Writing

Brian shares his thoughts in a paid newsletter called The Airline Observer. Here are some examples of his work.

“Designing a Better Business Class”
May 22, 2026 from the Airline Observer

The same few manufacturers build most of the industry's premium seats. But Air Canada spent considerable effort to customize its offering. It expects customers to notice.

I often can predict which group wields the most power within an airline by spending a few minutes in the business class cabin. Some carriers spend considerable time and money to customize their offerings, while others go with a simple approach, emphasizing low costs and durability. It should not surprise you which style I prefer. While … Read more.

“The Rationale Behind Hawaiian's Brand Strategy”
February 11, 2026 from the Airline Observer

Alaska Air Group is spending a lot of time and money on how it positions Hawaiian Airlines. I spoke to CEO Diana Birkett Rakow to learn more about the plan.

It has become a running gag, but it's no joke: You can learn a lot about an airline’s priorities based on the quality of the cheese plate it sells in economy class (or if it sells any at all). And as you might recall, while I enjoyed flying Hawaiian Airlines before Alaska acquired it, Hawaiian’s cheese plate was a disgusting medley of self… Read more.

“How Big Does An Airline Need To Be To Make Loyalty Money?”
December 2, 2025 from the Airline Observer

With the company no longer saddled with its loss-making resort, it wants to re-focus on credit card revenues. But is Allegiant large enough to compete for cardholders against larger programs?

When Brett Snyder and I interviewed Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker in September for The Air Show, Bricker took an aggressive swipe at the credit card fees that fund profits at United, Delta, American, and Southwest. “I don’t think it’s an appropriate scheme,” he told us, explaining that credit card rewards programs reduce margins for small… Read more.