Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Covid-19 Will Mean A Long-Term Drag On Business Travel, Even After A Widespread Vaccine

by Gary Leff on November 18, 2020

Nov 18 2020

Videoconferencing has become more accepted as a technology. More people know how to do it. And peopled being ‘zoomed into a meeting’ are no longer the outsiders, only half in the meeting with people in a room.

In-office visits are hard to coordinate. They can’t return until people are back in the office, but all people aren’t going back to the office all the time. If there are a quarter fewer in-office days overall, that makes coordinating business meetings harder and there will be fewer business trips.

Just 1% Of People Account For 50% Of Aviation Emissions

by Gary Leff on November 18, 2020

sulfur dioxide emissions

Nov 18 2020

1% of people are responsible for 50% of commercial aviation emissions. And this is not at all surprising, since only about 1 in 9 people in the world even fly at all in a given year. Air travel is far more common in North America and Europe than in Africa, for instance, though Africa’s aviation sector is growing.

People are using this 1% number to argue for new global restrictions on airlines, but let’s break down what it means.

American Airlines Premium Transcon Awards Wide Open In 2021 At 38% Below Saver Prices

by Gary Leff on November 18, 2020

airline cabin with bed

Nov 18 2020

American Airlines is getting in on the business class award party for premium cross country flights with New York JFK – Los Angeles wide open throughout 2021 offering business class awards at good prices for groups of travelers.

Frontier Airlines Offering Elite Status Matches That Waive All Fees, Make Tickets Refundable

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

frontier plane docked

Nov 17 2020

Through December 1, Frontier Airlines is offering to give elite status to customers with existing status with another airline. Status is valid through the end of 2021, and they’re matching up to their top tier of status. That’s actually really interesting because while Frontier is a low fare, fee-based airline top elites generally see all of their fees waived for everything.

Base-level status comes with a free carry on bag and seat assignment, and extra legroom seats if available at check-in as some of its benefits. Mid-tier status adds bonus miles. And top tier status offers checked bags and makes all tickets refundable, for everyone on the member’s booking.

The Busiest Airline Routes In The U.S. And The World Right Now

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

airplane tickets

Nov 17 2020

Domestic travel is obviously coming back faster than international. Domestic flights in Asian counties is coming back the fastest. In the U.S. people are heading to Florida and other leisure destinations, so that’s where airlines are sending their planes. The cities that make the list though are in many ways surprising.

Is The New Air Canada Aeroplan Delivering Awards At The Prices They Promised?

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

air canada plane tarmac

Nov 17 2020

Aeroplan continues to work well for Americans, I think, and perhaps even for those who fly Air Canada with elite status or their co-brand credit card. Whether they work as well as promoted for the general member in Canada who doesn’t sign up for a card depends on how pricing of Air Canada flights is managed going forward (but the program still appears to be a real improvement over what was offered before, without fuel surcharges).

American Airlines Is Discounting Its Airport Concierge Service And Making It Available To More Passengers

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

Nov 17 2020

American Airlines is making its paid premium airport concierge service available to more passengers, at a lower price: parties of 3 or more receive a 50% discount on their booking. The discount applies when spending miles instead of cash too.

This service gets you airport meet and greet and escort through security, to the lounge and from there to the gate (there’s also service for connections and on arrival). It includes Admirals Club access, priority boarding, and assistance with flight re-accommodation during irregular operations.

American Airlines Re-Opens Three More Admirals Clubs

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

world map in lounge

Nov 17 2020

Three more Admirals Clubs have re-opened – Tampa, Raleigh, and Orange County – joining 21 clubs that had already re-opened. (Two additional airports have service centers to assist Admirals Club members with their travel, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.)

That brings the total list of re-opened clubs to 24 across 20 airports.

Cathay Pacific Permanently Drops Washington DC, Newark, Seattle Routes – And Others

by Gary Leff on November 17, 2020

airline cabin

Nov 17 2020

The Cathay Pacific route map is about to get much smaller as the Hong Kong-based oneworld airline permanently drops 7 destinations, including three to the U.S.

New Student Frequent Flyer Program Points To A Renaissance In Loyalty

by Gary Leff on November 16, 2020

qatarplane

Nov 16 2020

There’s a long history of loyalty programs targeting people while they’re young, hoping to build a lifetime relationship with a customer. And some of those ideas are resurfacing today.

Seeing more efforts along these lines is a sign that loyalty matters again. When planes were full airlines didn’t have to work as hard building relationships with customers or marketing to fill empty seats. That’s all changed, and we’re beginning to see a renaissance of the frequent flyer program. Hopefully that spirit lasts even once we’re back to normal times and traveling again.