Most airline reviews posted in the mainstream media are traveler-based specifically focusing on the opinions of the end-user. Earlier this month, Business Travel News published the results from its 14th annual Airline Survey of 716 corporate travel managers and buyers, of which 406 represent or manage the accounts of companies who spend in excess of…
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Vintage Airline Seat Map: United Airlines L-1011-500
As part of the $750 million deal when United Airlines purchased Pan Am’s Pacific division in 1985, they acquired 18 of the carrier’s widebody aircraft. For this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps I’ve selected a United Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar, one the fleet types coming out of that acquisition. I’m sort of surprised at how…
The future of airline flight paths: V-shaped “flocks” of aircraft in formation
Here’s an incredible video showing how flight paths might be arranged in the future. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK proposes that aircraft enroute to their destinations fly as if they were a flock of birds in a V-shaped formation to reduce drag and improve lift. The organization states flying in such a…
Hotel review: Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront
A couple of weeks ago I attended the United Airlines Family Day event at San Francisco Airport. Instead of flying up just for the day, I spent the weekend there and booked a room at the Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront. I’ve stayed at a huge amount of airport hotels and this is the first…
American’s financials, Delta’s legroom, United’s new pilot rep, Google Hotel Finder and more airline & travel industry news
In other airline, hotel & travel industry news last week… An airline analyst predicts American Airlines could file bankruptcy in 2012. He points to the fact that American is “on track to lose $1.2 – $1.4 billion in 2011 and $1 – $1.3 billion in 2012.” The carrier’s cash position is also less than ideal…
The painful inconsistency of airline call center agents
I’ve briefly touched on this subject in previous posts, but having just freshly ended another call with the United Airlines “elite” 1K Desk, I feel compelled to make a unique post about the matter. My experiences have ranged from incredible – clone this agent – to – why did I bother calling. The tried &…
Hilton HHonors – United Airlines promo offering up to 5,000 bonus miles
I received a new Hilton HHonors promotion in my email tonight: It does not appear targeted, though you do have to select United Airlines as your Double Dip partner. Basically, for every two-night or more stay from October 1 to December 11, 2011, you earn 1,000 bonus award miles in Mileage Plus up to a…
Social media outreach success: Hilton HHonors promo failure resolved via Twitter
Back in August I posted about a targeted offer I received in the mail offering instant Hilton HHonors Gold status and the opportunity to earn bonus points and airline miles after completing five stays. The mailer included a new Gold card and account number with additional verbiage, “If you’re already a HHonors member, please contact…
Vintage Airline Seat Map: Continental Airlines DC-10-30 (South Pacific)
I previously posted a Continental Airlines “Pub Version†of the Douglas DC-10-10 from the 1980s, and the one appearing below was their long-haul DC-10-30 from the same time period. It’s reported in the Continental Wiki (sourced from a book written by a former Continental manager) that President Jimmy Carter approved Continental to begin flying from…
United Airlines 2011 Family Day event at San Francisco Airport
It was rumored this year that management might have a change of heart in allowing outsiders into the United Airlines Family Day event at San Francisco Airport on October 9, 2011. Fortunately, a few champions opened up some spots to we uber enthusiasts and I luckily got an invite. I went last year and had…