American Airlines has announced that they’ll be enjoying an even closer relationship now.  In addition to their codeshare/interline agreement, they’ll be adding additional flights including one from JFK to Budapest, Hungary. 

Even more exciting, they’ll have a reciprocal frequent flier agreement.  (and that’s why moving your reservations system to something real like Sabre is a good idea.  Are you listening Southwest?)

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American Airlines has announced that it will be offering Happy Hour prices on its drinks in December on flights departing between 5:00 and 5:59pm. 

First, that’s a short duration and I already see a problem.  Is this scheduled departure time?  What if the plane departs 2 hours late?  Second, for flights departing in just one hour of each day?  Really?  Even TGIFriday’s gives you more time than that.

Third, and more importantly, do we really need to be encouraging people to drink on flights?  Drunk passengers are a top pet peeve for both passengers and flight crew.  It is pretty much agreed among frequent travelers that drinking alcohol on flights is a bad idea.  It dehydrates you and the alcohol does seem to have a more measurable effect and can result in things like headaches and bodyaches and a general unpleasant feeling while traveling. 

But AA wants you to enjoy a happy hour during your holiday travel.  This has bad idea written all over it.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax
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