We’re on the road this week, hanging out in Antwerp with some friends and talking travel.
Two major aviation incidents to start the year is not a good look for 2024. Here’s hoping things calm down in a hurry.
DLD 464: Got Status?
- January 4, 2024
- Tagged as: AirBaltic, Australia, Boeing, China, credit cards, elite status, Flying Blue, FlyingBlue, HiSky, India, Japan, livery, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, routes, SAS, slots, South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, train, Trip Report, Turkish Airlines, UAE, Wideroe
As 2023 comes to a close we’re talking about status earned, how we value it, and what the year ahead holds.
DLD 463: Looking to lose weight (restrictions)
- December 21, 2023
- Tagged as: 787, 787-9, A220, A321neo, A350, Air New Zealand, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Austin, Brisbane, British Airways, business class, JSX, lie-flat beds, Lufthansa Group, Mexicana, Phoenix, podcast, Porter Air, Qantas, routes, Scottsdale, Seoul, slots, Southwest Airlines, Stansted, Starlink, Tel Aviv, Turkish Airlines, union, United Airlines, WestJet
Long flights come with challenging performance requirements. Delta looks to shed some weight restrictions and United may be adding some next year.
DLD 462: Cool connections and an unlikely airspace plan
- December 14, 2023
- Tagged as: A330, Airbus, airports, American Airlines, Barcelona, Beluga, Cancun, cargo, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, elite status, engines, Goose Bay, Greenland, hyatt, Japan, Las Vegas, NATS, Nuuk, San Francisco, SEA, Seattle, South Africa, Taipei, TPE, Trip Report, United Airlines, United Kingdom
Maybe it’ll work, but there are some half-baked plans being bandied about. And we’re not a fan of that unless they’re our half-baked plans.
DLD 461: Aloha, Alaska!
- December 7, 2023
- Tagged as: 787, 787-9, A321neo, Air Transat, AirAsia, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, China, Department of Transportation, DOT, E195-E2, Embraer, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, GEO, Georgetown, Gyuana, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, immigration, India, joint venture, Malaysia, merger, podcast, Porter Air, regional jets, routes, Tulum, United Airlines, wifi
Alaska Airlines is buying Hawaiian Airlines. There are lots of reasons the deal makes sense, but more than a few questions we have about how it will play out.
No, really, I have no idea what to put here.
DLD 459: Thanks galore
- November 23, 2023
- Tagged as: Alaska Airlines, awards, BNA, Connect Airlines, DAS23, Delta Air Lines, Dubai Air Show, eVTOL, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Haneda, Houston, IAH, jetblue, LaGuardia, London, Nashville, Paris, Portugal, rewards, routes, slots, TATL, Transatlantic, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet
Thanksgiving week but we’re all avoiding the worst of the travel challenges, so that’s a win.
DLD 458: Dubai on our mind
- November 16, 2023
- Tagged as: 777-8, 777-9, 777X, 787, 787-10, 787-8, 787-9, A321neo, A350, AirBaltic, Airbus, Boeing, DAS23, Dreamliner, Dubai Air Show, E195-E2, Embraer, Emirates, flyDubai, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Haneda, HND, ITA Airlines, Janet, jetblue, LCY, London City, loyalty, Mexicana, podcast, Qatar Airways, rewards, United Airlines
With the 2023 Dubai Air Show underway there are plenty of new orders to talk about. And lots of other news, too.
DLD 457: Awkward in Austin
- November 9, 2023
- Tagged as: A220, A321, Aer Lingus, Africa, Alaska Airlines, Allegient Air, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, AraJet, Asiana, AUS, Austin, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, DOT, earnings call, greenwashing, Halifax, Haneda, HND, Icelandair, KLM, MIA, Miami, PIT, Pittsburgh, podcast, routes, SAFs, Schiphol, Siam Reap, slots, Titan Air, YHZ
Is there at least maybe, hopefully a good reason for American Airlines slashing its mini-hub in Austin?