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News and notes from around the interweb:
- If you’re flying on one of the Cathay Pacific business or first class mistake fares and plan to go to Vietnam to start the journey don’t try to do a straight turn, departing on the plane on which you arrive in the country.
- British Airways will introduce a new premium economy seat
- Sacramento airport will be getting two ‘Escape’ lounges, one in each terminal. These are pay-in lounges accessible complimentary to Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders. (HT: Doctor of Credit)
Escape Lounge, Reno - Who is paying for the National ID database? The REAL ID Act of 2005 (which many of us are familiar with because the TSA keeps saying they won’t accept some states’ drivers licenses not compliant with the act at security checkpoints and then backs down) provides for a private database, funded by states, in order to claim not to be a national ID database. Except that funding for each state is coming from the federal government.
- Southwest will go with Global Eagle exclusively for inflight internet, dropping Panasonic which services less than 10% of its fleet. Panasonic equipment is being removed from aircraft this year and while systems are being replaced some Southwest jets are flying without connectivity.
- This year American Airlines is going to make reliability a major focus naturally to the exclusion of everything else. What’s the word for doing the exact same thing and expecting different results? Oh yeah.
- American plans to replace the blade doors on 737 lavatories back by the galley that open into each other with bi-fold doors.
I’ve been writing about their intention to fix this since last January (when Parker made his crack about Delta putting crew seats on lavatory doors). But make no mistake: bi-fold doors open into the lavatory and mean even less room for passengers.
Unsurprisingly, you failed to mention that the bi-fold door on the MAX lav only results in “less room” in the lav when getting into it: you get the exact same room once you close the door! Realistically, this is only an issue for persons of size (not sure the exact measurements, but you’re certainly talking 300 lbs plus). Which is why AA is also keeping the OTHER lav door exactly the same (swings out). The reason for the change is so that the two doors don’t hit each other and block aisle access. Seems like a sensible solution. But probably not those who like to demagogue this trivial matter.
Bathroom talk is always the number 1 or number 2 subject here.
And Chopsticks must work for AA, since the rest of us totally understand that these absurd tiny lavs can’t afford *any* less space. I mean really, do we need to explain this for you?!? It isn’t rocket science.
Re American’s reliability focus, FlightGlobal.com reports that Delta was the most on-time airline in 2018. For the tenth year running. American has some work ahead of it!
AGAIN. . .Southwest, Alaska, United. . .use the same lav. layout, not just AA. Also DL has equally small lavs on their new A321 and refurbished A320/A319s. I understand you don’t like Parker, but report fairly, that this is an industry trend which was started by DL 3 years ago on their A319s and Boeing and Airbus continue to support the shrinking restrooms.
How is Global Eagle’s internet speeds on WN?
Enough about the lavs, Gary.
Other airlines use the same lavs. The change in doors doesn’t actually result in less functional space when using the lav – unless you are in the habit of using the facility with the door open.
“Thought leadership”
@Bob sorry but when you’re standing inside the lav and opening the door inward that’s less space. What I wrote is accurate. As for other airlines offering the same lav — Southwest has it in their 737 MAXs but isn’t retrofitting their entire fleet with ’em… Plus Southwest offers more room in their actual seats.
Gary — Your response to Bob isn’t exactly compelling. First you change the definition of what “room” is, you then make a tangential comment about WN’s fleet that avoids the central fact that ALL airlines are rapidly deploying these exact same lavs, and then you finish with a non sequitur about WN’s legroom. If this is “thought leadership,” I’d hate to see the alternative. As the adage goes, when you complain about everything, nobody listens when you have a legitimate concern.
@chopsticks I have written extensively about my view of how these lavatories fit into overall passenger experience, and how American is making them part of a package of overall reductions in passenger comfort across their full domestic fleet which is why you cannot say simply “other airlines have the same lavatory so they’re just as bad” when they aren’t.
Regarding the smaller use of the lavs then need smaller people using them NOT fatter Americans. Why is this just a problem on USA planes and not on Asian, Oceanic or European planes ? Because the average american is overweight on a BMI scale. I am talking FAT not big boned. If a guy can not see his feet looking down then lose the gut.