Sky Lounge Podcast (Sky Lounge)

Welcome to the very first episode of SKY LOUNGE where we explore the world of airport lounges. Have you ever been curious about what these "exclusive" spaces are all about?

From great airport airside views, gourmet food & drink to comfortable seating, we'll dive into what makes airport lounges the ultimate luxury experience for travelers. But then again, lounges are becoming more mass market focused, as credit card companies, banks & airlines leverage them as powerful sales and loyalty tools!

How will the lounges of the future evolve? What does your dream lounge look like?

All this and more in our very first episode of Sky Lounge!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Launching a new airline is a daunting task, even in the best of times. But for aviation entrepreneurs, it's a dream they are willing to pursue and see turn into reality. In this podcast episode, we sit down with Manoj Chacko, a passionate aviation entrepreneur and founder of FLY91, a new airline set to launch in India.

In the second half of the episode, we explore the global landscape of new airlines and what it takes for them to succeed. Finally, we take a glimpse into the future, where the aviation industry will be a lot different from the one we see today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, join us for a captivating conversation with Ann Cederhall as we delve into the past, present, and future of aviation.

We explore the remarkable transformations that have occurred in the industry over the last few decades. So many areas have changed, but there are those that still remain rooted in tradition. With technology at the forefront, we ponder whether these ongoing changes will ultimately lead to a better version of aviation. Tune in as we navigate through the dynamic landscape of the aviation industry!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 flights

and

Alejandro 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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we'll dive into the world of customer experience, with Vimal Kumar Rai. Whether you're a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, what are some of the things that make your journey truly an experience to remember? Or is one of those trips that you sooner forget!

"Airlines have the opportunity to create lasting impressions and build brand loyalty through exceptional customer experiences."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 😊

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel and fitness might seem like an unlikely pair. Think about all the trips filled with flights, time zones, different hotels, and busy days where fitness was the last thing on your mind.

And consider the hard-working aviation professionals, both on the ground and in the air, working long and odd hours—fitness often takes a back seat after such hectic schedules.

Today, it's just me, David, here without Alex. I'm joined by a very special guest, my son, Dr. Nihal Studden, a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Nihal will share some simple, easy-to-implement fitness tips for travelers, aviation professionals, and everyone in between! We hope you enjoy and benefit from the discussion!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don’t you feel like royalty with that airline loyalty card! Lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, free seat assignments, and a whole bunch of other nice to have “status” benefits!

This episode of Sky Lounge features Mark Ross-Smith, Loyalty guru  & CEO of Loyalty Status Co., the creator of StatusMatch! Like Mark said in a post “We all intuitively know that loyalty status is the most sought-after, most highly prized thing any aspiring traveller can earn.” – we covered a lot of ground talking about the psychology of loyalty, status, status matches & how airlines are adapting to a changed world!

You could be a free agent like Alex, who prefers trying out different airline products or you could be like David stuck to one airline but worried about a status downgrade – but no matter what sort of traveller you are, this is a must listen-to episode! Hope you enjoy it! 

And don’t forget to have a look at Mark’s LinkedIn profile & Loyalty Status Co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrosssmith/

https://www.loyaltystatus.com/

https://statusmatch.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Change seems to be the mantra for aviation over the last few months! From low cost airlines adding business class & wide-body aircraft, to legacy carriers looking at ways to make more money, there is a lot happening in the industry.

What's in an airline business model anyway - the new model is "The What Works Model". And to add a little drama to all these changes, add in technology meltdowns!

But one thing remains constant - Aviation Geeks! No guest on this episode! Just Alex & David have a chat about all things aviation! Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to season 2 of The Sky Lounge podcast with Alex & David. The new season starts with a slightly different format with the both of us talking about avgeeky things! This episode has a lot on airline food, a subject that always tends to bring up a lot of emotion!

Blame it on the sugar rush thanks to all the Diwali & Halloween sweets! We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex & David take a look back at 2024! It's been a year full of stars, good memories & lot of travel!, but it has been a year with it's share of sadness as well!

Champagne in economy, free agents versus loyalty - How will 2025 be for the industry?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! Yes, we know that it is almost the end of January 2025 but is a good reminder how quickly the new year tends to come and go!

In our very first episode of 2025, Alex & self-have tried a slightly different format, where we take some of our LINKEDIN posts and talk a little bit more about them. Alex’s posts tend to be more practical & product focused; Mine tend to be more wishy-washy furtury 😉!

We talked about Ryanair & their liquid wishlist limits of 2 on the ground; What If IKEA had an airline? How airlines number their flights; when all you need is your face to travel; Front of the plane or do you prefer the back? 

And we have a very interesting discussion on an airline very close to Alex’s heart, starting with A (Suspense)!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s already the middle of February! And in this episode of THE SKY LOUNGE podcast, Alex & David talked about a relatively small and unknown airline starting with the letter B! The airline “B” has a very unique product that not many other airlines can lay claim to! But do you need to say a prayer before you take that flight with them?

We discussed the evolution of loyalty programs, airline & product transformation and buzzwords! Oh! We also touched on “flying the stripes”

If you are looking for a podcast with a fun & relaxing but informative take on the aviation industry, THE SKY LOUNGE podcast is the one for you!

LINKS

We also spoke about the LADIES BEYOND FLYING group on LinkedIn! A very passionate group committed to making a change in aviation! Do follow them! Here's the link https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12451302/

Ann Cederhall - White Papers & Buzz words

https://tinyurl.com/2sppu992

Mikko Turtiainen - Trust The Stripes! And Fly Them As Well! 

https://tinyurl.com/yty34zxm

We are also proud to have made it to the Top 100 Aviation Podcasts by Feedspot! Thank you listeners & fellow avgeeks!

Here is the link of the list https://podcast.feedspot.com/aviation_podcasts/

Enjoy! And have a great rest of February!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexandra got the opportunity to try out some first-class luxury without even leaving the ground! While David got to relive old memories with a trip to Amsterdam – and the weather was just perfect!

They then jumped into various topics from loyalty to Aviation & AI – ending with the airline of the episode – “D”.

Guess the airline name – It’s a big one!  Nope, we know what you are thinking – it’s not Delta!  You have 3 guesses!

(Hint: They have more than 300 dedicated aircraft & serve over 500 airports globally.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel demand remains strong, but could tariffs be the turbulence ahead for aviation growth? Let’s not dwell too long on that—because we’re also celebrating a terrific birthday for the airline that starts with “E”! Can you guess which one? Tune in to the episode to find out!

In this week’s episode, Alexandra and David dive into a mix of quirky and serious aviation updates:

• ·From Finnair’s non-reclining business class AirLounge seat (yes, really!),
• To reimagining Eurowings catering carts with built-in coffee machines as… champagne & wine fountains?
• And of course, April 1st wouldn’t be complete without a few clever fake headlines and light-hearted fun.

On the topic of tariff turbulence, we also explore Roger Hall’s insights on turbulence of the airline kind.

Check out the article here:https://www.xflashsystems.com/alerting-monitoring/turbulence-det-route-plus/

Plus, a sweet cargo story! Mangoes & Apples! Andrew Tan reported on Air India Cargo’s fruity endeavor with over 3,000 varieties of mangoes, along with the airline’s recent integration of Apple AirTags for baggage tracking (and maybe mango tracking too?)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.