When they’re not dragging passengers down the aisle of an aircraft, knocking them to the ground by the ticket counter, cancelling their flights for spite or kicking them in the airport chapel, United is hard at work becoming the best airline in the entire world according to CEO Oscar Munoz.
Three years ago Virgin Atlantic used Google Glass to provide customer service to premium customers, the idea was for instance for premium passengers, “[a] Virgin rep would greet you at your limo, confirm that your travel itinerary is up to date, and clue you in on the weather expected for your destination, all without breaking eye contact.”
Southwest Airlines began scheduled air service out of Dallas Love Field in 1971. At the time they flew only intra-Texas routes, escaping regulation by the federal government’s Civil Aeronautics Board which at the time set airline routes and prices.
Southwest Airlines is known for alcohol — from Herb Kelleher’s love of Wild Turkey, to the free drink chits that used to come with award redemptions, to becoming the largest liquor distributor in the State of Texas to fend off competition.
Airlines are more aggressively discounting business class than before, not just economy, even if most of the eye-popping sales are in coach (and even if $1450 is of course still a lot of money). When I can buy paid business class for not substantially more than I ‘expect’ to ‘usually’ pay for economy that’s a very good deal.
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.
Delta’s first Airbus A350 rolled out of the paint shop this week. This is notable because it’s the first Delta aircraft that will offer 48 premium economy seats and also 32 business class suites with doors.
Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays will open a new departure ‘lounge’ next year in Barbados. It’s a departure beach that includes check-in and baggage dropoff.
If your cruise terminates in Barbados or you have to check out of your hotel at noon but Virgin Atlantic’s London flight leaves at 5 or 6 this gives you a place that’s not the airport to spend your last few hours of holiday.
If you have Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles you can fly beyond Singapore to Darwin or Cairns in Australia, Siem Reap in Cambodia, about 8 destinations in China and 9 in India, and many more (like a dozen airports in Indonesia).
Fortunately Singapore Airlines loves the U.S. bank money, and their KrisFlyer program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. And they regularly discount awards.
Last summer Priority Pass added the club lounge at the Sofitel hotel at London Heathrow’s terminal 5 to its roster of lounges that cardmembers could access. This was a really creative play, it’s not a traditional airport lounge, but provided a very unique option for travelers.
Business travel dries up over the holidays. British Airways has inordinately large premium cabins.
So there are plenty of unsold seats.
These are often discounted for paid tickets, and made available as awards. They’re highlighting that their inventory management folks have dumped extra seats six months out, as is common.
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 »
