News and notes from around the interweb:
- Yesterday I wrote about what Hyatt’s new September – November bonus promotion would be. The registration link is now live. You should register even if you don’t today think you’re going to hit 5 nights over the course of these three months.
- Yahoo scans email for data to sell to advertisers. I have an old Yahoo account that’s basically for junk mail, it’s on lots of PR distribution lists. I don’t check that account in real-time but there are still a few long-time readers who use it. If you wouldn’t mind using gary -at- viewfromthewing.com instead I’d appreciate it…
- Fodors offers their 10 best airlines for drinking. I haven’t checked in with this author, but these sorts of lists are usually written by people who scour things other people have written, or talk to a couple of folks often at airlines, and don’t have much direct knowledge themselves.
It’s certainly plausible that Japan Airlines is on this list. But how can a top 10 list include United Airlines — and Aeromexico as the second best — but doesn’t list Singapore Airlines (not just for Krug and Dom in first, but for really high quality and thoughtful wine selection)?
- “There’s a malign convergence of interest between governments that want to use automated facial recognition for surveillance and control of travelers, and travel companies that want to use the same infrastructure and database for ” facilitation” (business process automation) of travel and personalization of travel prices.”
- American’s flight attendants union plans to picket their headquarters building on Thursday
Among the Issues we are extremely concerned about:
- Improperly Programmed/Failed New Scheduling Systems
- Punitive Sick Policy Effective October
- Toxic Uniforms Still Making Us Sick
- Fume Events / Unhealthy Cabin Air
- Optimizer Creating Inhumane Work Conditions
- Improperly Programmed/Failed New Scheduling Systems
- Interesting. This surprises me. They had no frequent customers.
Fun fact from @SunCountryAir: It carried 3 million passengers last year. According to its CMO, it had 300 elite frequent flyers members when it retired its elite program earlier this year. Most earned the status because they were VIPs, not by flying.
— Brian Sumers (@BrianSumers) August 27, 2018
I just flew Emirates F to GVA and had a their 2000 Dom Perignon P2 followed by 2004 Chateau Cheval Blanc (not to mention the 2005 Les Forts de Latour at the lounge). I wonder sure what Aeromexico/Southwest/Air Canada/United/Hawaiian or even Air France is serving these days.
Gary – that link does have Emirates on the list.
Maybe it doesn’t mean Gold Passport, but it’s amusing to me that Hyatt promo links still have a /gp/ in them 🙂
“written by people who scour things other people have written”
Pot, meet kettle.
Funny that you note AeroMexico is on the “best booze” list!
Earlier this month, in reader comments posted on a sister blog, I specifically mentioned that the drinks on a pair of AeroMexico JFK-MEX-JFK flights in biz class were top notch, and that the airline does not play hide the bottle (ration) for its very well made cocktails like so many other airlines now do after the first round (even in premium cabins).
As to United, I never really gave any thought about them as serving well made drinks, but come to think of it, on the many flights taken on them over the past few years, mostly up and down the US east coast (RDU, MCO, PBI) in all cabins, standard economy, E+, plus an occasional ride in the pointy end, plus three other flights to/from MEX in both economy+ and biz class (an amazing mistake fare of $339 roundtrip that was honored! 🙂 ), United’s drinks were pretty good, too!
Mind you, NOT as good as AeroMexico’s were – but definitely better than a great many other airlines’ drinks are!
As to the best inflight cocktails, that would definitely have to be British Airways’ Bloody Marys circa 1999-2000, while I was working on a long-term consulting assignment for the airline – but who knows if they’re still as awesome as they were back then (Worcestershire Sauce – WHAAAATT!!!)!!!
…but AeroMexico’s Bloody Marys in 2016 were pretty darn close to being as awesome as BA’s were, that much is for sure!
@Dom – excuse me but I always cite sources when I write about what others have written, or I spot something somewhere else.
I’ve had all three of Hawaiian’s signature cocktails and agree with the author…they are delicious and with no preservatives. Not sure how On The Rocks (OTR) did it, but they are very good.
Also, Hawaiian also serves a free rum-based cocktail to all coach passengers on domestic flights to Hawaii made by a local company called Koloa Rum Company. That too is quite good and you can buy a bottle at the company’s store. I’ve heard that Costco stores will also carry the beverage from time to time.
Gary – what will the AA flight attendant picketing accomplish? If they all refuse to work the 737 Max, and the pilots also refuse to fly that plane and people stop buying tickets on Max flights, maybe that will draw the attention of stockholders who will get rid of Parker and someone can be brought in to fix a long list of what is now wrong with AA.
Gary, One of the links is to WSJ asking me to signup for a fee to read it. Are you getting money from people who sign up?
I had a recent Japan trip and flew ANA First out and JAL first back (to/from SFO), and ANA had clearly superior drink offerings (food was slightly better on JAL). E.g. Krug 2005 (ANA) vs Crystal, unknown vintage (JAL); or, more clearly, Hibiki 21 year (ANA; $650/bottle, and a multiple award-winner) vs Hibiki 17 (JAL; $300).
@C – certainly not. Maybe you’ve read too many WSJ articles this month, I signed up for a free 6 month trial subscription five years ago… I keep extending the time it’s on hiatus [vacation/away] and I keep online access throughout. Of course many sign up for the miles.
I think the airline booze list isn’t all that out-of-whack when you consider the author seems to value what you get in Y more vs what’s offered in J and F when determining his list. That was my impression anyways. That said, Singapore’s absence is still puzzling.