Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for September 2017.

Delta Paid One Woman $4000 For a Bump Today — She’ll Still Fly Tonight!

Sep 08 2017

In the aftermath of the David Dao dragging incident in April, several airlines revamped their policies around paying denied boarding compensation. Delta authorized gate agents to go up to $2000 in compensation, and allowed supervisors to offer up to $9950.

I’ve never heard of anyone receiving anything close to $10,000. Involuntary denied boardings are exceedingly rare already, especially on Delta. When they do guess wrong on overbooking customers usually volunteer their seats for a few hundred dollars.

Continue Reading »

Always Watch Your American Airlines Awards To Make Sure They Ticket

airline cabin
Sep 08 2017

American Airlines doesn’t ticket reservations instantly. Paid travel usually tickets within a few minutes, although complicated itineraries can take longer. When I’m paying with a gift card for instance or I confirm an upgrade prior to issuing a ticket it may take several hours.

Award tickets take longer. They’re usually queued based on date of travel and a partner award ticket (that is queued for review) a year out can take a couple of days before tickets are issued.

Continue Reading »

Alitalia Pilots Are Considering Doing Something That Failed at United in 1995

Sep 08 2017

This plan for partial pilot ownership, without other employee groups involved, will fail. That’s not a bold claim since in all likelihood any new plan for Alitalia will almost certainly fail other than breaking up the carrier and buying only a handful of good assets.

But we also know a little something about employee ownership by a subset of work groups in the airline industry.

Continue Reading »

Etihad Scolds First Class Passenger Reporting Employee Sleeping in A380 Business Lounge

Sep 07 2017

Etihad fired their CEO who pioneered their premium strategy (indeed James Hogan brought the concept of an onboard chef over from his time at british midland). They’ve lost billions mostly because of failed investments in other airlines like Alitalia and air berlin.

In response they’ve cut their business and first class car service outside the U.S. and they’re monetizing access to their lounges. They’ve even closed their spa at London Heathrow and they’ve announced plans to devalue their frequent flyer program.

Continue Reading »

Delta Waiving Pet in Cabin Fees for the Hurricane While Passengers Waive These Fees Every Day

Sep 07 2017

Delta has waived pet in cabin fees for passengers traveling in and out of Florida, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Virgin Islands and Cuba as part of their Hurricane Irma waivers.

It broke my heart to see pets being rescued in Houston — pets that had been left behind when their owners evacuated. I can’t imagine doing that, one person I saw interviewed on television about leaving their dog said they ‘didn’t think they’d be gone that long.’

Continue Reading »