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SeatGuru's Survey Says United's Flight Attendants Are The Worst

June 17, 2009 at 10:57 AM | 3 Comments

SeatGuru just released results of their latest survey on airline quality and airline everything else. We always take information like this with a grain of salt, but it’s still interesting to see what a bunch of random people think about what’s going on in the sky.

Apparently, people don’t like much when it comes to United. The airline scored the title of rudest flight attendants. Don’t worry United, American Airlines and US Airways weren’t too far behind for flight attendant friendliness. All three domestic carriers were neck and neck when it came to the quality of their in-flight dining: not good. The trio also didn’t do too well when it came to the coziness of seats. JetBlue’s gray leather topped the charts for the comfort of economy seats.

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Austin Nerds May No Longer Know The Way To San Jose

June 16, 2009 at 9:03 AM | 0 Comments

Since 1992 American Airlines has been shuttling smarty pants Silicon Valley workers between San Jose and Austin. However, due to the overall decline in travel the so-called “Nerd Bird” route is coming to an end. American plans to shut down the two daily non-stop flights effective August 25.

For those that use this route and love American Airlines, you’ll still be able to get between the two cities. Moving forward, you’ll just be forced to spend a little bit of extra time connecting somewhere like Dallas-Ft. Worth.

If you enjoy a little rental car fun, you can always fly into Oakland or San Francisco and drive yourself up to Silicon Valley. We’re thinking that the displaced nerds will start filling up the Austin to San Francisco flights on JetBlue; after all, they’ve got the SciFi channel.

Related Stories:
·American Ending "Nerd Bird" Nonstops To Silicon Valley [Austin American-Statesman]
·American Airlines Will Soon Only Accept Cold, Hard Credit Cards [Jaunted]
·Airline News coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: caribb]

2009 Airline In-Flight Entertainment Status Update

June 15, 2009 at 1:22 PM | 7 Comments

2009 has been the year when the US Domestic air carriers have really begun to step up their in-flight entertainment systems. We are no longer in the post-WWII era where airlines can cling to an occasional projector movie during longer flights. Furthermore, the CRT drop-down world is very close to extinction as well. These days seat back LCD screens and IFEC (c is for connectivity) are all the rage and most US airlines are expanding their offerings accordingly.

Of course, younger airlines with a smaller fleet have a built-in advantage here (fewer and newer planes), but that doesn't change the increasing demand from passengers for better, more reliable IFEC options. It could even be argued that customers are more likely to accept higher ancillary fees for things like extra luggage and pets if they can kick back with a killer IFEC on the flight.

Just this weekend we heard a JetBlue customer comment to her friend at baggage claim:

We sat on the tarmac for an hour at JFK, but by the time I watched three shows I was where I needed to be -- how can you beat that?

It seems in todays world, all delays might even be close to forgiven if you can get caught up on Jon and Kate Plus Eight while you wait.

Click here for our 2009 IFEC Chart and see how the airlines stack up against each other.

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American Airlines Will Soon Only Accept Cold, Hard Credit Cards

May 28, 2009 at 8:47 AM | 1 Comment

Yesterday evening, we found ourselves on a flight where cold, hard cash was still the preferred method of paying for $5 beers and bags of M&Ms, and the ensuing mess reminded us why more airlines are turning to "cashless cabins."

February of this year saw both Delta and Southwest join the cashless club, and now American Airlines doesn't want to be left out in the cold. It's no wonder either, what with the issues of making change in-flight and possibly dealing with other currencies on flights from Canada and Mexico.

According to the AP, American "said it will not accept cash on flights within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada" beginning this upcoming Monday. Although the cashless policy won't affect AmericanEagle flights, we would still plan to whip out the plastic for your headset and Pepsi purchase anyways.

Related Stories:
· Your cash will be no good on American Airlines [AP]
· United Airlines Joins the Cool 'Cashless Cabin' Crowd [Jaunted]
· Cashless Cabin Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]

American Airlines Double-Dog Dares You To Find a Lower Fare

May 26, 2009 at 9:43 AM | 0 Comments

Usually when you find a lower fare on a travel booking website, you tend to jump for joy at your bargain hunting skills. But this time around, it actually pays to book directly through the airline and pay a little more. That's because American Airlines offers travelers a Lowest Fare Guarantee. Here's how it works:

If you find the exact same flight and itinerary for at least $5 less on another web site the same day you made your flight purchase on American, the airline will actually refund you the difference and give you $50 airfare credit to be used for a future flight.

Sweet! But it will take a bit of work to let American know that another site has their flight for cheaper.

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Richard Branson's 'No Way BA-AA' Campaign Gets Personal

May 14, 2009 at 12:21 PM | 0 Comments

In a saga that now spans a decade, Virgin CEO Richard Branson is again ramping up his criticism of the proposed merger of American Airlines and British Airways. This time, however, it's personal.

In a statement made at The National Press Club in Washington DC, Sir Richard warned against the merger's adverse affects on employees and passengers, especially those really feeling the recession:

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American Now Allows AAdvantage Miles for One-Way Trips

May 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM | 0 Comments

American Airlines has just introduced One-Way Flex Rewards to their AAdvantage rewards program which will allow fliers to trade in miles for one-way trips.

