Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for January 2018.

As Alaska Completes Their Merger, Expect Basic Economy & Other Unfriendly Changes

by Gary Leff on January 26, 2018

Jan 26 2018

Mergers create a brief window where customers are largely protected from devaluations. Airlines are distracted by merger integration, and don’t want to make customers feel like the merger will be bad for them right away. Once American Airlines moved to a single reservation system in October 2015 we learned about a gutting of AAdvantage the next month both for elite status qualification and benefits and for their redemption chart, and then the rollout of basic economy the next year.

Alaska Airlines right now has by far the most lucrative US airline frequent flyer program. Their award chart is far more attractive than that of their competitors. And they’re a better airline to fly. That may change.

If There’s an Empty Main Cabin Extra Seat on American, Take It, It’s Free

by Gary Leff on January 26, 2018

Jan 26 2018

American’s policy is vague, but they do not ask flight attendants to enforce seating with a cabin. If there’s an empty seat with more legroom and you move to it, flight attendants aren’t expected to stop you (let alone charge you, the way United might).

United’s President Doesn’t Believe You Know the Difference in Credit Cards

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2018

credit card with chains wrapped around it

Jan 25 2018

During United’s investor call airline President Scott Kirby reiterated his belief that the largest airline a market will sign up customers for their credit card. If they grow in a market they’ll get more credit card signups and make more money from Chase.

Nowhere in the discussion is there anything at all about the features or benefits of that credit card.

Dumbest Criminal Baggage Handlers in History Stole Computers From Rural School Kids

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2018

hand holding hundreds of dollars in cash

Jan 25 2018

What happens when your cross the worst baggage handlers with the US mail? You get computers stolen from rural school children.

These brain surgeons used a a Ravn truck to move the items they were stealing from the post office to the employee parking lot where they moved goods straight into their cars, and then gave items to family members and co-workers and kept other items in their homes.

Possible Lavatory Ice Fell on Villagers Who Thought it Came From Outer Space

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2018

Jan 25 2018

In The Gods Must Be Crazy, a tribe which lives off the land believes that the gods have provided for them until a Coke bottle is thrown out of a plane and comes to earth unbroken. They see it as a present from the gods, and make use of it as a tool, but since there’s only one Coke bottle the tribe descends into chaos not knowing how to share it.