Airlines love ancillary fees. But is there a point at which shifting charges out of the base fare will finally be too much?
DLD 485: Getting there eventually
- May 30, 2024
- Tagged as: A321neo, A380, Airbus, American Airlines, ancillary, ancillary fees, Breeze Airways, British Airways, codeshare, CRJ550, DCA, Delta Air Lines, EWR, flyadeal, jetblue, lounges, Lufthansa, Newark, O'Hare, ORD, Providence, PVD, Saudia, singapore airlines, slots, Spirit Airlines, TATL, Transatlantic, Trip Report, Washington DC
Maybe taking five flights rather than just two, and adding an extra overnight en route, was a mistake.
Who will be the first to fly the A321XLR? And when will the 777X ever fly? At least now we have some A350 confirmed flight times and an A380 on the move…
Often times the shortest distance between two airports is defined by politics more than geography. Last weekend that was more the case than usual.
DLD 471: It still doesn’t make sense
- February 22, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737-200, A380, Air Canada, Air Serbia, Air Traffic Control, Alaska Airlines, Allegient Air, artificial intelligence, Barbados, Canada, Delta Air Lines, ETOPS, Global Airlines, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, jetblue, Lufthansa, merger, Nolinor, Qantas, regulators, routes, Spirit Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines
Revisiting a couple stories from the past few weeks, and they still don’t make much sense. Plus lots of new news, too.
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 448: ¿Cual Aeropuerto?
- September 7, 2023
- Tagged as: A380, ancillary fees, bankruptcy, China Southern, Corendon, Cuba, Delta Air Lines, El Al, elite status, Ethiopian Airlines, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Haneda, HND, jetblue, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Mexico, Mexico City, Monarch, Oneworld, PDX, Portland, Qantas, Qatar Airways, routes, Tokyo, Virgin Australia
Picking an airport in Mexico might be a bit more challenging later this year. Plus flying whales and more Tokyo.
DLD 430: A long ride home
- April 27, 2023
- Tagged as: A380, American Airlines, ANA, Avelo, awards, Breeze Airways, British Airways, Bus, business class, dining, FLL, Fort Lauderdale, Lufthansa, mistake fare, Munich, podcast, points, Premium Economy, Qantas, rewards, routes, Silver Airways, Trip Report
It is all fun and games until a rules change hits home. Then the rage rises to the surface.
DLD 427: Scrounging around
- April 6, 2023
- Tagged as: ancillary, ancillary fees, Breeze Airways, business class, buy-on-board, China, China Eastern, China Southern, Colombia, dining, EasyJet, economy class, Eva, Finnair, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Hello Kitty, hotels, ITA Airlines, Lufthansa, Mexico, Paris, Really Cool Airlines, Red Way
Fares are up, and revenues are strong in many markets. But that doesn’t mean everyone is doing great, financially or otherwise.
DLD 423: Are you aware??
- March 9, 2023
- Tagged as: 737 MAX 8, 787-9, A350, A350 XWB, A350-1000, A350-900, Air India, Allegris, Asiana, business class, China, Delta Air Lines, emissions, first class, Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong, hydrogen, Korean Airlines, lawsuit, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Group, Luxair, merger, Norse Atlantic, premium cabin, routes, union, Universal Hydrogen, Vistara
Hydrogen is flying, at least on one engine. And that’s way better for awareness than some of the other stuff we’ve seen lately.