Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for June 2023.

Ex-American Airlines Flight Attendants Union Head Suing After He Was Found To Have Swindled Funds

by Gary Leff

Jun 05 2023

Last year former APFA President Bob Ross was found to have misappropriated funds while running the union. An arbitrator’s award covered charges he billed a family vacation to the union credit card, improperly billed his personal furniture (and bedding and even toilet paper) to the union, and of having the union pay for a personal office he wasn’t entitled to among other alleged misdeeds.

Ross filed suit to overturn the arbitrator’s judgment, arguing first that he shouldn’t be singled out among past union Presidents for financial impropriety, and then that the accusations against him are all part of a plot for Sara Nelson’s AFA-CWA to take over the union.

Continue Reading »

Class Action Lawsuit Says American Airlines Pension Pursues Political Agenda, Not Investment Returns

by Gary Leff

depressed businessman leaning his head below a bad stock market chart
Jun 04 2023

A senior American Airlines pilot has filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas over the 100,000 member, $26 billion airline pension, arguing that it is pursuing “leftist political agendas” by making investments that follow ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) guidelines.

He argues that the plan breaches its fiduciary duty by privileging activism on issues including race, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmentalism over financial returns.

Continue Reading »

Qatar Airways Plans To Eliminate First Class

by Gary Leff

first class airline seats
Jun 04 2023

Long-term the Airbus A380 will retire. And rather than add a new, top-end first class along the lines of something that might compete with Gulf rivals like Emirates, Etihad and even Saudia, or even like European carriers Lufthansa and Air France, Qatar is planning to eliminate long haul first class.

Continue Reading »

Why Hilton Is The Worst Major Hotel Chain For Frequent Guest Benefits

by Gary Leff

Park Hyatt New York Proves Why Hotel Loyalty Makes Sense
Jun 03 2023

There are four major hotel loyalty programs, at least for Americans: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and IHG. Hyatt has the smallest footprint but the best benefits for frequent guests. Marriott is great on paper but most inconsistent at the property-level delivering promised benefits. IHG never had much in the way of benefits at all until last year when everything changed. And Hilton stands alone, promising almost nothing.

Continue Reading »

The Right To Tear Down New Second Terminal Will Cost Austin Airport $88 Million

by Gary Leff

austin airport food court
Jun 03 2023

Austin’s airport has been one of the fastest growing in the country for several years. Their main terminal needs to grow to accommodate this – at peak times passengers are packed in so tight it’s barely possible to move. Gates are in constant use with no real room for more flights, either.

One way the city-controlled airport planned to manage growth was with a separate ‘South Terminal’ for low cost carriers. They leased space to a private company for 40 years, which built the terminal, and has been housing Allegiant and Frontier. The terminal is just six years old, but the airport changed its mind.

Continue Reading »