Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

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

by Gary Leff

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.

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Fewer Flights And International Border Restrictions Put Travelers In Limbo When Things Go Wrong

by Gary Leff

united plane
Aug 19 2020

United Airlines flight UA79 was delayed three hours on Sunday due to a crew scheduling issue. Flight delays happen all the time, and a three hour delay of an international flight isn’t usually devastating during normal times.

However with limited air service, as a result of depressed demand during the pandemic, and international border restrictions a small delay can turn much more challenging for travelers – especially those trying to connect between secondary cities.

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The Only Honest Case For Another Round Of Airline Bailouts Comes From Ben Baldanza

by Gary Leff

Aug 18 2020

Former Spirit Airlines CEO is a JetBlue board member and naturally thinks more of that sweet, sweet taxpayer cash ought to flow to airlines. He lays out what he calls misconceptions about government aid to airlines as he makes the case for the second government bailout of the industry this year.

Baldanza’s piece is a breath of fresh air though because it honestly talks about government subsidies as more than just an unemployment program. He takes seriously government support as an airline bailout, ensuring airlines are providing capacity to the economy, and doesn’t offer the fiction that it’s only about supporting the workers.

Now we have serious arguments worth answering.

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Managers Delayed An Ethiopian Airlines Flight In Houston For 8 Hours – So They Could Scalp Tickets

by Gary Leff

Aug 18 2020

Ethiopian Airlines ran a repatriation flight this weekend from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria. There were more people who showed up at the airport than seats. The $1500 one-way flight had a waiting list, and numerous people were looking to get on.

After boarding local Nigerian officials identified no shows and empty seats and started to auction those off, reportedly pocketing an extra $250 apiece for themselves. But it took six hours to get the seats sold at the higher price, especially since the delay meant some of the passengers started getting off the plane – more seats for the officials to sell at a markup.

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The Math On Another Round Of Airline Payroll Bailouts Is Insane. Has Nobody Done The Math?

by Gary Leff

woman using ATM
Aug 16 2020

Airlines and their unions have asked for a ‘clean extension’ of the payroll support money, another $25 billion. However if that’s to save 75,000 jobs through March 31, 2021 that amounts to $333,333 per job and come April 1 we’ll see job losses again (when it’s not election season).

Seriously, has anybody actually done the math here?

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Air India Pilot Was Forced To Fly Passengers To Bangalore – After Being Fired

by Gary Leff

Aug 15 2020

Air India fired 48 pilots effective Thursday at midnight. The pilots union says the move is illegal. Air India says they’re relying on a Supreme Court ruling from last year that allows the move.

Apart from Indian labor law what’s striking about the story though is that after the pilots were terminated effective August 13, one of them continued to fly passengers.

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American Airlines Warns Employees Not To Skip TSA Security When Traveling

by Gary Leff

Aug 15 2020

Last month American Airlines fired their Cleveland airport General Manager for using his security badge to bypass TSA screening and board a flight, and having someone else skip security to bring him his laptop charger.

Recently American reminded all of its employees not to skip TSA screening checkpoints when traveling. But the requirement for vetted people to go through regular security is dumb.

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