Cranky on the Web: Cheap Flights to Europe, Cranky Dorkfest, and a Farewell to Ben

Cranky on the Web

Why flights to Europe are the cheapest they’ve been in years – CNBC
If you’re looking to fly coach to Europe during the off-peak season, it is really cheap. CNBC took a look at what is happening, but don’t expect this to last beyond the winter.

822 Cranky Dorkfest 2024 – Airplane Geeks
I know Cranky Dorkfest was awhile ago back in September, but Airplane Geeks has now put out all the interviews Brian Coleman did at the event. Have a listen to hear more about what you missed if you weren’t there.


Chances are if you’re a regular on this site, you’ve already read elsewhere that Ben Baldanza, former CEO of Spirit and architect of the ULCC strategy in the US, died this week after a long fight with ALS. Ben and I didn’t know each other that well, but our paths crossed more than once, including when I was a guest earlier this year on the Airlines Confidential podcast he started. At the time, it was easy to hear in his voice just what ALS had been doing to him, but he did not give up the fight. Ben was a visionary with what he did in building that ULCC model at Spirit, and the industry is unquestionably worse off without him. I haven’t seen any requests for places to donate or where to send flowers, but this weekend, if you get a chance, play a board game in his honor. I’m betting he’d have appreciated that.

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2 comments on “Cranky on the Web: Cheap Flights to Europe, Cranky Dorkfest, and a Farewell to Ben

  1. ALS sucks. A friend of mine died from that disease a few years ago. What a terrible way to go. In addition to playing a board game, it might be a good idea to contribute to The ALS Associaton. https://www.als.org/

  2. My family and I are going to Europe this fall. We purchased roundtrip trickets on Delta for $515. It was serendipitious because we just wanted to go to Europe and didn’t realize the flight deals were so amazing until we bought the tickets. We got lucky!

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