Why do executives have so much trouble making tough decisions? Or are they just blind to the challenges?
DLD 477: Playing the fool
- April 4, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, Air Malta, Basic Economy, Boeing, Breeze Airways, Brexit, British Airways, co-brand, cobrand, credit card, credit cards, E175, Embraer, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Gatwick, hydrogen, Ireland, ITA Airlines, Japan, Knock, LAS, Las Vegas, LGW, London, Lufthansa Group, NDC, Norse Atlantic, overhead bins, routes, Scranton, Southwind, United Airlines, United Kingdom, Washington DC
We’re skipping April Fool’s Day in favor of some real news, including at least one story we were convinced should’ve been a joke.
DLD 473: Huh, so now what?
- March 7, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX 10, A321neo, Aeromexico, Airbus, American Airlines, Antitrust Immunity, ATI, AUS, Austin, Australia, awards, Boeing, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, E175, Embraer, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Hawaiian Airlines, IFC, IFEC, in-flight connectivity, in-flight internet, inflight connectivity, JV, Mexico, New Pacific Airways, points, Qantas, regulators, rewards, routes, SpaceX, Starlink, strike, Turkish Airlines, union, United Airlines
American has a bunch more planes on order, while JetBlue and Spirit officially call it quits. Plus lots more…
DLD 470: Out of service
- February 15, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, A321neo, American Airlines, Chicago, China, Copa Airlines, Cuba, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Frontier, Heathrow, Houston, IAH, India, IndiGo, Korean Airlines, LCCs, lounges, Lufthansa, MCO, Orlando, Philadelphia, PHL, points, Qatar Airways, Raleigh-Durham, RDU, regulators, SAS, slots, ULCC, United Airlines, wetlease
What’s the silliest reason you’ve ever heard of for planes to be removed from service? We might have a new top contender for that title.
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.
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 450: Wait, there’s now lounge elite status??
- September 21, 2023
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 MAX 8, 757-200, A350, Allegiant, American Express, Boeing, co-brand, cobrand, credit card, credit cards, Delta Air Lines, elite status, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, lounge, lounges, medallion, merger, Mexico, Mexico City, New York City, podcast, premium cabin, Premium Economy, seating, seats, Sky Club, SkyMiles, slots, Spirit Airlines, Swiss, Trip Report, United Airlines, Upgrade, Vietnam Airlines
Delta made waves with its SkyMiles/SkyClub rules changes last week. Plus, new seats, new routes, and an end to revenge.
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.
Dismissing idiocy of the past rather than owning up to mistakes is an interesting choice for an airline startup trying to avoid being seen as a scam. Think it’ll work?
DLD 432: You want fries with that
- May 11, 2023
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, Air Canada, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, awards, Bermuda, Bermudair, Breeze Airways, business class, Delta Air Lines, dining, Etihad, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, flyDubai, Frontier, Haneda, HND, JFK, LaGuardia, Mexico, New York City, Norse Atlantic, premium cabin, rewards, routes, Saudia, seating, seats, SLC, slots, Tahiti, Trip Report, United Airlines
Can fries be reasonably served as a side on board? And, quite frankly, why not tater tots instead??
