Category Archives for Airlines.
United Airlines is telling its employees that they are now the world’s largest airline. They’ve sent a message from CEO Scott Kirby trumpeting this claim. But the data tells a different story.
The FAA’s Air Traffic Organization is severely understaffed with controllers. New York TRACON is less than 60% staffed with fully-trained controllers. And the government is asking airlines to reduce their summer schedules out of New York airports. Ironically the government won’t let JetBlue and American Airlines fully participate to help solve this challenge.
This is a fabulous reminder for me to stay grounded. I’ve flown most of the world’s great international first class products, and I tend to see business class as ‘transportation’. But most people fly coach, and most never see a forward cabin. When they do, it’s like a dream. I think I’ll give away my first class upgrades a couple times in the coming month, for the joy I’ll feel seeing the joy that another passenger gets to experience.
Starting in July – through end of March 2024 (!) – you’ll frequently find four or more business class award seats per flight on Singapore Airlines between New York JFK and Frankfurt. And these flights aren’t bookable just using Singapore’s miles, they’re available if you want to spend Air Canada Aeroplan points as well – which will save you miles.
One customer who had ConciergeKey status for 10 years with American Airlines lost their status this year – but it’s not the usual story. They were essentially duped out of it by the airline.
On April 5, two elderly passengers were removed from an American Airlines flight because the gate agent wouldn’t let them fly with their cello – even though they’d purchased a seat for the cello from the airline and flown with it on the first segment of their trip.
The passengers had flown from Palm Springs to Dallas – Fort Worth. They boarded their second flight. And a gate agent came on board and declared that they’d be unable to fly with a cello.
One of the more controversial aspects of flying is whether coach passengers should use the first class lavatory. American Airlines doesn’t have any rule against it on first class flights, but a woman of Middle Eastern and Latin descent Yazz Giraldo brought her three year old up from the bulkhead row of coach when he desperately had to go – and a flight attendant locked them into the lavatory. When she finally let them out she informed them they were responsible for a ‘terrorist incident’ and law enforcement met the plane.
This was all unfolding unbeknownst to the woman’s husband, also on the plane, a former FBI agent member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Spirit Airlines is offering a unique status match oppportunity with top tier elite status for $99 (or lower status for $49) and they will even provide this status match for someone who just has hotel status from a credit card. That’s something many of you will want to jump on, because it makes Spirit Airlines – which has great fares, and lots of fees – an incredible deal because it can get rid of most of the fees and can even give you a free drink and snack on board. That could even be Hilton Silver status from a credit card, it doesn’t matter. There’s a fee for the match, but if you’re going to travel on Spirit only once it could be worthwhile. But you’ll want to consider taking advantage of this right now:…
Southwest Airlines has open seating. You take any seat that’s available. There’s no rule against saving seats, but also nothing that says you can do it either. Basically it’s everyone for themselves. Yet there are basic, unspoken rules. Violate one of those, get the captain involved, and you’re going to be removed from the aircraft for a conversation with law enforcement.
Delta has begun imposing basic economy restrictions on their cheapest coach awards for international travel. Not only does Delta charge a ton of miles for travel, they now will require you to pay for seat assignments and pay a fee to cancel and redeposit your miles unless you spend even more. They’re uncompetitive with American and United in this regard.
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 »
