Category Archives for Airlines.
Delta Air Lines confirmed during its second quarter earnings call a plan for ‘basic business.’ Just like they have ‘unbundled’ economy class, offering basic economy that doesn’t allow changes or mileage-earning and where you don’t get to pick your own seat, they view ‘unbundling’ of the features of business class a new step in maximizing revenue from customers.
Delta Air Lines is earning half the industry’s profit. They had a 13.6% operating margin and made $1.3 billion in the last quarter. That’s great – except that both figures are down year-over-year and the airline lowered its guidance for the third quarter as well. Their stock lost 8% of its value at the open on Thursday’s morning’s announcement, though it gained half of that back by the end of the trading day.
The airline’s spin is that there’s too much capacity, and the problem is other airlines, but the industry is correcting itself. In other words, the problem isn’t Delta, and going forward Delta won’t have a problem. I don’t think this actually makes sense.
Union organizers at Delta are lambasting management for not sticking up for flight attendants who wear Palestine flag pins. In fact, they’re publicly standing up for flight attendants who have been wearing Palestine flag pins.
Fiji Airways will launch non-stop service from Dallas – Fort Worth to Nadi, Fiji. This route makes a ton of sense, with the carrier becoming a full member of oneworld and adopting American’s AAdvantage as its frequent flyer program. I would not be surprised to see them add Seattle, home to oneworld member Alaska Airlines, in the future as well.
Star Alliance frequent flyer program Avianca LifeMiles is testing points transfers with Brazilian carrier Gol, which is a much bigger deal than it might seem at first.
I have a bit of an idiosyncratic preference for the bulkhead seats at the front of the cabin when I’m flying business class. And most people would disagree. In fact, in many cases the first row of business class is going to be unpopular when it’s right behind the galley and right behind the lavatory.
American Airlines flight 590 from Tampa to Phoenix was preparing to take off this morning when tires on the right main gear burst. The pilots rejected takeoff at a speed of around 150 knots and vacated the runway at the last turnoff. A fire ensued and after several minutes fire crew responded.
Japan Airlines business class awards are wide open from a number of different cities, and you can book them using American Airlines or Alaska Airlines miles – as well as points from credit card transfer progams.
You’ll find availability out of Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and even San Francisco, New York JFK Dallas and San Diego. Broadly speaking this is available for winter months, with most available dates offering 2 business class award seats but some dates offering 4 seats.
A passenger off of Saturday’s American Airliens flight 2213 from Los Cabos, Mexico to Dallas – Fort Worth shared that as they deplaned the aircraft on arrival, they were allowed to walk straight into the terminal – rather than being diverted to immigration and customs as you’d suspect arriving off of an international flight.
According to local reports, police responded to the airline’s office to issue a ‘first warning’ but employees “made trouble for the police officers,” and they responded by closing the office but will be permitted to re-open.
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 »
