Posts Tagged ‘airline’
Orange Juice Terrorist
Terror strikes the skies again! The sinister culprit of this terroristic plot: John Reid. The name sends shivers down your spine it is so diabolic. For those of you weak of heart, you may not want to continue reading. The following are the alleged acts of Mr. Reid’s fateful flight on American Airlines that day.
An ordinary looking man, one Mr. John Reid, boards his flight and takes a seat with the other first class passengers. He blends in perfectly; no one on board would assume the hot irrational behavior housed in his demented mind by just looking at him. After a quiet take off (too quiet) things are put into motion.
Mr. Reid begins struggling with his tray table, the nerves of what he is about to do begins to show transparent, as he wrestles with the simple device. It is obvious he is a mess and his state of mind is to blame, since no piece of airline equipment is ever faulty, raggedy, or non-functional. After he finally has his tray table into position is demeanor quickly resumes to that of calm, cool, and calculating as he waits for his moment.
The Flight Attendant and hero of this sickening tale is Helen. Helen came over to serve breakfast to the passengers as is customary but, as she did so she could tell right away that something was amiss with John Reid . . . something didn’t “feel” right. In an attempt to show him that she was “on” to him and whatever he was up to, she dropped his breakfast tray hard onto the tray table. Unnerved by the act and knowing he had to act now, he sprung his designs into action. He asked if he could have a glass of orange juice! ORANGE JUICE only the most dangerous of the dangerous terrorists would ask for this evil drink with a First Class breakfast.
“This must be your first time in first class,” she allegedly said. Perhaps she could still stop him and gain the upper hand with this retort. It worked, dumbfounded by her cunning Mr. Reid could only stammer out some reply as to the effect that she was being “very condescending.” As her adrenaline began to pump she reacted quickly attempting to rally support from the other passengers.
She found no support and became panicked, the realization sunk in that this was far larger a plot than she had originally surmised. The whole first class cabin, and perhaps many more must be a part of this Orange Juice Terrorist Cell. Again not to be defeated, Helen put her training to use and went to the captain of the flight and got a written letter stating Mr. Reid may have violated federal law for “threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crew member.” The day was saved and the actions of this heroic flight attendant are under investigation by the airline.
Okay, like I said these are the alleged incidents of that day. What is actually known is that Mr. Reid, who we are pretty sure is no terrorist, did have some problems with his tray table and did ask for a glass of orange juice. The flight attendant made a snarky remark and there was a verbal exchange between the two. The flight attendant attempted to get passengers to corroborate her version of events, which none would.
She did get a letter from the captain stating that Mr. Reid was possibly “threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crew member.” and that he could face federal charges. Upon landing the passengers in first class all took time to back up Mr. Reid’s version of events. He has since then received and apology from American Airlines, as have the other passengers who witnessed the event.
Whether the Flight Attendant was just having a bad day, or was not very suited for a position dealing with customers face to face, is up for speculation. The fact that you can be threatened for committing acts of terrorism by asking for a glass of orange juice is ridiculous. Can’t wait for the made for TV movie adaptation of these events. If you are making one let me know I have great script for you (see above). That’s all for today folks . . . I think I’ll go have a glass of apple juice now. Yes, nice un-terroristic good old safe apple juice.
Tags: airline, american airlines, captain, first class, first class passengers, flight, Flight Attendant, Helen, John Reid, Orange Juice, passengers, skies, Terror, Terrorist, tray table
Book with an Airline
Airline tickets can be expensive but, they can also be found for
quite a steal. Just about everyone has heard of Orbitz, Cheap
Tickets, Expedia, or some other likewise company. But, be aware,
as the old saying goes : “you get what you pay for.” Now if you are
an easy going person and you don’t really care if you get where you
are going when you planned it or a week later, then these services
might be okay for you. Or, perhaps you are just an extremely lucky
person and things always go your way. Then again, maybe you’ll be
safe using these services.
However, if you’ve been planning this vacation for years now, or
your cruise will leave without you if you’re not there that day, or
you’re getting married; you may want to think again. Plan ahead
and book in as far advance as you can for your trip, with the
airline. Why you may ask? Well, if you book through a third party
you’ve kind of anchored yourself down. When an delay, oversell,
or ticketing problem arises you are going to be the problem of
that third party and not the airline you are traveling on. If changes
are made to your flights, be that delays, time changes, or new
flight numbers the airline will notify that third party site, who in
turn should notify you. Why add an extra link in between you and
the information you need.
