Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Former ‘Navy SEAL Who Shot bin Laden’ Digs Even Deeper With Attack On Delta For Requiring Masks

by Gary Leff on August 21, 2020

Aug 21 2020

Delta has confirmed banning Robert O’Neill, the Navy SEAL who was part of the raid at Abbottabad and claims credit for shooting Osama bin Laden, over his refusal to wear a mask inflight (and bragging about it on social media, putting down others who wore masks).

He’s expressed the opinion online that as a hero he should be exempt from rules – and, in a now-deleted tweet, offers this put-down of Delta for requiring masks in the first place,. Delta is acting more like the Naval Special Warfare Development Group than he even realized.

Today American Airlines Loses One Of The Industry’s Great Communicators

by Gary Leff on August 21, 2020

Aug 21 2020

Regular readers might imagine that I’m not the most popular guy at American Airlines, and certainly not the most popular in Corporate Communications. And despite all our ups and downs one person I’ve come to respect a great deal is Ross Feinstein who leaves the airline this week. There are two things about Ross that make him an outstanding communications professional.

Ross Feinstein will be missed at American Airlines. Selfishly I hope his next role is in the travel industry. For his sake, I hope it isn’t.

Redeem Cathay Pacific Awards Online With Aeroplan Miles

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

first class cabin

Aug 20 2020

Star Alliance member Air Canada has a limited partnership with oneworld member Cathay Pacific. Brand new today, it’s now possible to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan miles for Cathay Pacific flights online. And best of all, you can easily combine Cathay Pacific flights with other flights.

Delta Bans The Navy SEAL Who Killed bin Laden And Refuses To Wear A Mask

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

Aug 20 2020

Nine years, seven months, and 20 days after the September 11th attacks that took 2977 American lives, United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (“Seal Team Six”) executed Operation Neptune Spear, along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the CIA’s Special Activities Division, raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

During that raid, bin Laden was killed. Now, nearly a decade later, the member of the SEAL team on that raid who says he’s the one that pulled the trigger refuses to wear a mask on a Delta flight, posts to social media about it, and gets banned.

American’s Plan To Drop Service To Sioux City, Iowa And Joplin, Missouri Is Illegal

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

Aug 20 2020

American Airlines announced this morning that unless the government gives them another round of CARES Act payroll support, they will drop service to 15 cities October 7.

Except they cannot legally leave two of the cities without giving advance advance notice to the Department of Transportation, which they have not done.

How American Airlines Is Threatening 15 Small Towns In A Craven Play For A $6 Billion Government Bailout

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

man speaking on microphone

Aug 20 2020

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker’s whole career is built on government subsidies. His airline is the most vulnerable to bankruptcy. So when the chips are down they’re playing the game that’s worked out best for him: threatening small cities where American Airlines has a virtual monopoly on air service, and announcing cuts to 15 cities that impose pain on 28 different Senators.

Delta Says They’ll Keep Blocking Middle Seats Through January 6, But It Isn’t True

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

Aug 20 2020

To avoid assigning any middle seats on a narrowbody aircraft with six seats across, that means blocking one-third of the seats in coach (67% load factor). Delta has been capping sales at 60% of the seats in coach. Starting October 1 they are going to be selling more seats, up to 75% of the seats in coach on each plane. That means filling each cabin 25% more than before.

American Airlines Will End Service To 15 Cities – Unless The Government Gives Them $5.8 Billion

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

Aug 20 2020

American Airlines is suspending service to 15 cities effective October 7, and CARES Act subsidies are mentioned 3 times in the release that’s just 151 words. The airline makes clear that if a second bailout passes they’re prepared to serve these markets.

In A Real First, Virgin Atlantic Will Give Elite Status Miles For Award Flights

by Gary Leff on August 20, 2020

virgin atlantic

Aug 20 2020

Virgin Atlantic like all other airlines is struggling during the pandemic. They’re in the midst of a restructuring and they’ve only just restarted flying last month to 6 cities.

Previously they had only extended member elite status by six months. They’ve gone ahead and made that now a full year, extending elite vouchers too. And they’re introducing changes to their frequent flyer elite program that are actually positive. The biggest change is that award travel will earn elite qualifying credit starting September 1. You’ll be able to transfer points from a credit card, fly, and earn top tier elite.

Two Year Old Kicked Off JetBlue Flight For Refusing To Wear A Mask

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2020

Aug 19 2020

JetBlue’s face mask policy says anyone who cannot wear a mask “should postpone travel until this temporary requirement is no longer in place.” And JetBlue has now enforced their policy against a two year old on a flight from Orlando to Newark.

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 »