Mexicana joins One World alliance

Mexicana's entry into One World adds significantly to the One World alliance's presence in Latin America, and adds another carrier for One World frequent flyer members to earn status on.

Mexicana's route network includes extensive domestic destinations, 15 airports in the USA, 5 in Canada, as well as flying to Cuba, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela in the Americas. Combined with Iberia and LAN (Chile), the One World alliance is clearly the lead in Latin America, making a forthcoming merger between BA and Iberia all the more lucrative in tapping these emerging markets.

Its two long haul destinations are Madrid and London Gatwick. It operates at a standard of service akin to US carriers, with long haul business class with reclining seats.

ANA significantly upgrades all classes

Japan's "number two" carrier ANA has decided to take a significant leap forward of the bedraggled JAL and its rivals by announcing a major upgrade of all long haul classes, in ways that should mean others take some notice.

The announcement initially affects routes flown by ANA's new Boeing 777-300ERs, but should ultimately see a major upgrade on all long haul routes.

ANA does not have an extensive long haul network, flying to six cities in the USA, London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris, with other international routes better seen as medium haul as far as India and Singapore.

What do the upgrades mean? Well it is all described on ANA's website here

However in summary it means new seats in all four classes which have the following key features:

- Economy Class seat pitch to increase from 31 to 34 inches, putting it up there with others that have this standard, such as Air NZ, Thai and Malaysian. This is combined with a fixed back design so the seat does not recline into the passenger behind, and a 10.6 inch AVOD screen.
- Premium Economy Class seat pitch to increase from 38 to 42 inches, putting it alongside Qantas and only behind BMI in roominess in this class. A 12 inch AVOD screen and privacy dividers are both best in class. This now looks like business class was 20 years ago.
- Business Class finally goes fully flat (current product is angled flat) facing forward with a staggered design that means all seats have aisle access. Those at the sides are single seats with substantial tables to the side. Preferring to use the additional room for table and storage spaces rather than just seat width, as Singapore Airlines does. With a 17 inch AVOD screen.
- First Class has a semi-cabin suite design, with sliding doors, plenty of storage and 23 inch AVOD screen. This looks similar but larger to suites used on some planes of Emirates, Etihad and Swiss.

All in all, this is a substantial upgrade. With ANA being up with the best in all classes and with what is in my view, the best economy and business class seats on the market, it will easily give JAL, Cathay, Singapore, Emirates and other carriers serious competition on quality. Only BMI (which does not fly on any competing route) excels ANA in premium economy (using old business class seats) and Singapore Airlines with the Suites on A380s only.

Just to show the recession does not mean a lack of investment in new onboard products.

US airways shows another reason it is awful

While US Airways deserves to be congratulated for eliminating beverage charges on domestic US flights after a period of a year charging for drinks, its attitude about an improvement in cabin atmosphere is telling.

Flightglobal reported US Airways CEO Doug Parker saying "the programme was very successful. What we didn't know at the time, but later experienced, was that the cabin atmosphere would also improve with fewer carts in the aisles and shorter lines to the lavatories".

Yes, shorter lines to the lavatories because of dehydration.

I've never flown US Airways, and nothing I have heard about the airline in recent years gives me cause to change that.