Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for June 2020.

Marriott’s CEO Is Parrotting Chinese President Xi’s Re-Election Talking Points

by Gary Leff

Jun 26 2020

Marriott has about 100 hotels in China. To do business there is to acquiesce to the country’s leadership. Marriott has consistently towed the party line, as it did two years ago when spanked by the Chinese government for listing Taiwan as a separate country. They fired an hourly worker who ‘liked’ a tweet supporting Taiwanese independence and proactively removed banned books from hotels.

Now the CEO of the hotel chain Arne Sorenson is giving interviews on China’s effectiveness in containing the virus, adopting the country’s talking points and effectively assisting President Xi Jinping shore up a key vulnerability as he prepares for re-election by the Communist Party.

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Wide Open Business Class Awards For 4+ Passengers Next Year, Use For Europe/Asia/Mideast/Africa

by Gary Leff

Jun 25 2020

Turkish Airlines has 4 or more business class award seats available most dates next year, January – May 2021, from a variety of U.S. gateways. You can claim these seats using miles from a variety of different Star Alliance carriers, and connect onward to Eastern Europe, Mideast, Southeast Asia or Africa.

United is also offering wide open business class award space on several transatlantic routes.

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American Pledges Up To 1 Million Business Extra Points For Minority-Owned Businesses, Non-Profits

by Gary Leff

british tail plane
Jun 25 2020

American Airlines has a small business program, Business Extra, that gives points to businesses when their employees travel on the airline. This is separate from, and in addition to, the AAdvantage miles that travelers earn themselves.

The airline announced today that they are giving up to 1 million Business Extra points to minority-owned small businesses and also non-profits.

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Over 30% Of Pilots Have Fake Licenses At The Worst Airline In The World

by Gary Leff

pakitstan international airlines
Jun 25 2020

In the aftermath of the May 22 crash of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore to Karachi a preliminary investigation attributed the cause to pilot error and lack of professionalism. Cockpit crew talked throughout the journey about COVID-19 and its affect on their families, while ignoring standard operating procedures. 97 of the 99 passengers and crew on board were killed.

The investigation further revealed that more than 30% of pilots at the airlines have fake licenses and aren’t qualified to fly.

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Hawaii Re-Opens August 1 – With Pre-Arrival COVID Testing (Sadly Impossible For Many)

by Gary Leff

hawaii
Jun 25 2020

Hawaii has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine on arrival since late March. That order currently extends through July 31, but will be extended.

What’s new is that Hawaii will offer an option to avoid quarantine. Arriving passengers with a negative test for COVID-19 from the previous 72 hours, will be exempted. The state will also be implementing temperature screening at airports.

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