Flying Smarter: Air Travel Explained

Andrew starts this episode by talking about some exciting innovations in the onboard experience. The main segment for this episode features Joelle Cuvelier from travel technology company Amadeus. 

• Last week was the 2024 edition of the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo, and there were some exciting announcements at the event. From a high-tech business class suite to an all-business class turboprop, Andrew shares some highlights.  
• Did you know that there’s one state that has been without scheduled air service for roughly 20 out of the last 35 years? Learn more in this episode. 
• Joelle Cuvelier is the Senior Vice President of Customer Success Management at global travel technology company Amadeus. She joins Andrew to discuss the business of travel selling, talking about what goes on behind the scenes when you search for flight options and buy a ticket, how travel selling will evolve in the coming years, and much more. 

Joelle Cuvelier is the Senior Vice President of Customer Success Management at Amadeus, a global travel technology company that provides solutions for airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and other travel businesses. Joelle started her career as a check-in agent and issued the first paper ticket produced by Amadeus. After working in various roles throughout the industry, she rejoined Amadeus in 2013 and has been with the company ever since. Learn more about Amadeus: Website | Facebook | X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at how you can get your Global Entry or NEXUS membership revoked. Then he explores Tokyo’s two international airports, looking at what you need to know about each of the facilities. 

• A listener sent in a question asking how your Global Entry can be revoked. Learn about the different ways that this can end up happening. 
• Japan is a hot travel destination, and Tokyo’s two airports are the gateway for most international travelers. In this episode, we delve into what you need to know about Tokyo Haneda Airport versus Narita International Airport. 
• From observation decks to shower rooms, Tokyo’s airports have so much to offer. Andrew takes a look at some of the amenities available at each of the two airports. 

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In this episode, former flight attendant Ally Murphy joins Andrew to share fascinating stories and lessons from the skies. But first, Andrew talks about requalifying for elite status. 

• How does requalifying for elite status in an airline’s loyalty program work? Different airlines have different requirements, with some making it easier for existing status holders to requalify. Learn more in this episode. 
• Ally Murphy is a former flight attendant turned voice actress and podcaster. She joins Andrew to talk about everything ranging from cautionary tales, to frightening experiences, to bad passenger habits and air travel tips. 
• Not all interesting inflight stories are bad though, and Ally also covers one of her best memories from her time as cabin crew. Ally also shares some of her best tips for flying with children, based on her experiences as a flight attendant and as a mother. 

Ally Murphy is a podcast host and former flight attendant who worked in the industry for fourteen years. Ally started as a cabin crew member with Virgin Atlantic in 2002 and worked her way up to the position of Cabin Supervisor. She is now a voice actor and the host of The Red Eye, a storytelling podcast that came about when she realized that cabin crew have a lifetime of stories from their days of flying around the world. The Red Eye tells stories from the sky, covering everything from life-changing stories of love to unbelievable stories of passenger interactions. You can learn more about Ally on her website and on social media (Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) | LinkedIn). You can find The Red Eye on all major podcast platforms, on the podcast website, and on social media (Instagram | X (Twitter). 

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In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about the longest domestic flights in the world. Then for the main segment, he looks at airline loyalty program status. 

• There are domestic flights out there that are over ten hours long. And the longest regularly scheduled flight ever was a domestic route. Learn more in this episode. 
• What is airline status and how does it work? How have frequent flyer programs evolved? And what are the benefits? Andrew addresses these questions and much more in this episode’s main segment. 
• In addition to covering how earning and benefits work with airline loyalty program status, this episode also looks at whether or not it’s worth chasing status and what the business rationale is for airlines when it comes to offering status. 

For more air travel content, check out the Insights section of the Flying Smarter website!

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This episode starts by looking at why you shouldn’t inflate your life jacket until you are about to leave the aircraft. Andrew then talks with Edmond Huot about airline design and branding.

• Why are we told not to inflate our life jackets until we are about to exit the plane? There are some important reasons that could mean the difference between life or death. Learn more in this episode.  
• An airline once planned to charge passengers to use the onboard toilets. Find out more about the carrier that wanted to install coin-operated lavatories on their aircraft. 
• Forward Studio Chief Creative Officer and aviation geek Edmond Huot joins Andrew to talk about what it takes to design an airline brand. They talk about the creative process, the relation between branding and the passenger experience, examples of projects that Edmond has worked on, and much more. 

Edmond Huot is the Chief Creative Officer and founding partner at digital marketing agency Forward Media and their airline branding and public relations agency, Forward Studio. The company’s clients have included airlines like Canada Jetlines and New Pacific Airlines, as well as other transportation companies, insurance businesses, and professional and financial services. Edmond has more than 25 years of progressive experience in the advertising and digital media space and also harbors a lifelong passion for aviation. You can learn more about Forward Media and their airline branding and public relations agency Forward Studio on their website and social media pages: Forward Media | Forward Studio | LinkedIn (Forward Media) | LinkedIn (Forward Studio) | Instagram | X (Twitter) | Vimeo

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at whether you can get your expired points and miles back. Then he talks about aviation safety, looking at recent incidents and news as well as the bigger historical picture. 

