Monthly Archives for September 2024.
With greater Elliott sway, and Kelly leaving, rumors are swirling in Dallas that other changes pushed by Elliott will be implemented. We may or may not learn details at the airline’s investor day this month. Two major changes that are being widely discussed at headquarters are an anticipated end to free checked bags, and the introduction of basic economy.
Here’s what basic economy would look like if Southwest moves forward, I am told.
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.
It’s a ‘fish out of water’ story, with relatable observations from someone not used to traveling in the front of the aircraft.
Aviation analytics company Cirium is out with August data on airline on-time performance. Delta has recovered from saying CrowdStrike, CrowdStrike, CrowdStrike over and over to post an 80.9% on-time arrival performance, good enough for number one in North America.
I don’t care about being thanked. The interaction is usually perfunctory and awkward. I care about a hotel honoring elite benefits. I care about receiving an upgrade if possible, and having the way the hotel’s status benefits explained – such as what is the breakfast offering?
Missing a thank you might even be preferred.
Qatar Airways has a new interactive ad, where you can put yourself in a promotional film using AI. You upload your photo, and get inserted into a romantic travel adventure.
Management dropped rates below $100 on some nights – but that attracted a different clientele, “a rise in drunken and disruptive guests.” With reduced revenue, the management company HEI pushed out long-time employees who delivered the high quality service the property was known for. Then “[m]ore homeless people entered the hotel and fentanyl contamination showed up in lobby bathrooms.”
The property blames the pandemic for reduced staffing in 2024. Remaining employees have been told they “no longer work for a hospitality company” but “for a real estate company” instead.
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.
If passengers are getting delayed, cancelled, and diverted – and if their bags are lost, or they’re turned away from flying completely despite having a ticket – it’s probably happening on American Airlines, according to Department of Transportation data.
The airport security checkpoint is now the stage for a viral social media trend: the “airport tray aesthetic.” Passengers curate and photograph the contents of their TSA bins.
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 »
