• Podcast

DLD 562: Dubai Dealing

• November 27, 2025
• Tagged as: 777-10, 777X, A321XLR, A330neo, A350, A380, Air Canada, Air Europa, British Airways, Buraq Air, business class, China Southern, Collins Aerospace, Dubai Air Show, elite status, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, flyDubai, HHonors, hilton, hotels, jetblue, LATAM, lie-flat beds, premium cabin, Rouge, routes, United Airlines, WestJet

The Dubai Air Show proved its worth last week, with plenty of deals (though also a few expected ones unrealized). New interiors and route changes for next summer, too.

• Podcast

DLD 561: Unexpected Inquiries

• November 20, 2025
• Tagged as: 787-9, A380, Air Astana, Air Lao, Beond, Boom, Boom Supersonic, C919, COMAC, Dreamliner, elite status, Emirates, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Global Entry, Laos, lifetime, LOT, New Pacific Airways, Northern Pacific, Northern Pacific Airways, routes, San Antonio, San Francisco, SAT, SFO, Southwest Airlines, supersonic, Virgin Atlantic

Sometimes the best questions come from unexpected quarters. Plus, lifetime status of a different sort, some ultra premium silliness, and A380s flying even longer.

• Podcast

DLD 559: Messy at the Border

• November 6, 2025
• Tagged as: A321XLR, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, bankruptcy, Bonvoy, Condor, Connect Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, DOT, Eastern Airways, HNL, Honolulu, lawsuit, lounges, Marriott Rewards, MEX, Mexico, Mexico City, Orlando, routes, Southwest Airlines, Tokyo, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, ZipAir

Does Mexico City really need more than one airport? Plus, unexpected lounge operators, Connect again, and some lawsuit hijinks.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 558: Diversions and Distractions

• October 30, 2025
• Tagged as: A321XLR, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ARJ21, Billy Bishop, C909, co-brand, cobrand, COMAC, credit card, credit cards, Delta Air Lines, diversion, jetblue, Korean Airlines, O'Hare, ORD, PDX, Portland, Riyadh, Riyadh Air, routes, SEA, Seattle, Toronto, Transborder, Trip Report, United Airlines

The adventure of getting there is part of the fun, right? Plus lots of new routes and a new terminal on the horizon.

• Podcast

DLD 555: The Earl of Global Services

• October 9, 2025
• Tagged as: 777X, American Airlines, Antitrust Immunity, bankruptcy, British Airways, codeshare, Delta Air Lines, elite status, Global Services, ITA Airlines, joint venture, Lufthansa, Play, Porter Air, regional jets, routes, special guest, Spirit Airlines, TATL, Transatlantic, United Airlines

A major milestone crossed, so what’s next? Plus one airline calls it quits and another is making major moves in that direction, while others are expanding and refreshing.

• Podcast
• Trip Reports

DLD 552: Fuming mad!

• September 18, 2025
• Tagged as: Aegean Airlines, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Antitrust Immunity, Avelo, Boeing, Breeze Airways, codeshare, Delta Air Lines, E195-E2, Embraer, India, IndiGo, jetblue, joint venture, Korean Airlines, Lufthansa Group, Mexico, Mexico City, premium cabin, Premium Economy, routes, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines

Unwinding joint operations is not easy, but it must happen thanks to a DOT ruling. Plus fumes in the cabin, a hilariously low fine and some questionable funding in play.

• Podcast

DLD 543: Some Answers, But Not Enough

• July 17, 2025
• Tagged as: 787-9, A330-900, A330neo, AI171, Air India, AirAsia, Allegiant, Bermudair, Bus, business class, China, crash, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Greenland, Hertz, Landline, LCC, LCCs, LIM, Lima, Low Cost Carriers, Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, Nuuk, premium cabin, Premium Economy, rental cars, Retreat Suite, routes, TSA, United Airlines, Upper Class, Virgin America

The initial accident report from AI 171 is out, and the story it tells is both spooky and incomplete. Plus new planes in Malaysia, new cabins for Virgin, and new ways to visit China, and much more.

• Podcast

DLD 541: Planes, Politics, Partnerships, and PDX

• July 3, 2025
• Tagged as: ATL, Atlanta, Cape Air, Cebu Pacific, elite status, Emirates, flyadeal, flyDubai, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Iberia, Iran, jetblue, PDX, PlusPoints, Porter Air, Portland, Qatar, routes, Spirit Airlines, UAE, United Airlines

Partnerships come and go, as do new routes and competition. Plus, what makes an airport better than others?

• Podcast

DLD 540: From Paris, With Planes

• June 26, 2025
• Tagged as: A220, A321neo, A350-1000, Airbus, ANA, argentina, ATR, ATR 42, ATR 42-600, Boeing, business class, China Eastern, E175, Embraer, JSX, lie-flat beds, LOT, Paris Air Show, PAS25, premium cabin, routes, Safran, seating, seats, SkyWest, special guest, Starlux, Vietjet

Recounting product developments and aircraft orders from the 2025 Paris Air Show. Plus a segment with special guest John Walton of The UpFront.

• Podcast

DLD 534: In the Studio

• May 15, 2025
• Tagged as: Aer Lingus, Air Traffic Control, Airbus, American Airlines, ATC, Boeing, British Airways, business class, Contour Air, Delta Air Lines, EWR, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, IAG, Iberia, International Airline Group, jetblue, joint venture, Juneyao, Korean Airlines, Level, livery, Newark, Polaris, Polaris Studio, premium cabin, Qantas, Real ID, routes, Spirit Airlines, Stansted, United Airlines, WestJet

There’s lots to unpack this week, including a new premium seat, a new paint job, and new route plans galore.