Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

The Reason Singapore Airlines Is Dropping Dom Perignon From First Class

by Gary Leff on October 26, 2022

Oct 26 2022

A week ago I was first to cover that Singapore Airlines would drop Dom Perignon from its first class and Suites cabin, though generally still offer two outstanding choices: Krug and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

It turns out that the reason for the change isn’t budgetary (they got a great deal from Taittinger) or a sourcing problem (there’s no Dom Perignon supply chain breakdown) but rather the airline, which was at one point reportedly the world’s second-largest purchaser of Dom, has been shut out from access.

Why You Should Start Your Quest For American AAdvantage Status With A Challenge

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2022

Oct 25 2022

It’s much, much easier to earn status when you already have status with American. If you were flying to earn status and not engaging in any other activity, it would take $18,182 for an existing Executive Platinum member to re-earn Executive Platinum. In contrast, someone starting with no status and earning Executive Platinum on flying alone would need to spend $27,012 on tickets. But you don’t have to start fresh.

How American Airlines And Its Partners Decide Who Flies A Route

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2022

Oct 25 2022

American Airlines has joint ventures with several airlines, including British Airways, Qantas, and Japan Airlines. In theory these are “metal neutral” – it isn’t supposed to matter to the airlines which one flies a given route. They split the money.

So how do they decide who flies? In a recent employee meeting, a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing, American’s Vice President for Network and Schedule Planning Brian Znotins explained how they coordinate schedules with their joint venture partners, including who flies where and when.

Alaska Airlines Says Miles No Longer Expire, But Their Program Terms Actually Say Otherwise

by Gary Leff on October 24, 2022

Oct 24 2022

Alaska Airlines has eliminated miles expiration. Accounts used to go inactive (therefore expiring miles) after 24 months without earning or redeeming their points. Now accounts go inactive but can be reactivated with all of your points restored for free – as long as you do it within a year. I missed this last wrinkle when first looking at the change, and it means account expiration in 3 years of true inactivity.

There Are Two Reasons American Airlines Decided To Drop Flagship First Class

by Gary Leff on October 24, 2022

Oct 24 2022

When American Airlines introduces new business class suites with doors in 2024, alongside taking on new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, they’re going to reconfigure their Boeing 777-300ERs to have these seats as well. In the process they will eliminate ‘Flagship First Class’ and business will be the top cabin on the aircraft.

At an internal meeting this morning, a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing, senior executives at the airline laid out the two basic reasons they made the decision to drop Flagship First Class.

New Saudi Arabian Mega Airline About To Place Huge Jet Order

by Gary Leff on October 24, 2022

Oct 24 2022

Saudi Arabia is starting a new mega-airline meant to counter Emirates and Qatar. They already have Saudia, based in Jeddah, and they aren’t expanding it. Instead they’re starting from scratch with a $30 billion warchest to launch “RIA” based in Riyadh. They’re hiring away the CEO of Etihad, and they’re about to place a major order for new planes.

American Airlines Will Introduce New Bedding, Amenity Kits, And Meals With New Business Class

by Gary Leff on October 23, 2022

Oct 23 2022

In September American Airlines unveiled their new business class suites that would go into Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. These won’t be flying until 2024. But at the same time they bring an elevated business class seat into the market, the airline also plans to introduce new inflight meal service, amenity kits, and bedding as well.

I had heard this project was underway, but a little more detail was shared in an internal employee question and answer session earlier this month, a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing.

65% Of American AAdvantage Elites In New York Earning Status With Their Credit Card, Not By Flying

by Gary Leff on October 23, 2022

Oct 23 2022

At an internal employee meeting earlier in the month, a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing, Chief Commercial Offer Vasu Raja shared that Advantage enrollments in New York are outpacing nearly every other market in the system., and that more people are qualifying for status in New York than before “and 65% are doing it on the card.”

My Experiences As An American Airlines ConciergeKey Member So Far

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2022

Oct 22 2022

I absolutely love ConciergeKey. I’m hoping that since it was granted over the summer, expiring March 2023, that it will be renewed for one more year – that when granted it’s for a ‘minimum of 12 months’ – because I can’t imagine I’ll ever be able to qualify again. I’ll never be in the league of those spending $50,000 – $60,000 on high yield tickets, and without a twice in a lifetime type of promotion like last December’s deal was I’m unlikely to ever generate 5 million AAdvantage miles in a year again either. I never thought I’d have this status, and I’ll miss it once it’s gone.

Wide Open Transatlantic Business Class Awards For Whole Year, Up To 6 People

by Gary Leff on October 21, 2022

Oct 21 2022

Singapore Airlines is one of the world’s best carriers. They don’t just fly to Singapore – they also operate ‘fifth freedom’ routes between the U.S. and Europe. Right now their New York JFK – Frankfurt flight has up to 6 business class award seats available most dates over the next year, and most credit card points transfer to book these.

Airlines

The Reason Singapore Airlines Is Dropping Dom Perignon From First Class

Why You Should Start Your Quest For American AAdvantage Status With A Challenge

How American Airlines And Its Partners Decide Who Flies A Route

Alaska Airlines Says Miles No Longer Expire, But Their Program Terms Actually Say Otherwise

There Are Two Reasons American Airlines Decided To Drop Flagship First Class

New Saudi Arabian Mega Airline About To Place Huge Jet Order

American Airlines Will Introduce New Bedding, Amenity Kits, And Meals With New Business Class

65% Of American AAdvantage Elites In New York Earning Status With Their Credit Card, Not By Flying

My Experiences As An American Airlines ConciergeKey Member So Far

Wide Open Transatlantic Business Class Awards For Whole Year, Up To 6 People

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About Gary Leff

	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)
	Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]