Layovers - Air Travel podcast

Hakan Yilmaz is an airline management and operations consultant, and a longtime listener to the show. He returns to the podcast to share everything relevant in aviation today, what he sees through his work and travels.Notably, we discuss the trend of the enhancement (and increase) of the premium part of the flying experience, as opposed to an apparent worsening of flying in economy, including what is the perceived value of premium versus the actual value (including the hiccups of seat certification).We also debate whether low cost airlines' glory years are behind them...

Christian Nolle is a maker, designer, photographer, whose work focuses on aviation culture, the stories behind route maps, and the historical impact of flying on what ties us all together and makes us dream. He is the editor of Direction of Travel. We discuss everything, from his obsession with Heathrow (he was testing T5 before the opening!), his collection of route maps, his beautiful print magazine, old logos and liveries, photographing air travel (we both love it), his various exploratory projects into what flying means, and why we love this all so much — we reminisce, and also lo...

Varig, VASP, Panair, the names are long gone, but they put Brazil on the map for us, alongside iconic cinema imagery and a legendary national football team that captured every kid's imagination.Grab a caipirinha (and some black licorice) as we chart how the jet age shaped our vision of the country, before diving into our actual experiences flying in and out of SDU (that final!), GIG, CGH, GRU, POA, SSA, and IGU.From Paulistano football derbies and missing luggage to drunken airport runs, domestic workhorses, rustic 737s, the Concorde, or 7AM beef, it's all...

Two sagas of snow and ice: going to Dubai via Helsinki, in that unconventional (revolutionary?) cocoon seat by Finnair, and to Kelowna (YLW) with the appropriately named Air North — snowy take offs, blueberry juice and de-icing drama (no blueberry juice was used to de-ice, but an in-flight magazine was taken).Would you fly to Dubai now? Where we stand (that jet fuel price), and where to stand in Dubai to plane spot (Paul did not say it: the metro station is called Abu Baker Al Siddique Metro Station 2).Starlink everywhere, what it means for in-flight ca...

Vinod's Olympics adventure: Flagship lounge, Flagship upgrade, Flagship Wifi (err), Flagship chicken, Flagship plane (well…), all the hopes and expectations of American Airlines Flagship were placed into that trip. And that Black Card! That vintage boarding pass! Does the British Airways return compete with that? Yes (that shortbread biscuit does a lot of heavy lifting). Milan finally gets the airport it deserves, with a tasteful redesign. Flighty introduces Airport Intelligence (Paul had to bight his tongue for so long on that one). Get that on the biggest TV you can buy. Da...

Ever wondered what it’s like to fly 17+ hours straight? Matt Drinkwater comes to share his experience with Qantas on the near-Kangaroo route to Perth (we talk the past and present of that route), and more, onto Brisbane. Matt and Paul share a deep bond with Japan, and discuss the beauty, and quirkiness, of flying within Japan, from small airports, to the smell of Kansai International (yes, airports have a smell!). Qsuite to Bali, it doesn't get much better than this (especially with that chocolate ganache). There's a certain allure in epic journeys, a remnant of ou...

The road that Lufthansa took to get to their new business class seemed somewhat long and convoluted, Paul is finally able to tell you if it was worth the wait (choosing a seat on Allegris might be as long and convoluted a process though).And hey, there are no less than 5 outside cameras on their 350!How to strike gold after gold at JFK Terminal 1 and be faster than fast-track. Vinod finally gets the satisfaction of flying aboard an Air Canada A330, do the nuances of in-flight service and crew dynamics hit him then? We opine...

Flighty has changed how we experience air travel. The flight tracking app, which obsessively focuses on the user experience and data accuracy, has been mentioned in nearly all our episodes since Paul got on the beta in early 2019, and we're so pleased to welcome Ryan Jones, the Founder CEO of Flighty, for an entertaining chat on everything Flighty, and more. Ryan shares the journey of creating this epic app, the importance of design, the challenges of data acquisition, the commitment to providing real-time information  and how the three founders prioritize new innovative features.We learn w...

Alex finally boards a Qatar Airways flight, and finds how to get a premium economy seat in this airline that doesn't have premium economy (not through that ethernet port though). Paul completely changes his mind about United, a true Christmas miracle (and a possible playbook for BA), what an incredible crew. Farewell to SeatGuru, nothing truly replaces you (AeroLOPA is the nearest). When your boarding pass gets denied at Hanoi airport, and you unwillingly discover the bowels of Hanoi airport (a gripping tale by Alex!). And more.Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. See you...

We are at Rolls-Royce, exploring the engineering marvels behind aviation engines, the inner workings behind the quiet hums of those incredible machine. We dive into the importance of expertise, heat management, and innovation in ensuring engine durability and performance.Most importantly, we talk to the people, as this is as much craftsmanship as it is the absolute edge of science — and the people are absolute gems, it has been such a highlight listening to them all talk about what they do with such enthusiasm and love for what they do.We also take a...

