Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

When It Matters, Testing For Travel Is Easy. So Why Won’t Airlines Test Their Own Crew?

by Gary Leff on January 26, 2021

Jan 26 2021

Travel brands are offering Covid-19 testing in order to adapt to the current reality, born out of desperation to win business from Americans in the face of new travel requirements. And it’s a reason crew exemptions are concerning – airlines should be able to adapt too.

In fact I’m told that United Airlines is scheduling U.K.-based crew to work London – Newark – Mumbai – Newark – London, London – Chicago – Delhi – Chicago – London, and London – Washington DC – London. This is roughly 80 UK-based crew entering the US every day exempt from the CDC’s new testing requirement, with the UK one of the epicenters of a new SARS-CoV-2 mutation of concern.

8 Things To Know About The New Requirement For A Negative Covid-19 Test To Fly To The U.S.

by Gary Leff on January 26, 2021

Jan 26 2021

As of today the U.S. now requires a negative Covid-19 test within 3 days prior to departure, or documentation of having already recovered from Covid-19, for all air passengers flying to the country (citizens and non-citizens alike).

Here are 8 things to know about this new requirement.

How The Federal Government Is Considering Enforcing Its Air Travel Mask Requirement

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2021

Jan 25 2021

The Biden administration doesn’t yet know what mask rules will be, how they’ll apply to young children or those with medical challenges, how they’ll interact with private sector rules already in place, who will issue the rules, or what enforcement will look like. We’re likely a couple of weeks away from knowing the answers to these questions.

Wide Open Business Class Awards To Israel From 55,000 Miles Each Way

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2021

Jan 25 2021

American Airlines is offering fantastic business class award availability to Israel. That’s notable even in its own right. You may not be traveling now, but book six months out. The world may look very different. And American no longer has any charge to cancel and redeposit award tickets, so there’s no risk.

There are several things notable about this award space that offer insight into how American is running inventory management for the AAdvantage program.

U.S. Adds South Africa Travel Ban Amidst Fears Covid-19 Mutuation Could Evade Vaccines

by Gary Leff on January 24, 2021

Jan 24 2021

In addition to reversing the Trump administration’s decision to lift bans on travel to the U.S. by non-residents who have been to Brazil or Europe in the past 14 days, the Biden administration will add South Africa to the list of banned countries.

Right now the South African variant of Covid-19 is most concerning, but this new policy will not stop it from entering the U.S.

When Pilots Chat Up Flight Attendants In The Galley They’re Breaking The Law

by Gary Leff on January 24, 2021

Jan 24 2021

Here’s what federal aviation regulations tell us about a pilot who doesn’t go back into the cockpit right away after taking a bathroom break – deciding to flirt with a flight attendant in the galley instead.

Your Airline Seat Preference Reveals Your Value As A Customer

by Gary Leff on January 23, 2021

Jan 23 2021

When you’re in an aisle seat you direct your own destiny. You get up to use the lavatory whenever you wish and don’t need to worry about waiting on other passengers to gather their belongings to let you out, or your seatmates falling asleep and needing to be woken to let you out. I find window seats claustrophobic.

It turns out that the preference for an aisle seat over a window seat also means you’re a better customer of an airline’s loyalty program, based on data.

The Reason People Are Faking Covid-19 Test Results To Travel (It’s Not Because They Have Covid)

by Gary Leff on January 23, 2021

Jan 23 2021

Several months ago I wrote that as countries started requiring negative Covid-19 tests in order to travel people would start faking negative test results. And what we’re learning from people who are actually faking their tests is that it isn’t fear of a positive result that is causing them to create the fakes.

United Airlines Plans To Require All Employees To Get Vaccinations

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2021

Jan 22 2021

American Airlines told employees they won’t plan to require them to get vaccinated although they’ll encourage them to do so.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, on the other hand, wants to require it for his employees and thinks others should follow his lead.

Lufthansa Bans Cloth Masks, Tells Passengers Get A Decent Mask Already!