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Hosted by Ben Baldanza - former CEO Spirit Airlines & Chris Chiames - 30+ year airline/travel industry veteran. Top stories, discussion, listener questions, and passenger complaints are all addressed head-on in each episode.
This week: A look at how summer capacity is shaping up; Impact on the US cruise industry; Will vaccination cards become mandatory for travel? Say goodbye to the hellish experience of Gate 35X at DCA; A listener asks if his "nice guy" gesture cost Delta $800; Shout-outs of the week.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Special Guest Declan Ryan Chairman/President Viva Air on low cost carriers as an investment & much more; Also, what to keep an eye on in the proposed 2 Trillion dollar infrastructure bill; New guidance from the CDC; A pilot listener comment on Scope negotiations; Passenger complaint: My vouchers are expiring-they won't extend them, Fine?…
This week: The scope of pilot union contracts; Frontier introduces a new type of lighter weight seat; A look at Frontier and Sun Country IPOs; Listener question about low-cost transatlantic service; and shout-outs of the week.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Special Guest Helane Becker, Airline Analyst-how she builds her financial models and much more; Plus a listener question on Allegiant's earnings call; We hear from a female pilot about federal funding, seniority list placement; A complaint about Lufthansa on a minor being split from travel companion-Fine? or Whine? A shoutout to Alaska A…
This week: Covid Funding bill passes & 27,000 furloughs recalled; Restrictions with the money? CDC with a confusing travel alert; A good time to start an airline? Which one would Ben bet on? Listener question on Allegiant's disruption capability; shout-outs of the week.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Special guest interview with airline icon Bob Crandall. Topics include deregulation, stock buy-backs, government bailouts, and how the industry is handling the Covid crisis; A listener question on how airlines design & research their routes; What is refrigerator scheduling? Complaint: The air nozzles didn't work-Fine or Whine?; plus our …
This Week: The IAG acquisition of Air Europa - will it create a mega-hub in Madrid? Can the Frenchbee A350 with 488 seats be profitable? What % of people would give up sex for a year to be able to travel again? Listener question: Why was Qatar flying from LAX to Mexico City? Plus this week's shoutouts...including the TSA?…
This week: Weather & damage; $14 billion stimulus to airlines?; Are single pilot planes coming soon?; Amy has a question about "QC" airplanes; Kyle asks: Is there a "list price" for a commercial jetliner? Fatima has a complaint about Qatar Airways - Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: A trial balloon that didn't fly; New routes announced; A look OAG data indicates who's actually travelling; Listener complaint: Hawaiian Airlines charged $300 in change fees - Fine or Whine? and this week's shout-outs.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This Week: Special Guest WSJ Travel Editor Scott McCartney with the Best & Worst US Airlines of 2020; Airline staffing and who's asking for more government funding; A listener upset with United ticketing "schemes"- Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: The staggering amount US Airlines lost this past year; What were Southwest and American really saying in their earnings calls? Will pre-flight Covid testing for all domestic passengers be a requirement soon? New slot rules...now? A pilot/listener follows up on pilots breaks during flight; Shout-outs to Peter Ingram and Gary Kelly.…
This week: United shows leadership; A look into the new Washington DC leadership change; What qualifies someone to be Secretary of Transportation? Special guest Richard Mintz; and a Spirit complaint-Fine? or Whine? *Note: We apologize for some audio technical difficulties this week.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
Delta says they can hit cash break even by summer. Can they? Norwegian ceases transatlantic flights.How long is OK for a pilot to be out of the cockpit during a flight? and Dan gets the Geek of the Week Award for his question of Yield vs PRASMBởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
Welcome Ben's new Co-Host Chris Chiames; Can Chinese state-owned Comac succeed in the USA? Ryan Air's covid ad campaign; Listener question on SkyWest's; Should the people who stormed Capitol Hill be banned from flying? and is Alexandra's complaint about Alaska rebooking her and not letting her take her cats onboard - "Fine or Whine?"…
Seth with a big announcement; We welcome Chris Chiames to the podcast; A look at how holiday travel went; Listener questions: Is a 717 or 757-Max in our future? Did Boeing actually benefit from corner cutting? and Richard in Houston has a complaint about Delta Comfort-Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
Wishing you a Happy New Year! A listener question: Is the Saint Louis airport going away? What is United currently flying from St Louis and what makes hubs succeed or fail? Another listener asks: Is the FAA too cozy with Boeing regarding the 737 Max? and a "Fine or Whine" complaint that's a very clear Fine!…
This Week: Jet Blue new flight destinations including Miami? Did one airline accidentally match another airline's business class pricing mistake? Insider trivia: What is the "through flight assignment model"?and a baggage compensation complaint in India - Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: 2020 Holiday travel; Aircraft financing; The logic of flight numbers; A complaint about Aeromexico - Fine? or Whine? and is Covid isolation good for redheads?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Special guest Chris Sloan from The Airchive; The 737-Max takes flight again. How will people feel about flying on it? Why does Delta have multiple Midwest hubs? What's the business structure of airline alliances? and Seth has a complaint about Spirit...is it Fine? or a Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Airlines & the distribution of the covid vaccine; Does one airline actually taxi faster than other airlines? A passenger gets arrested while behaving badly; and a complaint about KLM ticket change charge - Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: An Asiana - Korean Air merger? An update of the AA rules around heavy wheelchairs; Letter grades on how individual airlines are handling the covid situation from a business & customer perspective; and Charlene says her United plane was dirty and she felt unsafe...Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Southwest adds to their 737 Max fleet; A flight attendant behaves badly; A weight limit for wheelchairs? and a complaint about United asking for proof of death.