US Air Transport: September 2008 Archives

JetBlue Airways' Flickr photo stream has some nice shots of the chartered Embraer 190 being used to fly vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin around the nation. But one is hard-pressed to find a JetBlue logo alongside the McCain-Palin jet. Hard-pressed that is until one happens upon the page of fellow Flickr photog "mocr", who snapped the following photograph on 22 September at Orlando International Airport. According to Flight's ACAS database, the aircraft, bearing registration N239JB, was built in 2006 and is owned by GECAS. The picture immediately following mocr's gem is that of one of the legions of Palin kinda-sorta-look-alikes (though not necessarily supporters) getting a little loven from her sister. Can't wait for that debate.

                                                                      (Palin-esque photo by Dr. Nicole Zeitlin)

It is absolutely remarkable how US Airways is able to spin silk out of the scruffiest sow's ear. The carrier says that since it started selling beverages, its aircraft aisles are clearer and the bathroom is freer (presumably because passengers' bladders aren't full of pricey cola).

Don't believe me? Here's what the carrier told employees in its latest newsletter.

"Fewer customers buying beverages means the [food and beverage] cart isn't in the aisle for an hour or two and that people can get up to use the lav more easily. Speaking of lavs, the lines are also shorter (or non-existent). Flight attendants can then focus more on the safety and comfort of our customers while navigating through the aisle more easily. Simply put, the cabin atmosphere is calmer."

Does this mean that the food and beverage programme hasn't been a success? Au contraire, my calm, un-bloated friend.

"A la carte/ancillary revenues have been widely successful and at US [Airways], we anticipate generating an additional $400-$500 million in revenue annually," reports the carrier.

Let me make certain I understand this correctly. The programme has been a wild financial success but not so successful that it's causing a run on the toilet? Got it.

I promise to leave the bathroom blogs alone for a while. I just couldn't help myself on this one (I was bursting). But before I do, how can we tie all this bathroom business into a blog about in-flight connectivity? Here's how:

If you're an airline employee under mandate to take a drug test, you best leave your Whizzinator at home. Effective 1 November, the US DOT will require airlines to "directly observe" employee urination in certain instances, such as when an employee returns to duty or requires a follow-up test.

Let's just call these observers the prosthetic penis police (PPP). Because that's what they're on the look-out for - folks who are trying to cheat the system by using an arsenal of devices (such as the Whizzinator) to hold someone else's urine and outsmart the system. Yes, there are devices for the ladies too (phew, for a moment there RWG was sounding slightly sexist).

The PPP's job description requires good eyesight and a deep awareness of the difference between real and plastic. The observer "must request the employee to raise his or her shirt, blouse, or dress/skirt, as appropriate, above the waist; and lower clothing and underpants to show you, by turning around, that they do not have a prosthetic device. After you have determined that the employee does not have such a device, you may permit the employee to return clothing to its proper position for observed urination..."

Airlines big and small are outraged over this new regulation. In a joint filing with the US DOT, the Air Transport Association of America and the Regional Airline Association point out that there are no data to confirm that prosthetic devices are widely used within the transportation industry; the only data provided indicated that such devices are widely available (that's for certain).

"Several airlines indicate that they could lose highly qualified and completely innocent employees due to the intrusive nature of the new mandate - they will simply quit rather than be subjected to a procedure that borders on harassment", says Regional Airline Association VP Scott Foose.

Bare with me, or rather, bear with me as I state the obvious here. Couldn't this all get rather litigious? Who observes the observer whilst he or she is observing? Cue the debate for video cameras in the observation booth, aka the toilet.

(Photo above of Emirates A380 toilet...you didn't think it was a domestic carrier, did you?)

Apart from the fact that JetBlue Airways will offer passengers free Wi-Fi at its new Terminal 5 at New York JFK airport (as it does in Terminal 6), my favourite part of the new facility is...

The remote food ordering systems in the gate areas! Called re:vive, the touch-screen monitors let travellers order meals that are delivered directly to their gate-side tables.

Re:vive received a tremendous reception at Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, with plenty of "oohs and aahs" from the crowd.

Developed by JetBlue's food and beverage concession partner OTG Management, the systems "are unique to JetBlue and T5 and were conceived as a way to offer customers a convenient dining option at the gate", says JetBlue.

There will be 220 re:vive touch screens located throughout T5. And JetBlue is making sure there are lots of outlets to plug in and recharge, from the gate areas to the steps of the grandstand in the marketplace, to the re:vive food ordering stations. Sweet!

I can picture it now - eating a hand-delivered sandwich and drinking a refreshing beverage while doing some Runway Girl blogging from a fully charged laptop.

Hey, it looks like JetBlue is practicing on the ground what it will no doubt eventually offer in-flight!!!

The carrier is on track with T5's construction and the terminal operating systems. The remaining work to be completed is with the concessions. "We will open T5 in October with all customer service elements in place (exact date TBD)," says JetBlue.

