View from the Wing

Airlines Are A Terrible Business — Here’s How I’d Lose Less Money Starting One

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:04:08 +0000

Airlines are such a bad business that the smartest startup strategy is probably not building the most beautiful premium carrier, but finding a way to lose less money than everyone else. If I had to start one anyway, I would skip the glamorous dream model and focus on underserved leisure routes, modest costs, and selling more of the trip than just the seat.

Comments

@1990: 'Did you guys see the news? Yikes.' Agreed. And everyone ... by L3
Where’s @DesertGhost? You know, the guy who’s always asking ... by 1990
Did you guys see the news? Yikes. by 1990
Demographics shift. This should be addressed periodically ... by Maryland
The real market opportunity isn't starting a new airline, it's ... by Denver Refugee
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American Retired 40% Of Its Long Haul Planes During Covid — Many Are Now Headed To A New Airline

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:04:37 +0000

American Airlines retired roughly 40% of its long-haul-capable fleet during the pandemic, betting travel would stay weak and replacements would arrive when needed. Now some of those supposedly obsolete widebodies are heading to a new airline in Vietnam, a reminder that the planes still had life left — and that American’s decision cost it flexibility, profits, and strategic ground it never fully got back.

Comments

@1990 No, now it's open. by IsaacM
US Airways was set to be the launch customer for the A350. The ... by Rob
@Tim Dunn — I think AA did just fine retiring these; for ... by 1990
@shoeguy — Yeah, when that 763 at ORD literally caught fire ... by 1990
people love to tell us that AA made a mistake in retiring so ... by Tim Dunn
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Why I’ll Gladly Return To The Dupont Circle Hotel In Washington

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:34:28 +0000

After years of rotating through Washington hotels, I finally tried the Dupont Circle Hotel and came away more impressed than I expected. It is not one of the city’s true luxury flagships, but the combination of a large suite upgrade, polished service, strong food and beverage, and a prime Dupont location made it feel like a genuine standout.

Comments

@1990 – the reality is China is strong and growing. I am ... by Manhattan West (EWR)
@Manhattan West (EWR) — Hope you got somewhere nicer than DC! ... by 1990
Looks nice. With the expected Hyatt bloodbath a month away and ... by Christian
@1990 – Not yet. Waiting to close a few more deals, then ... by Manhattan West (EWR)
Good post Gary. I stayed here recently on an iPrefer points ... by Scott D.
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American Airlines Is Making Delay Meal Vouchers Easier To Get — Issuing Them To Entire Flights At Once

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:58:50 +0000

American Airlines is making it much easier for delayed passengers to actually receive the meal vouchers they are already entitled to, by letting agents issue them to an entire eligible flight at once instead of one traveler at a time. The change does not raise the voucher value, but it should cut down on long lines, missed eligibility, and the absurd process of stranded passengers having to beg individually for $12 after a controllable delay.

Comments

LATAM has been doing this for over 2 years, and they don't even ... by haolenate
@This comes to mind — 'And then… everyone clapped…' (must ... by 1990
American Airlines Superusers should wear a cape like Superman. ... by Ken A.
Years ago, I was on a delayed flight out of JFK on DL. They had ... by This comes to mind
@Gary Leff — Seriously? Yes, you usually have to submit a ... by 1990
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American Airlines: Your Loyalty No Longer Matters If You Buy The Cheapest Fare

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:04:41 +0000

If you fly expensive tickets for work, and then you're cost conscious on a weekend trip with your family of four, you will be treated well when you fly those expensive tickets - but not on that trip with your family when it arguably matters most to you.

Comments

It's the management team that simply can't comprehend anything ... by Christian
@Peter — Family sitting together shouldn’t be a benefit for ... by 1990
So AA matched DL, no points for BE, United only gives points in ... by Pilot93434
It's no longer what have you done for me lately. It's what have ... by nsx at FlyerTalk
sounds fair to me by Don G
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Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Floods Her Room On Layover

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:04:57 +0000

A Florida hotel is suing Southwest Airlines after a flight attendant on layover allegedly tampered with a sprinkler in her room, setting off flooding that spread through guest rooms and common areas. What makes it interesting is suing the employer, which has the deeper pockets but a more tenuous case for liability.

Comments

hotels don't get stuck with folio charges on airline staff; ... by haolenate
Architect and original MEP (engineering) contractors were ... by Yankee Lake
@Coffee Please, “skip on paying their room charges”. Hotels ... by Jim6555
@1990 – I believe Mr. Romey was referring to smoking/vape ... by Denver Refugee
If this is such a large problem with stupid guests, why aren't ... by denis
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Passenger Was Handcuffed, Exposed Naked, And Denied The Bathroom — Delta Says It’s Immune From Suit

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:04:18 +0000

A Delta passenger says crew turned a desperate need to use the bathroom into a security incident, restraining him, exposing him, and denying lavatory access until he soiled himself. He won a $7.2 million verdict, but Delta got it tossed and is now arguing it is immune because law enforcement became involved.

Comments

“he could look like a terrorist because of darker skin and ... by Keith
after reading the whole story, I’m on Delta side by Don G
“Was Handcuffed, Exposed Naked, And Denied The Bathroom” ... by This comes to mind
@haolenate — I'mm'a make another batch. With or without ... by 1990
So did Delta give him AIDS? No? OK, bye by Mantis
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Hertz Keeps Taking Reservations It Can’t Fill — Even Their Best Customers Left Waiting [Roundup]

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:04:44 +0000

Hertz keeps taking reservations it apparently cannot fill, leaving even its best customers waiting hours for cars, plus why LAX is hemmed in by an endangered butterfly, Aman’s new Texas Hill Country resort, Delta’s uniforms, and more.

Comments

Not sure why anyone would use Hertz at this point by IsaacM
And before they turn you away with no car, they charge you for ... by This comes to mind
I waited 55 minutes in the counter line of 15 customers at BNA ... by Randy
Hertz HNL is also a repeat offender for not having cars when ... by Brodie
Not gonna ‘yuck’ anyone’s ‘yum,’ but… if you’re ... by 1990
Birth tourism good? Sure, for the family and not for the ... by Michael Fitzgerald

Air Canada Aeroplan Raises Award Prices June 1 — Long Haul Business Class Hit Hardest

Gary Leff — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:17:46 +0000

Air Canada Aeroplan is changing its award chart again on June 1, and while a few prices go down, this is unmistakably a devaluation. The biggest pain hits long-haul premium cabins, where many of the most useful business and first class partner awards will cost meaningfully more.

Comments

After last year's devaluation I figured it would be next year ... by Christian
A second devaluation after only a year is really pretty crappy. ... by Mark
I recently booked 2 Aeroplan in J, Western US to Munich and ... by Sue
When was the last time a base level award existed on the most ... by DavidB
A lot of these are in theory only as a plethora of partners ... by Parnel
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White House Plan To Bail Out Spirit Airlines Is Illegal

Gary Leff — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:48:33 +0000

The White House is trying to justify a $500 million Spirit Airlines rescue by claiming the carrier is somehow essential to national defense, even though Spirit is a failing ultra-low-cost airline with no obvious military necessity.

Comments

N95 masks work, vaccines work, but a use-any-mask-you-want mask ... by This comes to mind
@George Nathan Romey — Depends on the circumstances? Properly ... by 1990
Masks work, vaccines work, George Nathan Romey likely does not ... by Winston
@Mary – you are the one that is wrong. Courts ruled Biden ... by Retired Gambler
It's not going to happen because it's illegal. Are people ... by George Nathan Romey
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