Monthly Archives: October 2009

JetBlue to Expand in Boston

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Image via Wikipedia JetBlue Airways announced a major expansion in Boston’s Logan Airport. The full schedule of expansion has yet to be announced, but the following highlights are available and will be available for purchase on November 4th. Two Additional…

United Breaks Guitars? United Loses Luggage?

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The singer, who is Canadian, was flying to Colorado Springs, was forced to fly United again because they were the only carrier he could. For more than an hour on Sunday, he was told he could not leave the international baggage claim area at Denver International Airport, where he had flown from Saskatchewan, because his bag was delayed, not lost, and he had to claim it.

US Airways Cuts off Some Limbs

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Image via Wikipedia US Airways announced it would lay off 1000 people, approximately 3 percent of its workforce, and focus on four cities and the shuttle service. Here are the details: Reducing Las Vegas from 64 to 36 daily departures…

Why Not Take the Train to the Plane?

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There has always been a somewhat unrealistic concept that rail transportation, most notably Amtrak, should be self-sufficient. Airport construction projects are heavily subsidized by the federal government. Highways are subsidized. None of these are expected to be self sufficient.

What Happened on Northwest Flight 188?

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The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that the two pilots who overflew Minneapolis last week have advised the NTSB that the reason they lost track of time they were “discussing the new monthly crew flight scheduling system.” The system was put in place as part of Northwest’s merger with Delta Air Lines. They both admitted accessing their personal laptops while they discussed this, something which is in violation of company policy.

How Do Two Pilots Overshoot an Airport?

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Pilots of a flight from San Diego to Minneapolis ignored radio calls and flew over 150 miles past the airport. The military was even prepared to intercept. All in all, the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 were nonresponsive for 78 minutes, covering a distance of over 600 miles. With all the attempts to contact them, flashing lights in the cockpit, etc, it is a mystery why this was.

The End of the Balloon Boy Ballad Ballot

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Our first attempt at a contest has ended. The Balloon Boy Ballad Ballot, not counting our editor, had one entry. Thus, we are proud to announce the winner of the Balloon Boy Ballad Ballot is…David Parker Brown(pictured left), of AirlineReporter.com.…

Southwest Fills the Void Left By American In St. Louis

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Southwest Airlines announced today they are coming to the rescue of St. Louis, MO, which lost a great deal of service when American Airlines cut deep into what was once a major hub for TWA, which they absorbed. Beginning in May of next year, they will add the following routes:

Do TSA Agents Even Know the Rules?

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And that is the question. Do TSA Agents even know the rules their department has enacted? Or do they make them up as they go along? Or perhaps local supervisors impose rules on top of department-wide policy?

The Balloon Boy Ballad Ballot

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Image via Wikipedia Yesterday, feeling a bit whimsical, our editor wrote a somewhat silly poem based on the balloon boy saga. Pushed by our roving correspondent, Dr. Lane(now on Twitter at @infrequentflier), we have posted the complete poem, which we…

Talking about IFE and Wi-FI

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There have been some interesting developments in In-Flight Entertainment and Wi-Fi this week, many reported by IFE beat reporter, Mary Kirby, aka RunwayGirl, often called the Queen of IFE.

The TSA Escalates its MythBusting

Janet Napolitano Launches Homeland Security Department Efficiency Review

The TSA is truly amazing in its involvement with social media. A lot of things they post on their blog are ones we find a bit hard to swallow, but when they respond to the latest internet anti-TSA story, they go at it full force.

TSA Separates Mother and Child in Name of Security

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Nic, from My Bottles Up, recounted a story of her recent experience at the airport in Atlanta where she claims the TSA separated her from her young son. The story is very details and emotional, and you can read the full text.. We will try to summarize the important facts.

Balloon Boy Found – Saga Ends

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The Denver Post and ABC News report that the Larimee County Sheriff says the balloon boy, Falcon Heene, was not a balloon boy at all. He was “hiding in a box…a cardboard box in an attic above the garage.”

Balloon Building Family were Well Known

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Jaunted tipped us off to the fact that the balloon/zeppelin/UFO-like object-building family, the Heenes, were also featured on Wife Swap. Now, this family seems a bit off already, what with Dad and his theories on Martian civilization.