View from the Wing

Former Trump Campaign Chair Removed From Emirates Flight Over Revoked Passport

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

Paul Manafort was removed from Sunday’s Emirates flight from Miami to Dubai while he attempted to travel on a revoked passport.

Manafort chaired the Trump presidential campaign in the summer of 2016, and under his leadership had support for a free and democratic Ukraine removed from the Republican platform. He was accused of providing internal polling data to Russian intelligence working in Ukraine, and had previously lobbied for former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as well as former dictators of Zaire, Mongolia, and the Philippines.

Get $1000 And Represent View From The Wing At A Team Challenge In Europe

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

My award booking partner, Steve operates an ‘Amazing Race For Normal People’ team travel competition to Europe once a year. Competitours.com features unique and compelling challenge activities that push you gently out of your comfort zone.

Your routing is a mystery, with each day’s location only revealed with a few hours’ notice. The destinations zig zag around the nooks and crannies of Western Europe- so forget the well-beaten tourist path. There are no eliminations and no one gets left behind as teams transfer to another destination.

Wild: Man Attacks Police Officers At Salt Lake City Airport Before Surrendering

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

A week and a half ago at the Salt Lake City airport, a man walked up to an airport police officer – and punched him in the head. On March 12, a 33 year old man’s first interaction with two officers was to drop his carry on bag, punch one of them, and then try to hit the other.

He had the presence of mind to know what he was doing – and what was coming next. So he dropped right to his knees on his own and placed his hands behind his head for arrest. Here’s both airport surveillance camera footage and an officer’s body cam footage of the incident.

Extra Legroom Seats Are Now An Elite Benefit Of American-JetBlue Alliance

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

American Airlines and JetBlue introduced reciprocal elite benefits this past fall. The major omission was reciprocal access to extra legroom seats, largely a function of JetBlue not even offering those to their own elite members.

However JetBlue has been rethinking its elite benefits and now both JetBlue and American elites gain access to extra legroom seats on both airlines along with additional new benefits.

Qatar Airways Revamps Privilege Club With Avios, Points Transfers, And Low Fuel Surcharges

by Gary Leff on March 23, 2022

Mar 23 2022

Earn with any Avios program. Transfer Avios between programs. This makes Qatar Airways Privilege Club, already a useful program, much more relevant to audiences around the world.

Whole Plane Sings “Baby Shark” To Comfort Crying Child

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

On March 10 a passenger on board flyDubai from Dubai to Tirana, Albania filmed the moment when the entire cabin pitched in to cheer up a crying child, breaking out in song to PinkFong’s “Baby Shark.” Everyone claps and sings and then the camera cuts to the crying toddler.

This child reportedly started crying shortly before takeoff. A passenger sitting behind the child “started quietly murmuring the words” to the song. Then another joined in, and another, and suddenly the whole cabin had busted out the cringeworthy meme like one giant slow clap.

Air New Zealand Launching World’s 3rd Longest Flight: Auckland – New York Starts September

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

Air New Zealand is launching three day a week Auckland – New York JFK service September 17th using a Boeing 787-9.

At 8,828 miles this will be the world’s third longest flight. It will clock in at 16 hours northbound and nearly 17 and a half hours southbound.

Here’s How American Airlines Will Use The New Airbus A321XLR In Charlotte

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

At a recent internal question and answer session with pilots, Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning Brian Znotins shared how American is thinking about using the Airbus A321XLR in Charlotte and how it will trade off with existing widebody service.

The Compensation Makes This United Seat Worth Flying

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

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 CEO: When Feds Drop Mask Mandate, We Will Too

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

Outgoing American Airlines CEO Doug Parker answered the question once and for all about what American will do when the federal government no longer requires masks on planes – American will lift its requirement, too. In fact he no longer sees it as an airline requirement at all, just a federal one.

Here’s what Parker told a gathering of employees in a Crew News internal questiona and answer session.

Former Trump Campaign Chair Removed From Emirates Flight Over Revoked Passport

Get $1000 And Represent View From The Wing At A Team Challenge In Europe

Wild: Man Attacks Police Officers At Salt Lake City Airport Before Surrendering

Extra Legroom Seats Are Now An Elite Benefit Of American-JetBlue Alliance

Qatar Airways Revamps Privilege Club With Avios, Points Transfers, And Low Fuel Surcharges

Whole Plane Sings “Baby Shark” To Comfort Crying Child

Air New Zealand Launching World’s 3rd Longest Flight: Auckland – New York Starts September

Here’s How American Airlines Will Use The New Airbus A321XLR In Charlotte

The Compensation Makes This United Seat Worth Flying

American Airlines CEO: When Feds Drop Mask Mandate, We Will Too

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About Gary Leff

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