Delta announced last Thursday,wifi will be added to its 150 strong international fleet from 2013. It currently has 550 planes wifi equipped and they say they are aiming at a wifi equipped fleet of 1000 planes. Domestically, Delta uses GoGo which provides the service via air-to-ground technology that uses land-based cell towers to beam signals to aircraft. For International flights, this is not so practical so it will be an Air to Satellite product. GoGo are working on their satellite systems. Delta have annouced Gogo will be Delta’s provider on the international services Satellite systems are almost four times more expensive…
What NOT to say at the airport
From the TSA (Transport Security Administration) Blog last week. A passenger at Kansas City (KCI) who was frustrated after being on standby said: “I’m going to go get a gun and shoot everybody if I don’t make this flight.” The Blog does not say if he made his flight.
Travel Tip #4 Treat People with Respect
I had flown in six hours late and found my four star hotel had given my room away. In return, however, they had upgraded me to a five star hotel next door and added a couple of extras. Grateful for having a bed for the night, I thanked the agent. She said “you are not going to yell at me?” “No”, I replied. “you sorted out the problem and I have a better deal. Why should I yell at you?” She said “The last three guys yelled at me” After apologising on their behalf, I wheeled my suitcase…
This Week
Virginia and then London bound…..first Premium Economy flight with Virgin Atlantic.
Early Unbuckling
On landing in Toronto as the rear wheels of the 737 hit the runway, a guy hopped out of his seat and headed to the rear restroom. Simultaneously a guy in row 16 got up and started looking under the seats of Row 13 as the plane decelerated. The Flight attendant jumped out of his seat shouting as he ran down the plane. He shepherded Mr Row 16 back into his seat and got Mr Bathroom back to his seat. Mr Row 16 didnt buckle up as the fight attendant returned to his seat. As we taxied in, Mr Row 13 got…
Trip Report: American- LAX to SFO
A positive review from me about American airlines? There is aways room for a first! I have flown AA 49 times and given them universally low rankings: Today my fiftieth American Airlines flight was a very pleasant experience. Check in: 9 out of 10 I was on a tight time frame and the LAX inter terminal bus was slowed by lost tourists. Upon getting to the LAX American Airlines terminal, I became a little lost. I saw a sign emblazoned “priority Access” and assumed (wrongly) that it was referring to entry to the gates so for some reason went…
Travel Tip: Don’t Check in baggage
Following on from last week, when I talked about how many toiletries people travel with, I had a very frustrating week with fellow passengers and their luggage . At Melbourne airport, a family of five were checking in, in front of me. They had fifteen bags – for a vacation. They had a huge argument with the check in staff about their baggage allowance. They were claiming the first class luggage allowance whilst travelling in Economy. The check in clerk was not giving it to them despite their posturing and yelling. The end result of a lot of wasted time, was a re pack…
US Best and Worst Carriers
The North America Airline Satisfaction Study was released on June 13 showing satisfaction with US and Canadian airlines declined slightly from the previous year . This survey run by J.D. Power and Associates 2012 involves more than 13,500 passengers giving their input between May 2011 and April 2012. Power scores airlines out of 1000 points with points being awarded for seven factors in this order of importance: Cost and fees In-flight services; Boarding/deplaning/baggage; Flight crew; Aircraft; Check-in; Reservations, Overall North American airlines rated 681 points down from 683 in 2011. Low cost carriers (average score 754 up 3) performed…
This Week: June 17, 2012
Starting in Chicago, I head up to Toronto, Canada and down to Buffalo and New York city – for the first of my birthday celebration s(i figure if I travel so much, I may as well enjoy multiple birthdays!!!
2012 Airline Bankruptcies
A cheerful topic! The one commonality the airline industry has, is that no brand is impervious. Unlike brands in other industries: Ford (USA), Cadbury (UK) and Waitrose (UK), airlines seem to come and go. The airlines lost so far in 2012 are listed below. Where I have blogged about the collapse, you will see my link. 2oth January: Cirrus (Germany) 27th January: Spanair (Spain) 30th January: US3000 (USA) 9th February: Malev (Hungary) – Check out my three blog posts about them: The Collapse 17th February : Air Australia (Australia) 26th February: Norfolk Air (Australia) 27th February: Velvet Sky (South…
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