A couple factors contribute to the "fine ride" quality of the MD. Aft fuselage-mounted engines created a far quitter ride for all but the last several rows of the cabin. And the 2-3 seating configuration made for wider seats and half as many middle seats. These all combined to make the MD a passenger's airplane.

(Written on 2020/06/05)(Permalink)

"I pay money for a seat on their airplane providing transportation from point A to point B" **...on a given date at a given time!** Don't forget that part.

(Written on 2020/04/10)(Permalink)

I travel quite frequently and have received many vouchers from numerous airlines when I've volunteered my seat. Every one has always functioned as a "same as cash" instrument for travel on that airline. The only restriction was the expiration date--usually 12 months from the date of its issuance. But none required me to purchase a "higher level of travel" or even spend an additional out-of-pocket dime, if the voucher's value exceeded that of the ticket I chose to purchase. Further, any remaining value was left available for additional purchases up to the expiration date. I can't imagine why the vouchers described in the article would function differently.

(Written on 2020/04/10)(Permalink)

Last I checked, there's a term for a company unable to cover its debt obligations--BANKRUPT. If the airlines refuse to cover their lawful debt, then they must be forced to declare bankruptcy. If they don't wish to do that, they must pay their debts, full stop. There are no two ways about this.

(Written on 2020/04/10)(Permalink)

Lack of lounges I get, but lay-flat bed?? The longest legs in Southwest's route system are ~4 hour (their handful of west coast - HI routes are ~5). They don't have any long haul service. AFAIK no domestic carrier provides lay-flat configurations for these types of routes, save the couple LAX-Metro NY runs with Delta One or Polaris.

(Written on 2019/11/25)(Permalink)

If you're flying long-haul on a British carrier, in any class, Virgin is the way to go. It's not even a close comparison.

(Written on 2019/08/16)(Permalink)

On a flight of this length, I think there might be a business case to be made for eliminating economy altogether and outfitting their equipment with only business and first class cabins.

(Written on 2019/05/11)(Permalink)

Perhaps we were talking about two different things. I read your post to mean that this phenomenon was limited to supersonic-capable fighter aircraft. To which I responded that *all* fighter aircraft in the stables of modern air forces are supersonic-capable. And I agree with your statements about air-to-air in the subsonic regime. But small air forces fielding turboprop fighters are not modern air forces, to be sure. Further, A-10's, YAK-130's, SU-25's, etc., while not supersonic-capable, are not fighter aircraft either, they are attack aircraft--a very important distinction to this Naval Attack Jet Aviator ;-)

(Written on 2019/04/18)(Permalink)

I'm not familiar with any fighter aircraft currently in the inventory of modern air forces that -isn't- supersonic.

(Written on 2019/04/15)(Permalink)

Delta will still continue flying them for a bit.

(Written on 2018/12/28)(Permalink)