Mar
31
2021
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 Woke Airline CEO Book Club
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for March 2021.
Alaska Airlines Updates The Safety Dance With Cameos From Across oneworld And It’s AMAZING
Mar
31
2021
In December Alaska Airlines introduced The Safety Dance, taking the Men Without Hats’ classic and applying it to air travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To celebrate joining the global oneworld alliance today, Alaska Airlines has released a new version of their Safety Dance featuring cameos by employees and executives from oneworld partner airlines. It may just be the best thing that happened in March.
American Airlines And Alaska Introduce Reciprocal Upgrades
Mar
31
2021
Alaska Airlines joined the oneworld alliance today. You still can’t use Alaska Airlines frequent flyer miles for travel on oneworld carriers that weren’t already the airline’s partners before this move. But the big news of the day, I think, is the announcement of reciprocal elite upgrade benefits between Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.
Delta Award Tickets Count Towards Elite Status For Rest Of 2021, 50% – 75% Bonus On All Travel
Mar
31
2021
Delta is offering at least a 50% elite qualifying bonus on all travel for the rest of 2021, and a 75% bonus for premium cabin travel, under the banner of Medallion Accelerator. For the first time at Delta award travel will count towards earning elite status from April 1 through December 31, 2021 as well.
Delta Reverses Course, Condemns Georgia Voting Law They Helped Write
Mar
31
2021
Delta Air Lines told employees they helped write Georgia’s new voting law. They dug in deeper defending their position that they ‘made the bill better’ and refused to criticize it.
Facing online and media controversy, and a supposed-consumer boycott, they’ve now reversed course. After first congratulating themselves on it, and then refusing to criticize it, CEO Ed Bastian now says it’s abhorrent.
Thailand’s Cabinet Approves Tourist Re-Opening
Mar
31
2021
Thailand’s cabinet formally approved re-opening and you can now plan to visit parts of the country if you’ve been vaccinated in just a matter of months.
American Airlines Is Borrowing DFW Airport’s Balance Sheet To Load Up On More Debt
Mar
31
2021
Two new American Airlines projects at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, put on hold during the pandemic, are getting the green light: $100 million apiece for a new flight kitchen and parts warehouse. The current kitchen is too small, and blamed for 2300 flight delays in 2019.
Most striking about the story is that the airport says American is borrowing on its balance sheet because of the airline’s high cost to add additional debt on its own.
Air Canada Extends Elite Status Through 2022, Some Flying This Year Counts Double Towards 2023
Mar
31
2021
Air Canada Aeroplan has just announced all elite status is being extended through the end of 2022, while still doing a good job of rewarding and incentivizing travel this year. They’re also pausing mileage expiration through January 2022.
Delta Digs Deeper, Defending Position On Georgia Voting Restrictions Bill
Mar
30
2021
Last Friday Delta Air Lines told employees they were part of crafting Georgia’s voting restrictions bill offering that their “state government affairs team..heavily engaged on this issue, holding meetings with state elected officials on both sides of the aisle in order to make sure the Delta voice was well represented and heard.”
CEO Ed Bastian refused to condemn the legislation, claiming they made it better, and at most was willing to acknowledge that “concerns remain.” Today the airline released a video to employees defending this position.
American Airlines Took A Boeing 737 MAX Out Of Service After Pitch Trim Issue
Mar
30
2021
American Airlines took a Boeing 737 MAX out of service on Monday after it experienced a pitch trim issue enroute from Miami to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Ultimately the pilots of the aircraft remained in control and landed safely. The system worked as it should. Extra attention, though, will be likely paid to this incident because it involved elevator trim and the MAX, even though it doesn’t appear to have involved the MCAS system.
