Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for April 2017.

Starwood Elite Status Challenges are Now Public

by Gary Leff

Apr 17 2017

Instead of giving you elite status because you’re an elite with another hotel chain, they let you earn status more quickly — fewer nights in a compressed period of time — though they don’t advance you the status while you’re working on the challenge.

That program is no longer a secret, information passed from frequent flyer to frequent flyer, or something you stumble upon if asking Starwood whether there’s a way they can help you move your business to them from another chain.

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OH, SNAP: Wedding Couple Says Law Enforcement Removed Them From United Flight This Weekend

by Gary Leff

united
Apr 16 2017

United just said they wouldn’t have law enforcement take passengers off flights anymore.

Except — as I called it yesterday — they more or less had their fingers crossed. They said this applied “unless it is a matter of safety and security” And though understandable, I noted that this exception “renders the policy statement meaningless.”

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Fascinating Data About American Express and Chase

by Gary Leff

amex platinum card
Apr 16 2017

American Express losing Costco set off a chain reaction that rocked the credit card world. American Express moved quickly to re-up their co-brand deal with Delta (which was second largest to Costco, Starwood is third). They set a new high price benchmark, that defined terms for Chase renewing United and Southwest and ultimately led to expected higher revenue from a new Citibank-Barclaycard deal with American Airlines.

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An African President Calls Out British Airways Poor Planes and Service

by Gary Leff

british airways plane
Apr 16 2017

Given our politics in the U.S. over the last 20 years perhaps it’s not at all strange for the President of Ghana to be complaining to British Airways about specific elements of their service.

Here’s what Ghana’s President told British Airways’ head of sales for the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia when the BA sales officer came to congratulate him on his election:

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American Airlines Puts Premium Lie Flat Seats on Two Hawaii Routes

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Apr 16 2017

West Coast – Hawaii flights are about 5 hours long. That’s not much shorter than Eastbound flights from the Northeast to nearer Europe. Flights from the East Coast to Hawaii are longer than most Europe flights.

And yet while there’s a product war across the Atlantic, trying to provide premium experiences that will attract lucrative business class flyers, premium cabins on Hawaii routes tend to be more modest.

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