In our travels, we have encountered several different boarding procedures. None of them seem to work particularly well, though all of them do have in common that we are somehow always the last allowed on.
Everything in this world changes. As time goes by, we discover that more and more business interactions are being automated. This is simply the way things are going. Talking to a human being is now a perk, a frill. In fact, to many people, it is a customer service failure if automation prevents them from…
I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while. It was inspired by Dan Webb, a junior at Bryant University and a well-known airline dork and budding airplane geek. Or perhaps I should capitalize Airplane Geek, as Dan is a co-host of the popular podcast, Airplane Geeks, where he often refers to himself as an Airline Dork.
In the face of the recent storm in the Northeast, many travelers are claiming that the airline’s customer service outlets failed. The trouble with customer service is that most businesses, not just airlines, see it as a money-losing proposition. They do not see it as an investment in customer loyalty and brand reputation.
The Daily News reported this week on an account on airliners.net believed to belong to Steven Slater, the JetBlue flight attendant who rode the chute. Airliners.net is a popular forum site frequented by airline professionals and enthusiasts.
Image via Wikipedia More than 30,000 fewer flights were canceled in the first half of 2009 than in the same period last year. Fewer planes were delayed more than fifteen minutes as well. But, instead of applauding the air traffic controllers, or the airline operations people for their coup, the real reason is that there…
In the aftermath of the most recent tragedy, Air France Flight 447, and a year that included a crash in Buffalo and a miraculous crash-landing on the Hudson, we may start to think that 2009 is an unlucky year for air travel, or that it is somehow unsafe. Those of you who are nervous, let’s…
Joe Sharkey of the New York Times wrote earlier this week on the current glut of seat sales, maintaining it won’t last. The sales are breaking out mostly on routes where the competition is heavy or business travel has significantly decreased…but this has often been the case. The future, according to Sharkey, is as follows:…
Image by Getty Images via Daylife Michael Russnow over at the Huffington Post commented today that airline service is a sham. He maintains that first was a fee for a second bag, then a first, then for drinks on US Airways(which they recently reversed), then blankets and pillows, and movies. We’re not sure we agree…
Mr. T, we’re sure, would say, “I pity the fool airline who mistreats their passengers.” Once again, here are some recent tales we’ve noticed of travel experiences. When a man tried to check in for his flight on Spirit, he was told the flight was oversold. When he tried to fly the next day, Spirit…
Image via Wikipedia Two weeks ago, a captain of an El Al flight flying to Israel from an undisclosed city in Europe ordered the removal of a number of suitcases to allow two El Al employees to get on. Airline employees and their families are allowed to travel for a discounted or even free rate,…
Image by Getty Images via Daylife Best Western International has partnered with Southwest Airlines as a loyalty partner. Beginning February 15th, members of their reward program will be able to earn Rapid Reward credits. Portland-based SeaPort Airlines will serve the Oregon communities of Astoria and Newport beginning March 15th with service to Portland International Airport…
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Image by Getty Images via Daylife"][/caption] We stole the title for this post from Chris Elliott, whom we admire as the champion of fair disclosure and fees, although we admit to disagreeing with him at times. USA Today reported that while jet fuel is down, fuel surcharges have stuck. And this…
Well, October is nearly here, and JetBlue will be opening its new state of the art terminal at its JFK home hub. The airline issued a series of press releases last week about this momentous occasion. Terminal 5 has 50 percent more concession space than its current Terminal 6 operation. It will include nine full-serve…
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="202" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption] Air Canada has announced it will roll back some previously imposed fees. It is nice for an airline actually repeal something it claimed to impose due to high fuel costs. Air Canada announced last week it would stop charging the $25 second bag fee it established in May.…
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Image by vnvlain via Flickr"][/caption] The Cranky Flier brought to our attention a new push by Spirit Airlines to sell more ad space on their aircraft. They will now sell ads on overhead bins, seat backs, tray tables, the area above the windows, bulkheads, napkins, cups, menus, boarding passes, soap dispensers,…