We’re on the road this week, hanging out in Antwerp with some friends and talking travel.
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.
DLD 463: Looking to lose weight (restrictions)
- December 21, 2023
- Tagged as: 787, 787-9, A220, A321neo, A350, Air New Zealand, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Austin, Brisbane, British Airways, business class, JSX, lie-flat beds, Lufthansa Group, Mexicana, Phoenix, podcast, Porter Air, Qantas, routes, Scottsdale, Seoul, slots, Southwest Airlines, Stansted, Starlink, Tel Aviv, Turkish Airlines, union, United Airlines, WestJet
Long flights come with challenging performance requirements. Delta looks to shed some weight restrictions and United may be adding some next year.
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.
No, really, I have no idea what to put here.
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 457: Awkward in Austin
- November 9, 2023
- Tagged as: A220, A321, Aer Lingus, Africa, Alaska Airlines, Allegient Air, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, AraJet, Asiana, AUS, Austin, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, DOT, earnings call, greenwashing, Halifax, Haneda, HND, Icelandair, KLM, MIA, Miami, PIT, Pittsburgh, podcast, routes, SAFs, Schiphol, Siam Reap, slots, Titan Air, YHZ
Is there at least maybe, hopefully a good reason for American Airlines slashing its mini-hub in Austin?
DLD 456: Seasonal Shift
- November 2, 2023
- Tagged as: Air Greenland, Boom Supersonic, Breeze Airways, CDG, DUB, Dublin, EDI, Edinburgh, Frontier, inaugural, jetblue, Lufthansa City, Lufthansa Group, Mexico, NFTs, Palau, Paris, Qantas, routes, Saudi Arabia, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Swoop, TAP Air Portugal, Tulum, United Airlines, WestJet
Once again the IATA seasonal change brings about new routes and kills off others.
DLD 455: Well, that was unexpected
- October 26, 2023
- Tagged as: 767-400, A321neo, Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Greenland, Air India Express, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Boeing, codeshare, Delta Air Lines, Delta Flight Products, Haneda, Hawaiian Airlines, HND, Horizon, live television, livery, MEA, Qatar Airways, routes, slots, United Airlines, ZipAir
A couple major unexpected events this week caught us off guard, but we’re doing our best to get through it all.
DLD 454: Is there such a thing as real loyalty program enhancements?!?
- October 18, 2023
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, ancillary fees, Beond, Bermudair, carbon offsets, Delta Air Lines, economy class, elite status, Emirates, engines, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Haneda, HND, ITA Airlines, Italia Trasporto Aereo, Japan, jetblue, JFK Airport, KLM, loyalty, Mosaic, points, Portsmouth, premium cabin, promotions, PSM, Rapid Rewards, Rolls Royce, routes, slots, Southwest Airlines, Tokyo, TrueBlue, United Airlines
Can loyalty programs actually make changes that seem to make things better for customers, without taking benefits away elsewhere? Tune in to find out.