If passengers hadn’t recorded video of Dr. David Dao being dragged off a United flight, and also of his bloody return, do you think United would have ever changed its story from ‘apologizing for having to re-accommodate passengers’ to declaring the events truly horrific?
The widespread use of cell phone video has become important to document events and create proof when bad things happen.
Several online shopping portals are offering bonus miles right now. Start your shopping on their site, click their link to the store you’re going to buy from, and earn miles for the purchase.
It still pays to check to see which store offers the best deal at the merchant you’re using. I frequently start my shopping at EV Reward, searching the store I’m going to use, and comparing how many miles (or percentage cash back) I will get for the purchase going through different shopping sites.
Airlines could schedule longer ground time for aircraft, but that’s expensive. I’m not sure that’s how I’d most want them to invest in passenger experience since it would ultimately mean buying more planes for the same flight schedule. Ultimately I’m just glad they clean the planes at all.
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.
A week ago I wrote about American’s super gross ‘barbecue chicken sandwich’ that they sell in coach. I suggested that for an airline based in Texas this is doubly embarrassing since it doesn’t even constitute barbecue.
At American’s ‘Crew News’ employee forum on Wednesday a Lima-based flight attendant asked about the airline’s plans to send new aircraft to Lima — the 757s and 767s they’re getting just aren’t reliable. The airline’s CEO Doug Parker began answering by saying “there are challenges with Lima because of the altitude” (although it’s worth noting that British Airways, Air France and KLM all fly Boeing 777s there) but they recognize that the Boeing 767 “doesn’t look like the rest of the airline” in terms of customer experience. Parker has talked in the past about the need to get rid of the Boeing 767s from the fleet although while I think the business class experience is subpar coach is roomier. American Airlines Boeing 767 Business Class The airline ordered 787s which will replace 767s in a…
This makes awards and upgrades super difficult on the aircraft (awards are nearly impossible now in business class as it is). A 20 passenger business class cabin is a loss of 28% of the business class seats on the aircraft. In contrast United’s Boeing 787-8s have 36 business class seats. British Airways 787-8s have 35 business class seats.
Recently I saw someone’s comment on my Facebook feed that what you think about American Airlines corresponds directly to whether you fly mostly international business class and premium cabin transcon flights (New York – Los Angeles / San Francisco) or whether most of your travels are on their domestic network. That seems right to me.
American Airlines has made a huge investment in its product — but not where most people sit. Internationally we get good fully lie flat business class seats, better bedding, and better lounges while domestically even in their premium cabin we get less legroom and removal of seat back entertainment. They’re moving seats closer together throughout their aircraft which they say they’re making up for with thinner, less comfortable seats that have less recline.
The fine is because he and his wife “harm[ed] these economically and environmentally important natural resources” however they weren’t asked to put the sand back because it “would have been counterproductive during turtle season.”
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.
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 »
