Show Notes
Airline lounges have evolved from exclusive perks into a powerful revenue engine driven by memberships, premium tickets, and credit card partnerships. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder unpack the increasingly complicated rules behind lounge access, the rise of premium card lounges, and why overcrowding is forcing airlines to rethink the airport experience. Thanks to Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots, SkyGo and PlusGrade for sponsoring this week's episode
More from The Air Show
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explore the pressures reshaping Mexico’s aviation industry, from Mexico City’s airport constraints and the rise of Felipe Ángeles International Airport to escalating U.S. regulatory disputes. They explain how safety downgrades, slot and cargo restrictions, and the Delta-Aeroméxico partnership became entangled – and what the latest concessions could mean for airlines’ growth plans. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and Tulsa Int...
American Airlines has the ambition to become “the premier global airline based in the U.S." Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about how realistic (or unrealistic) that could be, and what that could mean for premium cabins, a stronger global network with trans-Pacific routes, and a renewed push at LAX. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and SkyGo.
Alaska Airlines recently announced its plan to join American’s immunized joint ventures over the North Pacific and over the Atlantic. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder talk about the competitive and regulatory stakes, and how decades of airline policy, open-skies agreements, and consolidation shaped today’s global partnerships. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and Tulsa International Airport.
Alaska Airlines President and CFO Shane Tackett joins Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder in front of a live audience in Seattle to talk about Alaska's media and investor day. They talk about the company's push into premium travel, its plans for 737 MAX 10 transcontinental service, free Starlink Wi-Fi, and more. Thanks to SkyGo and PlusGrade for sponsoring this week's episode.
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder dissect the airlines’ plans for summer 2027, led by the rapid rollout of the Airbus A321XLR. It's supposed to be the game changer for longer, thinner routes, and they examine how United, American and Air Canada are each approaching the aircraft a little differently with routes to Europe and Asia. Thanks to the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots and Flex Pay by Upgrade for sponsoring this episode.