Video Of Drunk Europeans Fighting Over Inflight Mask Rules Shatters Everything I Thought About Covid-19

by Gary Leff

Aug 02 2020

Two men, who allegedly had been binging on vodka, refused to wear masks. They were reminded of the requirement by cabin crew. They also refused to be seated for landing. One reportedly hit a fellow passenger. Then passengers and flight attendants worked together to restrain one of the men.

Covidiots aren’t the exclusive realm of the United States. The outbreak in the U.S. is huge (though not worst in the world by confirmed cases or deaths, adjusted for population). But the U.S. is hardly alone when it comes to idiots – or dissent over the best policy response to the virus.

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This Passenger Is About To Be Banned By Delta Air Lines For Refusing To Wear A Mask

by Gary Leff

Aug 02 2020

On Delta’s Cancun – New York JFK flight DL787 on Friday, the man sitting in 31D kept asking for help from a flight attendant. Delta has been blocking middle seats, but the man seated nearest him in 31F kept removing his face mask. Four or five times cabin crew would ask him to put it on, and he’d reportedly do so only until the crewmember had left.

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American Airlines Employees Are Worried About Losing Pensions, Health Care In Bankruptcy

by Gary Leff

Aug 02 2020

What I keep hearing over and over from American Airlines employees is that they’re worried about bankruptcy. They’re reluctant to take early retirement, and are concerned about their pensions, because they’re afraid the promised money isn’t going to be there for them. And much of that is the fault of Congress as much as the airline itself.

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American Airlines Tells Employees: Furloughs Are Inevitable

by Gary Leff

Aug 01 2020

Major U.S. airlines have tried to shrink their workforces to reflect the new reality of reduced airline demand, offering leaves and early retirement packages to employees in hopes of avoiding furloughs.

On Wednesday American Airlines President Robert Isom told a group of flight attendants, however, that furloughs at the airline are inevitable – even though their cross-town rival has announced they won’t need to furlough anyone this year.

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While Airlines Aren’t Serving Booze On Board They’ve Got A New Problem: Passengers Bringing Their Own

by Gary Leff

Aug 01 2020

Southwest Airlines – along with other carriers – has noticed an increase in passengers treating flights as ‘BYO’ and drinking their own mini bottles they bring through security while on board.

Airlines have stopped serving alcohol in coach (and in some cases first class) both as a cost saving measure and to limit interaction between passengers and flight attendants. So passengers have taken the matter into their own hands.

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American’s Best International Routes Are Mexico, Caribbean, and South America

by Gary Leff

Jul 31 2020

Throughout the Covid pandemic American Airlines has focused on connecting flights through its Charlotte and Dallas hubs. It’s pulled back in other markets, like Los Angeles which will no longer be its primary transpacific gateway and New York which was hit by the virus early and now faces travel restrictions (quarantines) for people coming from much of the country.

The airline’s Miami hub, though, represents opportunity going forward because of where they see their best opportunities internationally unfolding.

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