John Walton
@thatjohn.bsky.social
Editor in chief of @theupfront.media: in-depth independent aviation journalism for the digital age. Subscribe today!
Journo, Japan travel expert, bon vivant, lover of gardens, fan of 22°C, crocheter, Champagne enthusiast.
Big 🏳️🌈 w/the 🏳️⚧️, 🇪🇺 in 🇫🇷, he/him.
Journo, Japan travel expert, bon vivant, lover of gardens, fan of 22°C, crocheter, Champagne enthusiast.
Big 🏳️🌈 w/the 🏳️⚧️, 🇪🇺 in 🇫🇷, he/him.
Oh, and here’s the Coke livery A340-600. Never mind that you could absolutely fit “Drink Delicious Coca-Cola Original Flavor” on the fuselage. Just… “Coke”.
November 21, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Oh, and here’s the Coke livery A340-600. Never mind that you could absolutely fit “Drink Delicious Coca-Cola Original Flavor” on the fuselage. Just… “Coke”.
Boo to Austrian Airlines for using AI slop as the main image of its latest campaign.
Extra boo for PRs celebrating lazy use of thieving plagiarism machines that kill (their own!) creative livelihoods.
(also love* the flower stamen hallucination under structurally broken Drinkbrolly Sixfingers)
Extra boo for PRs celebrating lazy use of thieving plagiarism machines that kill (their own!) creative livelihoods.
(also love* the flower stamen hallucination under structurally broken Drinkbrolly Sixfingers)
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Boo to Austrian Airlines for using AI slop as the main image of its latest campaign.
Extra boo for PRs celebrating lazy use of thieving plagiarism machines that kill (their own!) creative livelihoods.
(also love* the flower stamen hallucination under structurally broken Drinkbrolly Sixfingers)
Extra boo for PRs celebrating lazy use of thieving plagiarism machines that kill (their own!) creative livelihoods.
(also love* the flower stamen hallucination under structurally broken Drinkbrolly Sixfingers)
Since I can’t help myself, my holiday included this, which… wow, I have never seen an airline tent off an entire side of a business cabin for crew rest for an 8-hour transatlantic flight.
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Since I can’t help myself, my holiday included this, which… wow, I have never seen an airline tent off an entire side of a business cabin for crew rest for an 8-hour transatlantic flight.
Here's a screenshot of the Kyoto part of a braindump email I did for @stevenomadic.bsky.social earlier in the year, in case it helps!
October 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Here's a screenshot of the Kyoto part of a braindump email I did for @stevenomadic.bsky.social earlier in the year, in case it helps!
Okay, so to the best of my knowledge Kyoto Subway does not yet use credit card NFC.
Do you have an iPhone newer than an 8? If so then mobile Suica (stored value card in your phone's NFC chip) is *absolutely* the best way to go.
Do you have an iPhone newer than an 8? If so then mobile Suica (stored value card in your phone's NFC chip) is *absolutely* the best way to go.
October 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Okay, so to the best of my knowledge Kyoto Subway does not yet use credit card NFC.
Do you have an iPhone newer than an 8? If so then mobile Suica (stored value card in your phone's NFC chip) is *absolutely* the best way to go.
Do you have an iPhone newer than an 8? If so then mobile Suica (stored value card in your phone's NFC chip) is *absolutely* the best way to go.
Hey friend — I side-eyed that real fast when you said it, and looking into it my side-eye was valid. This isn’t enough trains to make it easy for you. Happy to help with specific advice, though, either here or via email!
October 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Hey friend — I side-eyed that real fast when you said it, and looking into it my side-eye was valid. This isn’t enough trains to make it easy for you. Happy to help with specific advice, though, either here or via email!
Full video re-render as well. Pay no attention to the computer graphics people behind the curtain…
October 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Full video re-render as well. Pay no attention to the computer graphics people behind the curtain…
Update: looks like someone turned the pennant the correct way round 🤣
October 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Update: looks like someone turned the pennant the correct way round 🤣
Did I use @airlineflyer.net's updated fleet harmonisation diagram in this piece?
No.
Was I tempted?
Yes, 346 times.
No.
Was I tempted?
Yes, 346 times.
October 16, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Did I use @airlineflyer.net's updated fleet harmonisation diagram in this piece?
No.
Was I tempted?
Yes, 346 times.