Paul & Paolo are guinea pigs, they enter a bar, only that it's Paul's living room (but there's actual beer!), to talk, in length, about the state of BA, what is premium about their premium economy, and if it can compare to Emirates' one (or Virgin's for that matter). Paul calls BA the Emirates of the 80/90s (he felt inadequate flying them back then!) — were there enough headphones and food in that era? Paolo flies a brand new Emirates A350 (that includes the water cannon baptism!) and defines what is a part-time terminal. What do you do when...

Paul goes to Namibia to check the cute WDH airport, and drive 3000km+ — and yes, before you all ask, driving the Skeleton Coast is everything you dream it to be (this country is stunning, and the NamibRand is perhaps the most beautiful place he has ever seen). He falls in love with Airlink (from their Embraer to their extensive safety talk, and they serve something called food, a forgotten art in Europe/North America), maybe with JNB a bit less (but that lounge there, woah!). Should you board when an aircraft is refueling? Maybe better than staying in front of...

Thanks to everyone who have stuck with us for 150 episodes, you're the air beneath our wings — as a gift to you, and since so many have asked for it, we've brought you VIDEO: subscribe on Spotify or YouTube (or YouTube Music)Landing at an abandoned primary school netball court. Power banks safety, because nothing says "relaxing flight" like monitoring your electronics for spontaneous combustion. A true business class in Europe (but via LHR? We're too old for this lol). The never-ending boarding experience, aka playing angry Tetris. 380 landing interrupted, and a Beluga. When life gives you lemons (or...

From raves at Narita, airline sonic signatures, to the sound of engines (and a car alarm) during the recording — this episode is music to the ears of Paul and Vinod, unlike the arrivals hell of some airports (should I write which one Vinod will talk about? Nah, you'll find out!). Vinod's way back from Costa Rica, or when nothing goes your way. The beauty of Munich, built straight like a LEGO brick, satisfyingly clear and tidy, and one of Paul's favorites. Is JAL better than Qatar Airways? (Bring your own air vent?). As Japan is seeing increased numbers of in...

Paul and Alex compare notes on their transatlantic British Airways experiences — from the really bad, to the truly great, the airline needs to dig for those latter gems, its future foundation is here (the IT bugs don't help however, trust ground staff). The cot strategy of the bulkhead seat (not if you're lucky to get a double upgrade though). Do not use the US mobile passport (well, do, but we don't want more people in those queues haha). Alex sees himself at the airport, watches a Hong Kong movie and stares at sad packet of crisps and an old ba...

JAL takes Paul on a wonderful flight to Haneda in their new 350-1000 business class (that amenity kit too!). The new HND approach is everything (but HND T3 isn't). The aircraft guide for kids, by Vinod (and how wonderful are those Delta pilots!). An airborne Wifi setup that is so long, it will get you sober. An ode to the 757, they really don't make planes like those anymore (but Delta does a great job refreshing them). Want to invite 8 people to the lounge? Be an Ultimate baller (if you have one of those super exclusive statuses, get in touch...

Here's the trick on how to forget you don't have a window seat: spend an entire flight doing speed tests on Starlink. Another trick? How to actually get a mobile boarding pass on BA's ever-buggy app. When business becomes first, or the final trick to access the Al Safwa First Class lounge in Doha. KLM gives you a timeline of service on the IFE, and a LOT of (good) food. CDG T1 is the Circle of Doom, but there are views on the 11th floor if you can find it. Heathrow shuts down after a fire, earning its "operational...

What is it like to travel with a kid on long-haul journeys to Asia, from Singapore, to KL, to Taipei and more (and the secret bathrooms, which one would you choose?).  AF001, the Air France fragrance (only the French!). Should KLM talk to Korean about the new livery? (And where is the red? LH kept a Pantone code at least). The runways hidden in plain sight (we have one in Singapore, one in Switzerland). CDG T1 (again) shortcomings — compare that to the magic of Singapore Changi and the big bathtub plug at Jewel (Changi, where no one can hear you...

A decade on the air and in the air, thank you all for your loyalty (we don't offer Tier Points).Loyalty is what we start with, as British Airways shakes the world of revenue based loyalty with a rather abrupt shift (meh it was coming, says Alex, whilst Paul defends BA), but what program should we now put our miles in?!Alex flies to peak pollution Delhi with Virgin Atlantic, to meet his brothers (and his Attache brother, Greg). He then goes to New York via Helsinki with Finnair, an airline that wants you to...

A European flying tour from North America, a symphony of alcohol (with two specific colors), a flight sim in an airport (well, nearly), the Paris Olympics from the inside (Paul is jealous), the alternative timeline of CDG T1 and Concorde (we want to switch to it!), an appreciation for Ryanair (nope, we're not in another timeline). getting sea sick whilst taxiing (included in your expensive ticket), the tiny ground dots of Charles de Gaulle and Zurich (bring them back!), the dark underground link between Orly and Luton (ok, not really, but you'll get it), the fabulous Musée de l...