Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for July 2022.

Virgin Introduces New Business Class Seat, Debuting Across The Atlantic This Fall

by Gary Leff

Jul 12 2022

In spring 2019 Virgin Atlantic unveiled a new business class product that would debut on the airline’s new Airbus A350 aircraft. It was a leap forward compared to their existing seat, but hardly revolutionary, and lacked doors.

Now Virgin has unveiled yet another new business seat which will debut on Airbus A330s. They have 16 A330-900s on order, and 3 of them are expected to be delivered between September and the end of the year. With a narrower fuselage than he A350, their old new seat wouldn’t fit and they needed another.

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Quick Review: Grand Hyatt SFO Airport

by Gary Leff

Jul 11 2022

Grand Hyatt SFO Airport review: a gorgeous hotel. Standard rooms are small, but the rooms are gorgeous, and the views of the airfield are magnificent. The hotel appropriately plays these up. It’s an expensive property for what it is, but if you can manage it, the convenience is unbeatable and it’s one of the better airport hotels in the United States. Unquestionably this is the property you want to stay at for a San Francisco airport overnight, cost-permitting.

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Elimination Of Change Fees Is Huge For Customer Loyalty

by Gary Leff

Jul 11 2022

When change fees were $200, a lot of customers didn’t bother using their credits. You might think that’s better for an airline but it’s not. The customer probably resented the airline they gave money to and got nothing in return (other than the right to fly on the itinerary they purchased – but that’s not usually how the customer sees it).

There’s the obvious way in which eliminating change fees fosters loyalty, and a less obvious way.

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Why Every Rewards Program Has The Same Two Components

by Gary Leff

Jul 11 2022

American Airlines’ own data shows that following devaluations of the AAdvantage program elite members moved flying away from the program. AAdvantage itself generated more revenue, because its credit card deals became more lucrative. That earn-burn program grew, while the most engaged members stepped back.

That may even be the right business decision! Flying has frequently been unprofitable for American while net revenue has been driven by selling miles to banks. Maybe they should reward flying less if they’re not making money on it.

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Review: United Airlines Business Class, Sydney – San Francisco

by Gary Leff

Jul 10 2022

At the end of 12 days in Australia, my wife, three year old daughter, and I were set to fly back to the States on United award tickets in business class, Sydney – San Francisco. Flight UA870 was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the airline’s largest aircraft, and every seat was booked.

Here’s the experience in a nutshell: United Airlines business class is (usually now) a better seat than the airline used to offer, but one with less space than you’ll find on Delta, American, Air Canada or Air France. United has good bedding, an the wifi worked on my flight, but the rest of the soft product from food to service was subpar.

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