Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for September 2022.

Recap Of Today’s Executive Testimony In The American Airlines-JetBlue Anti-Trust Trial

by Gary Leff on September 28, 2022

Sep 28 2022

Today’s testimony in the government’s anti-trust trial against the American Airlines-JetBlue Northeast Alliance has featured the CEO of JetBlue and the incoming Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, which prefers not to see stronger competitors (naturally).

It doesn’t seem like the government made any tangible progress demonstrating anti-competitive effects of the partnership, but the answers given on the stand by senior airline executives are interesting to parse.

New IHG Choose Your Own Adventure Promotion

by Gary Leff on September 28, 2022

hotel room

Sep 28 2022

IHG One Rewards calls their fall promotion ‘pick your points payoff’ for the alliteration but I think of it more as ‘choose your own adventure’. You actually choose which of two promotions to register for, and you can only have one or the other.

The Only Tourist Flying To Russia Captures Post-Apocalyptic Vibe Of Being Alone On The Plane

by Gary Leff on September 28, 2022

Sep 28 2022

Here a passenger films himself traveling alone with a child on board an S7 flight to Russia. Normally traveling alone on a plane carries a whole different connotation, creating a special feeling of finally private with the crew looking after no one but you. This video is different entirely – much more post-apocalyptic.

We Now Know How – And When – Delta Will Start Offering Free Inflight Wifi

by Gary Leff on September 28, 2022

delta coach

Sep 28 2022

In March 2019 Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the airline would offer free wifi within “a year or two.” They needed to ensure they had enough bandwidth for everyone to use it, since not charging would mean far greater usage.

Delta’s plan has taken further shape. Domestic ViaSat-equipped aircraft (the ones that have enough bandwidth to support this) will get free internet early next year.

Wide Open Business Class Awards To Asia Using Delta, Air France Miles

by Gary Leff on September 27, 2022

Sep 27 2022

With Asia opening back up, it’s a great time to grab some awards. SkyTeam member and all around great airline, Taipei-based China Airlines, has outstanding business class award availability from North America to Taiwan and beyond.

New Jersey Requires Daily Housekeeping. Hotels Want That Repealed.

by Gary Leff on September 27, 2022

Sep 27 2022

New Jersey passed a law requiring daily housekeeping during the pandemic. It goes so far as to require that sheets are changed daily. Hotels have become a dirty mess to save costs – checking guests into rooms that haven’t been cleaned and letting trash pile up in the hallways.

Yet the justification for New Jersey’s law was always absurd.

Why Do People Go To Their Gate Before Heading Off To Find Food In The Airport? [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on September 27, 2022

american airlines lounge

Sep 27 2022

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.

Federal Aviation Intelligence Agency Makes UFOs A National Priority

by Gary Leff on September 27, 2022

Sep 27 2022

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence National Intelligence Manager for Aviation has introduced a new logo and it includes a UFO.

American Airlines confirmed UFO contact over New Mexico last year. Last summer the DNI Office submitted a report to Congress on what the federal government knows about unidentified aerial phenomenon. And it seems like we don’t know much. Something is out there, and we cannot explain ‘it’.

Anti-Trust Trial To Break Up American Airlines-JetBlue Partnership Starts Today

by Gary Leff on September 27, 2022

Sep 27 2022

American Airlines and JetBlue entered into a partnership they refer to as the ‘Northeast Alliance.’ They have a frequent flyer partnership and they codeshare in and out of New York and Boston. American has moved some of its domestic flying to JetBlue, and JetBlue’s customers have made it possible for American to grow internationally out of New York. Now the government lawsuit to stop it starts today, even though the federal government had previously approved it.

The Government Plans To Impose New Fee Disclosure Rules On Airlines: I Read The Full Rulemaking So You Don’t Have To

by Gary Leff on September 26, 2022

Sep 26 2022

Airlines and travel agencies (including online travel agencies) will be required to display passenger- and itinerary-specific fees. Airlines will have to provide those fees in a format usable by agencies.

I read through the entire underlying document, to find out what’s actually in it that the press summaries might not offer. It’s always the details that determine whether a proposed rule will benefit consumers or inhibit innovation that might make them better off. Here it looks like something of a mixed bag.

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 »