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!
American Airlines will test its in-flight WiFi system tomorrow on a round-trip between JFK and LAX. We're hearing that wireless for the rest of American's 15-plane 767-200 fleet is ready to go. In other words, if this test is a success, they'll flip the "on" switch.
The carrier is using Aircell technology that'll be available under the Gogo brand name. Pricing will be what the company announced in March: $13 for longer flights, $10 for shorter flights. On Wednesday, though, access will be free.
Currently the only other in-air wireless is from JetBlue, which only has limited internet access on one plane, BetaBlue. Virgin America is slated to start up Aircell WiFi sometime this year, too.
If you're flying, we'd love to see a screenshot of Gogo in action. Please send one our way!
Not long ago, American Airlinesdecided to cut back service to San Juan and by extension the rest of the Caribbean. Almost immediately, JetBlue decided to scoop up some of that extra capacity. Now AirTran wants a piece of the action, too.
The LCC will add a seasonal flight this winter from Baltimore, and additional flights from Orlando and Atlanta will also go on the schedule.
American was pretty much screwed either way, deciding between raising fares--and losing customers--to pay for jet fuel or losing money while maintaining a schedule that would keep smaller, low cost airlines like JetBlue and AirTran out of its market. We'd feel bad for AA, except, well, you remember what happened this April.
Bob Crandall may not work for American Airlines anymore, but he's still an industry guru and when he talks, people in the air travel business listen. This week, Crandall made a speech at a trade meeting suggesting that the answer to the airlines' recent spate of money troubles might be a return to government regulation. Oversight would likely be a death knell for the popular cut rate carriers like JetBlue and Southwest.
If, as Crandall proposes, the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 were to be reversed, carriers would have to charge fixed fares and reduce the total numbers of flights on individual routes. Regulation would reduce delays and eliminate the need for extra fees, all while improving customer service.
The plan clearly has its drawbacks, but it's hard to argue with Crandall's overall point that the industry's projected $6.1 billion loss this year proves that changes need to be made. Though government oversight might mean higher fares and fewer flights, at least we won't have to pay $2 for a Coke, right?
Now that American Airlines is pulling back flights to the Caribbean, JetBlue is expanding its service to Puerto Rico. The low cost carrier is spinning the new flights to San Juan as part of its "commitment to the island," but this is obviously a cutthroat business decision to get AA's newly abandoned customers.
Not that we have a problem with that. American is more than halving its service to San Juan, making it harder to get to PR, and if JetBlue didn't step in, airfares would likely soar.
B6 isn't the only carrier swooping in to pick up capacity given up by another carrier. Southwest is slowly taking over Denver International as Frontier circles the drain.
American Eagle CEO Peter Bowles came up with the understatement of the week, as the struggling American Airlines announced a significant cutback in Caribbean service:
The crisis in the airline business is real, and the steps American is taking to reduce its schedule are necessary.
AA and American Eagle will eliminate service between San Juan and Washington Dulles, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Orlando and LAX. Within the Caribbean, flights from San Juan to Antigua, Aruba, St. Maarten, Santo Domingo and Samana, Dominican Republic are also going away; daily flights from San Juan to other Caribbean destinations will be decreased.
Tacky advertiser and low cost carrier Spirit Airlines may be laying off about half its in-flight staff. The airline notified union leaders this weekend, saying cuts are planned for August 1, though a final decision hasn't yet been made. Any accompanying route cuts haven't been announced either, but you've got to expect them.
This fee is going into the Airline Stupid Hall of Fame.
Getting his back is Joe Sharkey, who also frequently hates whatever it is airlines are doing these days. The New York Times writer turned over his column today to aviation consultant Michael Boyd, who promptly announced:
Airlines need to realize that they have to get the customer on their side, and you don't do that by making them line up longer at the counter checking bags.
Fair enough. But there is at least one person out there who isn't upset by the new rules. Jeff from Beat of Hawaii actually doesn't mind the $15 checked bag charge--because unbundled extras will keep fares low. As so many airline execs would tell us: Why pay extra for a service you're not using?
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by pbb
