Yesterday I listened in on another Air Transport World webinar discussing the technology we interact with as travelers at the airport. The specific focus was to outline how common use stations, such as the kiosks we use to check in and the terminals airline agents use for the same functions, can speed travel, reduce airline…
Airports
Category Archives for Airports.
Delta layoffs, Qantas strikes, 747-8 livery, Hawaiian Disney, GDS lawsuit, TSA news and 757 replacement
In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… Delta Air Lines will be laying off 200 employees, the majority of which from their headquarters in Atlanta. This combined with another 2,000 employees taking voluntary buyouts, the airline claims soft demand, fuel prices and reduced capacity make the workforce reductions necessary. Engineers at Qantas…
New passenger protections took effect yesterday including airline fee disclosures
The enhanced airline passenger protections I blogged about in April went into effect yesterday, specifically: Airlines will be required to refund any baggage related fee if a checked bag is lost. Don’t get too excited, though… it only applies if the bag is actually lost (i.e., never found), not delayed. Current policies will remain in…
Delta hits and misses; American rewards; death by airfare; LAX grows; Tiger flies; cheap hotels and terrible IFE
In other airline, hotel & travel industry news this week… I’ve flown Delta Air Lines and have had pleasant experiences, but as most know the SkyMiles program for redemption opportunities remains the most ridiculous of the majors in the U.S. The good right now: Delta is giving a 100% bonus on purchased and transferred miles…
Airline ticket tax holiday short-lived, but long-term FAA funding far more critical
The partial shutdown of the FAA ended yesterday, but it’s only a temporary reprieve and I still hold firm in my disgust of politicians and their ability to hold citizens hostage from their employment. Sixteen days went by where airlines didn’t have to collect federal taxes that fund not only the salaries of Federal Aviation…
The politics behind funding the FAA
Politicians disgust me. The idealism of the democratic process our nation runs on is a lovely principle in theory, but in practice it’s just ridiculous. I used to expend energy on being an active engaging citizen, but I gave up that position years ago. Yes I still vote, but I absolutely cannot be entertained into…
New United Airlines minimum check-in times started June 15, 2011
I hadn’t known of this change until grabbing the flyer below last weekend at LAX, but United Airlines rolled out new minimum check-in times that became effective June 15, 2011. It looks to me like they’ve aligned things with Continental’s timelines and while still requiring 45 minutes at most major airports when checking bags (30…
American Airlines Terminal 4 construction at LAX & Los Angeles I-405 closure
I received an email from American Airlines yesterday advising of Los Angeles area travel alerts impacting both travel to the airport and construction inside Terminal 4. I appreciate the proactive notice and wonder if I received it as being based here via my AAdvantage profile, or if this was a blanket broadcast to all American…
2010 enplaned passenger summary for LAX and SFO airports
I recently took a look at some of the detailed passenger data for both Los Angeles and San Francisco airports and compiled the chart & graph below. Los Angeles is the third busiest airport in the United States behind Atlanta and Chicago, and handled about 59 million passengers last year. San Francisco comes in at…
A tribute to my Dad this Father’s Day on Frequently Flying
If you recall from my Mother’s Day post, I am fortunate to have a wonderful Mom who basically broke into United’s headquarters to buy me something unique for my birthday as a youngster. My Dad is equally fantastic and did everything he could to encourage and foster my passion for airlines, airports & travel, and…