Monthly Archives for September 2023.
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.
When airlines purchase planes new they usually pay about 50% of ‘list’ price. But what about used aircraft? And how do airlines actually pay for their purchase?
A receipt has surfaced for an actual used aircraft acquisition – Swift Air’s $8 million 2014 deal for then-29 year old ex-US Airways Boeing 737-400 registration N418US.
Hotels are ignoring chain rules. Guests book properties assuming they’ll get what the brand promises, and then the individual property doesn’t deliver, choosing to cut costs instead. That devalues the brand, while helping the bottom line of the individual hotel.
This often manifests in properties skimping on or ignoring elite benefits like breakfast. But it also covers housekeeping. And it’s certainly not limited to the best-known offender, Marriott.
Customers in competitive markets should be looking at what makes the most sense for their travel. Maybe they should still fly Delta, as a free agent, and just not earn on a Delta credit card. Maybe they should take a fresh look at other airlines. Status matches make that easier.
Southwest Airlines has given its employees a refresher on why they have the most “customer friendly policies.” Noting that competitor airlines have made changes to offer no change fees on most fares, and free same day standby in some cases, Southwest presents itself as the leader and only airline offering customer-friendly benefits in ‘every category’.
Naturally the chart is misleading – but it also leaves out the most important customer benefit, something that Southwest never markets, and therefore that passengers don’t usually realize sets them apart.
We now know more about the easyJet flight incident. It was headed to Ibiza on the man’s 23rd birthday. He works as a car salesman. He only just met the woman at the airport for the first time. And his mother saw the video on television.
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.
This week Delta announced major changes to how SkyMiles elite status is earned, and to how people can access their club lounges.
There are consumer movements on Flyertalk and on Reddit to try to get Delta to reverse these changes. Similar efforts have worked before.
American has updated the AAdvantage terms and conditions to now say that, though they gave advance notice of program changes in 2022 and 2023, they have no obligation to do so in the future. They’ll specifically eliminate or change benefits without notice. And if your account is hacked they don’t have to restore your miles.
‘Spicy’ flight attendant Cierra Mistt is back, offering dubious advice. She says you’ll get upgraded if you give a gift card to a flight attendant on your flight. And she claims that this works *every time.”
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 »
