Cranky Flier has a piece today where he answers a reader asking him whether he’s biased against American Airlines by basically saying no, he isn’t biased, American just does stupid things and needs a merger to save themselves. Go read the piece and decide whether a more correct, Straussian reading of his post is “Yes, I am biased against American.” He begins with a shout-out to American’s achievements in the 1980s: [T]hroughout the 1980s, American was a shining beacon of awesomeness. It had previously effectively invented the computerized reservation system. It was the first to really make a frequent flier program relevant. It perfected the hub and spoke system. And it successfully developed modern revenue management. He cites several big errors made at the same time — acquisitions and hubs that didn’t work out —…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for October 2012.
Malaysia Airlines Joining Oneworld on February 1
I have an upcoming trip to Malaysia booked with American AAdvantage miles and have been holding off booking my domestic connecting flight, hoping that I could just add a segment on Malaysia Airlines at no cost (other than for incremental airport taxes). Sadly that isn’t to be. Malaysia Airlines was supposed to join in the second half of 2012. Now word is that their join date will be February 1, 2013. They will be a good addition. And as their oneworld admission approaches, there’s a good chance that their frequent flyer partnership with Delta could come to an end. I expect to much prefer the options provided by American for Malaysia redemption over those that featured in Delta’s Skymiles program — specifically Delta didn’t permit first class redemption and added fuel surcharges to awards on…
Good Luck With Your Travels During the Storm!
I’m home in DC, not much looking forward to the coming storm, not planning to fly Monday through Thursday so my travel plans aren’t being interrupted. But I did try to log on to my power company’s website, to no avail. And according to DownForEveryoneOrJustMe.com the problem isn’t me: Not very encouraging when the power company’s website is down before the storm. But at least I’m not flying, because today is already bloody. The largest number of proactive cancellations were on United, focused primarily on the New York area but also Washington Dulles. In total and across all airlines over 1200 U.S. flights have been cancelled so far today. Tomorrow there will be many, many more cancellations. Here are the re-accommodation policies of various US airlines. Alaska Airlines American Delta JetBlue Southwest United US Airways…
50% Off Club Carlson Award Nights in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Club Carlson is offering a 50% discount on award nights at some hotels in Europe, Middle East, and Africa for bookings made between October 29 and March 30 and stays consumed from November 1 through March 31. You need to Use promo code 50REDEEM when searching for your booking in order to receive the discount. Participating hotels are here. Me, I especially like the Radisson Blu properties so value the 50% discount most at the participating ones in places like Bergen, Norway; Jeddah; Addis Ababa; Dresden; Budapest; and St. Gallen, Switzerland. The offer is valid for standard room awards only, and not to cash and points bookings.
25% Off Alitalia Bookings Through October 28
Alitalia’s 25% off promo code, which was originally supposed to expire on October 26th, has been extended for bookings made by October 28th. You just need to book your tickets on the Alitalia website and add coupon code SPECIAL at checkout for travel between November 5 and March 27 (with December 20 through January 6 blacked out for this discount). Sadly I am not currently aware of any fixed-amount $315 discounts this time. But if you have any need to fly Alitalia, or go to Europe (or fly from or within Europe) this is a great deal. (HT: The Flight Deal)
Up to 15,000 Bonus United Miles for Transferring Hotel Points
Through November 30 United is offering up to 15,000 bonus miles for transfers of hotel points into miles. The amount of the bonus varies by the number of miles transferred it, at exactly 50,000 miles the bonus is at its biggest — 30%. Transfers of hotel points into 5000 – 9999 miles will earn 1,000 bonus miles Transfers of 10,000 – 19,999 miles will earn 2500 bonus miles Transfers of 20,000 – 49,999 miles will earn 5000 bonus miles Transfers of 50,000 miles or more will earn 15,000 bonus miles Eligible hotel transfer partners are Starwood, Wyndham, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Hilton, and Club Carlson. They’ll total all of the hotel points transferred by November 30 to determine the number of bonus miles you’ll receive, the total doesn’t all need to come in one transfer…
Bits ‘n Pieces for October 26, 2012
News and notes from around the interweb: Hyatt announced yesterday that you can save your credit card to your profile on their website, so you don’t have to re-enter it every time you make a booking. Mommy Points is downright giddy. Me, I think it’s an improvement, but Google Chrome already saves the credit card I use and fills it in on the Hyatt website. Now if only they would let me save my AAA number there would be real progress! Bruce Schneier isn’t worried that the bar code on boarding passes which tell the TSA if passengers get precheck or not can be hacked, since things like ID check and no fly lists don’t contribute to security anyway — the TSA procedures that are different from precheck don’t make us more secure anyway. He…
Magic Johnson’s Personal Flight Attendant Sues Him After Being Fired for Showing Up 7 Minutes Late
Magic Johnson’s personal flight attendant is suing him, claiming she was fired for showing up 7 minutes late, delayed at the deli picking up his preferred type of turkey. His lawyers say she was 15 minutes late, though I wonder if the story has all of the relevant details. She probably should have turned up at the deli earlier and not been cutting it so close to flight time, and while the whole purpose of private aviation is to be able to fly when you’re ready to fly (not when your crew shows up) in addition to being able to fly non-stop from wherever you are to wherever you’re going, a one-time seven or fifteen minute mistake after years of service feels insufficient for dismissal. Since she’s able to sue under California law, it’s also…
Delta Will No Longer Transfer Your Bags to Other Airlines When You’re Traveling on Separate Tickets
Effective January 15, Delta will no longer interline baggage when traveling on separate tickets. Effective for travel on or after January 15, 2013, Delta Air Lines policy will be to check a passenger’s baggage between the origin and destination points that are indicated on a single or conjuncted ticket exclusively. If a second ticket is presented for travel on another airline beyond the destination of the first ticket, the passenger will be advised that Delta will only check the bag to the destination on the first ticket(s). The passenger must collect the baggage at baggage claim for their first ticketed destination, and then re-check their baggage with the down-line carrier for the next flight. Rather surreal is the claim, This clarification of policy helps Delta ensure that checked baggage service is consistent for all customers.…
There’s a TSA Museum. Really.
There’s a TSA museum, it’s located in my home town and I didn’t even know about it. What’s on display in the museum? Among those items are images, oral histories, internal planning documents, a uniform and other objects relating to the first airport to get TSA screeners… Limestone from the exterior of the Pentagon and mangled pieces of the World Trade Center are in the collection, as is an example of the first handheld metal detectors, or wands, used to screen passengers at airports, and the first American flag raised over Terminal B at Boston Logan Airport when the TSA starting screening there in 2002. ..And then there’s the walk-through metal detector that screened the hijackers in Portland, Maine, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. You can’t visit the museum, though, it isn’t open…
