Delta and United announced that their elite status would be extended through the end of next year. Air Canada followed on Monday. Now Alaska Airlines has announced their own extension of elite status, along with companion certificates, and shared other things to expect for elite members in the weeks ahead.
Airlines
Category Archives for Airlines.
The United Airlines Denver Face Mask Factory Is Up And Running
There are few flights, few passengers. The airlines are applying for government money that limits their ability to furlough workers.
So instead of sitting idle they’re spending their time making masks. Quality, non-scammy masks are hard to source. Delta even had half a million masks stolen.
How The Government Bailout Could Wind Up Unionizing Delta Air Lines
Delta can’t take government money and furlough pilots. Without the ability to furlough pilots they can’t get pilots to agree to cuts. And pilots getting full pay while everyone else suffers is going to make it hard for Delta to make the case to other work groups to remain non-union.
Air Canada Extends Elite Status And Makes It Easy To Keep Earning – And Gifting – Status
Air Canada has come up with a couple of interesting things to make it worth continuing to earn status and make it even easier to do so even while doing something good during the current crisis.
Two Programs Failing Members, Continue To Expire Points During Coronavirus Crisis
Loyalty programs will need their program members again soon. These are the people who can be incentivized to fill seats and rooms. They’re the ones who will either be chased away by a program which treats them poorly during this challenging time, or lured away by a program who treats them well.
So I think it’s especially notable which programs are still expiring their members’ miles.
American Airlines Employees Can No Longer Sit In Domestic First Class
About a week and a half ago I wrote that if you must travel now, you should consider turning down the first class upgrade. There’s not much service or food to speak of, so you really just get a bigger seat. But first class is more full than coach. You’ll be more comfortable – and more socially distanced – by sitting in back and spreading out in your own row.
American Airlines has basically taken this approach and made it mandatory for their employees who as traveling as non-revenue passengers. “Nonrevs” can no longer fly first class on narrowbody aircraft.
United Drops Requirements To Earn Elite Status By 50%, And Reducing Next Year’s Requirements Too
United is extending everyone’s current elite status through January 31, 2021 and extending club memberships by 6 months as well as extending PlusPoints upgrades by 6 months that were set to expire through January 31, 2021.
They are also dropping requirements to earn status by 50%.
American Airlines Pauses Its New York Operation, Drops Flights 95%
On Sunday I wrote that American Airlines was operating more flights out of Newark airport than United Airlines. That seemed insane, considering United’s major hub at the airport. With the coronavirus crisis limiting air travel generally, and the New York area the current epicenter of fighting the virus in the United States, continuing to operate even 15 flights from Newark hardly seemed to make sense for American.
It seems the Dallas-based carrier realizes this, and has pulled down its schedule from the three major U.S. airports to just 13 flights in total from April 7 through May 6.
United Airlines Extends Elite Status A Year, Club Memberships By 6 Months
Delta was first out of the gate to extend current member elite status through January 2022.
United clearly had a status extension plan in the can, ready to go, and was just waiting to see if another airline forced their hand – because within hours, on a Sunday afternoon, United’s MileagePlus is also announcing a status extension.
Airline Trade Association Blasts Requirement To Refund Customers For Cancelled Flights
The U.S. government is requiring airlines to follow the law and refund customers whose flights are cancelled and the International Air Transport Association is complaining.
Airlines are on the verge of being partially nationalized it shouldn’t come as any surprise they’re already viewing customers like taxpayers.