Know what kind of ticket you are buying. Yes, there is First class,
Business class, and coach but within those there are different
classes of tickets you can purchase. Some are non-refundable and
non-transferable. Others have penalties if you change your
reservation. Just make sure you know what you are getting into.
Maybe, you can’t get that super cheap ticket through the airline
like you could with Orbitz however, with air travel being as
difficult as it is now days it would be well worth it. So when your
flight delays and you want them to put you on another airline to
get you there tonight you will have that as an option. Or, when
your e-ticket is lost and all the airline has is a reservation, they
can fix it. Make yourself the airline’s responsibility or you may end
up lost in limbo with third party sites.
Tags: airline, cheap ticket, delay, different classes of tickets, expedia, flight, flight numbers, non-refundable, non-transferable, Orbitz, oversell, reservation, third party booking sites, ticket, ticketing problem, vacation
Vouchers and Amenities
Sometimes it helps to think of flying as a game. As with any game you have to know the rules or you aren’t going to win. Since we are at that time of year where flights are at or above capacity and weather delays start to wreak havoc on airline operations, I thought we could talk about the rules involving vouchers and amenities.
If you misconnect, that is miss your connection flight, and it wasn’t your fault then you are usually entitled to some form of compensation. The airlines have various implements at there disposal to keep you happy when they are at fault. These include things such as airline miles, overnight kits, food and hotel vouchers. If you are stuck in a connection city for a few hours, they can give you food vouchers so that you can get a bite to eat. If you are stuck there overnight, they can put you up in a hotel and give you and overnight kit. The overnight kits usually include some necessities such as deodorant, a razor, shaving cream, a shirt, and other essentials you might need. They can also offer this to you if you bag is missing when you arrive.
If you find yourself on an oversold flight, then you can stand to profit from it by taking a voluntary “bump” from the flight. If you can fly at a later time, sometimes just a few hours later then the airline can compensate you with vouchers good for a couple hundred dollars. If you are involuntarily removed from a flight due to an oversell of weight restriction on the flight then they have to offer you almost double what the voluntary passenger gets and you are able to get cash or check instead of a voucher. for more specific numbers check out the DOT site.
Being informed is very important with flying these days. The airlines are out to save a buck anywhere they can. They pull in charges with things like baggage fees but are not nearly as faithful in handing out the vouchers an amenities that are owed when they make mistakes. If you know your rights you can speak up and get what’s owed to you. If the airline still doesn’t do what’s right, document it and report them to the DOT, Department of Transportation, let them know you intend to do this. They get severe fines for not following the rules and would rather take care of it with you than deal with the DOT for non-compliance.
Tags: airline, airline miles, Amenities, bump, compensate, connection, flights, flying, hotel vouchers, misconnect, operations, Vouchers
United’s New Large Jet Order
The largest new jet order by an American airline since the start of the recession has been placed by United Airlines. The order valued at more than 10 billion dollars is split between two of the world’s major aircraft manufactures, American based Boeing and it’s European rival Airbus. Letters of intent state that United wants to purchase 25 Boeing Dreamliners and 25 A350 jets from Airbus. It also has the option to purchase up to 50 more aircraft from each manufacturer.
United’s current fleet of aircraft consists of Boeing 767 and 747s will be retired and replaced by the new order. The new jets are smaller and built of a more lightweight yet tough composite material that make them more cost effective to fly. The next generation jets will save on fuel costs and have lower carbon emissions, about 33 percent less emissions. The new jets will also cut lifetime maintenance costs by 40 percent per available seat mile.
United Airlines states that now was the right time to make the purchases. Both Boeing and Airbus are struggling with current economic conditions that have led many of the airlines cutting flights, and orders with the companies, in some cases even cancellations of orders. United Airlines President John Tague told Reuters, “We resisted the pressure during the up cycle to buy during the ‘while supplies last’ market environment and had the patience to wait until we saw this opportunity.”
United Airlines was not very specific on the financing of the purchases but did state that they received financing from both Boeing and Airbus. United will take delivery on the orders between 2016 and 2019. Analysts of the purchase range in opinion from positive to negative. Aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia says, “A decision to continue treading water is hardly inspirational, All this is signs of an airline that is doing the bare minimum necessary to continue flying international routes in 10 years,”.
