Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

This Tyrannosaurus Rex Gave The Safety Demonstration Before A Eurowings Flight

by Gary Leff

Nov 06 2020

Video captured what happens when a Tyrannosaurus Rex gives the inflight safety briefing on Eurowings, the Lufthansa-owned low cost carrier. It’s a little tough for a dinosaur to make nuanced movements, even leaving aside that they’re extinct.

The life vest doesn’t fit over his head and he eventually sticks it in his mouth in order to demonstrate pulling on the cord that would inflate it. Watch to the end, because grabbing the overhead bin with its mouth is priceless.

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FAA Warns Airlines: Covid Disinfecting Could Make Planes Less Safe

by Gary Leff

Nov 06 2020

In the past when airlines struggled financially one of the first areas they cut back was cleaning, going over a year even without a deep clean. Despite Covid-19 being a bigger threat to airlines than 9/11 and the Great Recession combined, airlines have stepped up their cleaning to give passengers confidence to fly. It’s a welcome change that I hope continues even after the pandemic is done.

Nonetheless the FAA has concerns over some of the chemicals being used, and how they’re applied.

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Emirates Ending First Class Awards Booked With Partner Miles April 1, 2021?

by Gary Leff

first class seats
Nov 05 2020

Alaska Airlines sent out a program update to Mileage Plan members informing that “Beginning April 1, 2021, Emirates will no longer allow partner access to First Class award bookings.”

It’s possible that this restriction – no first class awards with partner miles – is for Alaska Airlines only. However that’s not what this update says.

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American Airlines Rolls Out Offers To Buy Higher Elite Status For Cash

by Gary Leff

Nov 05 2020

Every year, for many years – perhaps two decades – American Airlines offers the opportunity to buy status to members who haven’t quite requalified, and in recent years has offered an opportunity to buy up to the next level as well.

The offer is back this year, at around the same time, but just feels different. Didn’t requalifying for status based on your flying this year? Your status is being extended anyway. So the only relevant question is whether you want to buy up to a higher level.

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No, Airline Bailouts And High Debt Don’t Have To Mean Frequent Flyer Devaluations

by Gary Leff

Nov 04 2020

Andrew Kunesh writes at The Points Guy website that a second airline bailout may mean frequent flyer program devaluations, and calls for legislation providing for the bailout to require airlines “not to devalue their loyalty programs until government funds are paid back.”

However there’s no fundamental reason that a bailout means loyalty program devaluation, any such restrictions are likely to be toothless in any case, and aren’t going to make it to the top of any legislator’s or regulator’s agenda.

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Full Pay To The Last Day: Southwest Union Tells Cabin Crew Not To Worry About Furloughs Notices

by Gary Leff

Nov 04 2020

Publicly the flight attendants union has been saying no to concessions, and also implies to members that the airline won’t go through with furloughs – that WARN Act notices will be nothing to worry about. That’s a dangerous position. It suggests Southwest is bluffing and will pay to remain fully overstaffed, while its competitors have succeeded in downsizing and when the airline has publicly told investors they’re unable to do that.

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Buy oneworld Emerald Status And 75,000 Miles For $2300

by Gary Leff

lounge
Nov 03 2020

American’s oneworld partner Finnair is offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased points and will give you elite qualifying miles equal to 25% of the miles you buy, too. What’s more, the Finnair Plus program lets you convert miles into elite qualifying miles as well. As a result you can buy that mid-tier elite status easily and access American’s lounges, or even buy top tier oneworld emerald status.

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