US Government Plans To Require Larger Bathrooms On Planes – But Starting 20 Years From Now

by Gary Leff

lavatory
May 26 2022

Since narrowbody aircraft are used on the vast majority of domestic flights, and even the vast majority of domestic flights over 1500 miles (American Airlines uses Airbus A321s for its ‘premium’ cross country flights between New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County) it’s a major challenge.

And it means that non-stop flights are generally off the table for a subset of passengers unable to use modern narrowbody bathrooms. They have to connect using flights no longer than they’re able to ‘hold it’.

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United Airlines Is Restoring Hot Meals In Domestic First Class

by Gary Leff

airline food
May 25 2022

Nature is healing. Food matters. Customers may not have time to eat before a flight, or buy food on connections. The point of first class isn’t just “the Big Front Seat” unless you’re flying Spirit Airlines. It’s buying a less stressful and more effortless experience. Earning a revenue premium for the product means delivering things that make travel better for passengers, and time and again customers have stated that inflight meals matter.

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The Airports With The Least Affordable Airfare In The United States

by Gary Leff

May 25 2022

The most expensive airfares in the country are at Washington Dulles airport, followed by San Francisco, Detroit, Portland and New York JFK. That’s according to Department of Transportation data for 2021. They tend to be either expensive airports with limited competition (New York JFK is slot-controlled) or dominated by a single airline without as much ultra low cost competition as those on the other end of the list.

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Delta Flight Delays 17 Hours Because The Pilot Wasn’t Qualified To Fly The Aircraft

by Gary Leff

May 25 2022

Saturday’s Delta flight from Seattle to Kona, Hawaii – Delta 565 – was delayed over 9 hours and then – as the flight boarded – the airline realized that one of the pilots was not qualified to operate the flight, as relayed to passengers by the gate agent. It took an overnight – another 8 hours – before passengers were able to fly.

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A Warning About Tight Connections In Charlotte

by Gary Leff

Why Charlotte Needs Another American Airlines Admirals Club
May 24 2022

I’ve had passengers tell me they’ve arrived at their boarding gate in Charlotte more than 15 minutes to departure only to find their boarding door closed. And I’m told by employees on the ground there that at least some managers are enforcing 20 minute door closes when no more passengers are boarding (even if checked-in passengers haven’t yet boarded).

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I Don’t See How This Outfit Is Inappropriate For Travel. Do You?

by Gary Leff

May 24 2022

According to Alaska Airlines employees determine subjectively what they consider appropriate given their own biases, prejudices, and beliefs. And I can actually accept that because Alaska underscores that “bare feet are never acceptable” and no statement has ever been more true in the history of aviation.

Alaska finally confirms “Alaska does not have a dress code policy that would prohibit this guest’s attire.” So they agree with me – nothing wrong with how this passenger was dressed, which means their non-policy policy is to blame.

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