Category Archives for Airlines.
JetBlue’s award travel has been restricted, offering low value for their points and making transfers from credit card programs unattractive. However, the partnership with Qatar Airways now allows for point redemption for JetBlue flights, with a distance-based award chart and wide availability for transatlantic business class bookings.
The airline is required under its pilot deal to have 85% of its regional flying in and out of hubs (defined as the legacy American Airlines hubs, plus airports where they operate 100 or more flights). Austin isn’t a 100-plus flight city. American runs a peak of 78 flights (low 50s on Saturdays, 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday). They don’t have the gate space for more than that, and even if they did that would likely mean more losses. So Austin regional flying to non-hub cities falls under the pilot contract 15% of total regional flying cap.
American isn’t allowed to build an operation which doesn’t support mainline pilot union jobs, and given passenger demand and gate limitations in Austin that means they aren’t allowed to build an Austin focus city as they’ve been doing.
One of the most common complaints I see about airlines in social media, paired with photos, is overhead bins with plenty of space after a passenger is forced to check their carry-on bag because, the gate agent had said, ‘the bins were full’.
This is frustrating for customers, who aren’t just inconvenienced (separated from their belongings, they have to wait at baggage claim – and risk getting lost). It’s also perplexing. Why was the gate agent lying to us? The reason is actually simple.
American Airlines has loaded a schedule that pulls down about half the routes from its Austin focus city, as first reported by Adrian Waltz based on data available in Cirium’s Diio Mi. Eliminated in the schedule load were 21 out of American’s 46 destinations from Austin.
The Asiana-Korean Air merger is set to consolidate the two major Korean airlines, potentially affecting competition on key international routes, despite concerns from US and European regulators. Virgin Atlantic’s proposed Seoul route hinges on the deal’s approval, underscoring the complex interplay between airline alliances and market competition.
JetBlue, initially hesitant about its loyalty program, has significantly enhanced its TrueBlue program in recent years, especially in light of its partnership with American Airlines. Amidst the financial challenges faced by ultra-low-cost carriers and smaller airlines, many are realizing that loyalty programs, once viewed as cost centers, are now profitable avenues, with airlines like Frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant doubling down on their loyalty initiatives.
A mom flew American Airlines passenger from Portland to Dallas to Tallahassee with her two 18 month old twins. Since only one child can fly on her lap, she bought the other child their own seat using her miles, but a flight attendant refused to allow them to use it, saying children under two weren’t allowed in seats without a car seat. This was wrong. The passenger sued American because they wouldn’t refund the seat they’d purchased but weren’t allowed to use.
Southwest Airlines is hinting at launching service to Dallas – Fort Worth by 2025 and has begun introducing overnight flight connections, foreshadowing potential redeye flights. However, constraints like the Wright Amendment and Southwest’s dominance at Dallas Love Field, coupled with a current shortage of pilots, play pivotal roles in shaping these future endeavors.
JetBlue is grappling with significant financial instability and mounting legal troubles. Amidst this turmoil, the airline’s employees are reportedly in open revolt, further intensifying the crisis and raising concerns about the company’s future prospects.
Delta Air Lines co-pilot, Jonathan Dunn, part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, pulled a gun on his flight’s captain, threatening him multiple times against diverting the plane for a passenger with a medical emergency.
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 »
