May
18
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.
Warren Buffett Unloads Bank Stocks, Scuttling Rumored Merger
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for May 2021.
Act Fast: Award Nights Wide Open At Waldorf Astoria Maldives
May
18
2021
At the beginning of the month I reported that Hilton had raised the top price of an award night to 150,000 points and that this applies only to the Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives. Some redemption nights there are 120,000 points, however.
When this was discovered there were no redemption nights available at all. Even with the higher pricing it wasn’t possible to spend Hilton points for a standard room, and could only use ‘points as money’ to book rooms based on the prevailing room rate (which can cost over a million points per night). All of a sudden that’s changed so act fast.
British Airways Rolling Out Sleep Pods In Lounges
May
18
2021
British Airways has a new nap lounge called Forty Winks” which opened on Monday in the First Class lounge at London Heathrow airport, which is currently open to business class passengers as well, and will also be a feature in London’s Concorde Room and at New York JFK.
Their sleep pod with Restworks (so there’s a revenue stream) feature “the world’s first chair designed exclusively for power napping.”
American Airlines Passenger Starts Group Chat With The Entire Plane Using Seat Back Video
May
18
2021
You’re either going to think this is awesome, and can’t wait to try this on your next American Airlines flight – or you’ll be appalled and finally agree with the Dallas-based airline that seat back video is a relic of the past, and applaud their decision to remove screens from their narrowbody aircraft.
Airline Crew Forced To Spend The Night In Boeing 737 Because Of Changing Covid Rules
May
17
2021
Even as the world opens up, Covid-era travel remains complicated. The rules for travel are constantly in flux, and different everywhere you go.
Changing testing requirements actually forced an airline’s crew to spend a night in their Boeing 737, and fly home the next day without passengers or cargo.
What’s Going To Happen With Vaccine Passports (And What Most People Misunderstand)
May
17
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.
Cathay Pacific’s Bizarre “Show Me Some” Vaccine Video
May
17
2021
Cathay Pacific has a new video with people showing tattoos on their arms, repeating over an over “show me some” as part of a new “arm up, let’s fly again!” campaign meant to encourage employee vaccination.
New $500 Bonus On No Annual Fee Card: A Deeper Dive With The Company’s President
May
17
2021
This week only a new no annual fee rewards card, offering as much as 5x return in some categories, is offering a $500 initial bonus which is fairly unprecedented for this type of product. I interviewed the card issuer’s President to understand the strategy.
The President Of American Airlines Explains What Customers They’re Trying Serve
May
17
2021
At an employee question and answer session last week, a flight attendant asked American Airlines President Robert Isom what the airline’s brand identity is now, expressing some confusion between being a low cost carrier and also trying to compete against Delta.
American Won’t Add Flights To Europe This Summer, Because Too Many People Want To Fly To Cancun
May
17
2021
One of the most common questions I’ve gotten over the past couple of months is whether airlines will add more flights to Europe this summer, with countries opening up and vaccination rates rising.
American Airlines Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning Brian Znotis addressed this head-on with employees last week, explaining that American won’t add more Europe this summer because they can make more money flying to Cancun than Athens and they no longer have spare aircraft to add flights – so each potential long haul flight trades off with flying they’re already doing.