• If your points and miles are expired, can you get them back? Learn more about reinstating your points in this episode. 
• There has been a lot of negative press around commercial aviation safety, and it seems like the number of incidents has increased. What’s going on and should we be concerned? Andrew delves into the recent developments in aviation safety. 
• Has flying gotten safer or more dangerous over time? This episode also explores aviation safety more broadly, looking at historical trends and developments. 

Here are the Andrew’s two appearances on other podcasts mentioned in this episode:

• Non-Rev Lounge (Episode 167, March 2024): Apple Podcasts | Spotify
• Had To Be There (Episode 52, February 2023): Apple Podcasts | Spotify 

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This episode features the second part of Andrew’s chat with aircraft maintenance engineer and professor Brian Bermudez. Plus, he looks at whether your points and miles will expire. 

• Do your points and miles expire? If you’re collecting airline loyalty points, you will want to know the answer to this question. With some loyalty programs, the points never expire, but others have expiration policies and ways to prevent your points from expiring. Find out more in this episode. 
• Andrew continues his discussion with Brian Bermudez, an aircraft maintenance technician and professor of aviation maintenance. In this episode, Brian talks about how maintenance operations keep track of parts and ensure the rights ones are used, what it takes to be an “A&P” and much more. 
• Did you know that an aircraft can fly with multiple items that don’t work? Andrew and Brian discuss the concept of deferred items, the minimum equipment list, and the redundancies and technological improvements in aircraft design and maintenance. 

Brian Bermudez is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and a Professor of Aviation Maintenance. Having worked for two major US airlines as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, he now teaches aviation maintenance and runs CraftoftheAir, an aviation maintenance initiative involving multiple aspects like consulting and tutoring. Brian also hosts the CotACasT, an aviation podcast where he explores various facets of maintenance and brings his experiences and knowledge to listeners who share his enthusiasm for this field. You can learn more about Brian, his work, and his podcast at www.craftoftheair.com and on social media: Instagram | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)

Looking for the post about where you can find airline snacks? Check it out on the Insights section of the Flying Smarter website by clicking here.

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Andrew starts this episode by talking about airline flight numbers. The main segment for this episode features aircraft maintenance technician and professor Brian Bermudez. 

• How do flight numbers get assigned? It depends, but there are some common practices and conventions. Learn more about how airlines choose their flight numbers in this episode. 
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Brian Bermudez joins Andrew in this episode to dive into the world of aviation maintenance. He talks about what’s going on when you see maintenance engineers boarding your flight, the most common reasons that maintenance puts your aircraft out of service, and much more. 
• What parts of a plane can an aircraft maintenance technician work on? Do they specialize in certain parts of the plane? How often do aircraft go in for maintenance? How does maintenance work at outstations? Brian takes us behind the scenes of airline maintenance operations. 

Brian Bermudez is an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and a Professor of Aviation Maintenance. Having worked for two major US airlines as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, he now teaches aviation maintenance and runs CraftoftheAir, an aviation maintenance initiative involving multiple aspects like consulting and tutoring. Brian also hosts the CotACasT, an aviation podcast where he explores various facets of maintenance and brings his experiences and knowledge to listeners who share his enthusiasm for this field. You can learn more about Brian, his work, and his podcast at www.craftoftheair.com and on social media: Instagram | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)

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In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about what the different cabin class names mean. Then he looks at round-the-world tickets and how you can take a trip around the globe. 

• Club World, Delta One, Signature Class, and Mint. These are all names of airlines’ lie-flat business class products. What’s with all the different names? What does the term first class really mean? Andrew unpacks it all at the beginning of this episode.   
• There’s something special about circumnavigating the world in a single trip. And airline alliances offer you the ability to book a round-the-world itinerary on a single ticket. Andrew looks at the Star Alliance and oneworld round-the-world ticket options.
• What if you want to book your own itinerary to go around the planet? This episode looks at your other circumnavigation options as well, comparing the different ways in which you can book a round-the-world ticket and talking about how you can save money to find the cheapest option. 

For more air travel content, check out the Insights section of the Flying Smarter website!

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This episode starts by looking at why involuntary downgrades happen and what to do if you get involuntary downgraded. Andrew then talks to airline captain Doug Morris about aviation weather and how it affects your flight.

• Nobody likes purchasing a premium cabin ticket and then being downgraded to a worse seat. Why might this happen and what should you do if it does? Find out more in this episode.     
• Doug Morris joins Andrew to talk about aviation weather, drawing from his experiences and expertise as an airline captain and as a meteorologist. He talks about the most common misconception about weather, the differences between aviation products worldwide, and much more. 
• Extreme and unusual weather phenomenon undoubtedly make passengers nervous. Doug and Andrew talk about some different ones, ranging from thunderstorms to low visibility and winds. Plus, Andrew asks Doug what weather phenomena make pilots nervous. 

Doug Morris is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner captain for Air Canada. He is also a certified meteorologist and worked as a weather forecaster for four years during his early pilot days. He is a longtime teacher of aviation weather to new and aspiring pilots and is the author of four books and a blog. His latest book, titled This is Your Captain Speaking, draws from his extensive experiences and goes through the A to Z of airline travel with a bit of humor, covering things ranging from whether airliners have keys to what aircrew get up to on layovers to how to become a pilot. Longtime Air Canada flyers will also recognize him as the author of the aviation page in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine for over two decades. You can find Doug on his blog and on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

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