Gadling flies Open Skies

by Grant Martin on

I feel small in these seats, a feeling that I am unaccustomed to when flying overseas. Christopher stops by to see if I’m okay because I’m shifting around awkwardly. I send him off with a cheerful wave and adjust my duvet for the tenth time.

How did I get here?

Open Skies is a new airline spawned from British Airways and the open skies agreement. Their service, kicked off on June 19th between New York’s JFK and Orly in Paris, is the most recent in a line of airlines catering to a new demographic – one who appreciates an enhanced business-class environment, treatment and experience overseas. For the extra one or two hundred dollars over the competition to fly in Economy, passengers can enjoy a smaller cabin, comfortable seats and superior In Flight Entertainment, food and service

Their only 757 aircraft features less than 100 seats, with three classes of service, Economy, Prem + and Biz. I’m told that in the future (and with their acquisition of L’avion), new cabins may only have Prem + and Biz.

With only about sixteen pilots and four times as many flight attendants, the community is small and tightly knit. On my outbound flight, I got to know a few of the flight attendants who filled me in on some of the details about the airline and gave me some tips for my stay in Paris. Each employee, hailing from a colorful past, brings a broad spectrum of experience to the table, the result of which is a multi-faceted group of individuals ready for any situation. As Antony Crucilla, the captain of the return flight told me, the airline has strict requirements in bringing experienced staff on board — and it shows in their service.

Today, I’m on one of the first flights between New York City and Paris, test driving the service and reporting on the experience. Follow along and indulge in the newest airline on the planet: Open Skies.

Continue onward to Planning, booking and the concierge service, or skip ahead to

Online check in
Arrival and check in
In flight: Economy
In flight: Prem +
In flight: Biz
Transfer in from Orly
Return trip logistics
The final word

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Galley Gossip: Snacks on the plane

by Heather Poole on

“Diet Coke,” says the passenger after I ask him what he’d like to drink. While I’m filling a plastic glass full of ice, he asks the question I hoped he wouldn’t ask, “Can I get a sandwich?”

“Oh…ummm…I’m sorry.” I make a face, the I’m-sorry face, because I am sorry. Really, I am. I’m sorry I have to say I’m sorry all day long. “We ran out,” I continue, and before I can tell him that we actually ran out of anything and everything edible on the airplane, he asks “What else do you have?”

I take a deep breath, because I really don’t want to tell this guy we have nothing, not one thing, so I make the face again, the I’m-sorry face, and decide to make light of the situation. “Diet Coke. Sprite. Diet Sprite. Pepsi. Diet Pepsi. Orange juice. Apple Juice.” He’s looking at me like I’m crazy, so I make the face again, oh you know the one, and say, “I’m sorry, but we ran out of everything. There’s no more food.”

“What do you mean there’s no more food!”

“We ran out of food,” I say again, as I oh so gently place a can of Diet Coke and a glass of ice on his tray table. What I don’t say is that we ran out of food hours ago, due to the fact the passengers were starving because of the hour and a half weather delay we took on the ground. What this passenger and I do not know, and will not know for another hour, is we’re going to have another hour and a half delay in flight because the airport in New York is closed due to more bad weather . “Sorry,” I say again, and I am, sorry I’m forced to say sorry all day long.

“This is ridiculous!”

I agree, it is ridiculus, but that’s the way it is.

Last week Iva Skoch wrote about Passengers Revolting on a flight out of Beijing that was canceled due to weather. Fifty-two pasengers refused to leave the aircraft, so they slept on the plane for over twelve hours. “The biggest irony,” Iva wrote, “And something I can’t see happening on America’s cash-strapped airlines, the flight attendants kept serving food and drinks to the protesters.”

Well there are two reasons you won’t see flight attendants in America serving drinks and food to “protesters” onboard a canceled flight throughout the night until the wee hours of the morning, when the airline is finally able to get people onboard another aircraft.

  1. No food. At least there’s not enough to serve to everybody onboard. Sorry. These days flights aren’t catered full. Why? Don’t ask me. I’m just the messenger. But I’m sure it has something to do with those silly fuel prices. But who wants to eat airplane food that’s been sitting on an airplane for hours anyway? We’re talking astronaut food, people! We’re talking there’s a reason the fruit in first class doesn’t turn brown by the end of the flight.
  2. No money. Flight attendants aren’t making a dime until the aircraft door has been shut and the airplane has backed away from the gate. Now keep in mind we’ve already worked the first hour of our day for free, which is by far the most chaotic part of flight – boarding. And you’re right, we did agree to work that first hour for free when we took the job, but there’s no way, no freakin way, we’ll work one hour more. Would you?

Which brings me to the point of this post (there is one, I promise) – snacks. I’m talking food. You should bring some the next time you travel. At least something. Anything! An apple, a cereal bar, instant oatmeal, whatever.

