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.
About Gary Leff
Delta Backing Off Campaign Against Gulf Carriers to Focus Mostly on Qatar
Jan
19
2018
Delta, American and United for three years have argued that the US government needed to take a protectionist stance against Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar. They’ve argued it’s unfair, they shouldn’t have to ‘compete against governments’ which is a rather strange position. Because if they can’t even compete against government airlines what good are they?
After failing to get what they want over the course of 3 years, Delta’s CEO in an interview appears to shift focus — arguing we shouldn’t lump the 3 Gulf airlines and that Qatar’s business model is different.
Delta Cracking Down on Emotional Support Animals
Jan
19
2018
Delta announced that starting March 1 they’ll be requiring new advance documentation for passengers bringing ’emotional support animals’ on board their aircraft.
Basically they say the whole fake emotional support thing has gone too far. Delta carries 250,000 service and support animals each year — up 86% since 2016. And we’re not just talking about trained dogs, “[c]ustomers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more.”
HURRY: Wide Open Australia Business Class Awards on Qantas, Book With American Miles
Jan
19
2018
Qantas is launching a new route on September 1, 2018: San Francisco – Melbourne on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, operated by a Boeing 787-9.
Qantas rarely makes business class award space available, however on this new flight awards are wide open on the days of the week it operates. Some flights have as many as 6 business class award seats available.
Hyatt Award “Sale” This Time On Suites, Hurry and Book
Jan
19
2018
Two weeks ago Hyatt was pricing several hotels below their normal published cash and points award prices. Then at the beginning of the week more hotels were identified offering an unpublished award sale.
Now premium rooms and suites on sale, some standard reward nights and others cash and points.
American’s 2018 Schedule Includes 52 New Routes, Chicago O’Hare Becomes a Shuttle City
Jan
18
2018
American is offering “52 new nonstop flights and enhanced schedules” in its 2018 schedule Only 8 are actually newly announced today. Like United, American Airlines is beefing up service to smaller markets where there’s less competition from ultra low cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, and consequently less fare pressure.
In addition starting April 4 Chicago – New York LaGuardia is being upgraded to a ‘shuttle’ product along the lines of New York LaGuardia – DC and Boston
United Launching Premium Economy This Year
Jan
18
2018
United is telling its employees that it will launch a premium economy cabin called ‘Premium Plus’ later this year.
Here they follow American and Delta which have both started offering the international cabin between economy and business class, similar to domestic first class.
Four United Polaris Lounges Opening This Year
Jan
18
2018
United failed to open a single Polaris business class lounge in 2017. As American opened four of its own business lounges between June and December, United was left only with its first Chicago outpost.
At the end of the year the airline even removed the timetable for Polaris lounge openings.
Hyatt’s Chief Marketing Officer is Out
Jan
18
2018
When Hyatt hired Mark Vondrasek – formerly of Starwood – as Senior Vice President for loyalty and business platforms it was announced he would circumvent the CMO and report directly to the CEO. At the time I noted how unique that was.
Though Hyatt tried to dissuade me of the significance that their head of loyalty wouldn’t report to the Chief Marketing Officer the handwriting seemed to be there.
Students at Putin’s Top Pilot School Filmed in Bizarre BDSM Music Video
Jan
18
2018
Pilots aren’t supposed to let attractive passengers join them up front. Even when the passenger is a porn star. Or a Playboy Bunny. They’re supposed to fly the plane not film flight attendants having sex, look at porn in the cockpit, or check Facebook. Let alone this.
But what they do on the ground when not in class doesn’t concern me so much. As long as they pay attention in the cockpits of Aeroflot and S7 this doesn’t bother me.
