Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

SAD: Airline Unions Band Together, Ask Government To Ban Better Air Travel

by Gary Leff

May 07 2023

Several air travel unions are going to the government, trying to get new air carriers banned, because they are… legal and competitive. They even cite offering a better, more compelling product to passengers as a problem. Regional carrier SkyWest created a subsidiary to run public charter flights under FAA Part 135 rules. This lets then fly planes with no more than 30 seats which have a captain that meets the 1500 hour rule but allows a co-pilot with fewer hours. The plan involved taking CRJ-200 50-seat regional jets and taking out seats. That’s actually great for passengers. And SkyWest planned to do this on poor-performing routes, where there weren’t that many passengers to begin with, like subsidized Essential Air Service routes. That keeps air service to small cities which are rapidly seeing flights dry up…

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American Airlines Is Selling Elite Status, No Match Or Challenge Required

by Gary Leff

May 04 2023

American is sending out marketing emails to members offering to let them straight up buy elite status. This isn’t the usual ‘buy back status you lost last year’ or even ‘buy a level of status higher than what you earned’ (which historically has generated over $30 million per year in revenue).

Instead, American is sending out offers to members who do not have status at all – members who may not have flown them in years – and offing to let them buy Gold or Platinum status through March 2024 directly.

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Delta Wants To Change How It Serves Tokyo Haneda Airport. That Shouldn’t Be Allowed.

by Gary Leff

first class seats
May 03 2023

DOT’s rule on these slots was that, once service commenced, none could go dormant for more than 90 days or the route authority could be taken back and awarded to another airline.

With Japan late to re-open, and traditional managed business travel still depressed, U.S. – Japan flying hasn’t recovered nearly as much as domestic travel or flying between the U.S. and Europe.

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American Airlines Pilots Authorize A Strike

by Gary Leff

cockpit with pilot
May 01 2023

American Airlines pilots have voted to authorize a strike. This came after the airline’s CEO announced that they’re ready to pay pilots up to $590,000 per year, essentially matching Delta’s new pay rates and improving on scheduling and other quality of life issues.

While the pilot union would like you to believe this is more than it is, it’s effectively business as usual.

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Earn 25% More: Bask Bank Now Awards 2.5 Miles Per Dollar Saved!

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
May 01 2023

If you aren’t earning frequent flyer miles from your savings account, you probably should be. At least you should open an account – which has no annual fees or minimum balances – so that you have the option to earn miles when you want to. It’s a great way of potentially earning a lot of miles, and one of the very few ways to do that without actually spending money.

The Bask Bank Mileage Savings Account rewards you with frequent flyer miles instead of interest. You earn 2 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles for every $1 saved annually.

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