Category Archives for Airlines.
Spirit Airlines says it will emerge from bankruptcy by summer—again. The low-cost carrier’s new strategy means fewer flights and higher-priced premium seats, but given Spirit’s notoriously uncomfortable cabins and poor customer reputation, is anyone really eager to pay more?
An American Airlines Boeing 737 was discovered with apparent bullet damage after an overnight stop in Medellín, Colombia—triggering serious security concerns and urgent investigations into potential risks to critical aircraft systems.
Southwest Airlines moved from flexible open seating to strict assigned seats overnight—now passengers report being forced to remain squeezed next to travelers spilling into their space, even when entire rows remain empty.
Passenger seats in a plane’s exit row suddenly collapsed backward during takeoff, slamming into the row behind and raising fresh concerns about maintenance and safety standards at an airline already under scrutiny. Though no injuries were reported, the incident highlights troubling issues surrounding Lion Air-owned Batik Air.
Southwest flight attendants have voted down higher union dues three times, but the proposal is back for a fourth try. This time, the union is limiting ballots to in-person meetings, turning a $5-a-month ask into a fight over turnout, process, peer pressure and whether “no” actually means no.
Delta employees celebrated their $1.3 billion Profit Sharing Day with a party so big even IT had DJs, karaoke, and gelato served by pilots. Here’s an inside look at the unique employee culture that powers Delta’s unmatched profits and keeps its workforce flying high.
An El Al flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv departed without 140 checked bags after they were vandalized with “Free Palestine” stickers, triggering a security alert and lengthy inspections at LAX. Authorities suspect an inside job by airport employees, and passengers landed in Israel without their luggage.
American Airlines is making bold moves, from new premium cabins and better meals to rolling back unpopular policies, yet CEO Robert Isom struggles to clearly articulate a vision—leaving employees, customers, and investors unsure of what exactly the airline aims to become.
Comedian Jim Breuer bought first class tickets from Honolulu to Florida—but American Airlines bumped him down to coach so a deadheading pilot could have his seat. Breuer’s furious rant about American Airlines taking thousands of dollars for first class, only to give him a $400 downgrade refund, has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers in days. American’s contract allows bumping paid passengers for pilots flying transoceanic routes, but Breuer wants what he paid for: a first class flight.
In a surprising move, American Airlines flights are now featured in Chase Travel’s ‘Points Boost’—unlocking exceptional redemptions of up to 2 cents per point for business class and premium economy seats. This major shift means travelers can now access American Airlines premium flights through Chase, significantly enhancing the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
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 »
