Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

The Real Reason Coach Travel Isn’t As Pleasant As It Used To Be

by Gary Leff

airplane seats
Feb 16 2020

The reason that air travel in coach isn’t as luxurious as it was 50 years ago is because of deregulation. Air travel is much less expensive. Planes are full – and the number one determinant of a pleasant flight in back is whether you have an empty seat next to you. Airlines don’t operate with the high margins they did when government prevented them from competing with each other on price. As a result they don’t invest in luxurious food to lure travelers away from competitors, since they weren’t allowed us use low prices.

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One Restriction That Will Be Placed On Elites When Alaska Joins oneworld

by Gary Leff

lounge
Feb 16 2020

If you are a oneworld sapphire member – think British Airways Silver – you get lounge access domestically within the U.S. even though American Airlines frequent flyers don’t.

In fact oneworld sapphires, which is the mid-tier elite level, get American’s Flagship lounge (international business class lounge) access on U.S. domestic itineraries. American gets a carve-out in oneworld rules so they do not have to offer this to their own members.

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The Gate Agent Who Argued With Me About The Difference Between 40 Seconds And One Minute

by Gary Leff

Feb 15 2020

When I made it onto the aircraft my first class seat was still empty. They were going to send the flight out with an empty first class seat, which was great for me, not great for the next person on the upgrade list.

We arrived on time and that makes American’s operational stats appear improved but the little pieces that matter to customers along the way are still a problem.

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Why Alaska Airlines Will Devalue Mileage Plan As Part Of Joining oneworld

by Gary Leff

alaska airlines plane
Feb 14 2020

American Airlines had been winding down its partnership with Alaska Airlines. American viewed Alaska Airlines as a competitor once Alaska acquired Virgin America. They emphasized the substantial route overlap rather than the unique contributions of each airline.

Now they’ve done a 180 degree turn. But for this to work for American, can Alaska have such a generous frequent flyer program?

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Delta Claims They’ll Be Carbon Neutral Starting Next Month, And I’m… Skeptical

by Gary Leff

delta plane
Feb 14 2020

Ultimately this is long on narrative, and in the near-term relies mostly on buying carbon offsets which are questionable in effectiveness and limited in supply (if every company wanted to fully offset there wouldn’t be nearly enough opportunity to go around, so Delta is in some sense just bidding up the price of offsets that will be taking place anyway).

Noble goals, and surely they’ll make progress towards those goals, but the claim that they’ll be a carbon neutral airline next month is dubious to say the least.

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New American Airlines Video Claims Cramming More Seats Into Planes Is ‘Amazing’ For Passengers

by Gary Leff

Feb 13 2020

American Airlines has a new internal video for employees explaining that cramming more seats onto planes is good for business and good for customers too. Vasu Raja, the airline’s Senior Vice President of Network Strategy, says that densifying “both for our customers, for our team, and for the future of american airlines that’s an amazing thing.”

There are four basic arguments American makes. I don’t think they hold up well to scrutiny.

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