Category Archives for Airlines.
On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, an Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an attempted emergency landing. The flight, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, was enroute from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, when it diverted to Aktau due to adverse weather conditions.
Air France KLM Flying Blue is offering awards on short-distance Delta flights for as few as 1,500 miles (and just 4,000 miles in first class). Compare Delta for similar flights and you’ll find prices of 15,000 or more in coach, and over 30,000 miles for first class.
For a currency to continue to be attractive, it needs to deliver value – managers can’t just focus on sales to third parties, they have to focus on the customers who ultimately want the miles. And they want it because of the travel possibilities that it opens up, from redemptions to treatment with the airline. It’s important not to forget that the programs can actually create loyalty to the airline itself and not just to the in-wallet plastic; actually putting butts in seats and at a premium.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker will resign on January 20, the day of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Whitaker was appointed by President Biden and confirmed in October 2023 for a five-year term. Aviation watchdog JonNYC reports on word that JSX CEO Alex Wilcox is a finalist to run the FAA.
Starting January 1, 2025, United will introduce Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée champagne in Polaris business class along with 3 additional new wines: Freemark Abbey cabernet, E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Luca ‘G Lot’ chardonnay.
Earlier this month American Airlines cracked down on their reservations agents making changes to passenger itineraries for free when the schedule change was less than 15 minutes. That actually seems fair but as a passenger it’s still disappointing.
Some accounts update quickly, while others experience delays. It can take 72 hours, but usually takes just a few. Bear in mind that you may now be booking mixed Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines itineraries, and your choice of loyalty program affects benefits.
In January, eight black men were removed from an American Airlines Phoenix – New York flight ostensibly due to their odor. The men did not know each other and were not traveling together.
The airline has now settled a lawsuit filed by three of the men – and changed their rules for kicking passengers off of flights.
Former American Airlines CEO Doug Parker co-hosted this week’s Airlines Confidential podcast and was asked for his best travel tip. He offered don’t ever check a bag. Parker though goes on to offer something much more important.
Parker offered that when he was acquiring US Airways as CEO of America West, David Bonderman no longer had a financial interest in the Arizona-based airline. However he called Parker three or four times, and urged him to name the combined airline America West rather than US Airways. And Parker concedes Bonderman was right.
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 »
