Naked Man Subdued on Flight

Members of a Major League Soccer team helped subdue a naked man as he tried to open an emergency exit door while inflight.

The American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City on Friday after a passenger stripped nude and later tried to open an emergency exit door before being subdued by members of a professional soccer team and others, the FBI said.

Craig Tornberg, the soccer team’s general manager, said he confronted the man as soon as he saw him emerge naked from one of the plane’s restrooms.

“I said he should get back into the bathroom and put on his clothes,” Tornberg said after the plane landed in Los Angeles. “He said something strange to me. He said, ‘I don’t hear you. I don’t see you.’

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Charge it: Alaska No Longer Take Cash

Alaska Airlines become the latest carrier to go cashless. Beginning August 5, Alaska Airlines will become the latest to not accept cash onboard fro in-flight services.

Others that have gone cashless include Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, AirTran, Virgin American and Midwest Airlines.

Continental Joins Star Alliance

Continental & United has announced a "extensive cooperation" linking global networks and eliminating route duplication.

"The planned trans-Atlantic joint venture, in which Continental, United, Lufthansa and Air Canada will pool revenue, will permit the carriers to compete more effectively with the proposed joint venture involving certain SkyTeam members that was recently granted antitrust immunity.

The trans-Atlantic joint venture will combine the strength of the carriers to create a more efficient and comprehensive trans-Atlantic network for the carriers' customers."

It will be interesting to see where this will lead the two U.S. Carriers.

Delta & NWA Merger

Delta & Northwest Airlines have made it official. They are merging to created the largest airline in the world.

Does this mean higher fares in the horizon?

According to Delta & Northwest, you'd think it is a done deal but in reality the "Deal" is already facing chanllenges.

Skybus Files for Bankruptcy

Another one bits the dust...

Skybus know for their $10 fares has decided to call it quits after one year of service. I guess it it was too good to be true... $10 fares?

ATA Files Bankruptcy

A few days after Aloha files for Bankruptcy, ATA also files for bankruptcy protection. Indianapolis based airlines says it can't maintain its business without a key miltary charter contract.

"The decision to shut down was just totally unexpected and happened very quickly," ATA spokesman Michael Freitag said.

United Grounds 11% of Fleet

UAL temporarily grounded 11% of her fleet and cancelled 31 flights on Wednesday, so they can test the Cargo suppression system on their 777s.

United carried out unscheduled maintenance on seven of its Boeing 747 jets last month but found no safety-related issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been checking maintenance records at all domestic airlines after revelations surfaced about missed safety inspections at Southwest Airlines Co.

Aloha Air Quits after 60 yrs

After 60 years of being in business, Aloha Air will end passenger service March 30, 2008. The writing has been on the wall. With the increase in fuel cost and inter-island fares of $19 meant their end was inevitable. Their air cargo unit will continue to operate while under bankruptcy.

The 1,900 employees who are affected, we are sorry. Aloha Air you will be missed.

Nipple Ring NO NO NO

A Texas Woman was forced to remove her nipple ring with a pair of pliers before she was allowed to board a plane. Ouch ...

I cannot believe these stories with TSA... Oh wait, yes I can !

Southwest: too pretty or too bitchy?

Two Coeds from University of South Florida claims they were discriminated because they were young and too pretty... give me a break.

"I think they were just discriminating against [us] because we were young decent-looking girls," Williams told TampaBays10.com. "I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us. [The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger.”

Flight Attendant Sues After being Slapped

A Singapore Airlines flight attendant is suing after a passenger slapped her on a flight between Singapore and Tokyo last September. The Passenger was the wife of CEO Venture Corp, Wong Ngit Liong, one of Singapore's richest men.

Ms Then Jiamin, SIA flight attendant, is suing for "general damages and damages for consequential loss and emotional and mental distress" she suffered as a result of the "wrongful assault and battery". She is also claiming damages for defamation.

