Qatar Airways Announces Record $632 Million Loss

by Gary Leff

qatarplane
Sep 18 2019

Qatar Airways announced a loss of 2.3 billion Qatari riyals (US$632 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31, for a -4.8% margin. That’s their second straight year of losses and ten times the loss of the prior year.

The airline basically gets a pass on its financial performance while the country is being blockaded by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. That eliminates travel to 20 destinations in the region, and forces the airline to take circuitous flight routes – increasing fuel costs and flight times (and making the carrier’s schedules less desirable for customers).

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5 Best American Express Cards

by Gary Leff

american express structure
Sep 18 2019

I frequently offer appraisals of the very best cards, and the very best signup bonuses, but in doing so only offer one or two cards per bank. That means I don’t get down further — what card should you get next, or if you aren’t going to get the one I prefer for whatever reason?

And thanks to Chase’s ‘5/24’ limits where they won’t approve most people for new rewards cards if they’ve had 5 or more new cards in the last 24 months, American Express is increasingly where frequent flyers have looked to.

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Which U.S. Airlines Have the Dirtiest Water?

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2019

The New York City Food Policy Center tested for coliform bacteria as well as E. coli. They looked at the number of violations at each airline of the EPA’s s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule.

Study authors recommend not drinking any way water that didn’t come from a bottle, not drinking on board coffee or tea, and not even using water from the lavatory to wash your hands. Please wash your hands!

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Vietnam’s Bikini Airline Looks to Fly Longer Routes With New Airbus A321XLR Order

by Gary Leff

vietjet calendar
Sep 17 2019

Six years ago the airline was fined 20 million Dong over unapproved inflight entertainment. It wasn’t a problem with the installation of a seatback video system. Instead, 5 bikini-clad candidates in a local beauty contest performed a dance onboard the airline’s inaugural flight to Nha Trang. The 3-minute show had not been approved in advance, it was deemed a violation of aviation and security regulations. And the airline was fine — the equivalent of $959.

Since then they’ve branded themselves the bikini airline.

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Buy IHG Points For Just Half a Cent Each (Matches Lowest Price Ever Offered)

by Gary Leff

drink
Sep 17 2019

IHG Rewards Club – the loyalty program for Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and related brands — is offering a 100% bonus on purchased points through September 24. This applies to purchases of 7000 or more points.

At a 100% bonus purchases of 26,000 points or more cost just $0.005 apiece which is the lowest price I see them sell points for. Oddly purchases of 26,000 points is cheaper than 25,000 points because the cost per point drops. I believe the points are worth slightly more than this.

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Hotels Are So Scared of Airbnb They are Lobbying to Kill the Entire Internet

by Gary Leff

Sep 17 2019

Hotel industry lobby group the American Hotel and Lodging Association sponsored a push poll to support eliminating or undermining protections of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

As the lobby shop – which represents “9 of the 10 top U.S. hotel brands” including Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, and Hilton – explains, “Online web sites and social media platforms have claimed that CDA Section 230 gives them protection from any third-party user publishing information or content to their website.”

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