I often say that you do not want to board first. You want to board 'not last' so that the plane hasn't run out of overhead bin space by the time you get on. Boarding early is about one thing only: not having to gate check your carry on bag. That's why I ...

Why Do First Class Passengers Board First — Rather Than Last? and more...  In This Issue...  Why Do First Class Passengers Board First — Rather Than Last?  American Airlines On-Time Departures Taken to a New Level of Absurdity  American Airlines CEO Doug Parker Thinks This Blog is Weird  Will Airline Awards Soon Book into Basic Economy?  How Early Should You Get to the Airport?  American Can’t Decide If Its Number One Priority is Not Upsetting Employees  More Recent Articles Why Do First Class Passengers Board First — Rather Than Last? I often say that you do not want to board first. You want to board 'not last' so that the plane hasn't run out of overhead bin space by the time you get on. Boarding early is about one thing only: not having to gate check your carry on bag. That's why I absolutely love a quick overnight, and on a two night trip sometimes stretch myself to travel with just my laptop bag, so that I don't need overhead bin space. I can show up at the airpprt later. I can work productively in the lounge. And I don't have to rush boarding. As someone that values every 5 minutes in my day (I really do keep myself that busy), this matters to me. Continue reading Why Do First Class Passengers Board First — Rather Than Last?...          • Email to a friend •   American Airlines On-Time Departures Taken to a New Level of Absurdity American Airlines believes that the number one thing that they can do to make planes arrive on time is to depart on time. So they've made it a company priority to the exclusion of most other things to ensure that flights leave exactly on time or even early. If gate agents don't bother processing upgrades, let alone coming onboard to move customers up when a first class passenger no shows, that's acceptable because D0. If seats leave empty with passengers on the standby list that's ok. If flight attendants don't have time to offer predeparture beverages in the 30 minutes the flight is boarding that's fine too. Continue reading American Airlines On-Time Departures Taken to a New Level of Absurdity...          • Email to a friend •   American Airlines CEO Doug Parker Thinks This Blog is Weird Doug Parker answered American Airlines employee questions this week. One thing he got asked about is the Boeing 737 MAX which has no seat back video on demand. He still hasn't flown the plane and he thinks it's weird that anyone should care, "I haven't flown the 737 MAX as people like to report for some weird reason." Continue reading American Airlines CEO Doug Parker Thinks This Blog is Weird...          • Email to a friend •   Will Airline Awards Soon Book into Basic Economy? I've gotten asked increasingly frequently lately now that United, Delta, and American all offer Basic Economy fares (no advance seat assignment, no cancel/changes, no upgrades or extra legroom seats, and in United's and American's case no full-sized carry on bag) how soon until saver awards book into Basic Economy? Continue reading Will Airline Awards Soon Book into Basic Economy?...          • Email to a friend •   How Early Should You Get to the Airport? There are several reasons to head to the airport early. The argument against? A regular weekly traveler spending an extra half our at the airport in each direction will spend 52 extra hours at the airport each year or more than 2 days each year unnecessarily waiting. Continue reading How Early Should You Get to the Airport?...          • Email to a friend •   American Can’t Decide If Its Number One Priority is Not Upsetting Employees Just like the airline's inconsistent messages over whether they're a premium carrier (Flagship lounges) or Allegiant (no seat back video, tiny lavatories, 30 inch pitch with reduced recline seats, and Basic Economy) they offer inconsistent messages on pay (bonuses but reduced profit sharing) and expectations (no enforcement of overhead bins, but more work when it matches an airline – rather than customer – priority). Continue reading American Can’t Decide If Its Number One Priority is Not Upsetting Employees...          • Email to a friend •   More Recent Articles Air Force One's New $24 Million Refrigerators and an AAdvantage Award Booking Trick IHG PointBreaks Changing, Some 'Discounted' Hotels Will Cost 3x As Much Doug Parker Dishes the Inside Story of How Delta Ended Its Interline Agreement With American – And Then Asked For It Back       Click here to safely unsubscribe from "View from the Wing." Click here to view mailing archives, here to change your preferences, or here to subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 365 Boston Post Rd, Suite 123, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA.