Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

US Government: Airlines Must Contact Everyone They Refused A Refund To And Offer One

by Gary Leff

Apr 03 2020

DOT is telling airlines that continuing to deny refunds for cancelled flights and significant schedule changes is “a violation of the carriers’ obligation that could subject the carrier to an enforcement action.”

However the government will not act against airlines that have improperly refused refunds already provided they get their act together and fix their policy, educate staff about the change, and contact everyone that already took a voucher to let them know they are entitled to a refund.

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Department Of Transportation Will Make Airlines Offer Refunds For Cancelled Flights

by Gary Leff

united plane
Apr 03 2020

In an interview Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao says that airlines have to refund customers when they cancel flights. That’s clear, published DOT policy.

Secretary Chao also said that the government should not ground the airlines, and that flying decisions should be left up to them – and that the nation needs the airlines flying, even now.

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Revealed: How Much Money Lost Luggage Really Costs The Airlines

by Gary Leff

Apr 02 2020

At an internal meeting on Friday, American Airlines President Robert Isom told employees “every lost bag is nearly $60.” That amount was new to me.

In January alone American mishandled 74,975 bags, the most in the industry by far, and not any improvement over the prior year. At $60 per bag it cost American $4.5 million, and annualized at the same rate $54 million. Extrapolating similar costs for the industry would mean US carriers losing over $160 million a year to mishandled bags.

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American Airlines Reminds Flight Attendants To Pitch Credit Cards During Coronavirus Crisis

by Gary Leff

steward on plane
Apr 02 2020

American Airlines and their credit card partner Barclays have updated the offer for the credit card they market inflight. And with this change, American Airlines is again encouraging flight attendants to hand out paper applications on board to passengers, even while they’re reducing the rest of their service levels to promote health and safety of cabin crew and customers alike.

American Airlines sent out a message to flight attendants who have been through training to qualify to pitch the card inflight.

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American Airlines Suggests Employees Take A Second Job At Amazon And Instacart

by Gary Leff

Apr 01 2020

Even though U.S. airlines are getting access to a $58 billion federal bailout, and even though taking government money places limits on furloughing employees, there are going to be employees who do lose their jobs, lose their hours, and also just have time on their hands.

American Airlines has set up relationships to facilitate hiring of their employees by 6 large companies who are looking for workers.

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What Should Loyalty Programs Do While People Aren’t Traveling?

by Gary Leff

Apr 01 2020

Loyalty programs need to stay relevant. When people aren’t traveling, they aren’t engaging with the brand. Expect co-brand credit card applications to fall. There will be fewer new customers, and perhaps even more people than usual will cancel cards when annual fees come do. Both the number of active members of a program will drop and the size of the credit card portfolio will decline as well. The volume of card spend is likely to fall in recession.

Yet loyalty programs are key to a travel brand’s resurgence. What should they be doing?

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Elizabeth Warren And Bernie Sanders Demand Airline Ticket Refunds

by Gary Leff

bernie sanders
Mar 31 2020

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and several Senate colleagues including Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and 6 others, announced a letter to the CEOs of major U.S. airlines demanding “every company to issue full cash refunds to all customers who cancel their flights during the COVID-19 crisis.”

They don’t just want refunds for passengers whose flights are cancelled, they want refunds for everyone. But they’re a little late, grandstanding after they’ve given up any leverage by voting for the $58 billion airline bailout.

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American Airlines Will Fly Even Less In May, Considers Retiring Another Arcraft Type

by Gary Leff

american plane
Mar 31 2020

American Airlines thinks their May schedule – targeted at 20% of its normal domestic flying and 10% of international – will be closer to demand. That’s what airline President Robert Isom told flight attendants in an online question and answer session on Friday.

With less flying they’re looking at retiring not just Embraer E-190s, Boeing 757s and 767s, but also Airbus A330-300s. Currently 135 of the airline’s 150 widebody jets are parked. Yet they’re still planning to take delivery of new 737 MAX and 787 aircraft this year.

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