Continental Airlines ERJ-145 -- First time I will get to fly this aircraft type!
I am once again sitting at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This time, I am on my way to Mazatlan, Mexico for some much needed R&R. This means I will not be too active on the blog during this next week, but there will still be at least something posting once per day.
Knowing me, I will try my hardest to get to the internet and see what is going on and still blog (I love this stuff). But with working a full time job and running the blog (lots of work behind the scenes too), I really can use the vacation ;).
I am flying out on Continental Airlines and I am excited since this will be the first time I will ride an ERJ-145. Also, this might be the last time I get free food on a Continental flight to boot!
Actually set off the metal detector (forgot to take out my iPhone — oops). I was a little nervous since I have my AirlineReporter.com tags on my bags and did a pretty critical blog on the TSA yesterday — didn’t want to get a full pat-down (and luckily didn’t get one).
Don’t worry, you will get a full report once I return. Anyone know any good aviation related stuff near Mazatlan?
Yesterday, Continental Airlines announced they will be cutting their free food for most domestic flights starting near the end of the year. The airline will charge for meals in economy on all domestic and Canadian flights of less than six hours. However, they will be keeping free meals on longer flights and still offering free peanuts and drinks on all flights.
There is a lot of rumbling on the internet of “another airline caving in” and screwing over the passenger. However, I see this as a smart move and was really surprised Continental held out as long as they did.
Free food is almost non-existent on most domestic flights anywhere in the world. Passengers have come accustomed to not eating or buying food on board. I would assume that most leisure passengers weren’t even aware that Continental still served food, but it would be a nice surprise when aboard.
If passengers have the expectation to not get free food, why should Continental pay for it? Plus Continental can make additional revenue by charging for food and maybe lower their prices.
Would I love to have free food while flying? Of course. But I understand Continental’s move and with passengers demanding the lowest fares possible, I think it is a smart move for Continental to do this!
Sometimes bad things happens and there is no one to blame. Some how William Ogletree, a lawyer from Texas, didn’t get that memo. Ogletree was flying from Houston to Las Vegas back last December and went to the food court in Terminal C for some food. When leaving, he accidentally left his $800 black leather jacket, which unsurprisingly, someone ended up stealing.
Yea, that sucks, but it is a fact of life. I have lost a few coats in similar fashions (not $800 ones thanks goodness), but I didn’t blame anyone but myself. Ogletree on the other hand is threatening to sue the City of Houston, Continental Airlines and the food court’s management for failing to have “collected the coat, kept it in a secure place and held it for a reasonable time” until he was able to claim the jacket. The bitter passenger claims the defendants, “breached their duty” in connection with how they “manage lost and found items for which they are responsible.”
The letter written to the defendants, obtained by The Smoking Gun, shows Oggletree gave them ten whole days to pay him the $800 or they would also be burdened with, “court costs, attorney’s fees, investigation, expert witnesses and other damages.”
I am sorry you lost your coat Mr. Ogletree, but seriously get over it. It is not the city, the food court or Continental Airlines’s fault (I don’t even get how could come close to blame Continental — for not asking every passenger if they remembered their coats?). There are only two people to blame. Oggletree and whomever stole the jacket.
No official word if Ogletree ever got his money or his jacket.
We have been following the creation of the Continental Blue Skyway livery from the beginning. The voting, the showing, and I was even able to see it first hand while on a layover in Houston.
After seeing my excitement with seeing it in person, Continental Airlines pointed out there was a time-lapse video showing the creation of the special livery.
I know this might be a lot of attention giving to one livery, but I really love special liveries as much as I love retro ones.
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 777 being towed at Frankfurt
American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and UPS have agreed to use up to 1.5million gallons of synthetic diesel made from plant waste per year. The fuel would be used to fuel their ground service equipment at Los Angeles International Airport.
Rentech Inc. will be supplying the alternative fuel starting in 2012, made mostly from urban yard waste and clippings.
Most people only think about aircraft causing much of the pollution in air travel, but there are thousands of support vehicles at each airport that also cause harmful emissions. Rentech is currently in talks with other airlines and airports to increase the fuel’s usage.
