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News from September 2024
Lufthansa begins fitting Allegris first class to initial A350
Inflight Dublin, a prominent airline content service provider offering its Everhub-branded wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) hardware and software, is exploring system integrations with inflight connectivity (IFC) providers to facilitate real-time credit card transactions via Everhub.
San Diego, CA (September 6, 2024) – Jesus Arellano and his coworkers at Reliance Metal Center in National City, CA, have successfully voted out Teamsters Local 683 union officials. The vote, in which 80% of Reliance Metal Center trucking and warehouse employees participated to oust the union, took place on August 19 and received certification from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on September 3. Arellano and his colleagues obtained the vote with free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.
Data from aviation analytics company Cirium highlights the U.S. airports with the most non-stop destinations, identifying Chicago O’Hare as the leader in connectivity.
Resort fees, often mandatory and added to the advertised price of a hotel room, have been a source of frustration for many travelers. These fees are seen as deceptive because they do not reflect the true cost of staying at a hotel.
In the late 2010s, as the doored suite category of aircraft seating transitioned from first class to business class, regulators began referring to them as “mini-suites.” The term "mini" underscores a key visibility distinction between a first-class suite with doors and walls that flight attendants cannot see over, and a business-class suite where the walls and doors are low enough for clear visibility.
American Airlines will be removed from the S&P 500 index before market open on Monday, September 23rd. The airline will be reassigned to the S&P MidCap 400.
Codeshares are a contentious practice in the airline industry, where one airline sells a seat on another airline’s flight while presenting it as their own. For instance, a passenger might find themselves on an Air Canada plane with an Air Canada crew and check-in process, but holding a ticket labeled as a United Airlines flight. This occurs even if United Airlines does not operate between those cities.
News and notes from around the internet:
On July 25, 1909, Louis Blériot landed near Dover Castle in Kent, England, in a Blériot XI, becoming the first person to cross the English Channel in a heavier-than-air airplane. Over a century later, in August 2024, that pioneering spirit continued when 17-year-old Isla Watson became the first person to complete an Electric Flying Scholarship from The Air League, an aviation and aerospace social mobility charity founded in 1909.
American Airlines has introduced changes to the duration of travel credits, offering new options for customers to maximize their benefits. During the pandemic, many airlines eliminated change fees on most tickets, a practice that continues today. This policy allows travelers more flexibility, though travel credits often come with expiration dates.
Disney theme park visits have seen a decline, possibly due to rising prices. A frequent visitor noted, "When I go with my daughter, the two most common t-shirts are (1) families in matching shirts, '[X] Family Takes Disney [Year]' and (2) Dads wearing N.W.A.-styled 'Straight Outta Cash'."
Chase’s no annual fee Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is back with its best-ever initial bonus offer: $900 after spending $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
A passenger is seeking compensation after purchasing a full-fare business class ticket on Qatar Airways for a flight from Miami to Doha. Despite an otherwise pleasant experience, their rest was disturbed by "exotic birds being transported in cargo directly below us."
The airport security checkpoint has become the stage for a viral social media trend known as the "airport tray aesthetic." Passengers, particularly from Generation Z, are curating and photographing the contents of their TSA bins.
JetBlue’s seat back entertainment map recently labeled much of Israel as “Palestinian Territories” in significantly larger text, overlaying the entire state of Israel. This incident follows a situation where police were called on a passenger who commented on the Hamas massacre of Israel on October 7th, in response to a flight attendant wearing a Palestine pin. The crewmember reportedly used her position to suppress customer speech.
U.S. air traffic control remains reliant on outdated technology, a situation that will persist until the 2030s. Despite several decades of efforts to modernize, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled with implementing technology upgrades. Airspace congestion in the Northeast has led to many manual processes and insufficient personnel to manage them.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a unique period marked by widespread mask mandates and enhanced cleaning protocols in public spaces. Many businesses, including hotels, adopted stringent safety measures, often citing health guidelines as the reason for reduced services.
When you’re a frequent guest of a hotel chain, it’s common to receive a “thank you for being a Titanium Plutonium member” when you check into one of their properties. One guest did not get the 'thank you for your loyalty' and complained to the hotel’s management company.
Two vintage aircraft, valued at millions of dollars, are currently up for sale. A rare CF-104 Starfighter in flying condition is being offered by a nonprofit organization for $4.25 million. Additionally, one of the few operational Nakajima A6M-2 Zero fighters is available for $5 million.