Category Archives for Airlines.
Customers in competitive markets should be looking at what makes the most sense for their travel. Maybe they should still fly Delta, as a free agent, and just not earn on a Delta credit card. Maybe they should take a fresh look at other airlines. Status matches make that easier.
Southwest Airlines has given its employees a refresher on why they have the most “customer friendly policies.” Noting that competitor airlines have made changes to offer no change fees on most fares, and free same day standby in some cases, Southwest presents itself as the leader and only airline offering customer-friendly benefits in ‘every category’.
Naturally the chart is misleading – but it also leaves out the most important customer benefit, something that Southwest never markets, and therefore that passengers don’t usually realize sets them apart.
This week Delta announced major changes to how SkyMiles elite status is earned, and to how people can access their club lounges.
There are consumer movements on Flyertalk and on Reddit to try to get Delta to reverse these changes. Similar efforts have worked before.
American has updated the AAdvantage terms and conditions to now say that, though they gave advance notice of program changes in 2022 and 2023, they have no obligation to do so in the future. They’ll specifically eliminate or change benefits without notice. And if your account is hacked they don’t have to restore your miles.
‘Spicy’ flight attendant Cierra Mistt is back, offering dubious advice. She says you’ll get upgraded if you give a gift card to a flight attendant on your flight. And she claims that this works *every time.”
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker gave an interview to CNN’s Richard Quest, which aviation industry site Enilria flags as the airline CEO reportedly admitting to violating U.S. anti-trust law with American Airlines.
Typically when airlines make changes to their frequent flyer programs, they try to balance the bad news with something positive for customers. That may be new benefits, throwing customers a bone. Or it may be some rhetoric about how customers are actually going to be better off with the changes. Executives will say that they ‘listened to customers’ and are making ‘changes you’re going to like.’
There’s really none of that with Delta. Delta is demanding more from customers, and not pretending to offer anything new or more in return.
You shouldn’t wish discomfort on anyone, and should be happy that anyone you ostensibly care about can escape coach. Leave an expectation for ‘solidarity’ (shared misery) to the French.
At the end of the day, be happy for anyone who upgrades when it isn’t taking an upgrade away from you.
The tower was willing to let planes depart, but more than one captain wasn’t comfortable doing so in the face of missed approaches and windshear warnings.
American Airlines will no longer allow anyone with a beard or goatee to occupy a jumpseat in the cockpit on a mainline aircraft, citing risk that in the event oxygen masks are needed that facial hair will interfere with full flow of oxygen.
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 »
