Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Inside American’s Post-Earnings Employee Meeting — United Is the “Common Enemy,” Chicago Is the Existential Fight

by Gary Leff

Jan 31 2026

American has been spending real money on “premium” — new suites, new lounges, better champagne, better policies — but the company has lacked anything resembling a mission that connects it all. In a leaked recording from a post-earnings employee meeting, that finally changes: leadership frames Chicago as an existential fight with United, and ties winning the market directly to loyalty and credit card economics, and that easily extends to the need for a premium service culture.

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United Airlines Is Going Dark for 2–3 Hours Next Week — Flights Are Already Pre-Canceled

by Gary Leff

Jan 31 2026

United is planning a controlled overnight cutover next week that will take its key systems offline for roughly 2–3 hours — and it has already pre-canceled most departures during the window. While flights already in the air will keep moving, everything that depends on the reservation stack effectively freezes: schedules, booking, retrieving reservations, ticketing, cancellations/refunds, and check-in via United.com, the app, kiosks, call centers, and agency channels.

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“How Is This Allowed?” Photo Alleges American Airlines Flight Attendant Wore a Keffiyeh — The Real Issue Is Crew Power

by Gary Leff

Jan 30 2026

A photo circulating online alleges an American Airlines flight attendant was wearing a keffiyeh in uniform to show support for Palestinian resistance. The bigger issue is power: crew members control whether you fly and whether you get labeled disruptive. Political signaling from the people in charge of the cabin is a problem. It’s also against airline rules.

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American Airlines Is Basically Break-Even — Its Loyalty Program Makes Billions While Flying Bleeds It All Away

by Gary Leff

Jan 30 2026

American Airlines is basically break-even for the year—despite a loyalty program that throws off enormous profit. The paradox is the story: AAdvantage prints money, but the airline’s core flying operation has been bleeding it away, reflecting years of wrong-market focus, fleet decisions, and a pivot away from premium just as the industry moved the other direction.

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American Made Wi-Fi Free on Most Planes — Subscribers Still Get Billed $50 a Month Unless They Cancel

by Gary Leff

Jan 30 2026

American just made Wi-Fi free on most planes — but if you’re on the $50-a-month subscription, the charges keep coming unless you cancel. The monthly plan still bills even though it covers the same aircraft that now offer free access (the only difference is you can skip the AT&T ad), so it’s worth emailing subscription.wifi@aa.com right away.

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The Accounting Game Behind Southwest Airlines Fourth Quarter “Growth” — And Why Bag And Seat Fees Drove A Points Devaluation

by Gary Leff

Jan 29 2026

Southwest’s recent Rapid Rewards devaluation wasn’t just a random squeeze—it appears tied directly to the airline’s new bag and seat fees and a renegotiated Chase co-brand deal. By allocating more of Chase’s partnership payments to “benefits” like checked bags and seat assignments (instead of future travel liability for points), Southwest can recognize more revenue immediately—and the points become worth less because less of that money is being “spent” on things other than flights.

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Is Robert Isom Finally On The Chopping Block At American Airlines? Why He May Keep His Job

by Gary Leff

Jan 29 2026

American’s CEO Robert Isom looks more vulnerable than ever: the airline is barely profitable, its strategy has lagged rivals for years, and a winter-storm meltdown exposed deep operational fragility—enough that flight attendants are openly calling for his ouster. But American’s board has a long history of sticking with leadership through failure, which may be the strongest reason he survives even if the case for change is obvious.

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United Trolls American In Chicago With “AAdvantage, United” Ads — But It’s A Little Too On The Nose

by Gary Leff

Jan 29 2026

United is escalating its Chicago fight with American on every front—capacity, Wall Street messaging, and now a fresh set of ads that openly taunt AAdvantage. The new “AAdvantage, United” line is the kind of not-even-trying-to-be-subtle jab that only makes the rivalry louder as ORD turns into a full-blown marketing and schedule war.

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“Oh Sh*t, Cancel Takeoff Clearance”: Southwest 737 Aborts As Private Plane Turns Onto Runway

by Gary Leff

Jan 29 2026

A Southwest 737 in San Antonio began its takeoff roll after being cleared for departure when a private Pilatus PC-12 inadvertently turned onto the same runway. Tower audio captures the controller urgently canceling the takeoff clearance—“Oh sh*t”—and the Southwest crew rejecting the takeoff at speed, avoiding a runway collision as another aircraft was sent around.

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Southwest’s Earnings Just Dropped — Falling Profits Show The Turnaround Isn’t Working, Cheaper Jet Fuel Kept Them Profitable

by Gary Leff

Jan 28 2026

Southwest’s full-year results are out, and the “turnaround” isn’t showing up where it should: revenue barely grew while net profit slipped versus 2024. The airline stayed in the black largely thanks to cheaper jet fuel (and cost cuts), not because bag fees and other changes delivered the revenue lift Wall Street was promised.

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