Monthly Archives for September 2021.
Airports are worth billions of dollars, but they generally don’t contribute to paying for local services even though they’re almost invariably owned by local governments. That’s because federal regulations don’t allow local governments to receive airport net revenue (profit). This is also unique in the world – governments elsewhere generate substantial revenue from their airports.
This United Airlines sports charter provides perhaps the most graphic visualization of why weight and balance matters on a mainline jet. after arriving with USC Trojans in advance of their game against the Washington State Cougars.
Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza told an interesting story about trying to figure out whether a new route would be profitable.
In normal times airlines have great data – required and reported by the federal government – on a sample of US ticket purchases that show the number of people flying a given route and what price. But there are cases where this data isn’t available, and they had to look at… alternative sources of data to decide whether or not a route made sense.
American Airlines has updated its Contract of Carriage, the adhesion contract you agree to when buying a ticket, to detail new reasons you might be banned from flying the airline based on your behavior.
One of these new reasons is downright metaphysical.
Positive Passenger/Bag Matching (“PPBM”) was common in Europe before the United States, though programs developed here in the years following the the bombing of Pan Am flight 103. It means that the passenger and their bag has to travel on the same flight. If a passenger offloads from the aircraft, the baggage has to be removed also.
The idea there is that for security reasons you don’t want a passenger putting something on the aircraft (a checked bag) without tying their own life to its contents.
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 airline isn’t doing a straight-up status extension like Delta and Hilton are doing. Instead, their plan to keep elite members who don’t qualify in 2021 is more of a ‘winback’ offer.
Alaska Airlines has introduced a new top elite tier beginning ‘end of January’ 2022 as expected: MVP Gold 100K.
This new level requires flying 100,000 qualifying miles or 140 segments in a year, and in either case including a minimum of 24 Alaska Airlines flights.
Newark airport is no longer slot controlled. The only U.S. airports where an airline is required to have takeoff and landing slots to operate are New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, and Washington’s National airport. Airlines still need to secure gates and ticket counter space, of course.
Yet the U.S. is prepared to hand out slots that used to be used by Southwest Airlines to a low cost carrier. Here’s why airlines still want them.
American Airlines now outsources curbside check-in at the limited number of airports where it’s still available, and it’s no longer offered free (plus tips) where provided. Instead it’ll cost $3 per bag to use the service.
Even hubs like Phoenix, New York JFK, Los Angeles, and Charlotte don’t have American Airlines curbside check-in at this point.
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 »
