretty reliable. Not as good as Proflowers.com but better than 1-800-Flowers.I’d rather earn Starwood points for my flowers orders, but 10 Starwood points per dollar from 1-800-Flowers (with the bonus 200 points per order having expired) just isn’t the best offer. But if 1-800-Flowers would offer 100 Delta miles per dollar again I’d sure order fast from them!Earning miles for flowers isn’t the only option. Points.com also offers the ability to burn miles in exchange for flowers.
