Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for June 2021.

This Airline’s Customer Service Response Is Everything That’s Wrong With Big Companies Today

by Gary Leff

Jun 30 2021

I recently wrote about a man ejected from an American Airlines flight to Miami after throwing up in the coach lavatory prior to departure. He threw up again – on a passenger in first class – as staff guided him off the aircraft.

Fortunately the first class passenger had a change of clothes in the cabin with him. Since American employees literally guided the man, leading to the mess, he wrote in to customer service about the experience. After all, this wasn’t part of the bundle of experiences purchased with a first class ticket.

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Shameful: Dallas – Fort Worth Airport’s Strategy for Keeping Employee Wages Down

by Gary Leff

airport
Jun 30 2021

The story is a familiar one. Lower-wage employers aren’t able to find workers when they can make as much or more on pandemic unemployment, perhaps they still have stimulus money banked, and they need schools to re-open so they can work without childcare expenses.

Airports are having a difficult time because on-site businesses employ a lot of low wage workers. For instance go find someone to help a passenger in a wheelchair at major airports today.

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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby’s Nose Is Growing On Seat Back Televisions

by Gary Leff

back airplane tv
Jun 29 2021

United Airlines didn’t just announce a major aircraft order today, they pitched a plan to offer a more premium flight experience. A symbol of that plan is to offer seat back entertainment screens to all passengers, not just on new planes but retrofitting the existing fleet as well.

CEO Scott Kirby isn’t just arguing that these are important to passengers. He isn’t just saying that he’s had a change of heart, covering not just United’s opportunities going forward but at his previous airlines that haven’t made similar investments. He is throwing shade at other airlines, saying he’s always been a proponent of seat back entertainment but has been stymied. That’s not even close to true.

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NEW: AAdvantage Platinum Pro Members Get Upgrades On Alaska Airlines Starting This Week

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Jun 29 2021

American Airlines Executive Platinum (and Concierge Key) members have been getting upgrades on Alaska Airlines for the past three months. This benefit is being extended to Platinum Pro members as well.

Platinum Pro (“75K” elite tier) becomes oneworld emerald on Wednesday, June 30th. That means more free checked bags, and better priority check-in as well as first class lounge access on international trips where those lounges have re-opened. Separate from oneworld benefits, and unique to the American partnership with Alaska, it will also mean upgrades on Alaska starting in ‘a few days’.

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American Will Let You Keep Your Current Status For $2000 In Travel Spend Or $15K In Credit Card Spend

by Gary Leff

british tail plane
Jun 29 2021

American Airlines has introduced two new ways to keep your status that you held at the start of 2021. These make it really easy for existing elites to keep status, especially upper tier elites or those who do a lot of credit card spend.

They are in addition to the recently-announced three promotions for earning or keeping status, and in addition to reduced status qualification requirements.

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Throw Out The First Pitch At A Major League Baseball Game, From Just $4000 In Credit Card Spend

by Gary Leff

Jun 29 2021

Cardless is out with the brand new Miami Marlins Credit Card and what’s especially great about this card is both how it offers strong earning for a no annual fee rewards product, but also how it leverages the strong rewards program that the team already has in place. Would you believe it’s possible to throw out the first pitch at a Major League baseball game after just $4000 in credit card spend?

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