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Tags: Airline Fees / American Airlines / Onboard Services / Airline News / → All Tags

So It's Come To This: American Charging $8 For Blankets

Earlier this morning, American Airlines announced that they're going to start charging $8 per blanket on any domestic flight over two hours. Ditto for any flight to Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. On domestic flights lasting two hours or less, blankets will be totally eliminated. Under the new policy passengers on those flights will be warmed by sunbeams, glitter, and the glowing thoughts of puppy kisses. Awww, puppy kisses!

Actually we kind of appreciate this change. It was only a matter of time before the very idea of mere comfort became just another opaque airline fee. In the past that's only been an implicit part of civilian aviation. The conceit has always been that coach provides a basic and decent level of comfort, and that higher booking classes are extra luxury. Now that we're tacking on $8 fees for rolls of lint that do little except provide opportunities for gross in-flight behavior—well, at least they're being honest.

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Tags: Japan Airlines / JAL / American Airlines / Delta / Airlines / Airline News / Japan / Japan Travel / → All Tags

More JAL Rumors, and This Time They're In American's Favor

Remember when we told you about those rumors trickling out of Japanese media outlets, to the effect that JAL was dumping American/oneworld and embracing Delta/SkyTeam? Remember how we told you that the story made sense because, the shadiness of the sourcing aside, switching probably makes the most financial sense for the bankrupt Japanese airline? Turns out we may have called that putt a little too early:

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Tags: Cashless Cabins / American Airlines / Airlines / Airline News / Onboard Services / → All Tags

American Airlines is Going Cashless on Domestic and Foreign Flights

That in-flight snack box on American Airlines is pretty tempting, but if you want it to be yours you better have a credit card. American Airlines has joined the cashless cabin club as of February 1, and they’ll only be accepting plastic money for in-flight purchases. It’s credit cards only on all domestic and international flights—so no getting rid of your foreign currency on the way home.

Flight attendants will be eager to swipe any major credit cards for purchases, because now they don’t have to deal with finding change for your $20. For foreign travelers, all purchases will be converted into US currency, so we guess the currency exchange rate will be left up to the credit card gods—let’s just hope they’re having a good day.

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Tags: Retro Travel / American Airlines / Airlines / First Class Travel / American Airlines in 1959 / → All Tags

In 1959, In-Flight Entertainment Included Sending Telegrams

Sit down, shut up, and buckle your seatbelt—this is the motto of modern air travel it seems, and now it's so hard to believe that flying used to be a pleasure, a privilege. There are few legacy carriers left who remember the days of airplane cocktail lounges and Mad Men-esque style, but we managed to dig up an old "Welcome Aboard a 707 Jet Flagship" pamphlet handed to passengers flying on American Airlines in 1959.

Follow along with us this week as we peek back at air travel as it was fifty-plus years ago thanks to this discovery, and unearth some real shockers.

We sure hott and holler over in-flight wifi a lot these days, but with all the of the technological advances made with regard to in-flight entertainment over the year, it's really the next logical step. But while we log on at 35,000 feet, let's take a moment to reflect on the days when you only had a choice between reading or writing a telegram, and when cigarette lighters were to be kept in your pocket on flights...

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Tags: Retro Travel / American Airlines / Airlines / In-Flight Comfort / American Airlines in 1959 / → All Tags

In 1959, Passengers Were Treated as 'Intelligent, Interested, Friendly People'

Sit down, shut up, and buckle your seatbelt—this is the motto of modern air travel it seems, and now it's so hard to believe that flying used to be a pleasure, a privilege. There are few legacy carriers left who remember the days of airplane cocktail lounges and Mad Men-esque style, but we managed to dig up an old "Welcome Aboard a 707 Jet Flagship" pamphlet handed to passengers flying on American Airlines in 1959.

Follow along with us this week as we peek back at air travel as it was fifty-plus years ago thanks to this discovery, and unearth some real shockers.

Do you how desperately this country needs a Passengers' Bill of Rights? Thus far, only Jetblue has been brave enough to pony up a version of it, which allows for passengers to be treated like humans even when things don't go so well. Other airlines however have demurred, preferring to sit entire flights on the tarmac for hours during delays with no food or water, or simply denying access to information.

But back in 1959, American Airlines had the right idea with a two-paragraph rough draft of a Passengers' Bill of Rights, written by AA President C. R. Smith.

Check it out, after the jump...

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Tags: Retro Travel / American Airlines / Airlines / Business Travel / American Airlines in 1959 / → All Tags

In 1959, You Could Write Your Own Airline Ticket on American

Sit down, shut up, and buckle your seatbelt—this is the motto of modern air travel it seems, and now it's so hard to believe that flying used to be a pleasure, a privilege. There are few legacy carriers left who remember the days of airplane cocktail lounges and Mad Men-esque style, but we managed to dig up an old "Welcome Aboard a 707 Jet Flagship" pamphlet handed to passengers flying on American Airlines in 1959.

Follow along with us this week as we peek back at air travel as it was fifty-plus years ago thanks to this discovery, and unearth some real shockers.

Business travelers, the second most beloved airline passengers, right after loyal First Class flyers. With their expense accounts and pressing meetings, biz travelers are manna from heaven for airlines, but it wasn't always this way. Back in the 1950s and '60s, the airlines were still trying to prove that flying was the way to go about business, versus driving or —heaven forbid—taking a train. Thus, there was a lot of "really, we're worth it" talk from American Airlines in this pamphlet. Plus, mentions of discounts if you bring your wife!

