In today’s digital age, technology plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives – including travel. From mobile apps to virtual reality, technology has transformed the way we experience the world around us. However, as much as we love and rely on technology, there are times when it fails us, leading to frustration
Airlines
Air travel complications can be a nightmare for travelers, especially when they are about to embark on a cruise journey. A recent experience highlighted the challenges that can arise when dealing with airlines and their policies, particularly in the context of the cruise industry. One of the most frustrating aspects of air travel connected to
American Airlines has recently rolled out a commission program aimed at promoting New Distribution Capability (NDC) bookings. This new initiative offers travel agencies a 10% commission rate for NDC-enabled bookings of American’s Main Plus, Main Select, and Flagship Business Plus bundles. The specifics of this commission program were first revealed in The Beat newsletter, where
Fiji Airways, a prominent airline serving 26 destinations across 15 countries and territories, has announced its transition from being a member of the Oneworld Connect affiliate program to becoming a full member of the alliance. This move marks a significant milestone for the South Pacific airline, with the integration process expected to be completed within
Air Canada has recently revealed its plans to integrate NDC content within Sabre in the upcoming weeks. This move comes as part of the airline’s larger strategy to shift towards digital modern merchandising technology. The airline’s NDC strategy includes offering incentive payments for NDC bookings while implementing surcharges on legacy GDS bookings. This strategy has
The summer of 2023 is expected to be one for the record books in terms of air travel. The TSA is gearing up for what could be the busiest travel season ever, with an estimated 3 million passengers set to pass through airports in a single day. These numbers come as part of a larger
Delta has recently introduced its first premium lounge, the Delta One Lounge, located at New York’s JFK International Airport. Spanning over 39,000 square feet, this lounge is positioned between Concourses A and B in Terminal 4, right next to the main security checkpoint. What sets this lounge apart is the fact that it is the
Receiving a substantial airline debit memo, especially in the high five figures, is a frustrating experience for any travel agency. Despite efforts to dispute the charges through ARC’s Memo Manager, it is all too common to receive a generic response from the carrier stating that the memo must be paid without addressing the agency’s defense.
The recent case of a mechanic being fired after complaining about poor repair work on planes in a Boeing factory near Seattle has raised serious concerns. Richard Cuevas, the mechanic in question, claimed to have witnessed “substandard manufacturing and maintenance processes” while working on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This includes issues such as drilling holes to
The recent industrial action taken by Aer Lingus pilots has left travelers in a state of uncertainty and confusion. The sudden cancellation of hundreds of flights has disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people. One of the key issues that have arisen is the lack of communication between the pilots, management, and
Recently, the Lufthansa Group announced a new “environmental cost surcharge” that will be imposed on flights to cover the expenses associated with meeting new green regulatory requirements for airlines. This surcharge, which could go up to 72 euros per flight, is set to be implemented starting from January 1 and will be applicable to all
Qatar Airways has once again solidified its position as a leader in the aviation industry by winning the prestigious title of the world’s best airline at Skytrax’s 2024 World Airline Awards. This marks the eighth time that Qatar Airways has been honored with this prestigious award in the 25-year history of the event. The airline’s
Air France recently announced the opening of a new lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, bringing its U.S. lounge count to six. The 12,000-square-foot facility is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal and is designed in Air France’s signature deep blue and white color scheme with touches of red. The lounge features a full
American Airlines has recently made changes to its New Distribution Capability (NDC) strategy, aligning it more closely with its competitor, United Airlines. This revised approach involves shifting towards a lighter-touch method when working with travel agencies. While the goal of this new strategy is to regain market share, it may take some time for American
Recently, American Airlines found itself embroiled in controversy after a group of Black passengers were removed from a flight in Phoenix due to a complaint about body odor. This incident led to the airline putting an unspecified number of employees on leave, acknowledging the breakdown of procedures and expressing disappointment in the handling of the
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of implementing new regulations that will require public air charters to adhere to the same safety standards as large commercial airlines. Additionally, the FAA is exploring the possibility of introducing a new regulatory framework for operators of scheduled operations that utilize aircraft with 10 to 30
In 2023, airlines demonstrated a significant improvement in their baggage handling processes, as reported by aviation technology company SITA. The mishandled-bag rate was down to 6.9 bags per 1,000, a decrease of 9.2% from the previous year’s rate of 7.6 per 1,000. This improvement is particularly impressive considering that there was a 30% increase in
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently imposed a hefty fine of $1.8 million on Emirates Airline for operating flights in prohibited airspace over Baghdad. This violation occurred during flights where Emirates had codeshares with JetBlue, taking place between December 2021 and August 2022. Specifically, the flights flew below the minimum altitude of 32,000 feet mandated
