• Podcast

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.

• Podcast

DLD 460: I dunno

• December 4, 2023
• Tagged as: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad, Flying Blue, immigration, lounge, lounges, MCO, Oneworld, Orlando, Pakistan, podcast, routes, SEA, Seattle, United Airlines

No, really, I have no idea what to put here.

• Podcast

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?

• Podcast

DLD 454: Is there such a thing as real loyalty program enhancements?!?

• October 18, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, ancillary fees, Beond, Bermudair, carbon offsets, Delta Air Lines, economy class, elite status, Emirates, engines, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Haneda, HND, ITA Airlines, Italia Trasporto Aereo, Japan, jetblue, JFK Airport, KLM, loyalty, Mosaic, points, Portsmouth, premium cabin, promotions, PSM, Rapid Rewards, Rolls Royce, routes, slots, Southwest Airlines, Tokyo, TrueBlue, United Airlines

Can loyalty programs actually make changes that seem to make things better for customers, without taking benefits away elsewhere? Tune in to find out.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 449: Trademarks and diversions

• September 14, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, business class, catering, CFM, China, Condor, Delta Air Lines, diversion, engines, JAL, jetblue, New Pacific Airways, New York City, Northern Pacific Airways, Pratt & Whitney, premium cabin, routes, singapore airlines, Thai Airways, Trip Report, United Airlines

Intellectual property is a very real thing. So are weather-induced diversions these days.

• Podcast

DLD 447: Too much red

• August 31, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, 787-10, 787-9, A350-1000, Aer Lingus, Airbus, American Airlines, Atlantic Airways, Avios, Boeing, China, El Al, elite status, FAA, Faroe Islands, Federal Aviation Administration, Finnair, frequent flier, frequent flyer, jetblue, merger, Monarch, Porter Air, Qantas, revenue-based, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Trip Report

How much money can a one-plane airline lose in just two months? More than just about everyone involved expected.

• Podcast

DLD 444: Very popular in China

• August 10, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, Air India, American Airlines, Australia, Avelo, Azores Airlines, Bermudair, Boeing, business class, cargo, Cathay Pacific, China, Connect Airlines, Doha, Frontier, Global Airlines, jetblue, JFK, Portugal, San Juan, SJU

Unlikely this episode will be, but is it worse than the odds of a new MAX delivery to China anytime soon??

• Podcast

DLD 443: No more secure than average

• August 3, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX 7, 737-800, 767, American Airlines, British Airways, catering, CLEAR, CSA Czech Air, E195-E2, E2, Embraer, engines, EWR, Frontier, Iberia, India, JAL, Newark, Pratt & Whitney, routes, South African Airways, Swoop, Tijuana, United Airlines, WestJet

Insert plucky episode summary here

• Podcast

DLD 440: Premium problems

• July 13, 2023
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, AAdvantage, American Airlines, awards, Boeing, Boom Supersonic, India, lounge, lounges, merger, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, premium cabin, Premium Economy, Premium Plus, rewards, routes, United Airlines, Upgrade, Virgin Atlantic, Wideroe

Can economy class be considered an upgrade from premium economy? We’re talking about airlines, so you know where this is going.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 434: Trust buster

• May 25, 2023
• Tagged as: American Airlines, Antitrust Immunity, Breeze Airways, DCA, Department of Justice, DOJ, Emirates, Finnair, first class, Hertz, jetblue, lawsuit, Northern Pacific Airways, premium cabin, profit, Qantas, routes, singapore airlines, Southwest Airlines, Trip Report, union, Washington DC, WestJet

JetBlue and American Airlines have a lot of work to do if they’re going to keep the NEA alive. A judge ruled it illegal last Friday, setting up all sorts of challenges for the carriers.