Times used to be, breezing through airport security in front of everyone else and skipping lines during the boarding process was just for the hoity-toity types — the wealthy and celebrities, mainly. But now that regular passengers can pay for fast-track access, airlines are scrambling to provide an even hoity-toitier (new word, deal with it) experience for anyone willing to pay a hefty price. [More]
american airlines
Virgin America Soars Above The Rest In Annual Airline Survey While United Sinks To The Bottom
By 4.8.13
Every day, airlines shuttle passengers from here to there, through friendly (and not so friendly) skies, ferrying bags and losing luggage and touching down at airports all around the country. Some of those airlines are consistently a cut above the rest, while others just can’t seem to do anything right. According to this year’s Airline Quality Rating Survey, Virgin America is the cream of the crop while United Airlines is a long, long way from the top. [More]
Bankruptcy Court Signs Off On US Airways/American Merger, But Not On $20 Million Payout To Outgoing CEO
By 3.28.13
Yet another hurdle in the race to the altar for American Airlines and US Airways has been cleared, with the bankruptcy court giving its blessing on the matter, but reserving judgment on a proposed $19.9 million payout to outgoing CEO Tom Horton. [More]
Not Putting Anything In The Overhead Bin? American Airlines Is Seeing What Happens If You Board First
By 3.22.13
One thing that ticks off a lot of seasoned business travelers is waiting to board a plane because the passengers in front of you are busy futzing around with squeezing their probably too-large carry-ons into the overhead bins. But now American Airlines is testing to see what happens when it gives priority boarding to travelers who won’t be using the overhead storage. [More]
Worst Company In America Round 1: Spirit Vs. American Airlines
March 21, 2013
It’s time to take to the unfriendly skies in this afternoon’s dogfight between two of your most-disliked airlines. [More]
Consumer Advocates To Senators: American Airlines & US Airways Merger Would Hurt Fliers
By 3.19.13
Today American Airlines and its betrothed, US Airways had to defend their proposed merger in front of a Senate hearing and several consumer advocates. Citing higher fares, reduced service to smaller communities in the U.S. and a loss of competition among carriers, opponents of the impending nuptials testified at a Judiciary Committee hearing that such a joint venture would hurt consumers. [More]
American Airlines Trustee Looks At $20 Million Payout To Outgoing CEO, Says There’s Some Explaining To Do
By 3.18.13
Though so much of the news about American Airlines has been about its impending nuptials to more financially stable suitor US Airways, let’s not forget that the airline is still clawing its way out of bankruptcy protection. Which is why the trustee put in charge of this process thinks someone should have to explain why outgoing the American CEO is being rewarded to the tune of $19.9 million. [More]
American Airlines & U.S. Airways Announce They’re Finally Getting Hitched
By 2.14.13
After spending years as just friends, American Airlines and U.S. Airways are taking their relationship to the next level with the official announcement today (Valentine’s Day, no less) that they’re merging. The heads of both say it’s been a long time coming but that now they’re ready to take the plunge and become the world’s No. 1 airline. [More]
It Sounds Like American Airlines & U.S. Airways Are Totally Heading Toward The Altar
By 2.7.13
According to a flurry of media reports in the Dallas area, it sounds like American Airlines and US Airways are finishing up a few last-minute details while deciding whether or not they want to stop flirtin and just ahead and tie the knot with a merger. If the union does go through, the combined entity would be the biggest airline in the skies. It’s all very romantic, really (except when someone else’s wedding is involved). [More]
American Airlines Treats Itself To A New Look With First Makeover In Over 40 Years
By 1.17.13
Oh hey, American Airlines you’re looking different these days. Did you do something to your fuselage? Is that a new logo you’re sporting? The airline is treating itself to a revamped look for its fleet of planes, the first makeover it’s done to its exteriors since 1968, including an updated logo as part of the paint job. [More]
US Airways Already Asked American To Get Married Back In April
By 1.15.13
While we’ve all been waiting, handkerchiefs at the ready, for the scene in which US Airways gets down on bended knee and asks poor, down-on-its-luck American Airlines for its hand in marriage, comes a report that the whole scene apparently went down — unsuccessfully — back in April 2012. [More]
United, American Airlines Accused Of Using Sham Businesses To Avoid Millions In Taxes
By 1.14.13
Somewhere in Sycamore, IL, about an hour west of Chicago, both United and American Airlines have offices for subsidiary businesses. But some say these offices are nothing more than tax-dodges that help the carriers avoid millions of dollars in taxes each year. [More]
List Of Companies With Worst Customer Service Scores Is Full Of Familiar Names
By 1.8.13 — Updated: 3.19.13
Bank of America, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Delta, Charter, American Airlines — these are just a few of the all-too-familiar companies sitting comfortably in the back of the pack in terms of customer service for 2012. [More]
American Eagle Pilot Arrested Because Drinking & Driving A Plane Is A Huge No-No
By 1.4.13
Just as drinking and driving is not to be tolerated, boozing and piloting a plane is also frowned upon by law enforcement, especially if you happen to be a commercial pilot about to fly a whole lot of passengers thousands of miles. An American Eagle pilot was removed from a plane he was preparing to fly from Minneapolis to New York City early this morning and arrested after failing an alcohol-breath test. [More]
Hundreds Of Flights Canceled As Bad Weather Wreaks Havoc On Holiday Travel
By 12.26.12
Given the sheer number of flights that have been canceled today — and stand to be canceled and delayed in the coming hours — it’s possible you’re reading this from the discomfort of an airport or in the house of that family member you’d hoped to be saying goodbye to for another year. [More]
Is American Airlines Misleading Passengers Into Paying Extra For Seats?
By 12.18.12
If you go online to choose your seat for a flight you’ve already booked only to find that all the remaining seats are premium offerings that require an extra fee, you might think, “Ugh, I should have checked in earlier so I wouldn’t have to pay.” But if you’re flying American Airlines, it might actually be worth it to wait until shortly before your flight. [More]
‘Passenger Of Size’ Policies For The Largest Domestic Airlines
By 11.8.12 — Updated: 11.17.12
For passengers who don’t easily fit into the narrow seats on most commercial jets, it helps to know in advance what each carrier’s policies. [More]
Relief In Sight For Sandy’s Stranded Passengers As JFK & Newark Reopen For Some Flights
By 10.31.12
Call her a hurricane or call her a superstorm, but weather phenomenon Sandy is responsible for either stranding a lot of passengers away from home or keeping them from their destinations elsewhere. There’s some relief in sight after three days of flight cancellations, as two New York-area airports, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty, have reopened for some flights. [More]
