A couple of months ago Japenese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) became the last airline in the world to take delivery of its first ever Airbus A380. ANA currently has two double-deck superjumbos and a third is expected to be…
Passenger Experience
Lufthansa Unveils New Short-Haul Seats But the Best Bit Will Go Unnoticed By Passengers
We’ve known for some time that Lufthansa plans to standardise the cabins of its short and medium-haul fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft across its network airlines – that includes Lufthansa, as well as SWISS and Austrian Airlines. Once the…
The Big Problem With ‘Bring Your Own Device’ Entertainment Streaming That Airlines are Ignoring
Let me start off by saying that ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) entertainment streaming – a service that a growing number of airlines from full-service to ultra-low-cost are starting to offer – isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in…
Etihad Airways Announces Major Changes to its Economy Service – But it Comes at a Price
Etihad Airways has announced some pretty major changes to its Economy Class experience with a slew of updates including a redesigned main meal service. The ‘Economy Transformation Programme’ as Etihad is calling it includes updated seats on the majority of…
Etihad Will Operate a Single-Use Plastic Free Flight to Highlight Scourge of Plastic Pollution
Etihad Airways plans to operate a flight without any single-use plastics onboard to mark Earth Day and to raise awareness about the effects of plastic pollution on the environment. The Abu Dhabi-based airline will become the first airline in the…
British Airways Dumps the Financial Times: Newspaper Rages with Half-Page Advert
The Financial Times, famous for its industry-leading financial analysis and of course it’s salmon pink coloured pages, has reacted pretty furiously to a decision by British Airways to stop offering the print edition of the newspaper for free in the…
Stressful: New Overhead Bins Aren’t Going to End the Drama Over Carry-On Bags
A recent post on the popular frequent flyer forum Flyertalk.com has generated a lot of debate – and it’s all to do with hand luggage and who can (or can’t) use the overhead bins. In this case, a passenger had…
The Blurring Line Between First and Business Class: Air Italy Launches ‘Dine On Demand’
Air Italy has today unveiled a new dining concept for Business Class passengers, featuring brand new tableware, cutlery and chinaware as well as a ‘Dine On Demand’ menu. It’s a bold move to offer Dine On Demand and it will…
The Most Anticipated Seat Launch is Finally Here: The New British Airways Club World Seat
They’ve only gone and put a door on it. British Airways has finally unveiled its long-awaited Club World business class seat replacement today and it is sure not to disappoint. Dubbed the ‘Club Suite’ because of a sliding privacy door,…
FIRST LOOK: British Airways Reveals Tantalising Preview of New Club World Seat
British Airways is seriously amping up the anticipation of a massive and eagerly awaited upgrade to its Club World business class seat which is expected to be unveiled in the next couple of months. The airline has just taken to…
Singapore Airlines Doubles Down On “Wellness” with COMO Shambhala Collaboration
“Wellness” is a hot topic in the airlines business at the moment and Singapore Airlines is now doubling down on the concept with a new collaboration with leading wellness brand COMO Shambhala. The wellness trend is becoming serious business for…
Hidden Seat Back Cameras WILL Improve Passenger Experience Claims Aviation Trade Group
If you haven’t heard, your favourite airline could be spying on you with hidden cameras lurking within the plane’s in-flight entertainment system. That’s at least the conspiracy theory that emerged just over a week ago when one eagle-eyed Singapore Airlines…
Air Canada Latest Airline to be Caught in an Overbooking Scandal: Did it Deceive Passengers?
It’s a scheme that has been going on for, well, as long as anyone can remember and despite well-publicised incidents, it’s a business strategy that airlines don’t have any plans to give up anytime soon. The majority of us now…
Norwegian Becomes First Airline to Offer Free WiFi Across the Atlantic
The analysts were wrong… It’s the New Year and the low-cost airline Norwegian hasn’t gone bust – despite some nasty rumours at the end of last year that suggested the carrier was close to defaulting on its huge debt pile. …
Norwegian No Longer Fly to Oakland International Airport from London Gatwick: Other Flight Changes On the Way
Norwegian will stop flying from London Gatwick to Oakland The airline will instead fly direct to San Francisco International Airport The switch will be made on 31st March with one-way fares starting at £174.90 Norwegian will also switch from Fort…
Iberia Steps Up On-Board Recycling Efforts But Are International Aviation Rules The Real Problem?
