-
-
Porn becomes airborn on planes!
An anti-pornography group is now voicing concern over airlines providing unfiltered Internet service during flights.
American Airlines is the largest carrier providing the unfiltered service. The concern is that having no filters will permit passengers to access pornography in-flight. Tiffany Helfrich of Girls Against Porn says that the public needs to express outrage.
"Right now we need to nip this in the bud," Helfrich urges. "Everybody, every parent, every mom, anybody who's concerned about your child being exposed, or you yourself being exposed, sitting in an aircraft with a person next to you who might who might be watching porn."
Helfrich takes it personally. "I know, for one, if I'm sitting next to someone who's viewing [pornography], I don't want to have to deal with that," she adds. "One of us is going to be moving, and it's not going to be me."
Girls Against Porn has written a letter to American Airlines demanding filters. The letter will be sent within the next two weeks, and people can sign it by going to the organization's website. "I think it's really important just to bombard them right now during this trial period," Helfrich points out.
According to Helfrich, American Airlines has "opened the door for traumatic experiences and lawsuits."
Jet Blue, Continental, and Qantas Airlines also provide Internet service, but it is filtered. An anti-pornography group is now voicing concern over airlines providing unfiltered Internet service during flights. ... more -
Diverted American Airlines flight rolls off runway
CHICAGO (Reuters) - An American Airlines plane rolled off the end of a runway as it landed in Chicago on Monday after it diverted from its planned destination due to electrical problems, the airline said.
The plane, a Boeing Co. 757 headed for New York from Seattle, stopped just off the end of a runway at O'Hare International Airport, a spokesman for American's parent company AMR Corp said. The aircraft's landing gear came to rest in the grass.
No injuries were reported.
"After the Chicago Fire Department checks the airplane, the passengers will deplane using air stairs and be taken by buses to the terminal for reaccommodation," the spokesman said.
AMR did not give a reason for the reported electrical problem that led to the flight diversion or the rocky landing that occurred in Chicago.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft had tire damage that may have occurred on landing. CHICAGO (Reuters) - An American Airlines plane rolled off the end of a runway as it landed in Chicago on Monday after it diverted from... more -
American Airlines misplaces' a corpse
American Airline's sent the body of a Brooklyn mom to the wrong country for burial - and then callously demanded more money to fix the screwup, the widower and others involved in a lawsuit charged Monday.
Miguel Olaya said he made arrangements to send the remains of his wife, Teresa, to their native Ecuador after she died in late March of cancer at age 57.
Instead, American mistakenly shipped her 1,400 miles away - to Guatemala - he said. American Airline's sent the body of a Brooklyn mom to the wrong country for burial - and then callously demanded more money to fi... more -
Second Chance
An American Airlines Pilot fell from the jetbridge and landed on his head. He was not expected to live but he made a full recovery.
-
Breaking World News: Gas prices too high for P.Diddy, forced to take American Air...
Woe! Woe unto the land, that the great Diddy must lower himself and ride American Airlines because of fuel prices. Thank Lord Diddy that he has made this statement and drawn attention to the little known fact that we are, in fact, suffering from this.
Watching Diddy plea for people to talk to their government in hopes of lowering prices is about as effective as an obese Sally Struther's asking for a dollar to feed the starving children. About as motivating too.
Play on, playa. Woe! Woe unto the land, that the great Diddy must lower himself and ride American Airlines because of fuel prices. Thank Lord Diddy ... more -
American Airlines takes lead in in-flight WiFi race
The race is over for domestic airlines looking to turn their planes into flying WiFi hotspots; American Airlines is first off the runway. But can offering onboard Internet access help smooth out passenger turbulence created by additional charges for carry-on bags, food, even blankets and pillows? The race is over for domestic airlines looking to turn their planes into flying WiFi hotspots; American Airlines is first off the runw... more
-
American Airlines fined $7.1M over safety violations
(CNN) -- Federal regulators announced $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines on Thursday over maintenance issues and problems with its drug- and alcohol-testing programs.
"The FAA believes the large total amount of the fine for these violations is appropriate because American Airlines was aware that appropriate repairs were needed, and instead deferred maintenance," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement announcing the decision. "In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended to protect passengers and crew."
American can still appeal the fines, the FAA said.
The FAA also found the airline maintained inadequate drug- and alcohol-testing programs and failed to inspect safety lighting on a "timely" basis.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier said Thursday evening that it disagreed with the findings and called the penalties "excessive." (CNN) -- Federal regulators announced $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines on Thursday over maintenance issues and problems... more -
BA seals alliance with American
British Airways says it has sealed an alliance with American Airlines that will allow the two carriers to fix fares, routes and schedules together.
