Category Archives for Airlines.
A federal court sided with the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice, ruling that the American Airlines-JetBlue partnership should be broken up on anti-trust grounds. It’s an odd conclusion, but the ruling itself is fascinating reading. It contains great details about how the deal evolved between the two airlines.
Alaska Airlines awards lifetime MVP Gold at 1 million miles, and lifetime MVP Gold 75K at 2 million miles. These members will receive additional benefits.
Give a Mile is a non-profit that helps people in need with air travel, using miles donated by members. First they began working with Air Canada. They also have a partnership with United. I’d like to see this grow and expand.
They are on a campaign to raise 1.5 million miles to help connect people to share the moments of life. Give A Mile raises miles and books award travel so that no one has to die alone.
It’s believed that the contract is for four years, with pay rates comparable to Delta’s new deal (which we’ve already expected and the company had publicly committed to) and some improvements for pilots on scheduling (limitation on the kinds of trips the company can require pilots to work).
Delta’s pilot contract costs it $7 billion more over the course of four years. The exact costs to American isn’t yet clear because the details haven’t been released – although the increase likely wipes out the carrier’s current run rate of profits.
Mere days after we learn that refused to rent a car to a Puerto Rican and called the cops who threatened to have the customer deported, because he wasn’t carrying a passport inside the United States comes a story that Spirit Airlines is just as challenged which probably comes as little surprise. Americans working for travel companies aren’t very good at geography or American history, it seems?
A Boston-based United Airlines flight attendant, who was granted a religious exemption to the airline’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate, is suing the carrier because the form of her exemption was unpaid leave and she reports she did not have income for six months as a result.
In her filing made Wednesday she suggests she would be unable to go to Heaven when she dies if she became vaccinated – somewhat oddly only vaccines which are not “scientifically proven, safe, and effective” are precluded.
I don’t write about a lot of mileage purchase offers, because they usually aren’t a good deal. Even with a bonus of 85% or 100% the points still frequently cost more than they’re worth.
One exception to the rule on why I don’t cover too many airline mileage sales is this one from Air Canada Aeroplan: up to 110% bonus on purchased miles, no tax for U.S. residents, and a favorable exchange rate. That brings the mileage cost down to $0.0124 per point. I value Aeroplan miles at 1.4 cents apiece.
American Airlines has a new rating system for gate agents, ranking each one on a five star scale. Based on details from multiple agents, this rating system includes everything related to the flight – including things they have no control over whatsoever. If they touch a flight that delays, that’s on them, even when it’s a maintenance delay.
Delta lays out how United’s response is self-serving. And of course it is! Just like Delta’s request is self-serving. The question isn’t the motives of each airline, it’s how should DOT handle it when an airline no longer wants to serve the route that was awarded to them?
United MileagePlus has increased the cost of transatlantic awards on its own flights by one-third, and on partners by 39% – 46%. We’ll see what the effects are on other regions.
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 »
