Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

No, It’s Not Time For (Some Of You) To Stop Traveling

by Gary Leff

Dec 09 2020

Is it time to stop traveling given the Covid-19 wave we’re experiencing in the United States? There are certainly many people who shouldn’t travel right now, and many places where there’s not much to do. But those who have already had the virus, and those who will soon have been vaccinated, are probably ok to travel. And many travelers are more responsible than non-travelers. The focus should be on how to be responsible rather than moralizing against all travel, telling people to stay home so then they gather with their neighbors locally.

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United Now Offers Airport Customer Service Agents – Who Are Virtual

by Gary Leff

Dec 08 2020

What this also allows United to do over time is have fewer agents, or at least fewer agents per passenger. Instead of having agents deployed at airports across the terminal in case customers need them, and having down time throughout the day, they can locate agents centrally and optimize staffing based on predicted needs.

That makes this the perfect ‘United under Scott Kirby’s leadership’ initiative: it fosters on-time performance while reducing cost.

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I’m Not Your Mother, And This Plane’s Not Your Living Room

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2020

When passengers see a messy cabin, they tend to leave it that way themselves and perhaps even in worse condition (Cf. lavatories). It’s the ‘broken windows theory’ of policing applied to an aircraft cabin. Slovenliness begets slovenliness. But the reverse is also true. Hold up your end, keep things looking respectable, and your fellow passengers are more likely to do so as well – and an airline’s employees and contractors will have a much easier time maintaining the plane for the people flying in your seat next, too.

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Great ANA Business/First Class Award Space To Japan From August Through End Of Schedule

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Dec 04 2020

Right now there’s great business and first class award availability on Star Alliance airline ANA from several US cities to Tokyo and back starting in August and running through the end of the current airline schedule (basically, October). That’s great for connecting onward to Asia.

Two passengers can fly from Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose or Seattle using miles from United (or Chase), Avianca LifeMiles, or even better Virgin Atlantic (which partners with several credit card transferable points programs).

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Frequent Flyer Miles Are The Only Reason United And American Haven’t Filed Bankruptcy

by Gary Leff

cash
Dec 04 2020

How important are airline frequent flyer programs? United, Delta, and American Airlines have each mortgaged their frequent flyer programs for between $6.5 billion and $9 billion apiece. Stifel analyst Joe DeNardi says that without the ability to attract this cash, both American Airlines and United Airlines would be in bankruptcy.

Speaking on a panel at the Loyalty Summit online conference on Wednesday, DeNardi made this bold claim – but one that’s backed squarely by the numbers around cash burn and how much airlines have raised.

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Bob Crandall Speaks Out About The Future Of Travel

by Gary Leff

crandall
Dec 03 2020

Current American AAdvantage head Rick Elieson interviewed former American Airlines Chairman Bob Crandall at the Loyalty Summit. Crandall spoke about innovations at American, from computer reservation systems to launching the AAdvantage program, the failed launch of a hub and the need for transparency with customers.

He believes “a substantial share of business travel will not come back” and shares how he’d approach the business as a result.

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