Dots, Lines & Destinations

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Dots, Lines & Destinations episodes

May 02, 2024DLD 481: A dash of regulatory oversight
Regulators are forcing airlines to do good things for passengers, which is refreshing. Plus maybe a new Dubai airport a decade from now, and lots more.
Also in this episode:
New DOT rules on refunds for changed/canceled flights
Airline systems still have a two-digit year problem
New IFE on JetBlue tries for real personalization
AA, WN both lost money in Q1
IndiGo A350 order
Avianca brings back biz on A320neo fleet
Ethiopian adds ATH-WAW, but no local traffic rights
Listener Q about the terrible experience at AUS
Is DWC really finally going to be built and Emirates move there?
You might want to delete your OpenTable reviews
JetBlue’s anti-union play
Austrian puts the 787 on BER/FRA from 17 May, adds DUS 17 June, before TATL comes over the summer
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
United finally refunded the Chase UR points for phantom inventory
United charter with pax on flight deck
New T&Cs for travel to the T&Cs
States Attorneys General get power to investigate airlines
Beregional might be a (very stupid) thing
Avelo adding MIA-MCO
Maybe bags passing to final destination for inbounds from Japan
Beond 5th freedom rights on ZRH-DWC
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
39 min
April 25, 2024DLD 480: Defer, deflect, but don’t drown
Aircraft orders shifting, service types are switching, and one major airport is underwater in this week’s show.
Also in this episode:
Spirit fleet deferrals
United’s earnings, fleet adjustments, and eventually segmented “Polaris Plus”
American’s Flagship Business Preferred
Provo is American’s Future – Cranky Flier
Aegean A321LR play
Norse to CPT
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
CapOne travel portal
Allegiant trip report (and mess of buying the tickets)
DXB storm and recovery
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
38 min
April 18, 2024DLD 479: A deviation
Often times the shortest distance between two airports is defined by politics more than geography. Last weekend that was more the case than usual.
Also in this episode:
Iran and the joys of geopolitics in aviation
SAS leaving Star Alliance end of August
Breeze says it found profitability for March 2024
LH cabin crew contract
New Boeing whistleblower
Stephan finally gets another PDX-LAX option
Lufthansa finally has an Allegris plane (sans new F)
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
Kirby envies DL’s brand
Polaris Plus
Tennessee chemtrails thing really became a law
A319 as a school library
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
27 min
April 11, 2024DLD 478: Deep fried and delicious
Join us on another jaunt through the juicy world of aviation gossip, airline route news, and loyalty relaunches.
Also in this episode:
OAK wants San Francisco in its name
Turkish Airlines adding DEN
Hainan A330neo order potential
Four more A380s being scrapped
UA canceled investor day
NYC Earthquake
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
New AI FF program
BAM: Credit Cards & Loyalty
Mexicana faces massive lawsuit
JetBlue multi-city booking woes
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
24 min
April 04, 2024DLD 477: Playing the fool
We’re skipping April Fool’s Day in favor of some real news, including at least one story we were convinced should’ve been a joke.
Also in this episode:
Boeing leadership
United dealing with the FAA, fewer planes than planned, and new E175 bins
FAA halts Sequim wing-walking flights, revokes owner’s pilot license
Breeze launches NDC integration with Priceline, a co-brand credit card, and Basic Economy
Japan plans new jet, possibly Hydrogen-powered
Air Malta relaunch as KM Malta Airlines
Southwind banned in Europe (and UK by default)
EU officially objects to LH Group/ITA deal
British Airways is 50
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
UK citizens learning about passport rules for visiting EU/Schengen
Bulgaria and Romania are now in the Schengen zone
Norse LGW-LAS starting in September
WeatherPromise guarantees rain-free trips
Knock Airport to Scranton flight will happen, says Weir
Air & Space visit
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
35 min
March 28, 2024DLD 476: Giving away Newark
Newark air traffic is on the move, in a sense. Control of traffic to and from the airport will shift later this summer from the NYC-area’s “N90” controllers to Philadelphia. Can that solve the ATC delays?
Also in this episode:
Big Airbus orders from East Asia
JetBlue kills off LAX focus city, but not completely
Redeyes coming (eventually) to Southwest
XB-1 first flight
New biz seats for Malaysia Airlines (and no more A350 F)
Avelo headed to Mexico, Dominican Republic
BA JFK-LGW diversion due to incapacitated pilot
BA First Wing check-in (no more liquid restrictions)
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
New Pacific dropping Reno
airBaltic applies for US authorities
United mileage pooling
Frontier to JFK/EWR
Tennessee tries to ban chemtrails
Alaska Access subscription (and a new route at STS)
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
39 min
March 21, 2024DLD 475: A rough go
Well, that’s another week that Boeing probably wishes didn’t happen…
Also in this episode:
More bad news for Boeing from the NTSB
UA MAX 10 conversion to MAX 9
UA 737 panel falling off and maintenance overall
LATAM 787-9 incident
Former Global Crossing chief to start up Florida-based A220 operator
Frontier UpFront Plus eurobiz play
Embraer E2 ETOPS-120
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
Bilt trades AA for AS
Another AS Award Change
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
30 min
March 14, 2024DLD 474: A shock to the system
Hopefully not too shocking, of course. But maybe enough to keep you awake, unlike those pilots…
Also in this episode:
Batik Air pilots suspended for falling asleep on a flight
IAG/Air Europa deal on ice again
NTSB is pissed at Boeing, and lobbyists aren’t really helping
New United routes
China Southern to Mexico
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
Electric cars
Self-service TSA
AirBnB cameras
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
50 min
March 07, 2024DLD 473: Huh, so now what?
American Airlines placed a sizable single-aisle aircraft order this week. Perhaps the biggest surprise: Neither Boeing nor Airbus came out on top, at least in terms of total aircraft committed.
Also in this episode:
An absurd trip to try Starlink on Hawaiian
BA adding inflight messaging
JetBlue/Spirit deal is dead
More Eclipse flights (DL 2nd frequency, WN contest with Omni)
Qantas new A220 in service
TK’s first flight to MEL
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
Mexico objects to the DOT’s suspension of DL/AM ATI
Boeing’s 90 day deadline from the FAA
United award pricing
New Pacific trip report
BA-B-Q sauce
First Allegris route is MUC-YVR
Verdi strike
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
38 min
February 29, 2024DLD 472: Bags and buses and out of business
More baggage talk, plus buses, and an airline is out of business.
Also in this episode:
Lynx out of business in Canada
Landline for AC @ YYZ
AA files JFK-HND to start 28 June, UA files GUM-HND for 1 May
AA agrees with the DOT on DL/AM ATI suspension
AA FF changes (and bag fees, too)
Avelo STS base: new routes and a LAS closure, plus a profitable quarter
Spirit suspending MHT
For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:
TK Wallet and other airline-proprietary payment systems
UA back to TLV
Breeze goes all A220 by EoY, and free Wi-Fi
Qantas delivery delays, but also finally adding international Wi-Fi (for free)
Other Singapore Air Show stuff
And plenty more. Enjoy the show!
33 min