Airlines are such a bad business that the smartest startup strategy is probably not building the most beautiful premium carrier, but finding a way to lose less money than everyone else. If I had to start one anyway, I would skip the glamorous dream model and focus on underserved leisure routes, modest costs, and selling more of the trip than just the seat.
American Airlines retired roughly 40% of its long-haul-capable fleet during the pandemic, betting travel would stay weak and replacements would arrive when needed. Now some of those supposedly obsolete widebodies are heading to a new airline in Vietnam, a reminder that the planes still had life left — and that American’s decision cost it flexibility, profits, and strategic ground it never fully got back.
After years of rotating through Washington hotels, I finally tried the Dupont Circle Hotel and came away more impressed than I expected. It is not one of the city’s true luxury flagships, but the combination of a large suite upgrade, polished service, strong food and beverage, and a prime Dupont location made it feel like a genuine standout.
American Airlines is making it much easier for delayed passengers to actually receive the meal vouchers they are already entitled to, by letting agents issue them to an entire eligible flight at once instead of one traveler at a time. The change does not raise the voucher value, but it should cut down on long lines, missed eligibility, and the absurd process of stranded passengers having to beg individually for $12 after a controllable delay.
If you fly expensive tickets for work, and then you’re cost conscious on a weekend trip with your family of four, you will be treated well when you fly those expensive tickets – but not on that trip with your family when it arguably matters most to you.
A Florida hotel is suing Southwest Airlines after a flight attendant on layover allegedly tampered with a sprinkler in her room, setting off flooding that spread through guest rooms and common areas. What makes it interesting is suing the employer, which has the deeper pockets but a more tenuous case for liability.
A Delta passenger says crew turned a desperate need to use the bathroom into a security incident, restraining him, exposing him, and denying lavatory access until he soiled himself. He won a $7.2 million verdict, but Delta got it tossed and is now arguing it is immune because law enforcement became involved.
Hertz keeps taking reservations it apparently cannot fill, leaving even its best customers waiting hours for cars, plus why LAX is hemmed in by an endangered butterfly, Aman’s new Texas Hill Country resort, Delta’s uniforms, and more.
Air Canada Aeroplan is changing its award chart again on June 1, and while a few prices go down, this is unmistakably a devaluation. The biggest pain hits long-haul premium cabins, where many of the most useful business and first class partner awards will cost meaningfully more.
The White House is trying to justify a $500 million Spirit Airlines rescue by claiming the carrier is somehow essential to national defense, even though Spirit is a failing ultra-low-cost airline with no obvious military necessity.
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 »
