Category Archives for Airlines.
It’s no secret that JetBlue has struggled with its transatlantic flights. Right now that’s to our benefit because they’re making business class award space widely available across a number of their flights, in some cases between now and end of spring, and for at least two and sometimes more passengers at a time.
There are a number of issues that flight attendants are unhappy with in the new contract their union negotiated with American. The last time cabin crew voted on a contract, they voted it down. The union is doing a good job selling it, in my opinion, but the membership is clearly divided – and their powerful LAX base president has given new voice to the opposition.
Singapore Airlines has struggled with service to Houston since launching in summer 2008. Initially they operated one-stop from Houston to Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Singapore. In October 2016 that switched to Houston – Manchester, U.K. – Singapore.
Raising more money for airlines by delivering a better product to customers is a better and more sustainable business model in a competitive industry than trying to charge more for the same or lesser product.
Beware Googling airline phone numbers because scam travel agencies have corrupted the results. You call thinking you’re reaching your airline, but the person on the other end charges you for changes you are entitled to for free – like a new flight when yours is cancelled, or seat assignments.
Passengers on board Alaska Airlines flight 3492, operated by regional partner SkyWest, experienced an unexpected diversion that left many scratching their heads. The flight departed from San Francisco bound for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but was rerouted to Salt Lake City when the pilot revealed he wasn’t qualified to land at the destination airport.
It’s interesting to look at what American Airlines flight attendants didn’t get in their negotiations. They’re going to get boarding pay – they’ll be paid for the time spent boarding an aircraft – but that doesn’t start until six months after the contract is ratified. They’re going to get higher 401(k) contributions, but that doesn’t start until 2025. They aren’t going to get higher staffing levels. They won’t even get pre-pandemic staffing levels restored.
A Voepass ATR 72-500, registered as PS-VPB, tragically crashed near São Paulo, Brazil today, while operating flight 2Z-2283 from Cascavel to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport. The aircraft was carrying 62 people on board, including 58 passengers and 4 crew members.
About six months ago United put a new status match system in place. It automates the process of considering credentials that a member is asking to match against. It looks at the status you already have and decides whether it looks valid and regularly approves status matches instantly.
However it appears that this new system doesn’t actually check whether what you’ve submitted as proof of status from another airline is… real.
At the end of May, American Airlines announced the departure of Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja, and downgraded earnings projections, as business and managed travel revenue dropped off amidst a cost-cutting campaign that pushed those customers and resellers to move their interactions with the airline online.
He’s still being paid through January and isn’t going to speak too much out of turn. But he’s giving his first interviews since the split.
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 »
