Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for October 2020.

Fired Muslim Flight Attendant Wants Supreme Court To Let Her Sue For Having To Serve Drinks

by Gary Leff on October 18, 2020

Oct 18 2020

A fired flight attendant who worked for defunct ExpressJet Airlines is asking the Supreme Court to review a 6th Circuit decision that didn’t allow her to sue for requiring her to serve alcohol to passengers even though she’s Muslim.

The case presents interesting questions of whether federal labor law (which requires arbitration) trumps federal civil rights law (which allows a suit) and whether an airline having to re-open a collective bargaining agreement to provide an accommodation constitutes an undue burden.

Southwest Is Starting Service At 3 New Big United And American Hubs – But They Can’t Legally Go To DFW

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

southwest plane

Oct 17 2020

While the Wright Amendment’s restrictions on flying to specific states with aircraft that have more than 56 seats was lifted, I had forgotten that not all restrictions were eliminated. Southwest would have to give up some of its Love Field gate space if it wanted to serve DFW airport. That’s a restriction that remains in place until 2025.

It is effectively illegal for Southwest Airlines to come in and compete against American Airlines at DFW.

United Airlines Flight Attendants Are No Longer Allowed To Share Beds On Long Flights

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

airplane quarters

Oct 17 2020

United Airlines flight attendants don’t have to social distance from each other in the galley. On long haul flights they’re in close contact with customers as they serve beverages and even meals. But the airline is telling them that as a Covid precaution they need to stop sharing beds up in the crew rest area of widebody aircraft.

Terminal 75 Year Old Kicked Off Flight For Wearing Too Much Personal Protective Equipment

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

Oct 17 2020

A 75 year old woman with terminal lung disease was heading to Seattle on Alaska Airlines – but was kicked off of her flight at the Fairbanks, Alaska airport over face mask rules.

She wore an N95 mask and a face shield during boarding. But once she settled into her seat she replaced those with a respirator helmet.

[Roundup] American Airlines Changed Its Check-In Kiosks

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

Oct 17 2020

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The New President Of American AAdvantage Gives His First Interview I’ve Seen

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

Oct 17 2020

The piece opens with new American Airlines frequent flyer head Rick Elieson, who moves over from cargo, explaining how loyalty and cargo aren’t that different than you’d think and the joke almost writes itself about AAdvantage members being self-loading cargo.

Elieson does confirm that award charts aren’t going away, that he’s working to get more saver award inventory, and that he’s open to considering a family pooling benefit.

Hotels And Planes Are Both Safer Than We Thought (While Driving Still Has Risks)

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2020

Oct 17 2020

There’s been no known cases of Covid-19 transmission on US airlines. Sure US contact tracing isn’t very good. But even internationally and across the whole world there are only a few flights where spread is believed to have occurred despite around a billion people traveling so far this year.

Hotels too seem to be safe. There haven’t been documented cases of spread between rooms either in hotels or office buildings.

American Airlines Expecting To Bring Beverage Service Back To Coach Next Month

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2020

Oct 16 2020

American Airlines, like other major carriers, cut first class meal service early in the pandemic and largely eliminated drink service from coach. American brought back coach buy on board as first class food, and has always offered at least drinks on request up front. However on most domestic flights there’s still not a formal drink service.

That appears to be about to change, though apparently some flight attendants aren’t happy about it.

What Happens If You Take An American Airlines Covid Test, And Test Positive?

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2020

Oct 16 2020

American Airlines now offers pre-flight rapid Covid-19 tests for passengers flying from Dallas Fort-Worth to both Honolulu and Maui. This allows passengers testing negative to skip quarantine on arrival.

But what happens if you test positive at the airport? American Airlines put out an internal memo on Wednesday explaining.

Outside Union Trying To Raid The Mechanics At American Airlines

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2020

american airlines hangar

Oct 16 2020

After bringing American Airlines to its operational knees last summer, the airline’s mechanics won a generous contract right before the pandemic hit – a deal they would never get today.

Nonetheless AMFA, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, has been trying to ‘raid’ American Airlines and seek to take away representation of the mechanics.

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.

Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »