Fellow blogger Daraius over at Million Mile Secrets very generously donated several amenity kits to me from his and Emily’s recent Star Alliance trip, and this is one of them. I previously reviewed Thai Airways’ First Class kit and here now is my review of their Royal Silk Business Class offering. For a better description…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for January 2012.
Top U.S. airports, passenger gawking, FAA funding, TSA groping, Boeing profits and hotel revenue & rates
In other hotel and travel industry news last week… Two business travel publications released their “best of” lists recently and the results go to show you how surveys can differ by reader demographics. For the 12th year in a row, readers of Global Traveler magazine named Chicago O’Hare ‘Best Airport in North America‘, whereas Denver…
Retro video: United Airlines in 1980 – “Diamonds In The Sky”
Here’s a fantastic flash back of United Airlines, and the U.S. airline industry, circa 1980. I’ve seen this hour-long video before, but just came across it again yesterday and it’s truly a gem. It really doesn’t get going until about nine minutes in with an interview of then President & CEO of United, Richard Ferris.…
American’s restructuring, Alaska’s religion, United expands IAH, 787 long-haul, JetBlue & Hawaiian, Lufty’s 747-8 and airline idiot of the week
In other airline industry news this week… American Airlines CEO Tom Horton issued a letter to employees this week outlining a redesign of the carrier’s management structure that will more than certainly involve layoffs. Several executives left at the end of 2011, and this letter points to additional tough decisions that will be made in…
United Airlines reports 2011 financials, accomplishments & 2012 guidance
It’s earnings release time and this week saw Delta and US Airways reveal Q4 and full year 2011 results on Wednesday, and United Airlines released figures yesterday. United also provided a list of accomplishments in 2011, as well as guidance items looking ahead to 2012. First, here’s a summary of some of the key earnings…
Award seat analysis: American vs. United – Chicago to Tokyo Narita
This installment of “Award Seat Analysis†looks at the Chicago to Tokyo Narita nonstop market and I’ve researched availability from American Airlines and United Airlines in September 2012. I specifically searched for award seats at the minimum amount of miles required, namely MileSAAver awards on American and Saver awards on United. Any available seat is…
Vintage Airline Seat Map: United Airlines DC-10-10 w/lounge (1979)
When I launched this blog in November 2010, my very first Vintage Airline Seat Map was a United Airlines DC-10-10, my second favorite aircraft after the 747. It was the configuration I flew most frequently, but the one appearing below was seen flying in the 1970s and included a First Class lounge with swivel seats.…
Airfare transparency takes effect Thursday along with new passenger protections
On Thursday this week, the next round of passenger protections will take effect, including a requirement that airlines and other providers advertise airfare prices inclusive of taxes and mandatory fees. I took a tour around the web yesterday and noticed United Airlines (and Continental) have already begun advertising all-in rates. First, I stopped by United’s…
Virgin adds PHL, Frankfurt’s growth, Negotiator dies, hotel news and GDS politics
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news last week… Virgin America announced Philadelphia will be the carrier’s newest destination beginning in April 2012. Three daily LAX-PHL flights will commence April 4th and two daily turns SFO-PHL will follow starting April 10th. If history repeats itself, we should see some pretty decent fare wars in…
Video: Air Canada flight 015 YYZ-HKG from the flight deck and more
Here’s a pretty incredible video produced by JustPlanes featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Air Canada’s flight from Toronto to Hong Kong, AC015. It begins in dispatch and ends with a fantastic short-final video touching down in Hong Kong, also including incredible scenery from the polar route it flies in between. One of the pilots does…