Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for December 2021.

In Big Change, Qantas Will Bring Back Iconic Airbus A380 In Just Two Weeks

by Gary Leff

plane water salute
Dec 27 2021

The pandemic kept kept much of Qantas grounded. Their Airbus A380 wasn’t supposed to return until June 2023 “at the earliest.” But the Australian government allowing its citizens to again leave the country, and residents to return, led to a re-start of the airline’s international route network and a planned return of the world’s largest passenger jet on the Los Angeles – Sydney route in July 2022. And then moved the re-introduction date up to March.

Now, because of increased coronavirus precautions rather than re-opening, the airline will again move up the A380 jumbo jet’s return to just two weeks from now on January 11.

Continue Reading »

“Sit Down Karen, You’re Going To Jail” Passenger Taken Into Custody After Delta Flight From Florida

by Gary Leff

Dec 25 2021

On a Tampa to Atlanta flight on Thursday a Delta Air Lines passenger was “acting belligerent with an older flight attendant” according to a passenger on board. That’s when another passenger “intervened and things escalated really quickly.”

The incident with the flight attendant had been calming down, it seems, but the man’s intervention created a whole new drama between the two passengers. That’s when “the two of them started going at it and …the woman started screaming and then she yelled in the grinch [redacted] and got in the guy’s face.”

Continue Reading »

Video: Fight Erupts Mid-Cabin As Loud Talker Wouldn’t Keep His Mask On

by Gary Leff

Dec 25 2021

A brawl broke out on Delta flight 1136 from LAX to Memphis as a man – whom an eyewitness said “appeared to be drinking” upset other passengers by being loud and “not keeping his mask on.”

This prompted another passenger to get snarky with the man, and this escalated into a fight. Which escalated into a bigger fight. And soon several people were involved ostensibly to break up the fight by fighting themselves.

Continue Reading »

Here’s Which Marriott Choice Benefits You Should Select

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Dec 24 2021

I’m going to ignore the math here and just say I don’t need the free night and I’ll enjoy the possible upgrade more if it comes through. In other words I’m going to waste money, perhaps frivolously, on something I’ll enjoy.

Why is it a waste? Because I’m probably better off taking the free night, saving $240 in cash I’d otherwise spend on a room, and using that cash for a better room on another stay or indeed on something other than a Marriott upgrade I’ll enjoy more. I’m going to do the thing that’s irrational because I’m rational enough to know that I’ll enjoy the irrationality.

Continue Reading »

Delta Air Lines Wants To Know If Elites Will Use Check-in Kiosks Instead Of Airport Agents

by Gary Leff

Dec 24 2021

Delta Air Lines wants to know if they can save money staffing check-in counters with agents for elite travelers. For years they’ve pushed general passengers to self-service kiosks, while maintaining full service especially for their most frequent customers.

They’re surveying their customer focus group, made up generally of a group of elite customers, about whether they use kiosks in areas outside of air travel, what features they want from kiosks, and whether the pandemic has made them more open to a shift to kiosks (less human interaction).

Continue Reading »

United Airlines Melting Down For The Holidays

by Gary Leff

united plane
Dec 23 2021

On November 4, United Airlines sent out a remarkable email to customers where they trolled their competitors for the operational problems they’d had, and promising that United would be the carrier everyone could rely on for their holiday plans.

I wrote at the time that’s called tempting fate and – right on schedule – United’s operation appears to be melting down.

Continue Reading »