Meanwhile, OTG Management has plans "in the near future" to take the remote food ordering concept to other airports, says a spokeswoman for the company.

Updated to include new details and pics (and fix wacky font)

When JetBlue Airways launched service in 2000 many a skeptic questioned the low-cost carrier's logic for making New York JFK its home. Sure, a slog through crowded JFK was a necessary evil for many an international traveler. But how in the world could a local, domestic carrier convince Joe Americana to book his trip to Florida out of such a pain-in-the-butt facility, queried the cynics. Over eight years later (my God, has it been that long?), and after numerous enhancements to JFK, JetBlue is ready to prove its case that home is indeed where the heart is.

The carrier yesterday celebrated the successful construction of its new $743 million, 26-gate Terminal 5 located behind the historic Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal at JFK. And it did so in style. JetBlue packed the house with a bevy of elected officials, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Chuck Schumer and Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown as well as world-famous New York City dance troupe The Rockettes and pop singer Estelle.

I've never been shy about my admiration for JetBlue. Yes, I'm an in-flight entertainment junky and credit JetBlue's ingenuity every time another US carrier commits to providing IFE to economy passengers. But there is more to it than that. JetBlue is one of the few carriers to offer a consistent experience to customers (both on and off the aircraft) even when times are tough (founder David Neeleman received a standing ovation upon entering the stage yesterday...check out the carrier's own live blogging of the event).

Sure, there have been some hiccups along the way. The carrier announced last week that it is slowing its Embraer E-190 growth by leasing two of the type to Brazilian start-up - and Neeleman brainchild - Azul and selling four deliveries to Jetscape, which will subsequently lease them to Azul. For the record, Azul's 36-strong order for E-195s remains intact, says Embraer. Neeleman also told me on the sidelines of yesterday's ceremony that Azul will launch service with a combination of five aircraft - three E-195s and the two leased E-190s from JetBlue.

More sensationally, JetBlue's handling of passengers during a batch of heavy ice storms wasn't its shining moment (and what ever happened to the guy who was forced to spend most of his flight in an A320 bathroom?) but on the whole, JetBlue is a bright star in an ever-darkening night.

There is another reason why I took the early morning train from Lancaster, PA to New York Penn Station where I picked up the Long Island Railroad to Jamaica and then the AirTrain to JFK for the T5 opening. A 1937 TWA Lockheed 12A Electra (the oldest flying TWA aircraft) and former TWA flight attendants wearing vintage uniforms were part of JetBlue's visual extravaganza. It's appropriate for JetBlue to celebrate the past, but this journalist is hopeful - nay convinced - that this carrier is the future.

(All photos care of the JetBlue corpcomm bloggers...check out their site at http://t508.wordpress.com)

Oh the desperation is fierce. United Airlines today announced it will boost from $25 to a whopping $50 the fee it charges economy passengers to check in a second bag. And the struggling carrier has given domestic customers exactly one day to digest this quick change in policy, which impacts all flights booked from tomorrow for travel beginning 10 November. 

Following hard on the heels of United's recent transatlantic meal charge flip flop, I can't help but wonder if management is shooting darts at an idea board and seeing what sticks.

I relied on United to fly me between Baltimore/Washington and Los Angeles last week. The experience was one of the worst in my recent memory. 

I'll spare you all the intimate travel details (aren't we all in the same painful boat these days?), but suffice it to say, I could hear the oh-so-audible complaints of economy passengers aboard the aircraft and at check-in. Frankly I vowed to do my utmost to avoid flying the airline again.

So how will this new, steeper baggage fee go down? Like a big bag of bricks, I'd imagine.

(Photo of United's check-in counter at LAX in 1947 care of AirTeamImages)

Shannon's pub outside of gate D11 at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. That's where I've plopped myself down, beer in hand, to wait for United Airlines flight 307 to Los Angeles.

For those of you who have been following this blog, you'll know that I'm en route to Long Beach for the Aircraft Interiors Expo and co-located World Airline Entertainment Association conference and exhibition, which will get kicked off tomorrow.

It feels slightly ironic to be travelling United steerage class - $15 poorer after checking in a bag - to two events that showcase the latest and greatest in in-flight technology and cabin amenities. Sure, United lays out the red carpet for its first-class passengers, but I know what's in store for me on this venerable Boeing 757-200. A costly sandwich and some severe leg cramps (no, I haven't picked up those DVT stockings...yet).

As I prepare to walk the floors of both shows, where I will momentarily bask in the glory of leather lie-flats, iPod connectivity and the odd glass of bubbly, I'm reminded of Al Pacino's memorable speech in the Devil's Advocate (tell me I'm not the only one who loves this camp). "You can look but you can't touch. You can eat but you can't taste. You can taste but you can't swallow."

And, if I may add a final line - " You can swallow that beer but it's gonna cost you."