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Tag: Air Travel

  • American Airlines Pilots “Tired Of Apologizing To Our Customers”

    American Airlines Pilots “Tired Of Apologizing To Our Customers”

    American Airlines has had difficulty in recent history that stems from the merger with US Airways.

    If you’ve flown American Airlines recently, you might have experienced or heard tales of delayed and cancelled flights and other frustrating circumstances.

    Travelers’ word of mouth has quickly given rise to a new and terrible reputation for American Airlines. I was in an airport twice over the last 12 months, both times announcements for cancelled American Airlines flights came over the speaker.

    American Airlines pilots, for another group, are fed up with management.

    It seems, despite the merger, management is clinging to their old ways and public relations are not improving.

    American Airlines pilots of the Allied Pilots Association wrote a brutal letter to Doug Parker, the Chairman and CEO of the airline.

    In the letter, American Airlines pilots wrote, “The pilots of American Airlines will not remain silent as we witness the rebirth of the toxic culture we fought so hard to eradicate.”

    The union went on to call out American Airlines management of using “old school, rules-based management” and “cut-throat and heartless operating methods.”

    The pilots of American Airlines call thier company’s operations “embarrassing” and say they are “tired of apologizing to passengers.”

    At the conclusion, American Airlines pilots make some demands from Parker.

    They include “stopping the contractual/legal abuses by the company, effective implementation of contractual provisions agreed to in the joint collective bargaining agreement and effecting/facilitating lasting and durable cultural change.”

    What do you think of the outrage expressed by American Airlines pilots?

    Has your travel suffered at the hands of American Airlines?

  • Delta New Seats, Overhead Bins To Be Installed

    Delta Air Lines is planning for a huge overhaul that will effect many members of their fleet, with the renovations planned including talk of new seats, larger overhead bins, and electrical power outlets for every seat. The news comes as a pleasant surprise to many frequent flyers, and for good reason; the renovations are set to take place on 225 different planes, so almost all flyers will be able to experience the expanded comfort and efficiency that Delta implies with these renovations.

    The new seats don’t come as an added bonus only for flyers, however; with the renovations comes room for more seats on the same planes that Delta already has. This is made possible by the fact that the new seats are “slim-line,” which allows for more space due to a smaller, lighter frame. That means expansion of both space and income for the airlines without having to invest in completely new air crafts, spelling out for a growth of profit for the company.

    The renovations will also provide newer galleys on certain airplanes, which will take up less space, also helping the airline in its quest for more space and, thus, expanded seating. Not to fear, though; leg space will remain about the same after the renovation, and the seats will also be a bit wider once all is said and done. Some aircrafts will also have less business-class seating in order to make room for expanded seating in coach. The remodeling will also make the interiors of the aircrafts purchased from Northwest Airlines back in 2008 the same as all the others being remodeled, giving a more uniform look a majority of the airline’s planes.

    The project is set to begin this winter, and will cost around $770 million. As it is a three year project, the remodeling is projected to wrap up sometime in 2016.

    Image via Wikiemdia Commons.

  • United Airlines Pulls Pre-Boarding Privileges for Parents

    United Airlines Pulls Pre-Boarding Privileges for Parents

    If you’re one of the many individuals out there with kids, then chances are you’ve enjoyed the pre-boarding perks granted to you by various airlines over the course of your worldly travels. This gives you and your brood an opportunity to hop onboard, get your gear stowed, and strap your children in for the ride ahead. Unfortunately for you and yours, US Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines have slowly but surely done away with these privileges, meaning that parents will have to elbow through the crowds in order to make sure their families are safe and secure.

    In regards to United Airlines decision to change its policy last April, outraged parents have taken to Change.org to express their thoughts and feelings about the alteration. Over 30,000 individuals have signed the recent petition, which, in the world of online petitions, is quite a few. Judging from the outcry surrounding this story, that number is sure to increase steadily until the airline either changes their policy or tells enraged parents where to shove off.

    Kaja Meade, the New York City mom who started the petition, is understandably peeved about the changes. “Like many other parents, I rely on preboarding as part of my travel plan. It’s not an amenity, it’s a necessary service,” she explained. “This is another airline policy that’s bad for travelers, and I’m concerned that others may follow United’s lead.”

    Could United Airlines be dumping the “pre-boarding for families” perk to force individuals to buy their more expensive tickets? US Airways, for example, currently offers a package that allows anyone, including those without children, to board early. Additionally, they’ve also moved the family boarding group to after military personnel and those who sprung for the first class and elite packages. Parents, it would seem, can’t catch a break these days.

    “We figured it would be better to simplify that process and reduce the number of boarding groups,” explained Charles Hobart, a spokesman for United Airlines. “If families do need additional assistance, our gate agent will work to accommodate them. That message has been communicated.”

  • 3-Year-Old Kicked Off Flight for Refusing to Wear Sealtbelt

    3-year-old kicked off flight for refusing to wear his seatbelt has caught the attention of folks across the Internet. According to KiroTV, Mark Yanchuck and his son, Daniel, were on a red-eye flight to Miami when the incident occurred. Yanchuck said that his son was sleepy and a little fussy, which prevented him from sitting up straight and using his seatbelt. Despite his best efforts, the father couldn’t calm the child down.

    Flight attendants attempted to solve the problem by moving the child’s mother, who was seated near the front of the plane, closer to her child. According to Svetlana Yanchuck, Daniel had his belt fastened when she arrived, and it only took a few minutes to calm the crying child down. By this point, unfortunately, it was too little too late.

    After moving about 50 feet, the pilot announced that they had to return to the gate. Once they had arrived, Mark was informed that he and his son would have to leave the plane. After pleading his case to no avail, the entire family disembarked, though they were clearly not happy about the ordeal. The pilot stated the decision to remove the child was a matter of safety.

    “I thought we were treated like criminals,” Svetlana remarked.

    According to flight attendants, several conversations about the boy’s behavior took place before the decision was made to give them the boot. The Yanchucks, meanwhile, claim that their son had settled down by the time they were asked to leave. The family has refused to have their flight rebooked by the airline.

  • TSA Screeners To Be Booted Out of US Airport

    In November 2010, the federal Transportation Security Administration put a freeze on airports opting to use privatized security services instead of the agency’s own employees, but a provision in a Senate bill passed last month has opened the door for airports to once again apply to replace TSA screeners with private security.

    The TSA is not a very popular agency, with taxpaying consumers complaining about the agency’s bureaucratic disorganization and apathy, its massive $8.1 billion budget, and its controversial use of invasive body scanners. Now Orlando Sanford International Airport–one of the busiest in the United States–is planning to take advantage of the new legislation and opt out of TSA-run security screenings.

    According to the Miami Herald, the airport’s president announced Tuesday that he will again apply to use a privatized security service, which will operate according to federal standards and under TSA oversight.

    Though the legislation allowing the opt-out was passed over a month ago, at present only 16 airports have applied to make the switch, despite the TSA’s reputation of poor customer service, and even allegations of abuse. “The TSA has been keen to downplay the opportunity for airports to dispense with their screeners,” reports InfoWars, “fearing a mass exodus that could undermine the justification for the agency’s continued existence, especially given the fact that its reputation has been repeatedly savaged by a number of scandals.”

    As word spreads about airports’ ability to opt-out of TSA-run screenings, and especially if major airports like Orland Sanford set a precedent by successfully applying to privatize, we may see the TSA get the boot from even more airports in the months to come.

    Image Source: Private Officer News.