Category Archives for Airlines.
On a straight seniority basis 8000 furloughs will include every flight attendant under 40 years old and some in the first half of their 40s. And it will include nearly every flight attendant hired in the last 10 years. Every one hired since US Airways management took over, though, can expect to be let go.
In early March I wrote about ideas they’re surveying about potential changes to the program. Now they’re researching ways to change elite benefits, especially the 4 annual confirmed upgrade certificates given to MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members.
Sadly they appear to be looking at alternatives I’d consider to be less valuable than what they offer today.
Republic Airways, a regional airline that flies for American Airlines, Delta, and United, is planning to notify 40% of their workforce that they may be furloughed October 1. Here’s their internal communication plan.
At the end of May things were looking really good for summer travel, and American tried to place limits on its change fee waivers. Since the beginning of the pandemic airlines have allowed a change fee waiver on ticket purchases, so that customers faced with uncertainty would have greater comfort buying travel.
As forward bookings have softened, though, and competitors haven’t followed American’s lead in restoring the ‘no changes’ rule to Basic Economy fares American too has backed off.
The International Court of Justice just ruled that the air blockade of Qatar by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (but primarily by the UAE and Saudi Arabia) is illegal, by determining that the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization – which already found it illegal – has jurisdiction.
Delta has pledged to continue to block middle seats past September 30. This goes farther than what other airlines will do. They’re also doing more cleaning between flights, too. But how can that make sense?
The offer is to register and book by August 31 for travel July 13 – September 30 to earn an additional 3 miles per dollar on each flight taken, up to 5000 total miles.
I have the Aviator Silver card which already earns 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines flights purchased using the card normally.
It’s been 14 years since Microsoft has released a new version of Flight Simulator. I’m genuinely excited by this, although I worry I’ll spend way too much time on this. I don’t play video games, it’s not a part of my life. That might be about to change.
Your risk really comes down to likelihood of being right near someone else who has the virus – much like anywhere else you go except that in most indoor places there isn’t HEPA air filtration. Planes are probably safer, then, than bars, indoor restaurant dining, gyms, and open plan offices.
But it’s confusing to look at planes, where social distancing isn’t mandated, and hear airlines say it “isn’t possible” while restaurants are being required to do it to their own financial detriment all over the country and to wonder what’s different?
A rumor started flying in Texas this weekend that we’d see another lock down in the face of rising Covid-19 spread when a former judge and Jefferson County district attorney as well as assistant US Attorny for the Eastern District of Texas posted to Facebook that the governor had texted him it was time to stock up on essentials again.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