The move will also include Spain's Iberia, which is merging with BA. With aviation fuel prices near record levels and spending on air travel slowing, airlines are looking at ways to cut costs. But the carriers will have to persuade the US that the deal does not break US rules on foreign ownership of airlines.
Under the business agreement, the three airlines will co-operate on flights between the US, Mexico and Canada and the EU, Switzerland and Norway. "We believe our proposed co-operation is an important step towards ensuring that we can compete effectively with rival alliances and manage through the challenges of record fuel prices and growing economic concerns," said Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive of AMR Corp, the parent company of American Airlines.
However, BA's rival Virgin Atlantic, owned by Sir Richard Branson, said the plan would reduce competition in the airline industry. "What they're proposing is to create the world's biggest airline with American Airlines," said Virgin's Paul Charles.
"But we know what dominant players do - they snuff out competition, they raise prices and they become even more dominant."
(c0ntinued at link) British Airways says it has sealed an alliance with American Airlines that will allow the two carriers to fix fares, routes and schedu... more -
BA close to American alliance
British Airways says it is hopeful of agreeing a tie-up with its largest US rival American Airlines within weeks.
The talks are taking place alongside negotiations between BA and the Spanish airline Iberia about a possible merger. With aviation fuel prices at record levels and spending on air travel slowing, airlines are looking for ways to cut costs. BA suffered an 88% drop in profits between April and June and said the industry faced its worst ever period. It also said it would cut 3% of flights this winter to reduce overheads.
British Airways and American Airlines already work together as partners in the One World alliance which lets member airlines share flight capacity and airport facilities. But it is understood that, if agreed, a new deal would see them work much more closely to try to cut costs in areas such as technology, ticketing and administration.
According to the BBC's business reporter Joe Lynam, British Airways is also hoping to secure its status as a global airline well into the future. Any deal between BA and AA would be subject to regulatory scrutiny. The two airlines have failed in the past to gain immunity from US competition laws for a tie-up, but British Airways believes that relaxations in regulations under the Open Skies agreement may make this more likely.
Rival Virgin Atlantic has said it would oppose any joint venture between the two transatlantic carriers, saying it would create "a dominant mega-power" on routes between Europe and the United States. British Airways says it is hopeful of agreeing a tie-up with its largest US rival American Airlines within weeks. ... more -
American Airlines Baggage System Breaks Down at JFK
A spokesperson for the airline tells WCBS 880 that flights were being held in hopes of getting the system up and running again. Since they weren't able to get the system running, flights have resumed, but are taking off without baggage. A spokesperson for the airline tells WCBS 880 that flights were being held in hopes of getting the system up and running again. Since ... more
-
Naked passenger forces plane to land in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A naked, unruly passenger forced an American Airlines flight to make an emergency landing Friday afternoon at Will Rogers World Airport.
The man was aboard Flight 725 en route from Boston to Los Angeles when he became distraught and began running down an aisle naked, police said.
The man tried to force open an exit door when the plane was at 30,000 feet, said Sgt. Gary Knight with Oklahoma City police.
FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said members of the New England Revolution professional soccer team, who were aboard flight, helped subdue the man. The plane landed safely at 1:30 p.m., Knight said.
The plane departed for Los Angeles about an hour later.
Members of the New England Revolution were among those who grabbed the man near an exit door, FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said. Tie wraps were placed on the man, whose name was not immediately released, and he was taken off the flight in Oklahoma City and placed under mental evaluation, Johnson said.
The trouble began when a man on the flight emerged from a bathroom without his clothes on, Johnson said.
"He was asked to go back to the bathroom to put his clothes on and he did and went back to his seat and then allegedly attempted to open an aircraft emergency exit door," Johnson said.
The airplane had 151 passengers and seven crew members aboard. - News9.com OKLAHOMA CITY -- A naked, unruly passenger forced an American Airlines flight to make an emergency landing Friday afternoon at Will Ro... more -
FBI: Soccer team members help subdue man on flight
An American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City on Friday after a passenger stripped nude and later tried to open an emergency exit door before being subdued by members of a professional soccer team and others, the FBI said.
Members of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer were among those who grabbed the passenger near an exit door, FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said. An American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City on Friday after a passenger stripped nude and lat... more -
American Airlines testing anti-missile technology
The first passenger plane equipped with a system to repel shoulder-fired missiles successfully completed its flight, a British defense and aerospace company announced.
The JetEye infrared missile-defense system was tested on an American Airlines flight that took off July 11, according to a statement from BAE Systems. The plane flew from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport in California, the company said.