Jesup & Lamont analyst Helane Becker had a more favorable view on the matter and upgraded the UAL shares to “buy” from it’s current state of “hold”. The order has also positively affected Boeing’s shares.
Tags: A350, airbus, aircraft, airline, American airline, available seat, Boeing, Boeing Dreamliners, cost effective, economic conditions, fleet, jet order, jets, manufacturer, President John Tague, recession, United Airlines
US Airways defers Airbus
US Airways announced today that it will be deferring the delivery of 54 Airbus jets. It will wait until at least 2013 before accepting the Airbus aircraft to add to it’s fleet. US Airways had intentions of going to an Airbus heavy fleet and phasing out the other aircraft. Although this will put those plans on hold, this move also keeps the Tempe, Arizona based company further away from bankruptcy. The move has approval by some on Wall Street.
By not accepting the Airbus jets at this point US Airways will save 2.5 billion over the next three years. This is a move that shows responsibility during an economic downturn. With hard decision making the airline sets itself up for survival in the long run.
Tags: airbus, aircraft, airline, bankruptcy, jets, US Airways, Wall Street
Delta/JAL Deal or no Deal?
Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson, wants to have Japan Airlines as part of it’s SkyTeam Alliance. JAL (Japan Airlines) is currently in a marketing alliance with American Airlines. Anderson of Delta believes that an alliance between Delta and JAL would mutually benefit from such an arrangement and that Delta has a stronger potential for JAL’s future than American.
Currently Delta flies roughly 7,500 passengers daily from the US to Japan. American/JAL only carry less than 1,400 on a daily basis. Delta Airlines is also offering one billion in financial support to JAL during it’s restructuring. If Japan Airlines were to become a member of SkyTeam Delta could book passengers on JAL flights and in turn, JAL could book passengers on Delta flights. This would help strengthen consumer loyalties and allow the airlines to share in the revenue generated.
Antitrust could be more difficult to get approved with a Delta/JAL alliance than with a similar scenario with American Airlines. However, Richard Anderson doesn’t not believe this will even be an issue. Anderson recently said, “The DOT has approved every antitrust immunity it’s received,” showing his confidence in the ability to move forward in the negotiations.
American Airlines also believes it has a lot to offer JAL, with potentially less headache than a deal with Delta. They call there offer “superior in every way.”
Who will JAL take to the dance? Really it is possible for it to go either way at this moment. The courting of two major airlines heralds a bright future for JAL as it undergoes restructuring. We will keep you updated as more details become available.
www.CaptainNowhere.com
Tags: airline, american airlines, Antitrust, antitrust immunity, CEO Richard Anderson, Delta Airlines, DOT, flies, flights, JAL, Japan Airlines, negotiations, passengers, SkyTeam Alliance
What’s in Your Garage?
For many out there, the garage is place to store you car and possibly some excess storage. For Anthony Toth, it is the storage space for his Pan Am 747 jet. Pan Am has been defunct since 1991, but Toth won’t let the airline fade into memory. Toth has been recreating the first class cabin and galley of a Pan Am 747 in his garage. He has been buying the pieces for his creation for twenty years now.
Where does he get the parts for his labor of love? There is an airline junkyard, a couple of hours outside Los Angeles that is a gold mine for this Pan Am enthusiast. The junkyard mainly caters to Hollywood for movie props but Toth has given them a hefty amount of business as well, to the tune of $50,000.
Toth has been recreating the jet from a series of pictures he took as a child documenting all the details of the cabin. The obsession stems back to a family vacation from his childhood days. His work is amazing and from the inside you definitely get the feel of being transported back in time to 1979 in a actual Pan Am jet. He not only has the seats, overhead bins, and galley, but Toth also has authentic details down to the airline’s magazines and place settings. For him, it is an ongoing work which may never be done.
Anthony Toth works for United Airlines as a sales manager and often entertains friends in his jet. He even as pre-packaged nuts to hand out to his guests. CaptainNowhere.com salutes you Mr. Toth way to bring your work and passion home with you.
Tags: 747, airline, Anthony Toth, enthusiast, first class cabin, galley, garage, Hollywood, jet, junkyard, Los Angeles, Pan Am, United Airlines
Smoking or Non-Smoking?
Wish you could light one up while you fly? Many do and wish for a return to the “golden era” of flying when smoking was allowed. Others say, “no way”, and would rather not have to deal with the secondhand smoke. Ryanair, budget carrier of the Irish, thinks they have the solution for both. Ryanair is well known for announcing charges for everything they can think of, like their call to “pay for potty” not to long ago. Their new solution for smokers should add a nice supplemental income for the airline.