I know exactly what you’re thinking. Why should you have to bring your own food when you paid for a ticket? Because you paid for a seat. That’s it. And as soon as you realize that, the better your flying experience will be. I’m sorry (always sorry) but that’s the reality of the situation. Unfortunately traveling today is like a real life episode of Survivor. You never know what’s going to happen next and you never know when you’re going to eat again.

Oh I know it’s inconvenient to pack food. Trust me, I’m right there with you, carrying a white plastic grocery bag full of Jiffy peanut butter to-go, a brown banana, two slices of multi-grain bread, and an old package of instant oatmeal, as I undress my way through security and make my way through the terminal – Just in case! Forget the clothes, the books, the DVD – pack the food! Mechanicals, weather delays, and cancellations do happen, and they happen often.

Take my five hour flight yesterday that turned into seven and a half hours of starvation for the people onboard who didn’t bring food, or purchase food when they had the chance. Me, I had a chorizo and egg breakfast burrito from La Salsa at the San Diego airport early that morning and I was STILL starving by the end of that flight! I actually got down on my hands and knees and dug through a dirty first class cart looking for something, anything, to get me through the last hour. But there was nothing – not one thing to be had. Which is why most flight attendants I know always – ALWAYS – bring their own from home.

Oh hold on a sec, my cell is ringing… “Hello?”

“Flight Attendant Poole?” asks the stern voice on the other end.

Oh no. The company. What now? “Yes, this is flight attendant Poole.”

“Your flight to San Francisco tonight has been delayed.”

Galley Gossip: Flight Attendant Pet Peeve #2: Back to your seat, please!

by Heather Poole on

Socks on the airplane have been the subject of many conversations in the galley. As well as the cause of a flight attendant nightmare or two. Personally, I don’t care what you wear – shoes, socks, even no socks – but it’s where those shoes (socks and even no socks) are headed that bothers me. Why? Because they’re wandering up and down the aisle and into the lavatory. And…umm…you do realize that’s not water on the bathroom floor, right?

The socks have just exited the bathroom and have now entered the galley.

“Excuse me, miss, can I get a glass of water?”

“Of course,” I say, as I place my lunch on the counter and try not to flinch when I see the socks. I reach for a plastic cup and a bottle of water as you inch your way closer to me. I smile. You smile. We’re both smiling as you slowly bounce up and down on the toes, jangling loose change in the pocket.

“Here you go,” I say, handing you the glass, but before I can even twist the cap back on the bottle of spring water, you say, “A little more, please.”

“Oh sure.” I untwist and pour. Hey, you don’t have to explain it to me. The glass is small. You’re thirsty. I get it. That’s fine.

But now you’re peeking inside an insert. I imagine you’re thinking to yourself, hmm…what do we have in here? Just orange juice and dry ice, I want to say, but don’t, because that’s when I notice you’re eyeing a cup of lemons and limes with a little too much intensity. I’m just about to ask you if you’d like one, when I watch in horror as a hand reaches inside and takes a few.

You smile at me, so I smile back at you, even though I no longer feel like smiling due to the fact you’ve just stuck your hand in there without asking, a hand that recently exited the lavatory before entering the galley. I make a mental note to toss the lemons and limes as soon as you leave. Then I find myself wondering if you’re ever going to leave, because you’ve just placed your empty cup on the counter and you’ve decided to enjoy the view outside by cupping your hands around the small port hole located on the other side of the galley. Now I can’t breathe. Why? You’re still in the galley. Don’t you know it’s against federal aviation regulation to loiter around the galleys and lavatories. Didn’t you hear the captain’s PA?

Guess not. Because you’ve just draped your arms over the other jumpseat, the one right beside me, resting your chin on your arms as you take in a view from the back of the cabin. I try to remain calm. Surely I won’t have to say anything because you’ll be taking your seat anytime now, right?

Wrong.

You bend over and touch your toes. You’ve decided this would be the perfect time to start doing those doctor recommended calisthenics. While you’re bending and stretching, I’m about to have a nervous breakdown. I’m sorry, but I do get a little claustrophobic from time to time. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because your butt is now in my face.

Look, unless you’ve actually been invited into the galley (it does happen), you do not – I repeat – you do not, for any reason, step onto the linoleum floor – for any length of time. And if you do, try to make it quick. Do not loiter. Do not help yourself to whatever you happen to see. And please do not bring your baby to the back to crawl around. It’s filthy in there. Not to mention, we break glass in there. And do you really need to do your exercising in the galley? Can’t you simply take a walk the length of the cabin to get the blood flow going when the seat belt sign is not on. I mean is Pilate’s really necessary?

Imagine I came to your place of work and peeked into your drawers and helped myself to all those little nicknack’s you have on your desk – ya know, the jelly beans, the picture of the wife and kids, the Rubik’s cube. What’s the problem? I just came by to say hi. To see what’s up. Don’t really care if you’re eating lunch or in the middle of a project. Not when I want to be near you. What’s the big deal? I’m just taking a break. Stretching the legs. Inviting whomever passes to join me in your tiny little office space. Mind if I do a few lunges in here? Right beside you. Rubbing up against you. Hey, you gonna eat that sandwich?

