FAAilure We live in an automated society. In the 1800s, 90 percent of the population lived on farms; today it is around 1 percent. We’re seeing jobs being automated away, and we adapt. But what about fully automated flight controls? The October crash of a Lion Air jet off Indonesia, killing 189, raised questions about Boeing rapidly… Read More
Reminding Congress and DOT of AA’s steep decent: Behold, the new Greyhound of the skies! American Airlines’ new A321 Neo. Sardine seating? Check! One lavatory for 60 passengers? Check. One flight attendant per 50 passengers – which equals no flight attendants? Check! No seatback screens, aka no in-flight entertainment? Check! However, this may be insulting to Greyhound, we understand, because at least the… Read More
Your Mileage May Vary Remember the good old days, when frequent flyer programs were easy to decipher and actually rewarding? Travelers earned mileage based on distance traveled. Airlines rounded mileage up to 500 for short flights, free tickets were easier to accrue, miles never expired, and award travel was basically free, requiring little more than a Saturday night… Read More