Or you could just write your own ticket, after the jump

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Tags: Jersey Shore Travel / Celebrity Travel / TSA / Snooki / Diana Ross / American Airlines / → All Tags

Jersey Shore Cast Pulls a 'Robbery' On TSA Checkpoint

We fear we could get in trouble with the TSA for that headline above so lest you jump to conclusions, we want to clarify that a "robbery" in Jersey Shore-speak is a term for stealing another dude's girl. Examples: Vinny pulled a robbery on their boss Danny, by hooking up with the girl that Danny had taken out to dinner just hours earlier. Down in Atlantic City, The Situation pulled a robbery on Vinny's girl in the night club.

So robbery is really just a more macho way of saying "sloppy seconds." Except when it applies to airports. Then it means clogging up the security checkpoints and setting off the metal scanners with your Prince Albert piercings. Which is exactly what the Jersey Shore kids did at LAX on Sunday.

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Tags: Earthquakes / Haiti Travel / Disasters / Tragedies / American Airlines / Frequent Flyer Miles / → All Tags

American Offering Bonus Miles for Donations to Haiti Relief Efforts

If you're looking to donate to a Haiti earthquake relief charity but don't want to wait till George Clooney's MTV celebrity-filled telethon on Friday, American Airlines is offering an alternative through the American Red Cross.

Make a contribution to the American Red Cross and the airline will award your do-gooding with bonus AAdvantage miles. A minimum $50 donation will get you 250 miles and a pledge of $100 or more will earn you 500 miles.

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Tags: Retro Travel / American Airlines / Airlines / Flight Attendants / American Airlines in 1959 / → All Tags

In 1959, Stewardesses Weren't Allowed to Weigh Over 135 Pounds

Sit down, shut up, and buckle your seatbelt—this is the motto of modern air travel it seems, and now it's so hard to believe that flying used to be a pleasure, a privilege. There are few legacy carriers left who remember the days of airplane cocktail lounges and Mad Men-esque style, but we managed to dig up an old "Welcome Aboard a 707 Jet Flagship" pamphlet handed to passengers flying on American Airlines in 1959.

Follow along with us this week as we peek back at air travel as it was fifty-plus years ago thanks to this discovery, and unearth some real shockers.

Although the term "stewardess" has been replaced with the gender neutral "flight attendant," we didn't think that too much had changed over the years. They still smile and thank you for flying with their airline, they'll still serve you food (even though you might be paying extra), and the uniforms are still largely unflattering and flammable. But then we read this pamphlet...

After the jump, we visit American Airlines' stewardess college, circa 1959

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Tags: Retro Travel / American Airlines / Airlines / American Airlines in 1959 / → All Tags

In 1959, a Boeing 707 Was the Hottest Jet in the Sky

Sit down, shut up, and buckle your seatbelt—this is the motto of modern air travel it seems, and now it's so hard to believe that flying used to be a pleasure, a privilege. There are few legacy carriers left who remember the days of airplane cocktail lounges and Mad Men-esque style, but we managed to dig up an old "Welcome Aboard a 707 Jet Flagship" pamphlet handed to passengers flying on American Airlines in 1959.

Follow along with us this week as we peek back at air travel as it was fifty-plus years ago thanks to this discovery, and unearth some real shockers.

These were the days when watching a gleaming silver Boeing 707 inspired wonder at man's invention and technological know-how. Perhaps that's why this pamphlet was present onboard, as it goes into serious detail regarding how planes take-off, land and generally fly; there had to be many passengers flying for the first time whose nerves could be calmed simply by reading the information. Not these days though; people pop a pill and they're good to go.

After the jump, we takeoff in a 707...

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Tags: Travel Tips / Tickets / Airfares / Airlines / Delta / United / JetBlue / American Airlines / Continental / US Airways / Southwest Airlines / → All Tags

How To Cancel Your Airline Ticket Within 24 Hours

We’ve all purchased airfare without really thinking, but sometimes the buyer’s remorse is just a little too much. Despite the chance at an incredible fare there’s always something that makes it seem not worth it—like hitting the limit on your credit card. Thankfully there are still a few airlines that allow you to cancel your reservation within 24 hours. We’ve rounded up some of the policies below to ensure that you can fire first and ask questions later.

· Delta
As long as your make your purchase through Delta or Expedia—that means no Orbitz or other booking engines—you can cancel your ticket up to midnight the following day. Just make sure that your trip is originating from the United States, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Canada. You don’t even need to call them, because you can just head to their website and take care of everything.

More ways to get your money back after the break...

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Tags: Japan Airlines / Airline News / Airlines / American Airlines / Delta / JAL / Japan Travel / Airline Industry / → All Tags

Japan Airlines Basically Just A Total Mess Right Now

What. A. Clusterfark. Japan Airlines stock lost 25% of its value on the last trading day of 2009, as the airline declared that it might declare bankruptcy on account of its $15 billion debt. The next day they followed up by announcing that they might cut international flights, effectively upending the airline industry. That got folks' attention.

Before trading opened yesterday morning, the Japanese government revealed that JAL might not have to go into bankruptcy at all. Instead government officials are asking the state-owned bank to double the airlines' credit line, giving the company valuable oxygen while it tries to get back on its feet.

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