Remember how the Department of Justice (DOJ) was so concerned with preserving competition at Dallas/Love Field as part of the American/US Airways merger? Well, the many pieces of that plan have no fallen into place, and there’s an odd man out. Delta is being kicked out of the airport entirely … Read the post
Month: September 2014
When I left on vacation last week, Air France’s pilots were striking. When I returned on Saturday, nothing had changed. Yesterday, however, the pilots came around and decided the time to end the strike had come. Why? Because they weren’t getting anywhere. If you were stranded during the two week … Read the post
Usually when I go on vacation, I try to either write a bunch of posts myself or wrangle up some guest posts. This time, that’s not happening. It takes a long time to prep posts, even guest posts, and the week leading up to vacation is stressful enough. So for … Read the post
I’ve written this week about how Southwest needs to figure out what it wants to be, but let’s turn the tables. What do you think Southwest needs to do to make you a customer? Is it perfect as is? If not, what needs to change?
There was something about this trip that felt like the end of an era. On the eve of the repeal of the Wright Amendment, Southwest had its first media day in years. But the repeal hasn’t happened yet so I still had to stop on my way to Dallas. Hopping … Read the post
In early 2013, Southwest realized that demand was strong. Faced with a set number of airplanes, it had two choices. It could keep flying its existing schedule or it could push itself and squeeze more flights into the system. It chose the latter, and it incredibly failed to understand how … Read the post
It had been years since Southwest last had a media day, so I was surprised to see an invite come in the mail a few weeks ago. As we all know by now, the real reason for the event was to show off the airline’s new image. My reaction to … Read the post
When luxury ruled the skies: Flying in the 1950s and ’60s – Sacramento Bee
I was asked my opinion about whether the “golden age” of air travel really existed.
In the Trenches: How to Turn Customers Away – Quickbooks Small Business Blog
On occasion we … Read the post
The day has finally arrived. Tomorrow is Crankyspotting Dorkfest. I’ll be at the park across the street from the In ‘n Out at LAX from 11a to 2p. If you’re flying in, take the Parking Spot shuttle (to the Sepulveda lot,
not Century) and it’ll drop you off right there. … Read the post
Today is now technically called Patriot Day in the US, but for those of us in the airline industry, it’s also the day that our industry was flipped on its head. We talk about the impact on the industry all the time, but today isn’t for that.
If you subscribe to ExpertFlyer, then you know where this post is going and you are most certainly in full agreement. Delta seems to have decided that it doesn’t like third parties creating extremely helpful tools for Delta fliers, so it is shutting them off without providing any alternative. … Read the post
There’s never a shortage of lawsuits involving airlines, but there’s one in particular that came up recently which I thought was worth talking about. A woman is suing Delta for what’s called “marrying” segments, and her lawyers are trying to get class action status for this. (I believe “class action” … Read the post