• Podcast

DLD 469: First, make a roux

• February 8, 2024
• Tagged as: 737 MAX 7, A380, Aeromexico, Air France, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avelo, Belfast, BOS, Boston, Brisbane, business class, certification, Dallas, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, dining, DOT, economy class, Frontier, Global Airlines, jetblue, joint venture, preclearance, routes, Santa Rosa, seating, seats, Southwest Airlines, special guest

Why? because it leads to deliciousness later. But that has nothing to do with this week’s conversation. Fortunately, we’re joined by Ed in an effort to keep things on track.

• Podcast

DLD 468: More MAX than you can shake a stick at

• February 1, 2024
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 MAX 10, 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9, A321neo, Air Europa, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Dulles, Haneda, Hawaiian Airlines, IAD, IAG, ITA Airlines, lawsuit, Lufthansa Group, merger, Ryanair, slots, Tulsa, United Airlines

The MAX continues to dominate news cycles, but there’s lots more out there also worth talking about.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 466: It just rolls off the tongue

• January 18, 2024
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 MAX 9, AAdvantage, Air India, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Antwerp, AUS, Austin, Boeing, LATAM, livery, routes, United Airlines

We’re on the road this week, hanging out in Antwerp with some friends and talking travel.

• Podcast

DLD 465: This week was a hell of a year

• January 11, 2024
• Tagged as: 737 MAX 9, A350, AAdvantage, accident, Air Asia, Air Asia X, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avios, awards, British Airways, crash, JAL, points, rewards, Starlux

Two major aviation incidents to start the year is not a good look for 2024. Here’s hoping things calm down in a hurry.

• Podcast

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.

• Podcast

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.

• 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.