Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for September 2020.

The Testing Wars Have Begun: Oakland Airport Wants To Attract Passengers With Free Rapid Covid Testing

by Gary Leff

Sep 29 2020

It was only Thursday that United Airlines announced they would offer rapid coronavirus testing at the airport in San Francisco for passengers taking its Hawaii flights. Testing would be available by appointment, with results available in 15 minutes, and the airline hoped the $250 price point would come down in the near future.

Since then Hawaiian Airlines also announced same day airport testing coming for its passengers for $150. The State of Hawaii plans to allow people to enter the state without 14 day quarantine starting October 15, provided they present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arrival. United says the state will accept their Abbott rapid tests.

Now Oakland airport is announcing that its Hawaii passengers can get rapid tests for free starting October 15.

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United Airlines Plans To Return To New York JFK Next Year

by Gary Leff

united plane
Sep 29 2020

This is an early sign that even the airline retrenching the most during the pandemic is looking towards its competitive future, and that we’re likely to see more competition as airlines have to work hard to attract limited passengers as air travel begins to resume in a meaningful way after Covid-19.

And Newark isn’t New York — New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia once refused to get off a plane at Newark Airport, because his ticket promised he’d travel to New York.

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British Airways Says They Can Now Close Your Mileage Account If You Criticize Them

by Gary Leff

airplane first class
Sep 29 2020

In Thailand writing a bad review of a hotel can land you in jail. Defamation can be a criminal charge, and include opinions deemed to be unfair.

British Airways can’t get away with putting its critics in prison under U.K. law but they’ve updated their terms and conditions to say that they can close the mileage accounts of members who “statements..reflects unfavourably on the reputation of British Airways or any aspect of its business, brands, products or services.”

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American Airlines CEO Doug Parker On Face The Nation

by Gary Leff

man speaking on microphone
Sep 27 2020

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker appeared on Face the Nation today. The first question he was asked was, essentially, with all the subsidies you’ve been given why do you need to furlough anybody?

He’s asked “how much money, and for how long?” Airlines aren’t going to recover by March 31, when another round of payroll support would run out and they could again furlough these same workers.

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