There’s discussion of an interesting settlement rumor on Milepoint, ostensibly about a structure of a deal that could bring an end to the Justice Department’s anti-trust lawsuit to stop the merger between American Airlines and US Airways. Here’s the gist: Slots Sell the 8 Washington Reagan slot pairs that JetBlue currently leases from American to JetBlue at a price approved by the DOJ Divest an additional 37 slot pairs at Washington Reagan to the federal government for the DOT and/or DOJ to redistribute as they see fit. Divest 10 slot pairs at New York LaGuardia to the federal government for the DOT and/or DOJ to redistribute as they see fit Sell to Virgin America the 15 slots (7.5 slot pairs) that Virgin America currently leases from American at a price approved by the DOJ Gates…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for November 2013.
Will American Follow Suit and Devalue its Miles?
United’s award chart will be devalued come February, award prices are going up, up up. Big changes at United have many flyers considering alternatives. But it would be a shame to jump to a new airline to accumulate points, only to find that airline devaluing its own points shortly thereafter. That uncertainty is what’s holding many people back, and helping United. I’m going to predict there will be some adjustments to American’s award chart over the coming year, but that we will not see a wholesale devaluation like what United has done — not even close. American’s Award Chart Isn’t That Much Less Expensive Now for Many Awards, So There’s No Need to Raise Most Prices United’s changes aren’t as bad as they seem for many flyers. Coach doesn’t go up, or up very much,…
Delta Announces an Interim Devaluation for February Travel (Because Their June Travel Devaluation Was Too Far Away)
Delta Skymiles — already the least generous major airline frequent flyer program in the U.S. — has deservedly earned the nickname Skypesos. Nonetheless, the program leadership has announced that they believe the program is too rewarding today — notwithstanding that they already announced that they were making it less rewarding for travel June 1 oneward. (Delta announced award chart changes effective immediately, for travel beginning in June, back in mid-August.) Sure, the changes went into effect right away, but only for travel in summer 2014. The clear implication of announcing changes for travel beginning June 1 was that travel up until June 1 could be booked at the ‘old’ rate. And by setting the travel date about 9 months out, that meant that members could still earn miles and redeem them at the existing lower…
American Says You Don’t Have to Mileage Run for Next Year’s Status
American announced two different ways this morning to keep your current status or buy up to a higher level, and neither one involves getting on their aircraft. Bringing Back One Method, and Introducing a New One American has offered some sort of ‘buy back’ program for the past decade; a way for members who didn’t fly enough to keep their status in the next year to pay to do so (with a price that varied based on how close they were). There’s been some speculation that they wouldn’t for 2014, but they will. No doubt that while planes are full their not offering double elite qualifying miles during the year (when last year they offered that at both the beginning and end) means the elite ranks aren’t so swelled that letting members pay to re-up…
The Future Will Have Lower Award Prices and Better Availability..
…or so prophecies by a correspondent who mailed a letter to me at the Milepoint.com business address would seem to suggest. Dear Gary, I saw the newspaper article you were quoted in and wanted to write you a letter. As you know the economy has had its up and down’s which causes many to wonder what the future holds out for them and who really controls the world. Interestingly, the Bible explains why conditions in the world have gone from bad to worse and also explains what we can look forward to which is a world free of economic hardships, pain, suffering, injustice and war… The enclosed tract explains the above in more detail. It only takes a few minutes to read and is well worth your time. The old saying in aviation decades ago…
Lufthansa First Class Awards Available (Using United Miles) Next Summer
On the heels of United’s dramatic devaluation that goes into effect February 1, many folks are seeing their United miles are no longer so great for booking partner awards (although they’re still non-crazy for booking partner awards in business class). First class awards on partners are where the real changes come into play. A first class award, say Washington Dulles to Munich and back on Lufthansa, goes up from 135,000 miles to 220,000 miles. And of course first class awards on Lufthansa have become really tough to get. A couple of years ago they were everywhere, now they’re usually only bookable within two weeks of travel. Lufthansa has reduced the number of first class seats it flies and have severely restricted the ability for partner frequent flyer programs to book those seats. Since they’re tough…
Why You Should Go to the Bathroom Before Boarding Your Flight
Boarding lasts 20 minutes or so, if you’re in the gate area at the start of boarding and you have to ‘go’ you really should do it before getting on the plane. Sneaking into the lav while passengers are trying to get down the aisle slows things down. Sure, sometimes it’s necessary — maybe your inbound flight was late and you make it to your connecting gate just before they’re going to shut the doors and you have to go. But here’s the risk. If you do it right before takeoff, and it takes you awhile. . . Female passenger left trapped in lavatory on British Airways plane as it sped down the runway and took off: A female passenger found herself trapped in the lavatory on board a British Airways plane as it hurtled…
British Airways’ New Do It Yourself Electronic Baggage Tags
British Airways is testing new electronic baggage tags that will save time at the airport, like you can via a mobile boarding pass, without the need for waiting in lines to get help from people even when checking a bag. The initial test is being done this month on London Heathrow – Seattle flights with Microsoft employees. Unsurprisingly, they’re using Windows phones for this test but they’ll support other platforms going forward. Participants will use a specially adapted version of the British Airways app that will automatically update the bag tag with a unique barcode containing new flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag’s destination – just by holding the phone over the barcode. You get a digital bag tag which you affix to your bag, and place your phone up to the…
35% Bonus on Purchased Alaska Airlines Miles
Alaska Airlines is offering up to a 35% bonus on purchased miles through December 20. Special offer: up to 35% Bonus Purchase miles between November 4 and December 20, 2013 and get up to 35% more miles! Buy 5,000 – 19,000 miles: get a 20% Bonus Buy 20,000 – 34,000 miles: get a 30% Bonus Buy 35000 – 40,000 miles: get a 35% Bonus At the top bonus band you’re effectively buying miles at ~ 2.2 cents apiece. You can also buy 25,000 Alaska miles at 2.1 cents apiece via Starwood’s point sale though those points won’t post nearly as quickly since they first need to be transferred from Starwood to Alaska. You can buy up to 40,000 miles per transaction but can make as many purchase transactions as you’d like but make sure to…
25% Transfer Bonus from American Express to Emirates From Tomorrow Through November 22
A week ago I reviewed American Express Membership Rewards adding Emirates as a points transfer partner. Emirates adds fuel surcharges to award tickets, something that was relatively new and driven by their partnership with Qantas. So like many non-U.S. frequent flyer programs their awards can be pricey. And their award chart isn’t cheap for many long haul destinations, especially if you want to redeem for their legendary first class. You can redeem for for Emirates first class (their A380 has a shower!) for fewer miles with a roundtrip award booked through Japan Airlines (a Starwood Preferred Guest transfer partner) and for fewer miles in many cases and for one-way awards without fuel surcharges via Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (also a Starwood transfer partner). Still, adding a good option for Emirates redemptions with American Express points…
