According to the FAA, Southwest flight 438 returned to Dallas’ Love Field on November 17 when the plane “experienced a vibration in the number 2 engine” shortly after take-off.
flight
Build Your Dream Airline
By 11.10.07
The USA Today tossed three travel experts in a room and asked them to describe their dream airline. An airline that restores the grandeur of flight by focusing on passenger value and convenience. Pay attention airlines, and consider giving us the following:
Flight Delays Will Only Get Worse, Say Experts
By 9.4.07
The New York Times looks at the country’s most consistently late airplane—American Airlines Flight 1659, from Newark to Chicago—and asks industry professionals about the rapidly deteriorating quality of air travel in the United States. The short answer: it will take at least a decade to upgrade air traffic control systems to handle the new super-busy runways, so unless airlines stop “maximizing” their profits by scheduling flights so closely together or we build more airports, this is the new modern way to travel.
Virgin Atlantic, British Airways Admit To Collusion, Prepare To Issue Vouchers
By 8.6.07
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways admitted last week to the Department of Justice that they colluded to levy excess fuel surcharges ranging from $10 to $100. Despite the admission, both airlines claim that passengers weren’t really overcharged.
Ruxin: TB Bigger Problem Than Just That Groom
By 6.15.07
Josh Ruxin, the Assistant Clinical Professor of Public Health at Columbia, says that although only 17 people in the US have come down with Multidrug Resistant TB in the last seven years, it is a huge problem throughout Africa.
Department Of Transportation To Examine Deceptive Airline Schedules
By 4.21.07
The Department of Transportation is accusing eight airlines of publishing unrealistic schedules. At issue is whether airlines are properly disclosing on-time performance statistics as required.
“We want to understand … how it is possible that a flight could be late 70 or 80 percent of the time and actually not disclose that inadequate rate to the customer,” said Andrew Steinberg, assistant secretary of transportation for aviation and international affairs.
If airlines do not demonstrate improvements within the year, Congress has threatened to unleash a barrel of monkeys new rules. The Department can start by having a friendly chat with U.S. Airways, operator of Flight 154 from Philadelphia to San Francisco, which arrived late 100% of the time in February. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
That Economist Article We Wanted You To Read, In Full
By 9.12.06
Yesterday, we recommended reading the Economist as a healthy alternative to the illustrious Jugs Magazine. In particular, we highlighted the excellence of a recent article called Welcome Aboard, and laboriously typed in a snip for your amusement. We then recommended you go out and buy the magazine.
Before You Panic, Try FlightAware.com
By 9.11.06
Remember Erica? She was the lady who raged against US Airways for listing her husband’s delayed flight as UNKNOWN, thus spinning her into a terror-induced seizure of fears about exploding airplaines and raising her children as a single parent.
Wanted: Singing, Kung-Fu Stewardesses
By 8.28.06
What are the requirements to be a flight attendant? A cute wiggle. A superhuman patience with the bovanity of humankind. The ability to comfortably work for hours at a time in panty hose.
The Amazing Ryanair Raffle Ticket
By 8.28.06
We rarely do anecdotal stuff here, but I thought this was interesting enough to comment on.
Westjet Delays, Pays Happy Traveler
By 6.20.06
7.50 worth of complimentary drinks at the airport bar. That’s the way customer service is handled in Ireland.
Southwest Airlines Sues To Keep Seating Inconvenient
By 6.8.06
If you’re a Southwest Airlines flier and want the best seats, an entire cottage industry has sprung up. You enter your Southwest Airlines account and password into sites like boardfirst.com, apassonly.com or alineonline.com will automatically check you in online the second Southwest Airlines starts accepting seat reservations. It costs about $5 bucks per use… an excellent deal if you really want to get that extra leg room near the emergency exit door.
