Yearly Archives: 2006

Woman sues Jetblue over Husband’s Death

The Associated Press reports that a woman has filed a wrongful death suit against Jetblue, claiming that an in-flight crew ignored her husband after he suffered a fatal heart attack during a flight nearly two years ago. The timing of…

Star Alliance Expels Varig

As of January 31st, Varig will be removed from the Star Alliance because it no longer operates a major global network, which is one of the membership requirements. The Brazilian carrier has had a bad year and has greatly reduced…

US Airways takes Delivery of E190 Aircraft

The Embraer 190, popular as the second aircraft model used by low-cost carrier Jetblue, has recently been added to the US Airways fleet. The 190 will be operated as a mainline jet, with 11 first class seats and 88 in…

China Tells Fliers: Stop Complaining

And people say that air service in the United States is bad…Reuters reports that China’s civil aviation authority is asking fliers to stop complaining about domestic air travel there. They hope to “increase consumers’ understanding about the special nature of…

Seat Guru

Seat Guru is a website that shows maps of the airplane configuration of many different airlines. It provides advice on the best seats and features of various aircraft. It is much more detailed than the websites of the various carriers…

Orbitz is the Workshop of Satan

We just love that title, which is the title of a blog entry on cosmicvariance.com. Cosmic Variance is a blog by four physicists with their perspective on not just their jobs, but their time outside them. We also have no…

Airline Flaws Revealed in DOT Review

USAToday reported last month on the results of a DOT study that was the first review of airline customer service since 2001. The report acknowledges improved performance by the airlines, and a partial recovery from the problems created in a…

Frequent Flyer Roundup

There has been a lot of talk about Frequent Flyer programs of late…especially considering the issues in redeeming, since more and more people are accumulating mileage through credit cards, and the airlines are offering fewer seats and raising the amount…

FAA Plans to Optimize Use at LaGuardia

Reuters reports that airlines can no longer hold but not use takeoff and landing slots at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The FAA released a temporary plan effective in 2007 that continues strict limits until a permanent plan is implemented. Under…

Delta to Expand Boston Service

Delta announced today they have signed a memo of understanding for Montana-based Big Sky Airlines to operate Delta Connection service beginning next year. Big Sky, a subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, which also owns Northwest Airlink carrier Mesaba, will begin by…

Travel Costs to Rise in 2007

The San Francisco Chronicle predicts that while airlines are upgrading seats and in-flight services…higher fares, hotel rates, and car rental rates will mark the year ahead in travel. The Travel Industry of America predicts only a half a percent of…

Customer of Size sues Air France

Today in the Sky reports that Air France is being sued by a passenger who says he was “shocked” and “humiliated” after the airline told him he was too big to fit in one seat and would have to purchase…

Airports Closed – Flights Cancelled

Denver International Airport was closed Wednesday night due to severe winter conditions, forcing a thousand travellers to stay there overnight, USA Today reports. Airport officials provided several hundred cots and blankets as airport hotels were booked and the main road…

Terror Charge Dropped

The BBC reports that a Pakistani judge has ruled there is not enough evidence to try a key suspect in an alleged airline bomb plot. The arrest of Rashid Rauf in Pakistan triggered the arrests of subjects in the United…

Jetblue’s Gift for the Holidays

Jetblue announced in a press release today that, in honor of the holidays, from December 21 through January 3, it will waive excess bag fees for bags weighing up to sixty pounds, an additional ten pounds per bag for no…

Baby Goes Through X-Ray Machine

A passenger at Los Angeles International Airport sent her month-old grandson through the X-ray machine. We are unsure of what the woman was thinking…she apparently didn’t understand English. The TSA commented that they do not have enough workers to coach…

Travelocity Joins the Blogosphere

We have blasted Travelocity in the past, along with their online competitors over customer service issues. Travelocity now has its own blog…The Window Seat. We appreciate the name. There is much one can see from the window seat of an…

Menorahs Light Up Hawaiian Airports

This year is the first year of menorahs in the common areas of Hawaii’s airports, the Associated Press comments. Six-foot menorahs can be found in each major island, except Oahu where there are two. Unlike Seattle, there has been no…

Boeing Delivers 600th 777 Jet

Last week, Boeing delivered its 600th 777 aircraft. The 777 aircraft has been in production for eleven years, and Boeing has produced these planes faster than any previous twin aisle aircraft production. Singapore Airlines took delivery of the aircraft, adding…

Stewart Airport to Welcome Jetblue

As the Times Herald Record reports, at 7:30 Tuesday morning, the first Jetblue flight will depart Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, NY. The first inbound flight, at 1:45PM, there will be speeches, coffee, and a ribbon cutting…even a traditional water…

American announces Austin to Seattle Route

American announced today that it would inaugurate once daily service between Austin, Texas and Seattle, WA on an MD80 aircraft with 16 First Class seats and 120 Coach seats. The route will begin April 10, 2007 and adds to American’s…

South African offers Two For One for the Winter

South African Airways issued a press release today offering a winter fare of $1350 for two people traveling in between New York-JFK or Washington Dulles to Johannesburg or Capetown. Taxes and fuel surcharges are additional on both tickets(Which is illegal…