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Saluting all Veterans; Current opportunities in the airline industry; Do exclusive gate deal for airlines still exist? Anthony with a complaint about a paid boarding upgrade on Southwest - Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Will holiday travel demand return? First-ever Southwest layoffs? How long will passengers who refuse to wear a mask be banned from flying? Passengers Behaving Badly...on Spirit; and is a Frontier pricing complaint Fine? or a Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Lots o' listener questions and corrections; Do emergency operations differ between airlines? The deal on Southwest at Love Field; Cousin Ross the pilot clears up some info on turbulence; Why is Delta still flying a 767-400? and a complaint about Copa Airlines-Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: TSA one-day passenger count hits 1 million; Southwest breaking into United territory; A passenger behaves badly yelling and coughing on EasyJet; and in Fine or Whine, the passenger blames the pilot for turbulence.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Recorded LIVE on stage at the Boyd Group IAFS in Cincinnati with special guest Mike Boyd. Southwest's surprising moves; What changes in the industry will be perminent?; Study: Airflow IN the aircraft; & a Passenger Behaving Badly on Allegiant.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Airline network moves; What's Jet Blue up to in Newark?; Passengers behaving badly; Pam in Palm Beach with a very legit complaint. Attending the Boyd Group IAFS? We'll see you in Cincinnati next week.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Is American close to an employee deal? How does that timing work with a government bailout? A follow up on DC restricted airspace; More about the value of frequent flier programs; and listener questions and comments.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
The week: Some of the economics of frequent flyer programs; A listener question about restricted airspace around the Whitehouse; A complaint about Delta Comfort Plus; and Ben discovers some "other" Seth Kaplans.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Is United staffing sports charters with flight attendants based on looks?; Airport codes followup with much listener input & the story on BWI; Seth on ease of refunds; and a customer complaint about AA in "Fine or Whine".Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes fees changing; Why would Southwest be launching service in Miami?; How does an airport change it code?; A listener question about new service to Orange County; and a listener complaint about a Delta change fee - Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This Week: The roller coaster trends in new bookings; It is getting riskier or safer to fly?; More about the middle(seat); Passengers behaving Badly; and "The gate agent said OK but I still got charged!" Fine or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: The new numbers on airline job losses; Our listeners correct us on a few things; and in "Fine or Whine" why did one passenger get charged $400 for his bags when the airline said it was only supposed to be $100?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
An invitation from Ben Baldanza to Airlines Confidential listeners to join and participate in an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University LIVE Zoom event Wed Aug 26th.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: An update/discussion on federal aviation industry bailout dollars; How is airline business for September shaping up? A listener question on the ADA, reasonable accommodations, and masks; A passenger behaving badly in Phoenix; and another "Fine or Whine?"Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Why are airline stocks up? Some ramifications of a tighter mask policy; Is American singing kumbaya with it's pilots? Lots of listener comments questions and answers. Plus "United won't let me go to Croatia" Fine or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Update on federal aid & employee furloughs; Are airlines critical to economic recovery?; Listener question on turning off devices; passenger complaint about United and refunds-Fine? or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Frontier IPO gets postponed; What does an airline Board of Directors actually discuss?;This week's Passenger Behaving Badly; and Edith in GA with a complaint about pricing on American: "Fine? or Whine?"Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: What does the new American/JetBlue partnership mean to you?; 3 passengers behave really badly; Listener question: How do airlines keep track of mentally ill pilots?; and a customer complaint-is it fine? or just a whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This Week: JetBlue's major West Coast service change; MIT study: Do your odds of dying from Covid-19 change if the middle seat is filled? Passengers Behaving Badly: 1 with a gun. The other a US Senator; Listener question on credit card use for inflight purchases; and who do those masks protect?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Empty middle seats-Healthier or just marketing? 7000 literally take a trip to nowhere; Are seatback screens worth the cost to the airlines? A private jet lands in Italy and officials won't let the American's off - Fine or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Middle seats and masks on planes; Listener question: is Delta yesterday's genius? How can 30,000 passengers stop behaving badly?Customer complaint: I booked then had to pay more later- Fine or Whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: How do the cruise lines affect the airlines? Will an MBA get you a job in airline management? Complaint: The worst seat on the plane "Fine or Whine?"; No Mask or MEGA hat got him banned from AA?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Why seemingly similar airlines are taking different business approaches; A look at July airline schedules; A listener question about saving fuel while taxiing; and passenger behaving badly...involving alcohol.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: What year will the airline industry recover?; Ben's 2-airport adventure; AA CEO's noteworthy experience on a Southwest flight; The status of regional airlines; and this week's customer complaint: "Fine or Whine?"Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Airline employee buyout and layoff options; Frontier, Southwest announce new routes; Passengers Behaving Badly; and "Fine or Whine?"Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: The biggest airline bankruptcy yet; Who are the 3 best airline execs of all time?; Passengers Behaving Badly with women's underwear; and is the complaint fine? or is it a whine?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Exclusive Stats! Scheduled vs Actual Operating flights data; One Airline says it's laying off older workers to "keep the workforce young"; A listener complaint in "Fine or Whine" on a Southwest boarding incident.Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
This week: Avianca goes Ch 11; Is United getting leaner or just meaner?; Is this a good time to start a new airline? and in "Fine or Whine" was it really going to get choppy or did the crew just want a break?Bởi Ben Baldanza & Chris Chiames