The JetEye system works by detecting the heat-seeking missiles and then firing a laser, which diverts the missile. American Airlines refused to make the system mandatory on all trips but agreed to cooperate with the tests.
The flight represents the final phase of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Counter-Man-Portable Air Defense System program, designed to test the suitability of missile-protection equipment for commercial aircraft.
Previously, the technology was successfully evaluated on an American Airlines test aircraft and an ABX Air Inc. cargo aircraft.
The missile-protection equipment will be installed on two more American Airlines 767-200 aircraft for daily cross-country flights through March. Engineers will evaluate the system's maintainability and reliability, as well as its suitability for the airline industry. No missiles will be fired at these flights.
"BAE Systems worked closely with DHS and the airline industry to develop an effective response to potential terrorist threats," said Burt Keirstead, JetEye program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Homeland Security officials said in January that there is no specific threat of these weapons being fired at planes.
However, Taliban forces successfully used shoulder-fired missiles against Soviet helicopters in Afghanistan. Terrorists tried in 2002 to shoot down an Israeli passenger jet in Kenya with them.
Insurgents hit a cargo plane in Baghdad the following year, but the plane landed safely.
Experts say that about 500,000 to 700,000 shoulder-fired missile weapons have been produced worldwide, and some have been purchased in Middle Eastern and Central Asian arms markets for as little as $5,000.
Since 2003, Congress has pressured Homeland Security to adapt military anti-MANPADS technology to commercial aviation.
BAE Systems, based in Farnborough, England, works with American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Services, which provided the test aircraft and engineering services for the development of JetEye.
DHS awarded BAE Systems a $29 million contract in January for this final evaluation phase of the program, which calls for the planes to log about 7,000 flight hours.
Northrop Grumman, a defense company with its own system to protect planes from portable missiles, urged the Defense Department in March to install its system on commercial flights that take soldiers and equipment to war zones.
Jack Pledger, a Northrop Grumman executive, said in March that 27 terrorist groups are believed to possess shoulder-fired weapons, that aircraft are vulnerable to the missiles within 25 miles of airports and that one missile incident could have catastrophic effects on the U.S. economy.
In March, the Northrop system concluded a 14-month test during which anti-missile systems were installed on 11 FedEx cargo planes that flew 4,500 flights. The first passenger plane equipped with a system to repel shoulder-fired missiles successfully completed its flight, a British defense... more -
Hillary Clinton Barack Obama and The Love Guru
I'm Just Saying: The weekly look at politics news and pop culture as only Larry D can do it. It is good to be back. Does anyone know a good gym? I'm Just Saying: The weekly look at politics news and pop culture as only Larry D can do it. It is good to be back. Does anyon... more
-
Autistic Boy and Mom Kicked Off Plane
There were no weapons on board or concerns about terrorism, but an American Eagle flight about to take off from the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., airport was turned back to its gate on Monday to remove two passengers.
The culprits? An upset, autistic toddler and his mother.
By all accounts, two-year-old Jarret Farrell wasn't a happy traveler. But his mother, Janice Farrell, who said she tried everything to calm her son, believes there was no reason for the airline to kick them off the plane.
The airline disagrees, saying they were removed primarily because Janice Farrell kept her carry-on bag on the floor in front of her seat, but that Jarret's behavior added to the tense situation.
"The child had been crying and screaming uncontrollably, to the point where the child's well being was in question," American Airlines, the parent company of American Eagle, said in a statement. "Though, ultimately, the parent's violation of FAA regulations was the cause for removal, both situations contributed to an uncomfortable and potentially unsafe atmosphere for our passengers and crew."
By STEPHANIE DAHLE and JONANN BRADY There were no weapons on board or concerns about terrorism, but an American Eagle flight about to take off from the Raleigh-Durham, N.... more -
United, US Airways join in bag fees
United Airlines and US Airways have joined American Airlines in charging passengers to check bags on certain flights.
Citing higher fuel prices, United Airlines said Thursday it will begin charging domestic passengers $15 each way for one checked bag.
The Chicago, Illinois-based airline said the fee to check a second bag will be $25 each way. The fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or "items that require special handling" will increase from $100 to $125 or from $200 to $250, depending on the item, United said in a statement.
The $15 charge will apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after Friday for travel within the United States, and who buy on or after August 18 a ticket to or from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The $15 service fee will not apply to customers flying in United First or United Business or who have premier status with United or Star Alliance airline network, the carrier said.
For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a first and second bag will continue to be free, United said. The cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination.
