Category Archives for Airlines.
There was a rumor swirling earlier in the year that American Airlines would reverse course and start giving back some space to passengers in coach as well as seat back entertainment screens.
While there’s a report confirming some fixes to American’s new ‘Oasis’ first class, it looks like there’s no reprieve in sight for customers in the main cabin — and the fixes up front may even come at a cost to passengers looking for extra legroom economy.
Frequent flyer programs are really two separate and distinct efforts under the same banner: recognition and reward. Reward is mileage earning and redemption. Recognition consists of the (elite) benefits offered.
In the U.S. airline programs are generous by world standards in offering unsold domestic premium cabin seats as upgrades. However they aren’t as generous with service-oriented benefits.
Ariline Weekly founding editor Seth Kaplan writes at The Points Guy that Southwest Airlines may be doing worse at New York LaGuardia than at Newark, and they pulled out of Newark. He says they shouldn’t pull out of LaGuardia, though, and shouldn’t have left Newark.
The challenge of course is that at this point, given slot controls at two of the three New York airport and shortage of gates, it’s incredibly difficult to re-enter the market if you leave. Do they need to change their business model to succeed?
Most provisions of Canada’s new Air Passenger Protection Regulations went into effect July 15. They lay out new rules that apply to flights to, from, and within Canada – including connecting flights.
One of the rules is that when an airline damages or loses luggage they must refund checked baggage fees they collected. After all, they didn’t provide the service they charged for – prompt transport of luggage from one place to the next, delivering it in the condition it was received (outside of normal wear and tear).
This past weekend a Ural Airlines Airbus A321 landed in a field after a double bird strike drawing comparisons to the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ US Airways flight 1549 ten years earlier.
Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenberger became an American hero as the captain of that US Airways flight, and Tom Hanks played him wonderfully on the big screen. Now he’s being ‘honored’ in a different way.
This week a video went viral of a Delta passenger living his dream as the only on on board his Delta flight from Aspen to Salt Lake City. Even on that 292 mile regional jet hop it’s a cool experience.
Seeing it described in a variety of media as being ‘like a private jet experience’ though reminded me that four years ago Delta announced elite upgrade opportunities to private jets. What ever happened to Delta’s private jet upgrade program?
Star Alliance member Thai Airways, whose President says there’s “never a day without a problem,” has a six point plan to return to profitability.
It involves getting passengers to e-mail in ideas for cost-cutting, sell more services through its mobile app, add a new route to Japan, and partner with a Thai cafe chain that’s found inside of gas stations.
A 26 year old worker at the Havana airport stowed away in the baggage hold of a Swift Air charter flight to Miami.
Apparently witnesses heard “what sounded like a dog barking in the cargo area” and upon investigation found the man who “asked for water.”
Scott is a Southwest Airlines agent in Phoenix. The day after a United Airlines passenger was dragged off a flight in Chicago, he came up with a song to let passengers know they were valued – and wouldn’t be dragged off on Southwest.
Now he greets arriving flights with his song, to the tune of the theme to The Golden Girls, it’s “Thank You for Flying Southwest”
Cathay Pacific’s CEO Rupert Hogg, and the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, have resigned. Hogg has been well-regarded in the role, driving a turnaround in the airline’s finances.
Ultimately the move is harmful to China’s ability to maintain Hong Kong as a business center, showing how the state will meddle in corporate affairs rather than adhering to “one country two systems.”
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 »
