Cranky Flier

Cranky on the Web (May 13 – 17)

2013-05-18T10:45:11Z

In the Trenches: Setting Priorities – Intuit Small Business Blog There are a lot of projects I’d like to complete here at Cranky Concierge. But instead of trying to do them all, I need to pick one at a time and focus. United’s New Seats Read More......(read more)

Topic of the Week: United’s Channel 9

2013-05-17T10:45:04Z

United announced it would pull inflight entertainment off its A319s and A320s when it puts new seats on the airplanes. That means that Channel 9, the channel that lets you listen to cockpit communications, will disappear until they can find a way to stream Read More......(read more)

Who the F*&@ is Lion Air?

2013-05-16T10:45:59Z

You may have heard the name Lion Air before, but chances are you’ve never flown the airline, a low cost carrier based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lion has been known for a few things over its decade-long history; some good and some bad. The bad? Naturally Read More......(read more)

Virgin America Loses More Money, Puts All Efforts on Going Public

2013-05-14T10:45:21Z

After 6 years of big losses, it looks like the time is finally coming for Virgin America to start making money or just go away. The airline decided to announce both fourth quarter 2012 and first quarter 2013 results yesterday, and there were some bright Read More......(read more)

What it Means When Southwest Says It Has De-Hubbed Atlanta

2013-05-13T10:45:34Z

When Southwest bought AirTran way back in 2010, all eyes were on Atlanta to see what the airline would do there at AirTran’s homebase and biggest hub. What followed was months of shrinking, but now Southwest has moved on to phase two. It is de-hubbing Read More......(read more)

Cranky on the Web (May 5 – 10)

2013-05-11T10:45:16Z

Financial incentive plan could boost flights at ONT – Daily Breeze Ontario is trying to woo traffic now, and I was asked to comment. This is quite the reactive response from LAWA to stave off an effort by locals to take control of the airport. It Read More......(read more)

Topic of the Week: Friday Free-for-All

2013-05-10T10:45:30Z

Last week, it was suggested that I try a Friday post without a topic; one where people can just discuss whatever is on their minds in the airline industry. So let’s take a swing at it… Read More......(read more)

Flying Like a Bird to Reduce Turbulence

2013-05-09T10:45:15Z

Ever since the dawn of time, man has dreamed of soaring like a bird… or something like that. Granted, we can all soar through the skies for very little money these days, but we aren’t exactly doing it like a bird. That could change if one Read More......(read more)

A Trio of US Airways First Class Seats (Trip Report)

2013-05-07T10:45:42Z

After a week at home, it was time to hit the road again for a couple of trips to Phoenix, all courtesy of US Airways. First up was the (I assume) last annual US Airways media day to be held in Arizona followed by the annual Phoenix Aviation Symposium Read More......(read more)

The Best Slide I’ve Seen Showing American/US Airways Merger Benefits to Mid-Size Cities

2013-05-06T10:45:49Z

Last week, US Airways had its sixth annual leadership conference for every manager and above in the airline’s system. Each day for four days, a few hundred managers gathered to get the scoop from top management, and I was able to attend on the third Read More......(read more)

Cranky on the Web (April 29 – May 3)

2013-05-04T10:45:51Z

The 787 Dreamliner Is Back: Where and When You Can Fly on One – Conde Nast Daily Traveler Here’s a roundup of when the 787 will be going back into service with various airlines. In the Trenches: The Virtual Phone System Scramble – Intuit Read More......(read more)

Topic of the Week: Do You Care About the Topic of the Week?

2013-05-03T10:45:24Z

For over two years, I’ve put up a topic of the week up every Friday for everyone to discuss. But do you care? I’m debating whether to keep posting a topic of the week or simply go dark on Fridays, as I do on Wednesday. Let me know your thoughts Read More......(read more)

A Belated but Heartfelt Diatribe Against Our Government’s Air Traffic Control Delay Debacle

2013-05-02T10:45:25Z

There has been plenty of press about the completely unnecessary delays that hit the US air traffic control system last week thanks to political gamesmanship, but once the legislators hammered out a quick deal, the press coverage subsided. The way this Read More......(read more)

Across the Aisle from US Airways CEO Doug Parker on Important Product Features, Asia, and oneworld (Part 2)

2013-04-30T10:45:02Z

Yesterday, I posted the first half of my interview with current US Airways CEO Doug Parker. We talked most about employee communication, but today, I post the second half which is more about the customer experience, and what we might expect from the new Read More......(read more)

Across the Aisle from US Airways CEO Doug Parker on The Importance of Employee Communications (Part 1)

2013-04-29T10:45:47Z

Last week, I had the chance to interview current US Airways CEO Doug Parker. As we all know, he’ll be running the new American Airlines when the merger closes at some point in the third quarter of this year. It ended up being a good 20 minute conversation Read More......(read more)