US Airways, meanwhile, said it will begin charging passengers $15 for their first checked bag for travel on or after July 9. The airline said it also has recently started charging passengers $25 for second checked bags. The new policy applies to flights in the United States as well as flights to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Some airlines have been adding fees to once-free benefits, such as snacks. Despite this cost-cutting, airlines are finding it harder to survive as they get squeezed by soaring fuel costs.
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," said John Tague, United's executive vice president and chief operating officer.
United said it estimates that the $15 fee will apply to one out of three customers, and the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees, including those for checking a first and second bag, will be approximately $275 million a year.
The move comes a month after American Airlines announced a $15 service charge for the first checked bag.
Delta, Continental and Northwest told CNN they are not charging for passengers' first checked bags. However, a spokesman for Northwest said the airline is well aware of changes in the industry.
"We are always keeping an eye on what our competitors are doing," the spokesman said. United Airlines and US Airways have joined American Airlines in charging passengers to check bags on certain flights. ... more -
Clairifacation on American Airlines baggage rule
For all of you wondering here is what American Airlines website says:
Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after May 12, 2008, but before June 15, 2008, may check one bag for free and check a second bag for $25 each way. Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after June 15, 2008, will be charged $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag.
Exceptions to this policy include customers who purchase First or Business Class tickets, AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and AAdvantage Gold® members as well as customers who purchase full-fare tickets in Economy Class. View a complete list of exceptions.
Our carry-on policy of one personal item (such as a purse or laptop bag) plus one bag remains in place. Please visit the Baggage Allowance page for current information regarding checked baggage and applicable fees. For all of you wondering here is what American Airlines website says: ... more -
Northwest is considering fee for all bags
Northwest Airlines Corp. is considering charging passengers to check luggage, a spokesman for the company said Friday.
The news comes after American Airlines said earlier this week it would begin charging passengers for all checked bags, breaking a long-held industry custom.
The spokesman for Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said that "all options are on the table ... but no decision has been reached yet."
On Wednesday, American Airlines parent AMR Corp. said it would start charging passengers $15 for their first checked bag.
The news was part of an overall plan by American to cut flights and charge passengers more fees that could add up to hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
The main culprit behind all the cost-cutting and fee-hiking is the rising price of oil. Prices for jet fuel have roughly doubled in the past 12 months, sending airlines scrambling for ways to both make and save more money. Northwest Airlines Corp. is considering charging passengers to check luggage, a spokesman for the company said Friday. ... more -
American Airlines: 15 bucks for the 1st checked bag
American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off possibly thousands of workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.
American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter, after the peak summer season is over. That's more than double American's previous plans to cut flying by 4.6 percent in late 2008.
In a further sign of the problems facing the industry, Southwest Airlines Co., the most consistently profitable U.S. carrier, won't earn as much the rest of this year as it did in the same period of 2007, Chief Executive Gary Kelly said.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.
Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.
Its proposed fee for a first checked bag would exempt people who belong to elite levels of its frequent flyer programs, those who bought full-fare tickets and those traveling overseas.
Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline has no current plans to match American's fee for the first checked bag, but is considering all options with oil at $130 per barrel.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey said he expects the new or raised fees will raise several hundred million dollars for American, but that was the best estimate he would give.
The changes were being made to adapt to "the current reality of slow economic growth and high oil prices," Arpey said. He said the fees are an effort to get customers to pay for services they want.
Arpey didn't put a figure on the layoffs, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands, he said yes.
Arpey said he wants to cut overhead and costs about 7 to 8 percent but declined to say whether layoffs would equal a similar percentage of parent AMR Corp.'s work force of about 90,000.
American Airlines expects to retire 45 to 50 planes, most of them gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft. Those were the plane grounded for faulty wiring last month. AMR regional airline American Eagle also plans to retire planes.
American said rising oil prices have increased its expected annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billion since the start of the year.
AMR shares tumbled $1.98, or 24.2 percent, to $6.22 in late trading after sinking to a 52-week low of $6 earlier in the session. The announcement which came as AMR shareholders gathered for their annual meeting.
Southwest shareholders also met in co-founder Herb Kelleher's last meeting as chairman.
Kelly, who added the title of chairman on Wednesday, said he expects Southwest to remain profitable, as it has in every quarter since early 1991, but not as profitable as in the second, third and fourth quarters of last year.
"I would love for Southwest to grow modestly next year and in 2010, but at this point we're not making any announcements," he added.
Southwest shares fell 57 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $12.43 in late trading Wednesday. American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off possibly thousands of workers as... more -
Is A Competitor Devaluing Your Keywords?
Is a competitor jetting off with profits from stealing your keywords on their web site?
-
related topics
American Airlines
Contributors (60)
American Airlines
