Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Air Canada Doubles Requirement For U.S. Members To Earn Elite Status

by Gary Leff on October 18, 2021

Oct 18 2021

Air Canada Aeroplan has a very easy and generous status match offer for U.S. frequent flyers. Match your status, and then a single roundtrip will let you keep the status through 2022.

For Americans – and anyone outside of Canada – the spend requirements for earning status are doubling. Aeroplan has allowed those whose primary address is outside of Canada to earn elite status with half the requirements that Canadians face. For 2022 they’re eliminating this easier path to status.

Airline Responds To Customer Service Request – After Four Years

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2021

older gentleman taking a selfie with smartphone

Oct 17 2021

If you’re a Delta frequent flyer you know how hard it is to get customer service. It’s taking the airline hours to answer phone calls even for their Diamond SkyMiles members, and months after they promised they had the issue under control.

Delta is a ‘full service’ carrier and things can be even worse with the ultra low cost set.

Disagreement With Former Spirit Airlines CEO On Vaccine Mandate Exception

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2021

Oct 17 2021

In the Airlines Confidential podcast last week, former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza – talking about vaccine requirements and dismissal of employees who don’t get vaccinated – offered that it’s reasonable to exclude pregnant woman. The line he follows about it being inadvisable for pregnant women to be vaccinated is dangerous.

The ‘New Alitalia’ Handing Out Elite Status To Virtually Everyone Free

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2021

Oct 17 2021

The ‘new Alitalia’ – ITA Airways – doesn’t have elite frequent flyers yet, and they’d like some. So they’re offering a status match to elites in most programs. So if you would like elite status you just need to e-mail them.

Taliban Discovers The Limits Of Islamic Airline Economics

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2021

Oct 16 2021

The Taliban is getting a harsh lesson in the limits to Islamic economics as it deals with international air service from Kabul, now that they’ve returned from the role of rebel force to that of managing institutions of governance. Price controls lead to scarcity.

There Are Several Hiccups For JetBlue Elites Trying To Get Benefits Flying On American

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2021

Oct 16 2021

The process of identifying JetBlue elites flying on American Airlines, waiving their checked bag fees, and receiving priority bag tags is not a seamless one. But JetBlue elites do get one benefit flying American that Ameircan’s own elites do not get flying on JetBlue.

How To Reduce Air Travel Injuries By Fixing One Backwards System

by Gary Leff on October 15, 2021

Oct 15 2021

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the number one cause of air travel injuries is turbulence – and there’s a way for planes to avoid turbulence far more often.

This may not be surprising, but the last time the NTSB did a deep dive on the issue was 50 years ago. And they found that current weather reports from pilots are inadequate.

Southwest Airlines Fails The Two Most Basic Lessons In Crisis Communications

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2021

Oct 14 2021

When a bad story is about to break, you want to get the whole thing out at once, and you want your first story to be the story.

The worst thing that happens when a story goes wrong is to lose control of the narrative. You don’t want a drip, drip, drip of facts spilling out and extending the story. And you don’t want your narrative to fall apart.

Elon Musk May Deliver The Fastest Inflight Wifi Yet

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2021

Oct 14 2021

Inflight internet isn’t nearly as challenging as it used to be, at least if you’re flying an airline that offers it, and that isn’t United. Even United is investing in upgrading inflight wifi finally.

Internet speeds could improve soon beyond anything currently offered, at least if Elon Musk delivers on his word and if airlines are open to the investment.

Delta’s CEO: People Won’t Lose Their Jobs Due To Vaccine Mandate

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2021

Oct 13 2021

I’ve actually expected that the December 8 deadline will push, but not until we get close, because if major airlines are far off from compliance the Biden administration won’t want to be blamed for ruining holiday travel due to mass cancellations.

They’ll need a reason for the delay, of course, that isn’t this. They will want to declare victory, or offer an extension on technical grounds. This will be especially tough to avoid if Covid-19 prevalence in the U.S. is low overall as the end of November approaches.

Airlines

Air Canada Doubles Requirement For U.S. Members To Earn Elite Status

Airline Responds To Customer Service Request – After Four Years

Disagreement With Former Spirit Airlines CEO On Vaccine Mandate Exception

The ‘New Alitalia’ Handing Out Elite Status To Virtually Everyone Free

Taliban Discovers The Limits Of Islamic Airline Economics

There Are Several Hiccups For JetBlue Elites Trying To Get Benefits Flying On American

How To Reduce Air Travel Injuries By Fixing One Backwards System

Southwest Airlines Fails The Two Most Basic Lessons In Crisis Communications

Elon Musk May Deliver The Fastest Inflight Wifi Yet

Delta’s CEO: People Won’t Lose Their Jobs Due To Vaccine Mandate

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About Gary Leff

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