Maybe you're planning to fly one way and drive the other. Or you just don't have a return date in mind. Whatever your reasons, now you can save miles by using a One-Way Flex Award starting at just 12,500 miles for travel within the continental U.S.

The AAdvantage program is also allowing its members to combine their MileSAAver rewards and their AAnytime rewards to fly First Class to their destination and Economy for the return. Or however, you want to mix it up.

Like most mileage programs, the rules are confusing and we're always skeptical of such new changes. However, American has revamped their website to make it easier to book rewards travel and you can see a demo of that here. So far, we're intrigued but it always seems as if we never have enough miles to book the trips that we really want. Sigh. We'll keep waiting.

Related Stories:
· American introduces one-way mileage award [Travel Weekly]

Baggage Fee Low Down: American Airlines

May 12, 2009 at 10:13 AM | 0 Comments

Checked baggage allowances make our heads hurt, and often in those critical few hours before a flight as we bounce to close our suitcase. To put minds at ease and clarify all the charts out there, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing what it costs to check your bags and get on board. Got any suggestions or tips? Let us know.

We find American to have one of the most confusing baggage information websites of all, what with clicking through to different windows in order to tall up exactly how much you'll be paying and how much is exempt from fees. If you can get through the muck however, you'll discover that the only folk beholden to pay for their first checked bag are the economy passengers. That is, unless you're full-fare economy, in which case you should have just opted for Business.

American's Domestic Routes (within United States and Canada):
First and Business class passengers as well as those flying on military or government fares don't have to worry about whipping out their wallets until they get to checking above and beyond two bags. AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and Gold, oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members and those traveling with them also get the benefit of two free checked bags. Nonetheless, here's the deal for us regular economy flyers:
· $15 for your first checked bag
· $25 for your second checked bag
· $100 for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags, $200 each for any after this (applies to everyone except military, who are allowed 3 checked bags)
· Extra money for any checked bags weighing over 50lbs and over 62 inches all around (length + width + height)

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Swine Flu Sends the Airlines Home Sick With Worry

April 28, 2009 at 10:52 AM | 0 Comments

What ever happened to the good old days of college spring break, when MTV would host beach house parties with Coolio and the biggest worry was to return home with your own personal STD? Now, with the outbreak of the dreaded swine flu virus both above and below the Mexican border, spring breakers are rethinking all those beer bongs as the pandemic spreads and threatens to cripple summer's peak travel for the airlines.

The pork hit the fan yesterday, when the US State Department issued a travel alert for the swine flu in Mexico, prompting airlines like Delta and Continental to allay the fears of their travelers by waiving rebooking fees through the first week of May. Meanwhile, if you're still set on hopping a direct to Cancun, you better hope that the flight still exists; major airlines haven't canceled flights yet, but are "closely monitoring the situation."

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Lounging at The Airport: American Airlines Admirals Club

April 28, 2009 at 9:40 AM | 1 Comment

Airport lounges promise respite from the sad public seating at the gates and the unhealthy diet offerings of the terminal food courts. But of course, at a premium price. All week long at Jaunted we will be detailing what it costs to lounge at the big domestic airline lounges. Got any suggestions or tips? Let us know.

American Airlines Admirals Club
· How Much: $50 per person per day. If you join within 30 days of buying a day pass, they'll take that $50 off the cost of the annual membership fee of $500. Passengers flying first class domestically will have access to the lounge as long as they paid for a full-fare ticket. For those going abroad, first and business class tickets will get you and one guest into the lounge.
· Internet Access: Free WiFi thanks to T-Mobile Hot Spots. There's computers as well with high-speed Internet, just in case you left your laptop back at the office.
· Beverages: There's free coffee, tea, soda, and bottles of water. Alcohol is available, but unfortunately it's extra.

Keep reading after the jump for more

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Five Air Fare Sales in Case You Get a Tax Refund

April 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM | 0 Comments

Today is Tax Day and if you aren't out protesting in a Tax Day Tea Party, then perhaps you're like us, fantasizing about getting a fat tax refund and spending it on travel. Of course, the only problem is that some of these sales require you to book immediately to take advantage of the deal. So make sure there's room in your budget just in case that rebate doesn't come in like you thought. Below, we've rounded up Five Air Fare Sales in Case You Get a Tax Refund.

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Let Them Eat Cookies: The Snack in First on American

April 3, 2009 at 2:26 PM | 0 Comments

Is this really a first class chocolate chip cookie? We're well-qualified cookie connoisseurs and although we're told that this choc chip one is served warm, we're still a little reluctant to give it a first class badge, even though this is what they serve in the first class cabin of American Airlines flights--or at least they did on a recent flight between Chicago and Denver.

The rest of this first class meal looks like a reasonable snack--it's a turkey croissant sandwich with salad, if you're squinting to check--but still, it doesn't quite have the pizazz we're expecting for first class. Non-matching plates, no garnish on the cookie and a slightly sad looking salad don't really make up for the price jump to get this seat. Indeedy, if you just remove the plastic wrapping from the sandwiches in coach and slap 'em on a plate in first, it doesn't look that much differnt.

Of course, we're probably just jealous that people can afford to fly first from Chicago to Denver.

Enlighten us coach sufferers with your first class travel snacks here.

Related Stories:
· Airline Food Coverage [Jaunted]
· American Airlines Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Scorpions and Centaurs]