Category Archives for Airlines.
Somehow I wasn’t familiar with the story of Aeroflot flight 6502 from Yekaterinburg to Kuibyshev to Grozny. On October 20, 1986 the pilot of the Tupolev Tu-134A bet his co-pilot that he could land the plane blind. He would draw the curtains on the cockpit windows and make an instrument-only approach.
People don’t think about the little niceties they can do for others when they fly. For instance how often does an airline club member guest someone in need into the lounge? My guess is that when we travel we don’t take the time to get to know what’s going on with fellow passengers.
It can be awkward or stilted to try. I know I’d hate to seem creepy approaching a stranger, even if it’s to do something nice for them.
Delta’s CEO told employees they’re looking to grow their service in Africa on their own metal, and not just through partnership with Kenya Airways.
Flight numbers frequently have meaning. Three years ago the final US Airways flight was US1939. It was given that number for the year the airline commenced operations.
Today American Airlines has at least two flight numbers which remind us just how American the airline is. And there’s at least one more flight number that’s just fun. Do you know of any other flight numbers like this at American?
American AAdvantage has added two more airlines for online redemption. These are two that most members will never use, but it’s going to add convenience for those who do — especially since that makes connections onto these carriers bookable as part of a larger award.
American is also updating their award chart online around 10 a.m. Eastern this morning to reflect award chart pricing changes for Hawaii that will go into effect January 16th.
Earlier this year Delta, United, and American took out a full page ad praising Donald Trump trying to curry favor, to build up capital, in hopes of cashing in for their own ends.
The lobby shop representing Delta, United, and American — the Orwellian “Partnership for Fair & Open Skies” which lobbies against Open Skies agreements — has put out a statement.
Delta wants you to believe that they are making the cheapest awards more restrictive to help you. Apparently Delta customers have been telling the airline that they want the flexibility not to be allowed to get seat assignments in advance. And they’ve been saying that more rules and restrictions are both simpler and more intuitive. As a result this is an enhancement you should like.
Basic economy tickets aren’t a ‘new way to offer cheaper fares’. They are new restrictions on the cheapest fares, a way of making the product worse so that some passengers will pay more.
Now that United, Delta, and American all offer Basic Economy fares (no advance seat assignment, no cancel/changes, no upgrades or extra legroom seats, and in United’s case no full-sized carry on bag) it’s only been a matter of time before one of the carriers tried booking award tickets into Basic Economy.
I admit to being surprised that it’s happened so quickly, since it’s not in the best interests of the airline – it’s a bad business decision – but I’m not surprised that it appears to be Delta going first.
About 5 years ago the ban on using personal electronics below 10,000 feet on U.S. flights was lifted. Now passengers can use their phones or tablets with the door closed, during taxi, and takeoff. But devices are supposed to be in airplane mode.
This is the first time I’ve heard of a real consequence for not doing that — though as a result of something that would only occur with certain airlines in Europe, the Mideast, and Asia.
Dubai-based Emirates tweeted out a photo of one of their Boeing 777s encrusted in Diamonds. For Emirates this is actually believable. And they serious Need. To. Do. This.
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 »
