Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

This Conservative Activist Is About To Be Banned By United Airlines (He’s Already Banned By American)

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2020

Dec 23 2020

After refusing to wear a mask on board and streaming advice online that others follow suit, self-styled black conservative activist David Harris, Jr. showed up at the airport for his return flight to find he was banned from American Airlines.

Now he’s back, flying United Airlines and again refusing to wear a mask. He was traveling with Fox News and The Bachelor alum Jillian Anderson, and together they took to the sky on United to promote President Trump and mask refuseniks.

American Airlines Will Pay Employees Not To Work

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2020

Dec 23 2020

Internal American Airlines documents describe the carrier’s plan to pay employees not to work, as part of the federal government’s Payroll Support Program passed by Congress as part of its stimulus legislation.

Qatar Airways Planning New First Class For Boeing 777-9

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2020

first class airline seats

Dec 23 2020

Anything that’s projected out to 2028 isn’t just far from certain, but more in the realm of entirely speculative, at this point. However any first class that does materialize will have to be better than QSuites, and indeed better than whatever QSuites are 8 years in the future. Combine that with Qatar’s outstanding service and catering it has the potential to be a fantastic product.

Oops: Trump Now Opposes The Covid Relief Bill, But Airlines Have Already Recalled Workers

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2020

Dec 23 2020

U.S. airlines recalled furloughed workers based on the passage of Covid relief legislation which sends them $15 billion. But the President hasn’t signed the bill yet and posted to twitter that he now opposes it. He may not actually veto, but what happens if he does – could airlines be on the hook to pay employees, even without the government subsidies that led them to promise to do so?

Bonergate: 20 Federal Air Marshals Busted In Viagra Smuggling Ring

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2020

liam neeson on a plane

Dec 22 2020

Around 20 air marshals based in the agency’s Dallas field office – or about 10% of agents there – have been disciplined for smuggling viagra into the U.S. for distribution, “following a secretive two-year internal investigation.”

The TSA has sought to cover it up using nondisclosure agreements, and none will be criminally charged.

Should Passengers Who Fly With Covid-19 Be Charged With Negligence – Even Involuntary Manslaughter?

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2020

Dec 22 2020

How does a person with an infectious disease decide to fly in the middle of a global pandemic? How does someone make a choice to potentially infect others, knowing that there’s a chance some of the people exposed along the way could die as a result. It’s clearly reckless – but is it criminally reckless? One law professor says yes.

It’s Time For Airlines To Award Elite Status Based On Non-Flight Activity

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2020

scrooge mcduck diving into coins

Dec 22 2020

The margin on things other than airline tickets is generally much higher than that of air transportation. Selling miles is a high margin business. Selling preferred seats is too. A customer with a co-brand credit card who uses it on the airline’s shopping portal and buys upgrades is a high margin customer, and a customer worth fighting over – and treating well.

This is being recognized by airline frequent flyer programs around the world and it’s time this recognition come to the U.S. too.

American’s Partnerships With Alaska And JetBlue Will Force American To Improve

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2020

inside plane

Dec 22 2020

American Airlines has new partnerships coming online with JetBlue and Alaska Airlines. Normally we think of these sorts of partnerships as reducing competition, but there are two ways this will increase competition.

Congress Agrees To Second Airline Bailout. United’s CEO Prepares To Ask For A Third.

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2020

flight attendant with brass knuckles

Dec 22 2020

Now that the second airline bailout is done – the CARES Act contained $50 billion plus invaluable tax relief for U.S. airlines – United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is already positioning for a third bailout. United Airlines is telling the employees they’re recalling from furlough to expect to be furloughed again after March.

EMT Falls Ill After Treating Passenger Who Died With Covid-19 On United Flight Last Week

by Gary Leff on December 21, 2020

Dec 21 2020

Three medical professionals on board administered chest compressions before the fire department arrived to the scene and removed the man to a hospital, where he passed away. There’s now video from onboard the plane during the time he was being treated by passengers.

EMTs among the passengers put themselves at risk to treat the man, whose mask had been removed, but that had been given an oxygen mask from the aircraft. One of them has since fallen ill with Covid-like symptoms.

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 »