Dots, Lines & Destinations » Podcast

Ground issues grounding a plane is harder than you'd think to explain, but very much at the center of the latest 737 MAX drama. Also in this episode: * United Airlines confirms it will take some MAX 8s* Delta Air Lines adds Dubrovnik for this summer, as well as Premium Select retrofits on A330/763s, but isn't combining the two yet* Avelo picks New Haven for its first east coast hub* Bernard Ziegler, who basically invented fly-by-wire for Airbus, died* So did Helmut Jahn, the architect responsible for the UA terminal in ORD and the new BKK.* Air Senegal plans flights to JFK/IAD later this year* Kid went into the baggage system at MSP* UK green list of places people can't visit* EASA tracks space weather, too For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Breeze to hire non-college kid FAs And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Maybe we went a little too far off the rails talking about privacy and ad tech and where they intersect. Including on board JetBlue's newest A220 fleet. But that shouldn't be much of a surprise. Also in this episode: * More refunds in Canada* An update on Tugs* Other bits from the JetBlue A220 inaugural* Sun Country's new routes, bypassing MSP in the Upper Midwest* Bonus points options from MileagePlus* RealID is delayed. Again. May 2023* Is it time to start planning summer travels?* Has the advance booking window really shifted? IATA shared some interesting data. https://youtu.be/UzC9K1x9z1U For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * An El Al Bomb Threat* Vistara to the US? And plenty more. Enjoy the show! Oh, and Seth got at least two references wrong: Picked the wrong pop Justin to make a joke about and Grab became Servy, not Divvy. Oops.

Picking routes for a new airline is a major challenge, with significant unknowns. Unless you just take an existing airline and copy its core operating plan. That's what Connect Airlines appears to have in mind for an October 2021 launch, shadowing the Porter Air transborder model. Also in this episode: * JetBlue's new A321LR economy class product details are out, including a funky meal service approach* Avelo has a new route map based in Burbank* LATAM is dumping its A350s* Radisson Rewards is "enhancing" the program by splitting it geographically* Flight load planning software matters a lot, and when "Miss" gets flagged as a child rather than an adult bad things can happen * Air Canada got a bailout from the government, conditional on delivering cash refunds to customers* Australia-NZ quarantine-free bubble launches For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * New Airbus visitors center at Finkenwerder* Kayak launching its own hotel in Miami Beach And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

We've got a special guest on the show this week, talking about a very special topic. There's a new aviation-themed children's book out, Aya and Avi's Airplane Adventure, and we've got the author on to talk about his inspiration for pulling it together and a few other things. The book follows an ambitious young girl named Aya with a dream of being a pilot, and a shy boy who learns to love the magic of flight named Avi, as they take an airplane adventure with Dad and Papa and learn that you can be anyone you want to be. Also in this episode: * Alaska Airlines joins Oneworld* Delta Air Lines is ending its middle seat blocking policy* The CDC altered its guidance about vaccinated travel* Air Canada and Transat's merger is off For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * The MAX 8200 is now certified and should be flying across Europe soon. And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Perhaps it was a mistake to let an outsider take the lead on one of our episodes. But what follows in nearly an hour of spectacular conversation about, not surprisingly, travel and pent-up demand and what the return to normal will be like. This week we've got Ed from Miles To Go leading the party and, well, it is interesting. Some of the topics in this episode: * Cancun is raising taxes on visitors, trying to cash in on relatively strong tourism demand* Iceland is open again for US tourists* Lots of talk about routes, with Ed choosing to focus on Dulles* Deicing is important* Rental cars are strange For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Meth is a helluva drug* Hong Kong is playing favorites for pilots And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

A mistake fare brought back some excitement we haven't felt in a long time, even if it eventually cancelled. Plus Iceland to Antarctica and much more! Also in this episode: * UA 328 lost an engine and that was all sorts of exciting, plus the flight number matches our episode number, assuming we counted correctly* US Airport transit funding rules change and it could be a major win, though probably not a LaGuardia* ATR testing single pilot operations with FedEx* United adds bus service in Denver* Icelandair went to Antarctica* Boeing talking about possible safety issues at Airbus doesn’t look good, even if it might be vaguely accurate, plus EASA said it first* Lufthansa is ready to ground the A380 permanently* Air Sinai (which we talked about a year ago) could be going away for good?* Some follow-up on the Boston-London market and slots For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Frequent flier account data was compromised because of a leak at SITA* IranAir as some interesting aircraft acquisition processes* TAP’s mistake fare And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

An aviation podcast talking about driving? Sometimes that's the only viable option, and it is strange. Plus, so are we. Also in this episode: * New Dutch airport delayed again * 777X delayed to late 2023 at the earliest * Alitalia might really finally die * Canada closing its borders * HNA bankruptcy affects about a dozen airlines, 600+ planes and more. Plus $9B+ in embezzlement. * New Mint suite (including front row Studio) * Boeing’s next attempt at a new plane * AA plans MIA-TLV starting this summer * Dodge Neon as baggage tug * Allegiant New Routes For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Nunavut bathroom idiocy (and Seth's poor geography) * Rolls Royce summer shutdown * $AAL riding the squeeze And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

