Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Don’t Forget to Get Money Back When the Price of Your Airline Ticket Falls

by Gary Leff on July 14, 2018

Jul 14 2018

Years ago it was common to be able to request a credit when you bought a ticket, and the fare for the same flights dropped. Airlines used this to give you confidence buying and not waiting. You could lock in a price, protecting yourself against price increases, while not worrying that you might be overpaying.

Of course most people didn’t claim any money back. Most people buy a ticket and don’t check the price again later. Services popped up to automate this, and airlines because less customer-friendly. However several airlines are still fairly flexible giving you credits back.

Delta Introducing Pay With Miles to Upgrade Any Fare By End of Year

by Gary Leff on July 13, 2018

Jul 13 2018

Delta President Glen Hauenstein said in the introduction to the airline’s second quarter earnings call yesterday, “We continue to roll out more options that our customers are asking for, including the ability to paying with miles by the end of 2018.”

He didn’t elaborate on what exactly Delta plans to allow customers to pay for in his remarks. However later in the call CEO Ed Bastian explained.

How a Pilot Smoking in the Cockpit Caused His 737 to Lose Pressure and Descend 21,000 Feet

by Gary Leff on July 13, 2018

Jul 13 2018

I’ve held off writing about the Air China flight which lost cabin pressure and quickly descended 21,000 feet because there were missing pieces to the story that just didn’t make sense. The incident was being blamed on a pilot smoking in the cockpit.

While it’s understandable that a pilot doing so wouldn’t want to be outed out of fear for their job, it was not clear how the smoking was in any way related to the incident. Until now, that is.

Delta President: United and American are Losing Business Because of Harsh Basic Economy

by Gary Leff on July 13, 2018

Jul 13 2018

During yesterday’s second quarter earnings call, Duane Pfennigwerth of Evercore ISI asked whether the way “the rest of the industry has implemented basic economy so far… the more punitive implementations of it, no carry-on” has led to “positive share gain” (people choosing to fly Delta instead of United and American).

The 10 Highest Revenue Airline Routes from Dallas

by Gary Leff on July 12, 2018

Jul 12 2018

Last week I wrote about the 10 highest revenue airline routes in the world. British Airways New York JFK – London Heathrow exceeds a billion dollars a year.

Here are the top 10 revenue routes from Dallas Fort-Worth (all airlines) using OAG data, a fascinating mix.

Alert: American Airlines South America Award Space Open For Spring

by Gary Leff on July 11, 2018

Jul 11 2018

Award availability on American Airlines can be tough. I love my AAdvantage miles, mostly for booking travel on partners rather than on American. They’ve made coach award space better over the last 8 months or so, but premium cabin international award space can still be tough to get.

That’s why it’s notable when awards become booking on American flights, whether you’re using American AAdvantage miles or partner airline miles. And right now awards on South America flights in business class for spring are especially bookable.

Wide Open Business Class Award Space Non-stop to Singapore

by Gary Leff on July 11, 2018

Jul 11 2018

Singapore Airlines has loaded their new Los Angeles – Singapore non-stop into the schedule. It’s bookable, and business class awards are wide open with 2 seats available on most flights in both directions. Hurry because that won’t last.

Singapore Airlines Adding More Than One Los Angeles Non-Stop and 2nd San Francisco Non-Stop

by Gary Leff on July 11, 2018

Jul 11 2018

There’s been a lot of speculation about what Singapore Airlines would do with its extra Airbus A350ULR (ultra long range) capacity beyond a daily Newark and Los Angeles flight. And the answer is additional Los Angeles flying and additional San Francisco flying. San Francisco will not only have 2 United non-stops to Singapore and a Singapore Airlines non-stop to Singapore, they’ll have a second non-daily Singapore Airlines flight as well.

American Airlines Asked Its Employees About Therapy Pets in the Cabin. Here’s What They Think.

by Gary Leff on July 10, 2018

Jul 10 2018

American’s employees believe the current state of affairs where a flight departing a hurricane region could easily adopt the call sign ‘Noah’s Ark’ is disruptive. Employees agree the best approach is to allow service animals as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act — and not other animals — on board outside of existing ‘pet in cabin’ guidelines. In other words, accommodate passengers under the ADA instead of applying the more ambiguous Air Carrier Access Act rules.

That seems a reasonable policy response, using existing legal frameworks to provide for people with real needs while eliminating untrained animals of all stripes from the passenger cabin. Do you agree with the majority of American’s employees? What do you think?

Southwest Airlines Eliminates Peanuts – And Part of Their History

by Gary Leff on July 10, 2018

Jul 10 2018

Southwest Airlines will stop serving peanuts August 1 citing passenger allergies. That’s really notable because of the history of ‘peanuts’ intertwined with the airline since its founding.

While peanuts are now a snack, they once stood for how frugal the airline was: other airlines served meals while Southwest served just peanuts. Peanuts at Southwest were once known as ‘Love Bites.’..

Airlines

Don’t Forget to Get Money Back When the Price of Your Airline Ticket Falls

Delta Introducing Pay With Miles to Upgrade Any Fare By End of Year

How a Pilot Smoking in the Cockpit Caused His 737 to Lose Pressure and Descend 21,000 Feet

Delta President: United and American are Losing Business Because of Harsh Basic Economy

The 10 Highest Revenue Airline Routes from Dallas

Alert: American Airlines South America Award Space Open For Spring

Wide Open Business Class Award Space Non-stop to Singapore

Singapore Airlines Adding More Than One Los Angeles Non-Stop and 2nd San Francisco Non-Stop

American Airlines Asked Its Employees About Therapy Pets in the Cabin. Here’s What They Think.

Southwest Airlines Eliminates Peanuts – And Part of Their History

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About Gary Leff

	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)
	Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]