The United States Department of Transportation tentatively approved the swap of slots at Fiorello LaGuardia Airport in New York and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. — but only under certain conditions.

Delta Air Lines and US Airways will be allowed to trade landing rights in New York and Washington, as long as they sell eight takeoff and landing rights in Washington, D.C. and 16 in New York to other airlines which hold fewer than five percent of current slots and do not code share with — or operate on behalf of — an airline that has greater than five percent of current slots.

Delta Air Lines will reportedly give US Airways 42 pairs of takeoff and landing rights in Washington, D.C. along with cash in exchange for Delta acquiring 132 pairs of takeoff and landing rights in New York, giving Delta Air Lines a significantly greater presence in New York, while US Airways increases its presence in Washington.

For additional information, please refer to the following FlyerTalk threads:

• DOT approves LGA slot swap!
• (UPDATE 7/21/11): DOT gives tentative approval to revised US/DL slot swap

The annual J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 2011 has just been released, and here are the rankings of the airlines in North America in overall customer satisfaction as a result:

Traditional Carriers

1. Alaska Airlines/ Horizon Air
2. Air Canada
3. Continental Airlines
4. American Airlines/ American Eagle
5. Delta Air Lines
6. United Airlines
7. US Airways

Low-Cost Carriers

1. JetBlue Airways
2. Southwest Airlines
3. AirTran Airways
4. Frontier Airlines/Midwest Airlines
5. WestJet

Airlines that tied are listed in alphabetical order.

Here are some discussions on FlyerTalk regarding the results of this annual survey:

• J.D. Power Airline Satisfaction Survey 2011
• Delta and the J.D. Power award ranking for 2011

…and do not be surprised if more discussions appear on FlyerTalk regarding the results of this annual survey…

If you were thinking of taking advantage of promotions such as the 25-75% hotel point transfer bonus offer for US Airways Dividend Miles — where you have the potential to earn as many as 43,750 US Airways Dividend Miles — but you are short on Starpoints in your Starwood Preferred Guest frequent guest loyalty program account, then the 20% off Buy/Give SPG Starpoints promotion might just sweeten the pot.

Purchase Starpoints between now and June 30, 2011 and receive 20% off the regular price. You can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as US$17.50, and you can add up to 20,000 Starpoints to your Starwood Preferred Guest frequent guest loyalty program account.

There is a New US Buy/Share Promo April 4th – May 15th where one can earn 75% of the US Airways Dividend Miles that are shared. Plus, if you are a US Airways credit card holder, you qualify for a 50% discount when buying or gifting miles.

The reaction to these offers are tepid at best from FlyerTalk members, many of whom enjoyed when there were promotions of 100% bonus Dividend Miles when they were shared. Plus, there appears to reportedly be no requirement that the US Airways credit card needs to be used for purchasing US Airways Dividend Miles.

FlyerTalk member cherylsiscon recounts how she was Removed from US Airways flt last night simply by ignoring a cheerful greeting by a “very bubbly” flight attendant because she was tired and just wanted to get to her seat.

This action apparently led to her and her carry-on bag being involuntarily removed from the flight because the flight attendant “felt uncomfortable” having an “unresponsive” passenger on the flight.

Because in one night she saw two passengers being removed from an oversold flight out of Minneapolis/St. Paul and then she is removed for the same reason on an oversold flight out of Phoenix, cherylsiscon wonders if this is a new approach by US Airways to attaining seats…

There is currently a new promotion by US Airways called Grand Slam 2010!

While one can earn up to 100,000 bonus US Airways Dividend Miles by patronizing greater than 130 partners of US Airways, one can start off by earning 4,000 US Airways Dividend Miles theoretically without spending a single penny, or earning 8,000 US Airways Dividend Miles theoretically for as few as two dollars.

This promotion ends November 14, 2010. Rules, restrictions, terms and conditions apply.

If you prefer to use the Internet to take advantage of offers and promotions, you are not going to like this one where you can earn 500 free Dividend Miles for not requesting a life insurance quote, because you must request your 500 US Airways Dividend Miles the old-fashioned way: via postcard, which will cost all of 28¢ plus the postcard itself and the ink or lead used to write on the postcard. The 500 US Airways Dividend Miles are expected to be added to your Dividend Miles account within six to eight weeks.

Rather, is it worth it to request the free life insurance quote electronically for those same 500 US Airways Dividend Miles, as it is purportedly less expensive and quicker, as the 500 US Airways Dividend Miles are expected to be added to your Dividend Miles account within four to six weeks? You decide if you intend to take advantage of this offer, but do it before the offer expires on August 31, 2010.

A decision by a passenger allegedly attempting to transport spoiled meat aboard a short US Airways flight from Atlanta to Charlotte resulted in the proliferation of Maggots in PAX baggage in overhead bin, forcing the pilots to return the aircraft to Atlanta.

Anyone who has taken the short flight knows that the aircraft starts its descent into Charlotte not long after it reaches its cruising altitude from Atlanta, so for the flight to divert back to Atlanta would have taken just as much time − if not more time − than merely continuing on to Charlotte and completing the flight.

Video is available for those who are not squeamish about watching a maggot crawling on a seat…

Yes, US Airways is offering a Free 90 Day Silver Trial – Again for 2010.

While it is somewhat different than the promotion that was first posted here at The Gate last year, this offer is eligible only to those US Airways Dividend Miles members who are currently non-elite general members, did not have status in 2009 and have not done any trial or status match within the past 24 months. Also, one must purchase a non-refundable ticket on US Airways or US Airways Express online to qualify for the 90-day Silver Preferred trial status.

Among other perks, Silver Preferred status members of the US Airways Dividend Miles frequent flier loyalty program enjoy no bag fees for first and second checked bags, priority check-in and boarding, First Class upgrades and a choice of Preferred seats.

This promotion is good until August 15, 2010. Other rules and restrictions apply.

A lot has transpired since The Gate first reported that US Airways in talks to buy United Airlines.

First, the acquisition talks morphed into merger talks.

Then came the Headline: WSJ: US Airways Bd Decided To Discontinue Merger Talks With United.

Meanwhile, news about Continental interested in merger with United Airlines spread amongst frequent fliers, prompting the question Just how dead *is* the Continental merger…?

This story is far from over. Stay tuned as speculation reigns throughout FlyerTalk and the frequent flier community…