Upgraded: The power of coffee and tea
Sometimes it really is the little things: At Easyjet, the UK-based discount airline, flights haven’t been particularly ontime this year. Under 50% for flights from London-Gatwick — which is terrible. And one of the reasons for the delays: “rostering problems.” And, in turn, these “rostering problems” are allegedly driven by … (wait for it)… the airline’s decision to stop giving pilots free tea and coffee.
Upgraded: Lawsuit chutzpah
So a disgruntled passenger who paid $25 to American Airlines to transport her checked back, and whose bag was lost, is suing the airline for $5 million. Umm, I think the suit is a little out of scale here. And now American is saying that they weren’t even the airline to transport the woman: the passenger was apparently rebooked onto another airline (presumably United) when the original American Eagle flight was canceled. Pass the popcorn!
Upgraded: ANA
Japanese airline ANA has made technological breakthroughs that will allow it to start serving draft beer in flight. Bravo, ANA! (Via View from the Wing)
Upgraded: Laughs, literally at Carnival’s expense
Carnival Cruise Lines is introducing comedy clubs on all 22 of its ships. It’ll be dubbed “Punchliner.” Har har har. Take that, Lido deck!
Upgraded: oneWorld
The oneWorld alliance got a boost recently when American Airlines, Iberia, and British Airways got the green light for anti-trust immunity on transatlantic routes. Not a big surprise. A bigger surprise: German semi-discount carrier Air Berlin is joining the alliance. That adds a few more locations to the oneWorld map.
Upgraded: Taking airport privacy to absurd levels
If the prospect of a full-body scan disturbs you — and yes, they CAN see your privates — then perhaps it’s time to invest in some FlyingPasties. (Warning: Potentially unsafe for work, if a pasties-covered female figure doesn’t make the cut for your at-work monitors…)
Upgraded: Alaska Airlines’ green cred
Alaska Airlines has tested a new method of landing, which uses satellite technology to guide the plane down more smoothly than traditional “descend and maintain 5000 feet” directions can do. The airline claims the procedures can reduce noise and cut fuel burn by a third. A third. Yowza.
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July 28th, 2010 at 12:08 am
$5 Million? What was in the bag?
What does the anti-trust immunity mean to travelers? Will I be able to fly AA to Europe using BA miles?
July 28th, 2010 at 6:37 am
“The contents of the bag were worth $800 and Covarrubias spent an additional $300 for new clothes and toiletries, the complaint states.” — That’s a lot less than $5M.
With regard to the effect of the AA/BA/IB anti-trust immunity on travelers, it primarily means they can coordinate their routes, so they can “collude” to limit the number of flights, keeping prices higher. More optimistically, it means that a thinly-traveled route — which might not succeed for anyone with multiple airlines flying it — could stay on the books if the three airlines agree to coordinate. As far as mileage redemptions are concerned, that too remains to be seen. But there’s this vague comment in the AA press release: “Customers also will receive numerous benefits, including expanded opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and elite tier benefits and continued reciprocal airport lounge access.”