Is there money to be made for US airlines in Asia? And is Narita the place to find it? Plus upgrade changes, a buyout, and some non-gambling engagement.
Deals signed, routes slashed, and splitting services in a couple different and interesting ways have us talking this week.
DLD 592: Coffee Talk
- June 25, 2026
- Tagged as: 787-9, A321XLR, A350, Alaska Airlines, BNA, business class, certification, dining, EASA, El Al, jetblue, KLM, livery, lounges, Nashville, New York City, premium cabin, Project Sunrise, Qantas, routes, Southwest Airlines, Starlink, United Airlines, WestJet, WizzAir
Talk amongst yourselves; I’ll give you a topic: These three so-called “points hoarders” goofballs are bad at hoarding and rarely have a point. Discuss!
DLD 587: Buyouts, Compromises, and Questionable Decisions
- May 21, 2026
- Tagged as: Air India, Allegient Air, American Airlines, Boeing, Caracas, CCS, China, Delta Air Lines, dining, elite status, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Global Airlines, ITA Airlines, jetblue, Lufthansa Group, merger, Qatar Airways, routes, San Antonio, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country, United Airlines, Venezuela, WestJet
The dust is settling on some legal scuffles and uncertain route futures, with more than one foil hat consideration in play.
Some major announcements from United Airlines have us intrigued this week, plus security and capacity shifts and Austin back in the spotlight.
DLD 574: Crushing the Craving
- February 19, 2026
- Tagged as: A350, Air Canada, AirAsiaX, Avianca, Brazil, CCS, Delta Air Lines, dining, El Paso, ELP, Eva, Hawaii, IAD, Rolls Royce, routes, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines
Terrible airport dining, a mess in El Paso, and some interesting A350 action.
DLD 572: Will They Ever Shut Up?
- February 5, 2026
- Tagged as: A220, Aer Lingus UK, Air India, Airbus, Bilt Rewards, Bombardier, Breeze Airways, Canada, credit card, credit cards, Delta Air Lines, Dubai, elite status, Global Services, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, ICN, jetblue, routes, SAS, Seoul, Southwest Airlines, special guest, Thailand, Transatlantic, transcon, United Airlines, WizzAir
A longer than normal episode this week, thanks to special guest Ed and lots of wayward story lines.
DLD 566: Slid(er)ing into the Holidays
- December 25, 2025
- Tagged as: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ANC, Anchorage, bankruptcy, Basic Economy, Brightline, Delta Air Lines, elite status, Emirates, frequent flier, frequent flyer, JSX, Korean Air, PDX, Portland, routes, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Viva, Volaris
Snacks and routes and retirements and mergers and more!
DLD 565: A Power Play
- December 18, 2025
- Tagged as: 747-8i, Aer Lingus, AUS, Austin, Beond, Boom Supersonic, CSA Czech Air, Hawaiian Airlines, ITA Airlines, Italy, jetblue, lawsuit, Lufthansa, merger, New Zealand, Oneworld, Pegasus, PIT, Pittsburgh, Qantas, routes, Ryanair, SmartWings, Southwest Airlines
There are lots of ways to flex power in this industry. Two moderately incoherent ones cropped up this week.
DLD 564: Longing for COBOL
- December 11, 2025
- Tagged as: A320, A320neo, A350-900ULR, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ANA, argentina, business class, Cabotage, CDG, Emirates, Flybondi, GulfAir, Heathrow, Houston, IAH, IndiGo, ITA Airlines, Korea, LHR, Paris, premium cabin, Premium Economy, Qatar Airways, Real ID, routes, seating, seats, slots, Sri Lankan, TAP, TAP Air Portugal, Trip Report
Technology and travel are intimately intertwined these days. And that’s not always good news. But we’re making the best of it where we can.










