American Airlines updates fleets with new Boeing 737s

by Grant Martin on

With the oldest fleet in the American workforce, it was about time that American Airlines got aggressive with updating their aircraft. This year they’re starting the revamp with delivery of new Boeing 737-800s.

While the 737-800 airframe has been around for ten years now, American is making sure to include all of the modcons to keep passengers happy. Among those tidbits will be new, numerous overhead screens that pump better, streamlined videos, in-seat power in coach and Aircell augmentation — meaning wireless internet will eventually be available on all new aircraft.

These new deliveries will be a fresh breath of air compared against the current, ancient fleet that American flies today. While it’s an impressive accomplishment to keep such an outdated fleet operational, at some point, a new generation of aircraft needs to take hold.

Deliveries of the 737-800 aircraft started this month and will continue throughout the next couple of years. Keep an eye out for the new aircraft, interiors and service. You’ll be impressed.

More airline employees with sticky fingers

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Did you lose a bag at Philadelphia International Airport? Well, there may be a reason. An American Airlines baggage crew chief was arrested and charged with stealing clothes from the luggage he handled. The game appears to have been: (1) steal the clothes, (2) return them to a department store and (3) don’t get caught.

That last one’s the hard part.

A passenger on Flight 892 from Dallas to Philly noticed four articles of clothing missing – with a total value of $550. It was easy to reach that amount; the tags were still on the items. Later, the clothing, which was purchased at a Nordstrom in Dallas, was taken to a local Nordstrom.

If it seems to easy … well, handcuffs are there to tell you that it is.

This is just the latest instance busted up by police. A TSA official was fired from his job in Philly for lifting passenger belongings, and a theft ring in St. Louis was discovered – after around 900 items were alleged to have been stolen.

American Airlines bringing in-flight Internet to more domestic flights

by Scott Carmichael on

There is no denying it – in-flight Internet is here to stay. The popularity of being able to get some work (or fun) done during your flight helped make in-flight WiFi one of the winners of the 2008 Engadget awards.

This morning, American Airlines announced their commitment to the service by revealing plan to bring the Gogo in-flight Internet service to 300 of its domestic planes.

American Airlines has been testing the service, and has installed it on 15 planes, Passenger feedback has been so positive that 150 of their MD-80’s will be outfitted with the equipment this year, and another 150 planes next year.

Getting online costs just $9.95 for flights 3 hours or less, and $12.95 for longer flights. Recently, Gogo introduced a new price plan for users with a handheld device or smartphone – they can now get online for just $7.95.

I took the Gogo service for a spin last year, and as far as I cam concerned, it can’t can’t come fast enough on every plane in the country.

It’s Ladies Night at American Airlines!

by Annie Scott on

Traveling is hard. Don’t you think you should get a special discount just for being a woman? American Airlines does!

In recognition of Women’s History Month … March (also, according to Wikipedia, American Red Cross Month and Fire Prevention Month), American Airlines is offering a special deal just for the ladies.

If you visit AA.com/women, you can:

“Print out a flyer and present it to any Admirals Club lounge representative on or before May 15 to save up to $50 off a new annual membership or $25 off a membership renewal. American, a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, has more than 40 Admirals Club locations worldwide.”

Awesome. The website also includes destination deals and articles on worldwide women. Check it out!

U.S. Airlines can’t come up with any new ways to charge their customers

by Scott Carmichael on

Some sad news from Reuters this afternoon (for the airlines at least).

U.S. based airlines may have finally run out of new fees for their passengers.

Indeed, after years of moving things that used to be free into a fee based category, there simply isn’t anything left they can charge us for.

Some airlines, have increased their revenue by over $2 Billion a year, just off things like meals, drinks and baggage charges.

These are all things that used to be included for free with your ticket, but now add as much as 25% to the price of your trip.

Of course, when an airline claims it has run out of ways to screw us, I suspect they are just getting warmed up for the really nasty charges they are preparing. There are plenty of ways they can still make a few bucks off us, until the point where your ticket is nothing more than a piece of paper that entitles you to getting to your destination “sooner or later”.

I’ve written about some of the insane ways airlines come up with “exciting” new products, and quite frankly, I don’t think their creativity will end until the last accountant has left the building.

(Via: RickSeaney.com)