Admit it, you’d get a little annoyed, too. Now go back to your seat. The seat belt sign is on.

Gadling’s airline hit list: five airlines to watch this summer

by Grant Martin on

With all of the trouble swirling around the airline industry it’s hard not to think about this summer and more problems that could occur. Summertime is traditionally a busy time of year, with travel prices and oil going up as vacationers hit the road. This year is a little different though. More Americans are staying home because they can’t afford to take that summer vacation to Disney World and the cost of operating an airplane is at an all time high. We suggest in an earlier article that this combination could spell disaster for more than one airline.

I’m not the only speculator on the obituaries — Morningstar released a financial report on the airlines earlier this month that rated the liquidity and debt coverage of some of the major carriers. What they found was that Southwest was the only airline in a decent position, a few other carriers were squabbling along in second place and there were a lot of airlines in serious financial trouble this summer.

Business Travel Commission and AirlineForecasts issued another doomsday paper last week called the Airline Crisis Report, where they look at the earnings of the top ten carriers in the United States. The only company in the black? You guessed it.

So we’ve put all of the data together and mixed in a fair amount of “gut feeling” to make Gadling’s Hitlist: 5 Airlines to Watch this Summer. Expect to hear about these airlines in the news, woeing about fuel prices and cutting about service and maybe even exploring the “B” word: bankruptcy.

  1. Frontier – Denver based Frontier Airlines declared bankruptcy earlier this year because their credit company started taking a larger cut out of their transactions. All this has potential passengers afraid of another Skybus incident where they might get trapped at their destination, so my bet is loads and profit are down even further. Today the struggling airline released a report saying they would take a $59.4M loss this year, their largest deficit ever.
  2. L’avion – Never heard of L’avion? Most people haven’t. One of the last of the business-class-only carriers around town is struggling to keep it’s head above water as OpenSkies is about to jump into the USA-Paris market this month. If we’ve learned anything from Maxjet, Eos, or Silverjet, L’avion is up to bat next.
  3. US Airways – The above data seem to indicate that US Airways is in one of the worst situations among all carriers — among the most outstanding debt, lowest liquidity and lowest earnings in the market. Earlier this year they were rumored to be in talks with United to merge. Someone needs to bail them out, because they keep hemorrhaging cash and with a rating among the lowest on the Airline Quality Report, passengers need a boost in confidence.
  4. Spirit – Low Cost Carriers are among the first victims in a downturn, as Skybus already showed us. While Spirit has been around for a while, they may not have the customer or frequent flyer base to keep things going in sustained tight times. As MSNBC’s Chris Elliott pointed out last week, they’ve almost shut down their customer service, which can’t be a great sign of things to come.
  5. Mesa/Pinnacle – As small feeder airlines for the larger carriers, both Mesa and Pinnacle face the potential of being trimmed out as the giants cut costs. Just last week, Pinnacle was dropped as a feeder by Delta Airlines. Mesa, on the other hand, was rated among the lowest in both the Morningstar and AQR reports.

Think I’m full of crap? As I admitted before, much of these predictions are a mixture of speculation and data — these notes shouldn’t influence your portfolio investments or even your decision to book tickets. Let me know what your favorite airlines and predictions are below are and hold on for a little bit of turbulence this summer.

Look out! Your airline is cutting capacity

by Grant Martin on

You may have noticed that your favorite airline just announced that it’s cutting capacity. American Airlines parent company AMR and Spirit Airlines announced it last week. Continental and United did the same this week. They’re all doing it. In times of increased stress on the airline, lower demand and higher costs, they have to do it to save the bottom line.

But what does this mean for the lay traveler?

Well, several things. While the airline of your choice will be cutting routes, they’re most often going to be cutting routes that are in low demand. The moneymakers — routes that most of us take the most often will stick around because they’re actually generating cash. So if you fly from New York to Detroit every third Friday to see your boyfriend on the 7PM flight, that will probably stick around because it’s a popular flight at a popular time on a popular day.

The 2PM Saturday flight from New Orleans to Springfield, MO, however may not.

If you’re in the minority that do take that Orleans-Springfield flight, fear not. You’ll still be able to connect through one of the hubs. Also make sure that another carrier hasn’t swooped into replace your former favorite route. Often times, multiple carriers have competing prices on routes (resulting in lower demand across them). Two of AA’s routes that they canceled July 02, for example, Dallas – Austin and Dallas – Kansas City, are also covered by Southwest.

Particularly on the few routes that are heavy hitters (ie, Boston – San Diego, AA cuts Sep 03), expect a modest increase in prices as demand evens out across the other flights over the course of the day.

These cuts and increases in prices are part of the natural evolution in a tight market — cut out the poorly performing routes, trim back staff and tighten the belt while money is scarce. While it’s unfortunate for passengers and terribly unfortunate for employees, it’s a necessary step to ensuring that America has strong airlines in the future. Buckle down for a tough summer and I promise things will be better in the fall.