News and notes from around the interweb:
- Woman is sexually attracted to Boeing 737s, wants to marry one (HT: @crucker)
- Flight from New York JFK to Rome went silent for 10 minutes and the captain has been fired since it’s believed he fell asleep while the co-pilot was on approved controlled rest.
- How long trips would have taken during the time of the Roman Empire
- I actually can’t wait for the life advice reveal in part two.
Does @SouthwestAir have an official TikTok? This video needs to be seen pic.twitter.com/nG0NIJjKrA
— Malik S. Anwar (@Malik_S_Anwar) May 30, 2022
- Spanish low cost carrier Vueling (owned by British Airways parent IAG) flew empty from London Gatwick to Florence after a two hour delay because of a staff shortage. (Bloomberg, HT @crucker)
- Hmm, $250 to sign you up for an elite status challenge. One wonders if you’re buying a white envelope and getting a fraudulent submission for free?
Airlines give companies free upgrades to attract future business. When those companies have more upgrades that they need, they sell them to us and we sell them straight to you. The airlines benefit because they get more loyalty from companies and fliers, the companies benefit by converting unused benefits into cash, and you benefit by being able to get 100% legitimate, airline-approved status upgrades at a discount
The phrase is “buying a white elephant” not “buying a white envelope”. Most envelopes are white.
This same user has been “selling” Delta status as well, both via ads and DMs on reddit.
I know for a fact that DL gives away Platinum Medallion status to some high-level execs at UPS (both are Atlanta-based companies), my son played soccer with the guy from UPS who rarely travelled but was PM. I’m not sure that status could be sold, though…first, I’m sure DL would protest, and second, I don’t know how would someone to actually “give” it to someone.
If someone flies UA a lot, one will earn it and so why buy it? If someone flies UA a little, what’s the utility of having it? Alternatively, “buy” tier status via use of UA credit cards.
@Reno Joe
Annoyingly, United now awards status strictly on how much you spend with them (with slightly reduced requirements if you also fly enough individual legs). So, if you fly with them a lot, but on cheap tickets, you might not even make Silver (this year, $3,500 spent, not counting taxes). Gold (which is quite valuable, as it includes free Economy Plus and same day changes) and higher might be out of reach entirely.
So is it safe to buy or not? I want platinum status.
No it is not safe to buy. Airlines will shut down your account if you buy miles from another member, so what are the odds they’ll let you buy “extra” statuses they have just lying around? Especially for $250 given the price to earn it? I’d go into some of the psychology of the pricing, but lets’ just stick to the basics: it’s a scam.
1. Should the headline say chance?
2. Of all the aircraft to be attracted to…
Why are you giving the fraud free publicity?
On the hotel status page of this website, they are selling status for multiples of credit card annual fees that include status. This screams scam.