Sky Lounge Podcast

Rafat Ali, the CEO & Founder of SKIFT, the leading news source for travel executives, had a wide-ranging discussion with Alexandra & self on India!  Skift (verb) - origin: Nordic languages - meaning: Shift; transformation. We could definitely say that India is Skifting, transforming in so many ways, specially when it come to travel. We touched on the "small" Indian weddings, love for mangoes, "juggad" when it comes to sustainability! Home to perhaps the world's largest airline in the not too distant future. And what happens when Mum comes to your conference for the very first time! Hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did!

Alexandra & self, discuss aviation news “worthy” events in February. The shortest month of the year but a very hectic month!  Love was in the air with Valentine’s Day & what better than travel to keep romance alive. And then you had silent airport discos! Airports can be such fun places.Bots have a mind of their own, as Air Canada discovered. People continue to travel, as the passenger numbers from Dubai Airports highlighted – and when people travel, their bags do too! Airlines have realized that bags are worth billions in extra fees - $33.3 billion to be exact!We end with a recap of Air India’s safety video – but the fire alarm blaring on David’s side of the podcast was not as musical as Air India’s video 😊

Gosh, how times flies! It’s the end of January already & here we are with the very first episode of Season 2 of the Sky Lounge podcast!Alexandra & David catch up on trending aviation news ranging from the recent aircraft scares to Alexandra’s trip on BeOnd; David talks about his experience in the sparkling new Etihad lounge, Abu Dhabi’s Terminal A;Then you have Air India’s very first A350 - very posh! Finally, it’s time to look forward to the rest of 2024 & maybe a glimpse of David’s attempt at writing his book - “The Things We Leave Behind.”And before we forget “Happy New Year”

Alexandra & David close the final episode of Season 1 of the Sky Lounge podcast with a look back at the year in aviation. They discuss & rank a number of key airline metrics based on their experiences in 2023. There are plenty of fun ones too - Bananas & Snickers! As they wrap up this year and reflect on the amazing journey they have had, they take this opportunity to thank all the listeners of Sky Lounge and look forward to Season 2 in 2024!

In this episode, we talk to Roger Hall - a veteran aviation professional with many talents & many passions. Aviation isn't just about flying planes; it's a realm where diverse talents and passions converge. Join us as we celebrate the richness of talent and passion in aviation, showcasing how these multifaceted individuals thrive in an environment that encourages diverse pursuits.

Alexandra reverses roles & becomes the interviewee in this episode as she talks about her recent experiences on JetBlue. She had a "mint"ful journey, in particular on their inaugural flight from Amsterdam! JetBlue is an interesting airline - it's onboard product is more akin to a full service one; and then you have them pioneering the use of narrow body aircraft for trans-Atlantic routes!

Embarking on a journey is more than just buying a ticket; As travelers, we prepare to explore new horizons, but our trusty companions on these expeditions are often the bags we carry. These bags, whether they're neatly packed suitcases, reliable backpacks, or stylish totes, hold more than just our belongings – they contain our anticipation, curiosity, and the promise of what's to come.

Have you ever thought about who designed the seat that you sat in on a flight? But, we are sure that it was a key part of your onboard travel experience. This episode of the podcast focuses on aircraft seats and is a captivating listen of the passion, dreams, innovation & dedication of two very special guests;Jeff O’Neill who is a perennial traveler, aviation enthusiast & avid points collector who runs Zephyr Aerospace, the inventor of Zephyr Seat, which provides affordable access to inflight sleep for all travelers on long haul flightsandAlejandro Nuñez Vicente a young passionate industrial designer from Madrid, developing and designing Chaise Longue, a double decker seat that will change the way people travel on long-haul flights.  Alejandro's aim is to disrupt boring & outdated economy class with the Chaise Longue Economy seat!