Many of you know that I retired from Delta Airlines almost two years ago. The airlines are all over the news these days with soaring fuel prices hammering Delta and all the others back into the very red zone.

I rarely follow the airlines or Delta anymore. It seems like that was a past life and my present incarnation is full of interesting work and people. Also, as I tell everyone, I don’t miss those three snowblowers I left in Park City, UT at all.

It’s not just the Internet that keeps dragging me back to my airline past (I rarely read newspapers or watch news on TV). Paul Mees used to work for KLM, and it’s impossible to get two former airline employees together without talking about the airline industry.

But, life also has an interesting way of bringing your past into the present.

A few night’s ago, we were down at the Buckhorn Grill in Walnut Creek CA for our usual (me – Roadhouse Salad with Chicken. Jane – Tri-tip small plate) and a bottle of wine. We’ve started buying the bottle because two glasses has you most of the way to the bottle price.

Anyway, there we are sitting outside enjoying the warm night, food and wine and I notice the guy at the other table has an empty glass. Well, I think it is better to share than drag a glass of wine home. So, I tell Jane to offer the guy a glass of ours.

We strike up a conversation and because of the food, wine, warm weather and sidewalk cafe ambiance – Italy comes up. And then the price of travel – which is where I mention I’m retired from Delta Airlines and can still fly for free.

At which point – Captain Mike Hatfield (retired Delta) breaks into a big grin, stands up shakes my hand, introduces himself and his lovely wife, Nancy. We then discover we both wound up at Delta Airlines via the Western Airlines merger.

Turns out Mike is a Realtor also! Small world…

by John Harper 

I was over at one of my favorite hangouts in Pleasanton, CA on Friday - Tullys. Tullys is a great place to hang out and get some work done. Especially, if you get a soft ice cream and pour a couple of shots of espresso over it. Tully's has FREE WiFi access, though I think the FREE WiFi zone is now operational in downtown Pleasanton.

I was at Tullys to meet up with Rhonda Fee and Karen Bartholomew, a couple of blogging converts that needed a pointer or two on blogging. The biggest table with a power outlet near was being occupied by this gent - Brian Clark. Turns out that Brian is the VP Planning & Sales for Virgin Amercia Airlines.

Well, given that I retired from Delta AirLines last August, we started talking airlines and then blogging as Brian informed me that Virgin America had a blog on their site. After taking a look, I informed Brian that you really couldn't call what Virgin America has on their site a blog. We kicked blogging around a bit, the airlines a bit more and then Brian had to make some calls and Rhonda, Karen and I needed to have our chat.

One of the points of interest in the conversation with Brian was his mention of the resistance VA is getting from unions. I found that interesting as Delta is mostly non-union and most of the low-cost startups are non-union.

I'll be keeping an eye on the VA site to see if they get the okay to fly and if they figure out blogging and what it can do to help them connect with their customers.