Jul
04
2015
A collection of the most interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
What Is That Airplane Smell Really? Plus United’s Biofuels and $500 Off W Beds
ASIA
Search Results for "ASIA".
How Hot is Too Hot? Should Airlines Refuse to Board Aircraft When Cabins Heat Up Over the Summer?
Jul
03
2015
Planes can get pretty hot on the ground during the summer, especially when they’re not running the air conditioning with auxiliary power.
Passengers are often asked to close the shades upon landing, keeping out the sun keeps the cabin from heating up as much. On boarding all the windows are closed and most passengers leave them that way. Once the engines start running, and the plane gets up in the air, things cool down quickly.
American Airlines will board a plane if the temperature is less than 90 degrees, though as always this is at the discretion of the pilot. US Airways’ policy has been an 85 degree maximum…
How to Book Cathay Pacific Award Space that American Tells You is Unavailable
Jul
02
2015
Cathay Pacific first class award seats especially have gotten much tougher to book in recent months. Cathay still regularly makes unsold seats available in the week and even day prior to travel, but advance award availability can be scarce. Business class awards aren’t as easy as they used to be, but aren’t as restrictive as first class.
…[W]hen you see award seats available online using the customary sources for this data — the Qantas frequent flyer website and the British Airways site — but an American telephone agent says it isn’t available, it’s natural to think that the space is being blocked (either on the American side, or that Cathay is imposing point of sale restrictions to prevent American’s members from booking the space).
Federal Government Launches Investigation of U.S. Airline Collusion
Jul
01
2015
Scott Mayerowitz and David Koenig broke the story that the Department of Justice is demanding copies of communications between major airlines as part of an investigation into unlawful collusion to limit capacity and increase airfares.
..In the face of the double whammy of recession (which kept people out of the air) and high fuel prices, the airlines developed capacity discipline as a means of survival. It’s conceivable there were unlawful communications or signaling along the way and no doubt the Department of Justice will find that.
Disney Bans Selfie Sticks, and Pilots Discover a New Way to Get Themselves Fired
Jun
27
2015
A collection of the most interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.
American Shuts Some Major Domestic Cities Out of Ever Redeeming a Saver Award
Jun
26
2015
On Sunday I wrote about American’s unwillingness to offer even a single saver award seat in any class of service for any of their Buenos Aires flights more than a month out.
On several routes American is getting absurdly tough on domestic routes as well.
New Pyongyang Airport Terminal is Absolute Perfection! Built in Harmony With Modern Aesthetic Taste and National Character!
Jun
26
2015
Earlier this week, Kim Jong Un visited the new domestic terminal of Pyongyang International Airport.
The terminal was ordered built in July 2012 because the existing domestic terminal was seen as too run down compared to what countries around the world had. Last November much of the work was ordered torn down and redone because the project didn’t “reflect North Korea’s “Juche” (self-reliance) philosophy and national identity.” (The official in charge was purged.)
American Airlines Actually Sells International First Class Seats to Hong Kong
Jun
25
2015
Remarks by American Airlines’ Doug Parker and Andrew Nocella in Hong Kong celebrating the first anniversary of service there shed some light on the carrier’s current direction.
Making a big deal of a Hong Kong service anniversary — such that they sent the CEO and the Chief Marketing Officer — signal strongly that American values the Hong Kong route, and their Asia Pacific expansion.
They share thoughts on international first class, Tokyo Haneda, and the dispute with the Mideast carriers.
Delta’s CEO the Most Cray Cray in the Industry? Claims Detroit World’s Best Airport.
Jun
24
2015
Delta CEO Richard Anderson may just be competing for the title of most cray cray in the airline industry with French Legion of Honor recipient and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker.
Lufthansa First Class Award Space Available!
Jun
23
2015
Lufthansa first class award space is almost never made available to partner airlines more than 14 days in advance of travel. If you want to book Lufthansa first class you either need to be using Lufthansa’s own Miles & More points (they’re a transfer partner of Starwood Preferred Guest) or waiting until close-in to departure and changing flights.
However…
