The initial accident report from AI 171 is out, and the story it tells is both spooky and incomplete. Plus new planes in Malaysia, new cabins for Virgin, and new ways to visit China, and much more.

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.

Just a couple hundred (more) new planes coming to United through the end of the decade. Nothing to get excited about here.

We faced a couple mechanicals getting this week’s episode recorded, but are willing to admit that truth, rather than blaming weather, unlike some airlines.

No, we’re not the first people to make that joke about a trip to Kathmandu (and beyond in Nepal). But Seth is there now and having way too much fun so we’re talking about it and lots of other fun travel news as well.