Airlines

Category Archives for Airlines.

Award Alert: 4 or More Business Class Award Seats to Asia From Several US Cities

by Gary Leff on June 14, 2018

Jun 14 2018

I frequently highlight awards bookable with American AAdvantge miles in premium cabins because they tend to make fewer seats available than many other airlines on their own planes and because they have fewer partners through the oneworld alliance than United does through Star.

As a result it’s worth jumping when there are plenty of award seats available on long haul routes. That’s doubly true when you’re looking for more than two seats, because finding availability for four is exponentially harder much of the time and to many destinations.

Etihad Lost $1.5 Billion Last Year — After a $2 Billion Loss the Year Before

by Gary Leff on June 14, 2018

Jun 14 2018

Etihad is in the midst of re-organizing its business. The airline that launched after Gulf Air eliminated its Abu Dhabi hub by hiring away Gulf Air’s CEO adopted a strategy of buying stakes in troubled airlines around the world and redirecting their connecting traffic through Abu Dhabi. But that didn’t work out very well — the available carriers were in some cases real basket cases and not candidates for turning around with new uniforms and group purchasing agreements.

When energy prices dropped the Al Nahyan family’s appetite for absorbing losses in exchange for growing an international hub airline ran out.

United Introducing Premium Economy This Month

by Gary Leff on June 13, 2018

Jun 13 2018

United has been slow to retrofit its fleet with new Polaris business class seats. Only 11 planes have been retrofit with these seats since the program was announced two years ago.

So far United says only 3 Boeing 777-200 planes have the new seats. This is the aircraft that’s getting international premium economy first, and that product will become available this month.

3 Notable Experiences Flying American Airlines on Monday

by Gary Leff on June 13, 2018

Jun 13 2018

American’s food service in its clubs has really been boosted, and perceptions of their club experience should be upgraded as a result. Onboard I got a predeparture beverage, and that’s actually notable. And I tried a special meal at breakfast for the first time, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be the passport to a great inflight meal the way it is at lunch and dinner.

United Close-in Booking Trick Seems to Be Dead?

by Gary Leff on June 12, 2018

Jun 12 2018

United charges up to $75 for awards booked within 21 days of departure. However the ‘book farther out then change’ trick with United has persisted for a long time. I’ve written about it or linked to others writing about it many times.

Daily Show Mocks American Airlines New Miserable Lavatories

by Gary Leff on June 11, 2018

Jun 11 2018

American’s new Boeing 737 MAX interior has seats with less space between them than ever before, less recline, and no seat back entertainment. They are installing satellite wifi and bigger overhead bins, but to squeeze in even more seats — they’ve gone from 150 seats to 172 seats on this size aircraft in just four years — they’re shrinking the bathrooms onboard.

One American Airlines pilot describes these lavatories as the most miserable experience in the world. He says he’ll refuse to deadhead on the aircraft to get to his duty assignment.

American Will No Longer Be As Flexible With Same Day Changes When You Call Reservations

by Gary Leff on June 11, 2018

Jun 11 2018

American Airlines is already a lot stricter with same day confirmed changes than their competitors are.

Consistent with the American’s overall move to limit agent flexibility they’ve changed how reservations agents process same day standby.

There is no de jure change here, but a de facto change in what reservations agents will be able to do for customers. They’ll no longer be able to ignore other business rules when E inventory is available

American Airlines Bringing Back Bread, Standardizing Wine, and Using Smaller Napkins

by Gary Leff on June 10, 2018

Jun 10 2018

Jill Surdek, American’s Vice President – Flight Service, updated crew on several projects underway and on several tweaks to the airline’s onboard service.

Flight Leaves Without Anyone’s Checked Luggage, Airline Won’t Pay to Deliver Bags

by Gary Leff on June 9, 2018

Jun 09 2018

Sun Country Airlines has transformed itself into a low cost carrier. They brought in a CEO from Allegiant. They’re abolishing their elite program. They’re eliminating first class.

And in a sign, perhaps, of things to come they stranded hundreds of passengers in Mexico in April.

Southwest Airlines Offering Status Matches

by Gary Leff on June 8, 2018

Jun 08 2018

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards has a new campaign to attract other airlines’ best customers. They will give you their elite status right away.