Southwest’s video response to “Pretty Girls” debacle

by Grant Martin on

Earlier this week, Soutwest Airlines came under fire again in the story about two young women begin escorted off a flight between Florida and California after causing a ruckus. In the public outcry and subsequent debate that followed, many people came to the defense of the embattled airline (check the Digg comments for some of the berating), but many of the facts still weren’t clear. Were the women actually causing problems? Were they really mistreated on the flight?

Well, in an effort to straighten out the matter, Paula Berg, PR from SWA has been in contact with the community including myself and one Mr. Cranky Flier pointing out their stand. Additionally, they’ve now posted a video on Youtube stating their stance. Despite the strange setting and verbage chosen by PR, the message basically confirms what most of us were suspecting: the women were being disruptive and Southwest chose to refund their return trips. Easy enough. Take a look:

[Via The Cranky Flier — although, I beat you to the punch on the first article. Ha!]

Flying to Europe? Try this NWA 20% off code

by Grant Martin on

In case you still haven’t booked your springtime Europe travel, now might be a good time to do it. Northwest Airlines just published a discount code for 20% off all Europe bound flights in April.

You have to be a NWA frequent flyer in order to cash in on the deal — but it’s fairly easy to get a free number on the website. After that you have to plug in that frequent flyer number plus the reference code PR029 into the E-Cert option on the booking page in order to activate the discount.

No word on whether Northwest Airlines will still be Northwest Airlines by springtime with all of this merger talk, but you don’t have to worry about that. Whether NWA gets bought out by Delta, United, Dubai or Beijing, they’ll still fulfill their obligation for all flights reserved.

Travel must be booked by March 3rd and take place between April 6th and 20th.

Should pilots have to compete for your business?

by Kent Wien on

You’ve always dreamt of flying out to a remote lodge in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, but you’re a bit concerned about the pilots. Are they really good enough to get you into that 1000-foot strip? Wouldn’t it be nice to know just how these aviators rank?

Well, the May Day Fly-In and Airshow in Valdez, Alaska has a bush pilot competition that ranks pilots and their planes in their ability to takeoff and land in the shortest possible distances. These airplanes are highly modified to handle the tightest gravel bars Alaska has to offer. And their pilots know how to get the most out of them.

If you’re looking for some experienced pilots to take you to a great lodge, you can’t go too wrong with the Claus family. Dad, Paul, accomplished the shortest takeoff at 19 feet, and his 18-year old son Jay scored a 39-foot takeoff, which was good for 4th place in his class. The Claus family own and operate the Ultima Thule Lodge.

Here’s 18 year old Jay’s 39 foot takeoff:


I think I’m ready to go visit the Claus family and see just WHERE they’re taking this airplane!

Join Kent at Cockpit Chronicles which takes you along on each of his trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston.

Will the Open Skies agreement drive down the cost of transatlantic travel?

by Grant Martin on

This year’s Open Skies agreement, the deregulating measure slated to open up competition in the transatlantic market, is set to unfurl at the end of next month.

Airlines from the left and right side of the pond are already preparing for the demand. Traditional airports like London‘s Heathrow will now be opened up to all bidders (depending on available slots), which in turn will open the door for smaller carriers to break into a formerly tight market.

On the surface, this looks good for passengers. Any increase in supply should result in a lower overall price, right? That’s what we’re hoping for. What we don’t want to happen is for the recent spike in oil prices to counteract the new supply, which is unfortunately what many industry analysts are predicting. There is still hope, however. If we could get some major Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) involved in the fray, supply would go through the roof and the legacy carriers would be forced to compete in a fair market.

It’s kind of like the Southwest Airlines effect in the US. Whever SWA starts service to a hub, a miniature fare war starts among the carriers and prices to that destination equalize. Now all we need is a transatlantic discount carrier to do the same thing. Any volunteers?

Read more at a related BBC article here.

British researchers blow hole in airplane with “3 oz liquids”

by Grant Martin on

In today’s chapter of alarmist security news, British Media published a report earlier this week claiming that they could obtain and formulate the right ingredients among 3.4 ounce bottles to blast a hole into the side of an airplane fuselage. They claim:

“The explosive was made by mixing two easily obtainable chemicals that can be carried through security in the permitted 100 millilitre containers.

To a security guard, the chemicals – which the Standard is not identifying and cost only a few pounds – are colourless and odourless and seem like water. They can be easily disguised, if necessary, as toiletries. “

But Kip Hawley over at the good ‘ol TSA claims says it’s not as easy as you think.. He says

“in recent tests, a National Lab was asked to formulate a test mixture and it took several tries using the best equipment and best scientists for it to even ignite. That was with a bomb prepared in advance in a lab setting. A less skilled person attempting to put it together inside a secure area or a plane is not a good bet.”

So perhaps we’re not as “at-risk” as the Brits claim we are. And I can see how this sort of sensationalist news reporting could try to stir up a controversy. But in a way, I can also sort of see how the bearish TSA could snub any idea that their rules aren’t efficient.

I just miss bringing bottles of wine in my checked luggage.