Category Archives for Airlines.
Since credit card spending is so important for driving elite status, American Airlines is letting customers know that they’ve changed how that spend is counted towards status.
There’s are grey and black markets in aircraft parts you sometimes see in South Asia and Africa. However over the past several months a company based in London has come to light misrepresenting the parts they’ve been selling for CFM56 engines to major airlines around the world. Since these engines tend to power older Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family jets, everyone has them – including the major U.S. airlines.
Big airlines have special programs for high revenue customers far beyond top elite status of their mileage programs. At Delta there’s the 360 program. At American it’s Concierge Key. At United Airlines it is Global Services.
The criteria for obtaining this status is generally unpublished, however there are workarounds.
What do you think of American Airlines telling a customer that when their travel includes cleaning up someone else’s vomit that all they are due in compensation is $50 towards future travel
Award space on these Airbus A380 flights is wide open for two passengers on many flights. But it’s currently available only to members spending Etihad Guest points and not partner miles (like American AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan). However Etihad’s miles are very accessible.
When the seat belt sign is on, wear your seat belt. When the seat belt sign is off, but you’re in your seat wear your seat belt.
Some husbands fly first class while leaving their spouse in coach while others leave the spouse to take care of their kids.
At the same time, many couples are adamant about sitting together during flights. The inability to do so can trigger intense reactions and stress.
Indian tech billionaire Bhavin Turakhia choose American Airlines first class because of its “swivel seat” on the Boeing 777-300ER for long haul. That lets him set up his “rig” for working inflight with “laptop stand…keyboard, mouse, screen, power bank.” American Airlines endorsed the setup.
He brings a second computer screen, attaching to his laptop magnetically and connected via USB. Turakhia says it takes him just 30 seconds to get his inflight office set up and he claims a benefit of a 40% producitivty boost on a long haul flight. With this aircraft and seat he doesn’t even need to dismantle the electronic office for meals.
Alaska Airlines buying Hawaiian is good for Hawaiian‘s shareholders, who earn a premium for their shares they have little likelihood of achieving with the carrier as a standalone.
It is even neutral to good for customers. It just isn’t great business for Alaska.
Southwest Airlines passengers are using wheelchairs to get priority boarding and don’t even seat in them, instead using the wheelchair as a luggage cart to push their carry on bags.
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 »
