Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Southwest Airlines Gate Agent ‘Weird Al’ Serenades Arriving Passengers With Song Parodies

by Gary Leff

Southwest Airlines Scott
Nov 06 2021

Southwest passengers arriving in Phoenix were greeted by a serenading gate agent, caught on video and shared to social media. Sound on, “Going through corona is so dang cruel, seems like a time that we made a change, ya I’m feeling the strain…Give me airline with heart and soul, one that takes some time to sing some rock ‘n roll…”

“Drift Away” has been covered by Michael Bolton and Uncle Kracker, but this Southwest gate agent is the airline’s Weird Al Yankovic and parodies songs with his own airline-related lyrics.

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American Airlines Will Give Flight Attendants Up To 300% Pay To Show Up For The Holidays

by Gary Leff

Nov 06 2021

American Airlines melted down at the end of October without enough cabin crew to work flight. This followed a meltdown in June caused by not having enough Boeing 737 pilots. United Airlines sent an email to all its customers throwing shade at them, and suggesting they book United for the holidays.

In order to prevent a repeat of the October flight attendant debacle, American Airlines is throwing money at the problem (err, at the flight attendants).

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Delta Guts International Upgrades, Top Elites Only Get Confirmed Into Premium Economy

by Gary Leff

picture of airline cabin
Nov 04 2021

Delta is gutting confirmed international upgrades awarded to top elite customers. Top tier SkyMiles Diamond members can select confirmed global upgrades as a ‘choice benefit’. These have moved a customer on a coach ticket to business class on any Delta flight where upgrade space is available.

However starting February 1, 2022 that’s changing.

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United Sent A Remarkable, Trolling Email To Customers

by Gary Leff

united plane
Nov 04 2021

Delta’s operation melted down over last year’s holidays. Southwest has melted down over lack of crew. American melted down over the summer without enough pilots and then at the end of October without enough flight attendants. And now everyone’s worried about holiday travel with the government requiring airlines to have their employees vaccinated – with deadlines coming up.

United Airlines sent out a remarkable email, both for its candor and effectiveness but also for the way it brutally subtweeted these competitors. Under CEO Scott Kirby’s signature, United obliquely references news of airline meltdowns and says in effect ‘this won’t happen to us.’

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Flying To Europe Using Miles – Without Getting Stuck On A U.S. or European Airline

by Gary Leff

Nov 03 2021

Prompted by my writing about wide open availability for two first class Suites awards on the Singapore Airlines New York JFK – Frankfurt flight, a reader asks about other ‘fifth freedom routes’ between the U.S. and Europe.

They wanted to fly between the U.S. and Europe on an Asian or Middle Eastern carrier and wanted to know what their options looked like using miles for the best seats possible.

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American Airlines Threatens To Call Police On Stranded Passengers After Canceling Flights

by Gary Leff

Nov 01 2021

Scenes from the American Airlines operational meltdown have been getting ugly. As the airline cancelled over 1000 flights on Sunday alone – the weekend of CEO Doug Parker’s 60th birthday – customer service lines stretched the length of airports and tensions rose. Here one group of passengers starts raising their voice to be heard about what’s (not) going on after their flights are cancelled and they’re given no options to get where they’re going. And an American Airlines agent responds by threatening to call the police.

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American Airlines Reminds Agents Of All The Reasons To Deny Your Lost/Damaged Baggage Claim

by Gary Leff

delta baggage handlers
Oct 31 2021

American Airlines sent out a memo to all of its agents reminding them about all of the reasons they should use to deny or limit passenger claims for delayed, lost or damaged luggage, especially after international trips.

It was all probably right, of course, but it’s more important to train agents and baggage handlers on proper care for luggage to minimize damage to the items entrusted to them.

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