A Bunch of United Boeing 777 Tails at London Heathrow Airport.
For those that have trouble fitting into a standard passenger seat, they will have to prepare to pay double on United Airlines. They have pretty black and white criteria for those to meet this requirement:
– Unable to fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin
– Unable to properly buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender
– Unable to put the seat’s armrests down when seated
A passenger falling under any of these criteria will be relocated or be forced to upgrade to first class or be booted to the next flight.
Of course this is humiliating to those who are in this bracket and no one of course wants that, but it seems to be the only fair solution instead of having to be a full paying passenger and only having half a seat due to someone who is a bit larger next to you.
Ryanair is a little less Politically Correct about the matter and about 1/3 of 100,000 people that voted on their website for “cost-reduction ideas” wanted to impose a “fat tax” for those who can’t fit into a seat.
Source: Pacific Business News & News.com.au Image: matt.hintsa
AirTran Boeing 717-2BD at Atlanta at dusk
What do you want on every AirTran flight you are on? That is a question that — surprise, surprise — AirTran is asking people. They have created a nifty site EveryFlight.com and allows you to give not only suggestions, but also rate those suggestions.
Some of my personal favorites that answer the question “I want __________________ on every AirTran flight”:
– Chuck Norris
– Your Mom
– Salsa Lessons
– Optimus Prime
– Strobe Lights
– Helper Monkeys
– More cowbell
– Fondue
– Clowns
– Slip N Slide
– Pony Rides
Man, I couldn’t even make some of these up if I tried. To see more, sign up for a free seat on every flight or submit your own, check out the website!
Image: James Willamor
Pet Airways Beach 1900 Ready to go!
Pet Airways is a new airline…but just for pets (or for “pawsengers” as they call them). The new airline is offerring pet service to five cities around the US: New York, Baltimore, Denver, Chicago, and LA.
Pets on this airline will be up in the nicely climate-controlled cabins of a Beechcraft 1900 and not in a cargo hold. As of now they are offerring about $149 one way tickets, but expect the average ticket to be about $250 for one way — geez that is more than more human tickets?!
But, it seems to be something of interest since they went live on April 17th and since then, their reservation system has been crashed from the amount of interest in their services.
Source: Baltimoresun Image: PetAirWays
CanJet Boeing 737 That was hijacked this Sunday
An 8 hour stand off with police and a hijacker is now over. A 20 year old Jamaican took over the CanJet plane after using force to get past security. He released all the passengers and two crew members, but held another six hostage.
It appears the young man had some mental issues (obviously) and was upset over a recently distraught relationship.
The CanJet Airlines flight 918 was a Boeing 737 enroute to Cuba.
Source: AP Image: AP
Boeing 747's at an airline graveyard
As airlines cut flights, that means they don’t have the need for as many planes. Some of those planes are still very airworthy and it is not time for them to be destroyed. A large number of these planes end up in one of a few desert holding yards (not graveyards, since some of them “come back to life”).
About 1,700 planes over the past few years have been taken out of service due to lower demand and older age. According to Ascent Worldwide, plane storage has increased 29% in the past year to over 2,300.
For planes that are still airworthy and hopefully will fly again one day, it can be quite costly to keep them passing their mandated maintenance. Storing a Boeing 747 with hopes of flying again can run about $60,000.00 per year. Yes, that is pricey, but much cheaper than having to buy another 747 in a few years if ticket sales go up again.
Visiting one of these desert parking lots can be very exciting and sad for an airline enthusiast.
Source: AP Image: AP