Smokers can now buy a pack of cigarettes for $9 a pack that they can “smoke” during the flight. What’s the catch? Ryanair’s cigarettes are smokeless. According to the IrishTimes.com, the ‘“SMOKELESS” CIGARETTES which look like the real thing but do not have to be lit to provide nicotine to the user.’ The carrier states that a recent survey results show that “over 24,000 Ryanair passengers said they would like to smoke during flights.”
Those whom have tried the new product don’t seem to be very crazy over them. The responses to them were lukewarm at best. Smokers say that it isn’t the same feeling and they don’t get the same rush as the real deal. However, for those with a desperate need for nicotine, it can help hold them over until landing. Others have stated that it is nice to hold a cigarette in flight if nothing else. Will other airlines adopt a similar product? So far there is no talk of it.
Tags: airline, cigarettes, flights, fly, nicotine, Non-Smoking, passengers, Ryanair, smoke, SMOKELESS CIGARETTES, smokers, Smoking
Too Many Carry Ons
A new type of passenger has emerged, the bag fee dodger. Airlines charging for bags have spurned many into bringing more carry ons. This seems to be making passengers who pay the fees upset. Mainly because the fee dodgers are getting bags checked for free at the gate. When a passenger shows up to the gate with a bag that won’t fit into an overhead compartment or, if the overhead bins are full because there are too many being brought, the airline gate checks them. This usually results in the passenger getting a free checked bag or two. Most airlines are supposed to charge for the gate checked bags but are waiving the fees with regard to getting flights out on time or not wanting to deal with the hassle of the charges.
Who is at fault? The passengers are always going to try and get away with what they can. Is it fair that some are caught at the various checkpoints and others are not? Shouldn’t they get stopped by the agent at the counters? The agents checking in for flights usually don’t like to deal with the grumbling passengers over bag fees but most try to do their job. Most of us get to pay the fees due to an airline representatives doing their job. But the ticket counter can be a very hectic place and agents will miss things. What about security? TSA is also supposed to be enforcing the quantity and size of bags passing through. But, you will find that for the most part they are more concerned with searching for prohibited items and moving the line along.
Overall, the one common denominator for bags getting past is “time”. Every aspect of air travel involves moving you and your stuff through as quickly and smoothly as possible. If the measures were to be enforced, more delays would negatively affect passengers as a whole.
There are two solutions, in my opinion, for this. One get rid of the checked bag fees or two, start charging for carry on luggage. Personally, I can understand those trying to dodge the fees but I also would be upset if I paid the fee and someone got away with it for free. This is just the byproduct of the new system of checked bag fees.
Tags: airline, airline representatives, charges, checked bag, checked bag fees, checkpoints, delays, fee, gate checked, luggage, overhead bins, passengers, TSA
Who Wants JAL the Most?
Japan Airlines lost $1 billion in the last quarter and is looking at reducing flights and other ways to cut losses. One of those ways is to reduce it’s work force and it has announced that it will begin a three year process of cutting 14% of it’s workforce. That equals out to 6,800 job cuts for the airline. Trouble is thick in the air for the Japanese airline or, is it?
Three airlines seem set to throw money at the struggling airline helping soothe it’s financial woes. Which three airlines are attempting to buy a stake in Japan Airlines? Delta, the largest airline in the world, American, their rival, and Europe’s big airline, Air France KLM. All three want a piece of the struggling airline. Just how much they can hope to get is one-third. Under Japanese aviation law, foreign interests can only own up to one-third of any Japanese airline.
Why would the airlines desire such a healthy stake in such a faltering airline? First, when a company is down for the count it makes it much easier for an offer of “help” to be extended. The airline wants to stay in business, usually, and will allow outside interests to get a part of the action where they normally would not have. Despite the fact that JAL is hurting right now, their stocks could rise due to the fact that two of America’s airlines are slugging it out to see who can get involved with the airline.
Japan Airlines said it is looking to raise $2.8 billion to emerge with a sound business plan again. For this amount, they are looking to banks, investment funds and airlines. Delta has offered to invest $550 million for an 11% stake in the airline. Who will help the airline back onto it’s feet and how will that shape the future of Japan Airlines?
Tags: Air France KLM, airline, American, aviation law, delta, flights, Japan, Japan Airlines, Japanese, the largest airline in the world