• Podcast

DLD 512: Branching out

• December 5, 2024
• Tagged as: A350, A350 XWB, A350-900, A380, Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, Asiana, Atlanta, British Airways, Bus, charter, Delta Air Lines, DFA, Eastern Airlines, EasyJet, elite status, Emirates, Etihad, ETOPS, Europe, Eva, first class, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Frontier, Heathrow, Korea, Korean Air, LHR, merger, Norse Atlantic, Orly, Paris, premium cabin, regulators, slots, Spirit Airlines, T'way, United Kingdom, Virgin Atlantic, visas

It was Thanksgiving week in the US, so we shifted our gaze to Europe and the Middle East, with plenty of news being made.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 506: P(l)aying premium

• October 24, 2024
• Tagged as: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avianca, bankruptcy, Boston, business class, Cathay Pacific, China, DCA, first class, Hainan Airlines, hyatt, Korean Airlines, MileagePlan, Norse Atlantic, Play, premium cabin, routes, Russia, SkyTeam, slots, Spirit Airlines, train

Lots of chatter this week about premium products, and which airlines are having success with them or not.

• Podcast

DLD 499: Ramble on

• September 5, 2024
• Tagged as: A321neo, A321XLR, A350, Air China, Air India, Alaska Airlines, Bilt Rewards, Boom Supersonic, C919, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, DOT, elite status, Frontier, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Ireland, ITA Airlines, Japan, jetblue, JFK Airport, KLM, Lufthansa Group, Malaysia Airlines, merger, Mint, New York City, Norse Atlantic, pilot shortage, Rapid Rewards, regulators, Russia, SAS, SkyTeam, Southwest Airlines, Star Alliance, TAP Air Portugal, TATL, Transatlantic, United Airlines, Vistara, XB-1

Another week, with plenty of random thoughts from the guys…

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 491: More bad news for Boeing, but maybe it is good?

• July 11, 2024
• Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 NG, Air Greenland, Atlantic Airways, Boeing, business class, Canada, Canadian North, DCA, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Greenland, inaugural, jetblue, KLM, lie-flat beds, Mint, Norse Atlantic, PDX, Portland, regulators, routes, slots, suite, TATL, Transatlantic, Washington DC, ZipAir

A trio of Boeing stories top the show this week. And somehow pleading guilty to a crime might end up being good for the company?

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 480: Defer, deflect, but don’t drown

• April 25, 2024
• Tagged as: A320neo, A321LR, A321neo, Aegean Airlines, Airbus, Allegient Air, American Airlines, business class, Cape Town, Capital One, CPT, credit card, credit cards, Dubai, economy class, flat beds, Norse Atlantic, Polaris, Polaris Plus, premium cabin, Provo, PVU, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines

Aircraft orders shifting, service types are switching, and one major airport is underwater in this week’s show.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

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.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 464: Got Status?

• January 4, 2024
• Tagged as: AirBaltic, Australia, Boeing, China, credit cards, elite status, Flying Blue, FlyingBlue, HiSky, India, Japan, livery, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, routes, SAS, slots, South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, train, Trip Report, Turkish Airlines, UAE, Wideroe

As 2023 comes to a close we’re talking about status earned, how we value it, and what the year ahead holds.

• 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 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??

• Podcast

DLD 428: Squeeze play

• April 13, 2023
• Tagged as: American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, British Airways, credit cards, Dubai, DWC, EWR, immigration, JFK Airport, Newark, Norse Atlantic, OTG Experience, points, routes, SEA, Seattle, slots, Upgrade

Trying to squeeze more planes into a terminal is rarely an easy task. When the terminal is brand new and someone screwed up the design work it is even worse.