No.
Was I tempted?
Yes, 346 times.
Like, the US flag is clearly reversed, as is correct.
Absolutely astounding design/rendering error here, real schoolkid stuff.
Absolutely astounding design/rendering error here, real schoolkid stuff.
October 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Like, the US flag is clearly reversed, as is correct.
Absolutely astounding design/rendering error here, real schoolkid stuff.
Absolutely astounding design/rendering error here, real schoolkid stuff.
Okay, so I know this is niche but… why is the new American centenary livery Flagship flag flying the wrong way round?
The flag is supposed to fly as if it were hanging on the aircraft, fluttering towards the rear — as it is on the DC-3 livery in this picture they distributed.
The flag is supposed to fly as if it were hanging on the aircraft, fluttering towards the rear — as it is on the DC-3 livery in this picture they distributed.
October 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Okay, so I know this is niche but… why is the new American centenary livery Flagship flag flying the wrong way round?
The flag is supposed to fly as if it were hanging on the aircraft, fluttering towards the rear — as it is on the DC-3 livery in this picture they distributed.
The flag is supposed to fly as if it were hanging on the aircraft, fluttering towards the rear — as it is on the DC-3 livery in this picture they distributed.
I did some maths and wrote about this in July. If Airbus and Boeing don’t produce markedly more widebodies than they have ever managed before, there is a hole of somewhere between 5 and 20 Emirates-sized airlines in the widebody market.
theupfront.media/as-productio...
theupfront.media/as-productio...
October 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I did some maths and wrote about this in July. If Airbus and Boeing don’t produce markedly more widebodies than they have ever managed before, there is a hole of somewhere between 5 and 20 Emirates-sized airlines in the widebody market.
theupfront.media/as-productio...
theupfront.media/as-productio...
My take on the new BA lounges in Miami and Dubai — oh, and why they're more bad news for BA Gold and oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers.
theupfront.media/update-20-ba...
theupfront.media/update-20-ba...
October 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
My take on the new BA lounges in Miami and Dubai — oh, and why they're more bad news for BA Gold and oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers.
theupfront.media/update-20-ba...
theupfront.media/update-20-ba...
Aha! Now that I *can* help with.
October 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Aha! Now that I *can* help with.
Just after 1m30s you'll hear the speak-singing from the fabulously statuesque* Marjorie Main, best known as Ma Kettle from the films of the same era.
* yes, I do mean "lesbian". Main was in a long-term relationship with fellow MGM player Spring Byington, according to her (Main's) biographer.
* yes, I do mean "lesbian". Main was in a long-term relationship with fellow MGM player Spring Byington, according to her (Main's) biographer.
October 10, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Just after 1m30s you'll hear the speak-singing from the fabulously statuesque* Marjorie Main, best known as Ma Kettle from the films of the same era.
* yes, I do mean "lesbian". Main was in a long-term relationship with fellow MGM player Spring Byington, according to her (Main's) biographer.
* yes, I do mean "lesbian". Main was in a long-term relationship with fellow MGM player Spring Byington, according to her (Main's) biographer.
This is my dance about how much transphobes suck.
October 10, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This is my dance about how much transphobes suck.
THANK THE VENEZUELANS
October 8, 2025 at 9:27 AM
THANK THE VENEZUELANS
Okay, I spent a few minutes cutting Calder's video down to the actual processing part, and it takes 38 seconds, even with ThE vEneZueLanS.
October 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Okay, I spent a few minutes cutting Calder's video down to the actual processing part, and it takes 38 seconds, even with ThE vEneZueLanS.
Perennial French government skeet
October 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Perennial French government skeet
And will you LOOK at that puckering, not to be overly detailed (ahahaha we welcome your subscription), but I'll adapt an Elle Woods quote from Legally Blonde The Musical to add to the Miranda Priestly quote already in this week's Update:
October 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
And will you LOOK at that puckering, not to be overly detailed (ahahaha we welcome your subscription), but I'll adapt an Elle Woods quote from Legally Blonde The Musical to add to the Miranda Priestly quote already in this week's Update:
October 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
when u were "temporarily reactivated" in 2022 and more 777X delays are announced
newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa...
newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa...
October 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
when u were "temporarily reactivated" in 2022 and more 777X delays are announced
newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa...
newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa...
in before the haters
October 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
in before the haters