Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Data Shows How Big U.S. Airlines Are Approaching Recovery Differently

by Gary Leff

man in suit looking at computer screen
Jun 11 2020

This weekend, both United Airlines and American Airlines updated their schedules for July, whereas Delta jumped ahead of the curve and loaded their July schedules 2 weeks ago. There are now many airports where Delta used to reign that American isn’t just bigger – but bigger than Delta and United combined.

Both American and Southwest are positioned to be far larger than their competitors, which will either position them to become more effective businesses going forward or turn out to be a gamble that burns through substantial cash.

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Palestinians Reject Historic Cargo Flight From UAE Carrying COVID Supplies

by Gary Leff

Jun 11 2020

On May 18 Etihad operated its first ever flight to Israel, flying an Airbus A330 full of cargo from Abu Dhabi to Tel Avvi carrying supplies including ventilators bound for the Palestinian territory. However the Palestinian authority rejected the shipment because the U.A.E. coordinated the shipment with Israel, rather than directly with them.

This week Etihad tried again. The first flight was operated by an Airbus A330 painted white. This time it was a Boeing 787-9 in Etihad colors, there was nothing hidden about the shipment.

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It’s Time To Lift U.S. Travel Restrictions On China And Europe

by Gary Leff

Jun 10 2020

It makes no sense to ban travel from places where virus spread has slowed to a much lower pace than it’s already circulating here, especially when we’re not banning travel from some of the places in the world where the virus is spreading fastest.

The China travel ban failed because the CDC blew its implementation and the Europe travel ban came too late. Those were policies that might have helped if implemented at the right time and in the right way back in January and February. But they no longer make sense in June.

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Earn 10 Aeroplan Miles Per Dollar On Uber Eats Food Delivery

by Gary Leff

Jun 09 2020

Earning Aeroplan miles is independent of payment method. That means you can choose any credit card to pay that is bonusing food deliver (or, like Capital One, that is letting you redeem miles at full value to pay for food delivery).

That means this is an entirely new, stackable, avenue of value for Uber Eats food delivery orders which is huge – especially since Aeroplan lets you redeem for Star Alliance awards on their website, at reasonable rates and many partners without fuel surcharges, and now including awards on Etihad as well.

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With Few Passengers, Three Airlines Pivot To Selling Inflight Meals To The Public

by Gary Leff

Jun 09 2020

I could see airline meal delivery services finally taking off. I’d happily pay for Singapore Airlines laksa or ANA ramen at home. Not Ural Airlines chicken or frozen Canadian airline Thai food. But I’d love to try Thai’s meals – if they succeed in the Bangkok market they’d probably be ‘good enough’ to expand and offer Thai frozen food internationally.

Here in Austin I’d happily stock my freezer with their stir fried tiger prawns with salt, garlic and chili. I’m not sure $8 in Bangkok having to pre-order and pick it up makes this a winning business strategy, however.

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Austria Passes Minimum Ticket Prices And New Airline Taxes

by Gary Leff

lufthansa plane
Jun 09 2020

Austria’s government bailed out Austrian Airlines with about half a billion dollars, even after its German parent obtained a $9.8 billion aid package. Part of Austria’s bailout includes moves to protect the airline from competition, under the guise of environmental responsibility.

Last summer Lufthansa’s CEO declared that only the wealthy should fly arguing that the cheapest flights offered by competitors are “economically, ecologically, and politically irresponsible.” And all it took was a global pandemic to get those cheap flights banned.

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American Airlines No Longer Lets Employees Offer Compensation For Broken Seats, Missing Meals

by Gary Leff

Jun 08 2020

Effective Monday American Airlines has taken away the tool airports, flight attendants, and reservations used to compensate customers when a crew member spills a drink on them, their seat is broken, or their inflight meal didn’t get loaded onto the aircraft.

To save money, instead of compensating customers when things go wrong, employees are supposed to show they care and acknowledge what the customer is saying… just not do anything about it.

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