Where’s the premium demand? And will it stick around forever? Plus booking shenanigans and a hunting delay.
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.
We’re back in the USA and ready for some news and rants this week. Some of them are even reasonable.
DLD 501: Star signs and labor challenges
- September 19, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX 10, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 8200, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Allegient Air, American Airlines, Boeing, IFC, IFEC, in-flight connectivity, in-flight internet, inflight connectivity, inflight wifi, Real ID, Rex, Riyadh Air, San Antonio, SAT, Southwest Airlines, SpaceX, Spirit Airlines, Starlink, strike, Sun Country, TSA, union, United Airlines, Virgin Australia, Volotea
One strike averted, another underway. And plenty of challenges remain for the aviation industry overall.
DLD 474: A shock to the system
- March 14, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, Air Europa, airbnb, Batik Air, Boeing, China Southern, Department of Justice, DOJ, electric cars, EVs, IAG, LAS, Las Vegas, MCO, merger, NTSB, Orlando, regulators, rental cars, routes, TSA, United Airlines
Hopefully not too shocking, of course. But maybe enough to keep you awake, unlike those pilots…
United’s operations are mostly back to normal at this point, but it took a while to get there. Fortunately, there were plenty of other things to keep us entertained while watching that mess unfold.
DLD 409: Sorry we missed you
- November 17, 2022
- Tagged as: A321neo, A380, British Airways, business class, Canada, China, credit card, credit cards, Dulles, elite status, Flyr Norwegian, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Heathrow, HSBC, IAD, jetblue, Jetlines, Korean Airlines, LHR, PDX, podcast, points, Portland, premium cabin, security, slots, Star Alliance, TSA, Uber, United Airlines
Maybe we’re supposed to say something in advance when the publishing schedule changes. Oopsie.
DLD 401: The end of Summer
- September 8, 2022
- Tagged as: 747, 747-8i, 787, 787-9, A340, A340-600, A380, Aeroplan, Air Canada, ATR, ATR 42, awards, Boeing, China Airlines, codeshare, crash, Emirates, Israel, rewards, Saab 340, Saudi Arabia, Silver Airways, Thai Airways, TSA, United Airlines
Summer is ending, but travel continues. And optimism remains strong, at least in some segments of the industry.
DLD 391: Some Independence thinking
- July 7, 2022
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 MAX 10, A320neo, A321neo, Air China, Air New Zealand, Airbus, American Airlines, British Airways, business class, Cathay Pacific, China, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta Air Lines, economy class, France, JFK, JFK Airport, lie-flat beds, PreCheck, Shenzhen Airlines, Trip Report, TSA, Vancouver, YVR
Great news: The holiday weekend wasn’t a total meltdown, despite warnings from airlines.
DLD 345: Teaming, trimming & traveling
- August 5, 2021
- Tagged as: Aeroplan, Air Canada, Allegiant, Allegient Air, alliance, alliances, American Airlines, Chase, credit card, credit cards, Delta Air Lines, dining, economy class, elite status, ExpressJet, first class, frequent flier, frequent flyer, high-speed rail, jetblue, JetSMART, KLM, lie-flat beds, London, loyalty, Lufthansa, medallion, Nordica, podcast, premium cabin, train, TSA, Uzbekistan, WestJet
More airline partnership and a key route trimmed. Plus, cool new trains and airlines and loyalty plays.