According to the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) airlines spend over half a billion dollars annually dealing with onboard waste – most of which comes from leftover in-flight catering. But while the international community becomes increasingly switched on about the…
Etihad is First Middle East Airline to Launch Premium Economy Cabin – Kind Of…
For years, the biggest three airlines in the Middle East – that’s Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – have refused to offer a Premium Economy cabin. In fact, this ever more popular class of travel that bridges the gulf between…
Oh Dear: Travel Expert (and Journalist) Falls Foul of Saudia’s Very Opaque Dress Code
It’s pretty fair to say that 2017 was anything but a good year for United Airlines when it came to customer service fiasco’s – chief among them was the overbooking debacle that left Dr David Dao bloodied and bruised. But…
Lufthansa’s Yearly Oktoberfest Celebrations See the Return of Fresh Draft Beer After a 50-Year Hiatus
The world’s biggest and possibly the world’s most famous beer festival gets underway once again in Munich for a two-week extravaganza starting on 22nd September. The festival, is, of course, Oktoberfest and it draws in tens of thousands of beer…
The Majority of Flight Attendants Think Emotional Support Animals Have a “Negative” Impact On Air Travel
Airlines based in the United States have seen a surge in the number of passengers travelling with so-called Emotional Support Animals in the last few years. The well-intentioned Air Carrier Access Act was supposed to open up air travel for…
OPINION: Is it Finally Time for British Airways to Reinvent Itself?
British Airways has a serious problem (nothing new there you might say). It’s been a long time since the carrier has been able to call itself the “World’s favourite airline” (a self-proclaimed title anyhow) and instead seems to be on…
Airline Passengers Have Built An Economy Which Could Compete With Norway’s National Annual GDP
New research by HSBC reveals that airline passengers have helped create a booming new economy valued at something in the region of $400.5 billion USD – with a staggering $1.26 billion being added every single day. It’s an economy which…
Norwegian Putting Own Cabin Crew on Wet-Leased Planes in Attempt to Retain Consistent Passenger Experience
The plucky upstart airline, Norwegian – which is far more used to picking up accolades and industry awards has been attracting rather more negative headlines in recent weeks. The airline, which like many carriers around the world is facing problems…
Airline Economy Food That Actually Looks and Tastes Good: These Airlines Are Experimenting with a ‘Trayless’ Service
Back in 2014, the Australian airline Qantas launched a new dining concept for its Economy Class passengers on longer international flights. The idea was to improve both the quality and quantity of food the airline offered while also making the…
Airline Amenity Kits: Are They a Wasteful and Unnecessary Luxury Which Are Ripe for Disruption?
Premium airline passengers have certain expectations – a slap-up four-course meal on fine china, a nice wide seat that converts into a fully-flat bed and of course, an extensive range of in-flight entertainment options for those long intercontinental flights. Oh,…
Ever Been Stuck On an Unbearably Hot Plane? The 2Hot2Cold App is Designed to Build the Case for New Rules
As much of Europe swelters in near record-breaking temperatures, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is already predicting that 2018 will be the fourth hottest year on record. By global standards, only three years have been hotter – 2016 takes…
SOURCES: Emirates is Making More Cuts to Onboard Service – Pursers May Even be Axed
Passengers sat in one of Emirates’ new “game changer” First Class suites aboard its Boeing 777-300 aircraft may soon have to wait just a little longer for a member of cabin crew to answer their video call. Sources from within…
Campaigners Call for International Criminal Inquiry into ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’
Campaigners are calling for the International Criminal Court at the Hague to investigate so-called ‘aerotoxic syndrome’ – a condition which is supposedly caused by dangerous chemicals and engine oil particles getting into the cabin air which is then breathed in…
VIDEO: Over 175,000 Starbucks employees watched this video to combat racial bias – Should airlines follow suit?
At 2pm on May 29th, 8,000 Starbucks stores shut up shop. Over 175,000 employees took part in a four-hour long workshop to address racial bias and elevate a spirit of “inclusion and equity”. Employees spoke about their own experiences, took…
Should More Airlines Follow Starbuck’s Lead With “Anti-Bias” Training for Flight Attendants?
