Wi-Fi is so critical for me on airplanes, and yet so unreliable. I’ve begun tracking my success rate with Wi-Fi on different carriers to see if my frustration in the moment matches my results. So far, with almost half of my flights experiencing some sort of Wi-Fi issues, my frustration seems appropriate.
For this first time I can recall, things have gotten truly ugly with Southwest Airlines and one of their unions. As the mechanics union and management work towards what could be a new agreement, it’s worth asking whether both sides met in the middle or the union got the better end of the deal. At the same time, it’s also worth asking if the unions’ actions are worth risking Southwest Airlines’ enviable culture.
This is my second month of tracking my Wi-Fi success on flights. So far, 2019 has been pretty poor, with United making up most of the failed connectivity. It’s insane that a decade after the expansion of in-flight internet connectivity can still be this bad.
Southwest Airlines has had massive fleet problems recently, canceling up to 10% of flights on certain days. It appears that members of their mechanics’ union are conducting a job action that’s killing the airline’s ability to fly their normal schedule. Will this hurt them long-term?
Kids bring an incredible amount of joy to our lives. I never saw it coming, and I couldn’t be happier showing my kids the world. Every once in a while, we see life through their eyes and it can be equal parts embarrassing and hilarious. That’s this story.
James Corden is a funny guy. Alanis Morissette makes it better with a riff on Southwest Airlines.
As a business traveler, the only thing more essential than working Wi-Fi when I fly is an on-time flight. I had a pretty horrible month finding working Wi-Fi on United Airlines flights, so I figured I would start tracking my success rate until things improve.
I had a chance to sit down recently with Jonathan Clarkson. Jonathan is the Managing Director of Marketing at Southwest Airlines and has overseen the Rapid Rewards program for years. He took a few minutes out of his day to share some insights on recent changes at Southwest and what’s coming in the future.
How did 2018 turn out for you in regards to airline elite status? Did you stick with the status quo or did you make a change? Here’s how 2018 looked for me.
You may have missed it when we released it, but a new Miles To Go episode is ready for you to download and listen! We’ve got Norwegian Airlines on the podcast in this episode to talk about new routes that can get you to Europe on…