We definitely don't recommend eating it, but the 2,000 year old street meat discoveries in the ruins of Pompeii are all sorts of awesome. Also in this episode: * Montenegro Airlines is dead, but it will likely return soon* A lawyer involved in representing 737 MAX victims stole payments intended for them* After years of battles a Delta pilot won their case regarding whistle-blower retaliation, and the now-head of the FAA is implicated* The EPA finally adopted aircraft emissions standards so Boeing can sell planes internationally but it won't really help reduce emissions* Alaska Airlines will continue to block middle seats in its Premium Class cabin, at least most of the time* Azores Air will fly an intra-Atlantic route from Puerto Delgado to Bermuda and that's a seriously sexy line* The book Seth mentioned, Empires of the Sky For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Some thoughts on the increased Alaska Airlines 737 MAX order book And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

As has happened several times since the pandemic began airlines are shaking up their route maps with idea so crazy they just might work. So which new destinations will work this time around?? Also in this episode: * JetBlue has some interesting ideas about new markets that can benefit from its presence, particularly Miami and Raleigh-Durham, which just happen to be an American Airlines hub and a Delta focus city.* American reacted with some new routes of its own from Fort Lauderdale, though it is also cutting TATL markets and otherwise trying to find a path to stability.* US Congress finally passed another COVID recovery plan that probably isn't the best use of money, especially with respect to how airlines are being treated.* A new strain of COVID detected in London saw brisk reaction from much of the world, though the US is keeping its border open.* Brexit is just around the corner and Ryanair is among the airlines feeling the pain after its plan to skip local ownership rules got busted by the UK CAA.* The US Senate says Boeing coached its test pilots inappropriately around the recertification flights, which is definitely not good.* Starlux is planning to fly to the USA in 2022.* JetBlue makes some changes to Mosaic elite status in 2021.* A passenger on a United flight died from COVID and the industry is struggling to handle it well.* Stephan took a trip last week and was not impressed. For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Do you get bonus points for finally deciding to stop traveling now that it is dangerous despite taking many leisure trips throughout the rest of the year??* All sorts of interesting happenings in India with potential changes of airline ownership. And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Where have all the cool planes gone? If you frequently find yourself wondering about that JetTip.net might help with some answers, at least in the US and Canada. And we've got founder Nick Benson on this week's show to talk about that and lots of other fun stuff. Also in this episode: * COVID vaccines are flying (and driving) across the USA * Aeromexico is ready to bring the MAX back into service next week * There's a couple A340-200s available at auction starting for just 80,000 euro each * Millions of frequent flyer miles stolen * Aeroplan is launching a US credit card with Chase * A contest to win a free JetTip.net subscription For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Tracking the presidential campaign fleets * A ridiculous cargo payload * More change fees disappearing on Delta and United And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Is it a race to be first, or just normal business to get the planes back into the sky? Just one of many questions surrounding the 737 MAX return to service now that the grounding has been lifted in the USA. And to help dig deeper into the issue we've brought in Chris Sloan of Airchive to talk about the MAX. He was on the American Airlines media tour last week to see the aircraft in action and talk to the maintenance crews in Tulsa helping to bring it back to service levels. For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Drone photography: awesome or awful?* Sim time And plenty more. Enjoy the show! Header image: An American Airlines 737MAX at the Tulsa maintenance center (via Chris Sloan/TheAirchive.net)

Yes, you should subscribe to this show in your favorite podcast app. But probably not to the "deal" the Miles and More program just launched for bonus points earning while flying. Like most such schemes, it rarely will prove valuable to consumers. Also in this episode: * Singapore Airlines is coming back to NYC nonstop. And this time really to New York City.* Cathay Dragon is dead, long live Cathay Pacific* Spirit Airlines is relaunching its FreeSpirit frequent flyer program* Delta Air Lines and WestJet received tentative approval from the US DOT for their proposed JV/ATI, with a few strings attached* American Airlines doesn't want to carry certain motorized wheelchairs any more, which sucks for the passengers and might not be legal* An awesome Delta A220-300 photo For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * What are United's planes really worth, and why is it okay that some are scrap-worthy? And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

It is earnings season again, and this time around we're talking through the billions and billions of dollars burned by Delta and United to start. Also in this episode: * Fleet changes cost money, but are the values being allocated fair?* New routes from United into the Caribbean and Central America* American Airlines is giving up on 2021 already, at least with respect to elite status in the loyalty program* Is the 737 MAX really ready to fly again?* Eastern Airlines has its eye on Bolivia and Argentina* Some fun with Euro notes For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Drama in the South China Sea, as the disputed Pratas Islands take center stage And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

We're about more than just airplanes, especially these days. But don't worry too much; air travel still dominates the conversation this week. Among the topics in this episode: * Southwest Airlines adds new service across town from its Midway and Hobby hubs, joining MIA as it further pushes into legacy hub operations* Alitalia might have finally died(ish), but not really* The Vatican invested in Hertz and barely escaped without losses* Alaska Airlines firms its plans to join Oneworld on 31 March 2021* IATA says you're more likely to be struck by lightning than to catch COVID on a plane For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Alaska Airlines' conversion from stored credit to points: Was it worth it? And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Inaugurals are always fun, right? So why not go book a few, just in case they actually operate! Also in this episode: * Did Thai Airways really make more money selling food than flying? Like a lot more??* United Airlines trying to expand service into LatAm again in November, plus nonstop SFO-PVG* American Airlines parking many A321T frames* AirAsia Japan is dead…again* Seth is on the road this week and has some thoughts For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * More details on a few inaugural routes that are pricing nicely for both award and revenue bookings And plenty more. Enjoy the show!