On April 12th, Rashon Nelson and Nante Robinson, two young black African American men were arrested at a Starbucks store in Philadephia after sitting down without first buying anything. The men said they had simply been waiting for a friend…
Victims of In-Flight Sexual Assault: Trust Your Gut, Don’t Take Sleeping Pills and Keep the Armrest Down at all Times
At long last, the spotlight is being cast on in-flight sexual assault and harassment – A crime that travellers seem oblivious to and airlines apparently ignore. In the last few weeks, the Association of Flight Attendants released a shocking report…
Buying A Flight Isn’t All About Getting The Lowest Price, Is It? New App Allows Premium Airlines To Stand Out
We all love a good bargain, right? And no more so than when it comes to getting a cheap flight deal – just look at the rise and rise of low-cost airlines. And partly fueling the increasing dominance of the…
It’s That Time of Year Again: Hot Plane Cabins Continue to be a Problem for Both Passengers and Cabin Crew
The summer season in the Northern Hemisphere has well and truly started and the mercury is starting to inch higher and higher. But as long hot, sunny days will undoubtedly be welcomed by most people, it can bring a lot…
A New Law Will Help Combat Sexual Assault Onboard Any Plane Bound for the United States
A few months ago we asked why airlines weren’t providing specific training for cabin crew and flight attendants to deal with allegations of sexual assault and harassment onboard their flights. At the time, most airlines said they had measures to…
Qatar Airways Investment in Air Italy Just Goes to Prove Why Europeans Will Never Get Short-haul ‘First Class’
Yesterday, the chief executive of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker was present at the delivery ceremony of Air Italy’s brand new Boeing 737MAX 8 aircraft at the Boeing delivery center in Everett, near Seattle, Washington. The fact that Baker decided…
First and Business Class Passengers Still Remain Most Important for Airlines (and These Figures Prove Why)
Fascinating new figures reveal the current state of global aviation and they just go to show that despite the rise of low-cost airlines, First and Business Class passengers still remain very important for international airlines. The figures come as part…
68% Of Flight Attendants Have Experienced Sexual Harassment. 1 in 5 Physically Assaulted by Passengers
Shocking results from a survey of over 3,500 flight attendants has revealed that 68% of respondents have suffered some form of sexual harassment during their flying careers. The survey, which took in the views of flight attendants representing 29 airlines…
REVEALED: These Are The Things Most Likely to Annoy and Upset Airline Passengers
What are your top travel annoyances? In its annual survey of the things that really get on our nerves when flying, the travel experts at Expedia have lifted the lid on what really annoys airline passengers. And for the fourth…
The Airline Coffee Wars Are Heating Up: But Not Even Specialty Beans Will Stop Your Onboard Cup of Joe Tasting Bad
Our addiction to coffee seems insatiable. Estimates suggest around 400 million cups of the drink are consumed every day in the United States alone. Back in 2013, the National Coffee Association concluded that a staggering 83% of U.S. adults drank…
The TripAdvisor Community Has Spoken: These Are The Best Airlines In The World 2018
Singapore Airlines has come out as the winner in the annual Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for Airlines 2018, beating off tough competition from the likes of Emirates, Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines. Singapore Airlines also won a number of…
jetBlue’s CEO Might Be The First Airline Executive To Admit Airbus’ Space Flex Galley Isn’t Good For Crew
For pretty much everyone, apart from airline shareholders perhaps, Airbus’ Space-Flex combined galley and toilet system doesn’t seem like a positive change for the passenger experience, does it? For those of you who aren’t in the know, the Space-Flex system…
Virgin Atlantic’s Brand Relies On Its Best In Market Passenger Experience But The Financials Are Horrid
Virgin Atlantic plunged into the red last year, recording a pre-tax loss of £28.4 million for the 12-months ending 31st December 2017 – that compares to a £23 million profit in 2016. Not that the disappointing results were entirely unexpected…
The #MeToo Movement for Flight Attendants: Three Quarters Have Experienced In-Flight Sexual Harassment
New figures reveal nearly three-quarters of flight attendants have been subjected to sexual harassment while at work. The revelation was made by Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants as she testified in Congress before the Congressional…
Inside the Strange World of Skytrax: The Aviation Rating Organization You Maybe Shouldn’t Trust
Worn as a proud badge of honour by airlines around the world, the air transport rating organisation, Skytrax has made a name for itself as the commercial aviation industry’s defacto Star Rating system. Yet surprisingly little is know about this…
EMPATHY: The Emotion Airlines Wished All Their Flight Attendants Possessed, Yet’s So Hard To Come By
Forget fancy First Class suite’s or state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment systems – There’s one thing that has a bigger impact on the passenger experience than all other touchpoints combined. You might not believe it but it is, in fact, your Flight…
Tech Startup, Volantio Aims to Reduce the Pain of Getting Bumped from Overbooked Flights
We all know that the vast majority of airlines overbook their flights. And nine times out of ten, this money-making tactic can boost an airline’s profit without having a negative impact on passengers. In fact, overbooking can even benefit passengers…
SOURCES: The British Airways Bed Bug Problem is Worse Than You Thought – Cabin Crew Slate Cleaning Teams
British Airways has a problem and its not only hurting its reputation but also physically hurting its passengers. It comes in the form of bed bugs – or to go by their scientific name, Cinex lectularius. Small nocturnal creatures that…
Delta Was Applauded For It’s New Stance On Service Animals But Guide Dog Users Are Not Happy
When Delta Air Lines recently made it harder for passengers to take service animals like guide dogs and so-called ’emotional support’ animals onboard its flights, it said it was doing so to protect its customers and employees. The move has…
Why Aren’t Flight Attendants Trained to Deal with Sexual Assaults? Something Needs to Change
At long last, the serious issue of in-flight sexual assaults is finally being openly talked about and debated. A series of high profile incidents that have been picked up by various media outlets are starting to shine a light on…
The Challenges Facing Airline Uniform Designers and Manufacturers
The flight attendant uniform is probably one of the most important branding exercises for an airline – the most visible way to convey it’s image, values and brand goals. And one which will stick in the minds of passengers long…
