We declared the American Airlines blog "officially dead" back in June, but at least earlier this summer the archives were still available. Now a UK blogger who follows online media and public relations reports that "AA Conversation" has been completely yanked from Blogger:

I've previously mentioned how I was unsure if the American Airlines [site] was either an awful blog or a parody. ... Was this stopped by the person blogging, perhaps beacuse it was realised [he was] doing a bad job of it?

We'd say yes! But it's not for a lack of trying on the part of AA's Billy Sanez, who wrote the blog posts. We pin the embarrassment on management, which was too busy cooking up frequent flier program cuts and merger schemes to fund a blog that would generate tons of free goodwill for a carrier that desperately needs it.

Related Stories:
· The American Airlines Blog... [Press 2.0]
· Our IM Interview with an Airborne AA Passenger [Jaunted]
· American Airlines Blog on Life Support [Jaunted]
· Blogs coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-21T12:15:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/12/14204/5753

We knew there were some people who didn't like United CEO Glenn Tilton, but a new website from the airline's pilots' union is verging into anti-Mesa territory. Glenn Tilton Must Go enumerates the boss' operational, strategic, financial and employee relations failures and hopes to force his resignation.

In particular, the pilots' group notes that United is next-to-last in on-time arrivals among major airlines, losing plenty of bags along the way. On the business side, stock in United's parent company has lost 73 percent of its value since UAL exited bankruptcy in 2006.

Still, union chairman Captain Steve Wallach says it ain't personal:

This is not a personal attack on Glenn Tilton. These dismal numbers speak for themselves. They are a reflection of his inability to lead, his incompetence as a manager and his failure in virtually every category that can be measured.

Have your own horror story that you attribute to Tilton? Vent here.

Related Stories:
· Glenn Tilton Must Go [Official Site, via]
· United coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-12T14:30:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/9/151553/4701

Apparently British Airways wasn't fazed by American Airlines' languishing social media experiment. The carrier has just launched MetroTwin, a site--still in private beta--about travel to and from London and New York.

The idea is to give people flying between the two cities ideas of what to do once they arrive:

Ultimately we want everything on the site to have a "twin," whether it be a place, a neighborhood or a person. So if you like this restaurant in New York, you'll like this one in London. That just feels potentially really useful and different.

So far it looks pretty similar to the user recommendations you get in Dopplr--but limited to only two cities. Will Paris be next now that BA has snatched up L'Avion?

Related Stories:
· MetroTwin [Official Site, via]
· Travel Marketing coverage [Jaunted]
· British Airways coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-07-09T15:30:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/25/165759/542

Two months ago, American Airlines launched a blog. Sort of.

We're now declaring it officially dead, after two full months of dormancy. (Save one minor update to fix a typo.) Not exactly what we'd call an impressive move into web-centric public relations.

The real question now is why the blog is still online. Does American want to remind people how it canceled more than 1,000 flights in one week this April? Does the airline aspire to look like a bumbling relic from the 20th century? Our free advice to AA: Delete this Blogger account immediately!

Related Stories:
· American's Useless Blog [Official Site]
· American Airlines Blog on Life Support [Jaunted]
· New American Airlines Blog Could Use Some Work [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-06-25T17:00:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/28/144039/317

Since we're now living in the age where having extra baggage can cost you a pretty penny, we've decided to revisit an old site called One Bag which offers tips on how to pack light. The site is extremely in-depth--we didn't know you could write so much about one bag!--and there's a lot of text. Truthfully, it's almost too much text to get through.

What we did find useful was the section on bundle wrapping, above, a technique that allows you to minimize the creases in your clothes and maximize the space in your carry-on. Also, the wardrobe packing list is pretty helpful though there are some tips that will have the fashion police chasing you down the jetbridge:

Several companies make pants with zip-off or roll-up legs (which convert them to shorts, capris, etc.)

The packing list won't make any fans with women, either. How could it possibly recommend that ladies bring just one pair of lace-up shoes for business meetings, daytime walks and hiking. We're not sure such a shoe even exists.

And don't even get us started on using our bathing suit tankini top as a body suit under a skirt or jacket. We'd rather pay the checked bag charge!

Leave your own packing tips in the comments.

Related Stories:
· One Bag [Official Site]
· Baggage coverage [Jaunted]]]> juliana 2008-05-28T15:33:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/27/133610/023

You may not realize it, but Montreal has been a global cultural mecca for decades. Sure it's frequently visited by University of Vermont students interested in legal boozing, but the city is also home to one of the most progressive electronic music, fashion, design and cuisine scenes in all of North America. Lucky for you, then that the good folks from Tourisme Montreal have made planning a long weekend there even easier with a new website.]]> DanielR 2008-05-27T16:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/23/135527/124

The new Gridskipper launched yesterday, after a few weeks of tinkering, a change of ownership and a change of spring into summer. The verdict? Not too many fans out there.

We actually just got done Windexing our glass house--long weekend coming up, you know--so we don't plan to throw any stones just yet. But, damn, just about everybody else has.]]> pbb 2008-05-23T14:00:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/