Impromptu striptease on Delta flight ends in hospitalization

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It’s always wild when passengers do crazy stuff on flights, but the trend has taken a new twist: the media always seems to be present. A CNN photographer was on hand to find bullets left behind by a law enforcement officer, and now a news manager from Newsday was present to witness a passenger stripping.

On Delta Flight 6562 over the weekend the woman, who hasn’t been named, peeled off layers until she reached a state only the TSA could appreciate, as flight attendants tried in vain to cover her up. According to the Associated Press, she yelled, “No! No! No!”

The woman was said not to have interfered with the flight and was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens when the flight landed. She isn’t expected to face criminal charges. There’s no word on whether she left the flight with a thong full of singles.

There is a silver lining in all this. Not too long ago, Delta was proclaimed the worst airline in the United States. With perks like this, I expect that perception to change.

[photo by Steve Zak Photography]

American Airlines launches promotions to compete with new Virgin America route at DFW

by McLean Robbins on

Move over, American – there’s a new dog and pony show in town. American Airlines has launched a new promotional series they propose will “surprise and delight customers” who fly between their hub at Dallas/Fort Worth and LAX or SFO between now and February 28, 2011.

Cooincidentally, this promotion comes just as Virgin America begins competing service to the same two cities. Still, we’re never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Take advantage of American’s AAdvantage® program when flying these nonstop routes and gain double elite qualifying miles and double flight miles.

To qualify, passengers must register prior to travel and use promotion code LASF2.

Additionally, between December 1 and 15, American will introduce a ’15 Days of Giveaways’ promotion where customers on several mystery flights a day between DFW and LAX or between DFW and SFO will be selected to receive complimentary giveaway items including Avis Rent A Car coupons, movie passes to see the new film “The Fighter”, Admirals Club one day passes, 5,000 AAdvantage miles an AA Vacations $100 coupon and more.

[Flickr image via CaptnBrando]

Qantas launches “unlimited flights to South Australia” contest

by McLean Robbins on

Who doesn’t love free travel? Between now and December 31, 2010, the South Australia Tourism Commission and Qantas Airways have partnered to giveaway unlimited flights for two for one year to South Australia.

The Grand Prize winner will win of unlimited round-trip economy class flights for the winner and one companion between Los Angeles (LAX) and Adelaide (ADL).

A few stipulations make this trip slightly more difficult if you don’t have a significant other – the Grand Prize winner and travel companion must travel on the same itinerary for each trip and the winner’s travel companion must be the same person for each trip.

Still, free trips? We’re all about that.

The contest winner will be selected on January 15, 2011. To enter, visit www.unlimitedflightstoaustralia.com.

Zagat survey: five ways customers say they hate airlines … in their own words

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It’s almost sport for customers to describe how much they hate airlines. Sure, there are a few that do well from time to time, occasionally delivering high levels of service or eschewing ancillary fees. But, the overwhelming trend tends to be one of customer dissatisfaction.

Zagat, which is in the business of measuring and publishing value and taste, has taken a shot defining the highs and lows of the airline business, and the results aren’t all that positive. Well, let’s be frank: there’s nothing pleasant about flying.

The survey results aren’t all that shocking, and you can get them here from Zagat. What’s more fun is the stuff Zagat wouldn’t print … on the advice of its lawyers, the company announcement claims with an implied smirk.

How bad can it be? Let’s look at five insights from the Zagat airline survey … with customer claws bared in all their gory glory:1. Akin to an execution: Zagat’s surveyors seemed to spend a lot of time talking about death. One noted, “The only thing missing is a blindfold and a cigarette.” Another said, “At least they haven’t killed me yet.” Get the message? In case you don’t, one called air travel, “A violation of the Geneva Convention.”

2. Service with a scowl: again, it’s not much of a shock that customer service didn’t score all that high. One surveyor summed it up: “Unwelcome aboard!” But, if you think that’s the most creative, you’re out of your mind. I did enjoy the comment, “My bags get better service, but they pay extra.” Nothing, however, beats one disgruntled contributor who asked, “Who made them mad at their customers?”

3. Not even money can buy you happiness: do you think the rich have it better? Well, not in the skies they don’t! According to one Zagat surveyor, “The only difference between economy and business classes is a shrimp on your salad.”

4. Training is key: and this is what led one to muse, “Flight attendants seem to have trained with Frau Blucher.” Yes, but what instruction guide was used? That’s where another chimed in: “Staff must use Orwell’s 1984 as a training manual.” Ouch.

5. Get comfortable? Get real: the fact that passengers don’t get a lot of space didn’t escape notice. One surveyor says, “I don’t love getting up-close-and-personal with the head of the person in front of me.” Notes another, “Seats make an iron maiden seem comfortable.” It gets worse: “Like a cattle car, except the cows are mercifully slaughtered at trip’s end.”

[photo by joiseyshowaa via Flickr]

Unemployed Mexicana airline flight attendants raise more than cash with sexy new calendar

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Who says print is dead?

The newspaper business may be in trouble, but if you find 10 great bodies, take pictures of them and line them up with the months of the year, you could be in business for a while. This is exactly what a handful of unemployed flight attendants from Mexicana airlines did, according to the Associated Press.

They lost their jobs when the carrier filed for bankruptcy and suspended operations, and the sexy calendar is an effort to “to call attention to their own plight and that of their airline – one of the world’s oldest,” the Associated Press reports.

The ladies sport bikinis, sunglasses and provocative uniform variations while making propellers, cockpits and other dirty-sounding airplane parts look a hell of a lot hotter.

Interestingly, the hotties shelled out their own cash for the project, investing around $8,000 to get the glossy delight off the ground. It seems this was money well spent: the first thousand were purchased before the calendar’s official launch last Thursday, and another run of 3,000 is in progress.

[Photo credits: AP/Getty Images]

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