The wife, Madom Tan Siew Hoon, allegedly slapping Ms Then and saying loadly: "Why are you talking to my husband!"

Can we say insecure...

Delta Merge with Northwest

The NY Times is reporting that Delta and Northwest Airlines are close to a merger and supposedly it will follow with a merger between Continental and United. Yikes !

As I had myself gone through two mergers with Continental and let me tell you... DON"T. Mergers are never easy for the employees and seldom benefits the consumers. I guess only time will tell as to what will really happen.

Hang on tight it's going to be a bumping ride !

USA Today | CNN | MSNBC

China Warns Airline - Don't be late !

China has warned the airlines not to be late for the up coming Beijing Olympics. Airlines that fails to keep up with the standards being set will not be allowed to expand their services for two years.. oouch ! I have a feeling China's General Administration of Civil Aviation, Li Jiaxiang is not kidding around.

Hmm, I wonder if our Head of US Aviation has that kind of pull to try to straight out some of our problems.

Delta Merger Talks

As many have speculated and now acknowleged, Delta is now seeking a merger with Northwest or United.

Yet another committee has been formed and yet another talk of reducing capacity...

You be the judge. I lived through two mergers when I worked for Continental and I can tell you, it is NOT easy. Airlines seldom share, technology, way of doing business, labor force etc. It will not be easy no matter what.

Lufthansa buys 19% of JetBlue

A few days ago Lufthansa opted to invest in 19% of JetBlue. It is never what it seems. I have a feeling this is Lufthansa's way of controlling the JFK market. Since the deregulation of the European routes between the U.S. and Europe, don't be too surprise if the landing slots at JFK trade between Lufthansa and JetBlue.

I remember this had happened years ago when United needed landing slots in ORD and bought Air Wisconsin. Then only to turn around and sell the airline after striping them of their ORD landing slots.

I do not think this is the end of this story, just you wait...

Delta Creates Planeguage

Delta has created a series of animated short videos and I think the are hilarious. Now that is a unique way of addressing some of the issues we see in the air everyday.

It's good when we can laugh at ourselves... Enjoy the videos

Your Jetiquette Needs

This article from USA today features Gailen David, a twenty-year American Airlines flight attendant, answers some of your 'jetiquette' questions and answers.

After years of flying, I would say some of these Q&A are obvious, but then who am I to say what's obvious..

Interline Story

Luggage Falls from Sky

You think you've got a lost luggage story, well think again. As far as I know, no luggage has ever fallen from the sky, blue ice... maybe but luggage?

The NY Times reports that two pieces of luggage fell from an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight between Chicago & Atlanta. The Express Carrier apparently had not secure the Cargo door and was having problems pressurizing the plane after take off. When the plane safely returned, they discovered two pieces of luggage were missing.

Now for the amazing part of the story.. someone found one of bags a mile away.

Pilot Accused of Prank Calls

A Singapore Airlines pilot was accused of making prank calls to fast-food outlets for food delivery to a fellow pilot. Under Singapore laws anyone who transmits a false message by phone can be fined up to $10,000 Singapore dollars and jailed for up to three years. Ouch !!

Disney Continues Million Dreams Promo

Throughout 2007, Disney guests experienced the magic of The Year of a Million Dreams. Now, Disney Parks have decided to extend their "Million Dreams" promotion until December 31, 2008.

Leonard & I just returned from the Disney Conference and we got a tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite, along with some of their new attractions.

The Dreams promotional giveaways are fun and cannot be beat. In addition to current giveaways, Disney will grant even more one-of-a-kind, money-can't buy experiences including:

• The chance to stay, on the night awarded, in the park overnight inside the Disneyland® Dream Suite in New Orleans Square at Disneyland® Resort or in the Cinderella Castle Suite in the heart of Walt Disney World® Resort.
  
• DREAM FASTPASS badge
  
• Ultimate Character Meet & Greet
  
• In-Park Shopping Spree

So go visit Disney Parks & keep Dreaming