Commentary

Category Archives for Commentary.

Why Aren’t Flight Attendant Jobs Glamorous Anymore?

by Gary Leff on August 29, 2019

Aug 29 2019

Deregulation has meant more people have access to the skies thanks to lower prices (the government used to mandate high prices most people couldn’t afford). Flying has become more small-d democratic. Without government protection for airlines wages haven’t grown.

Working as a pilot was once glamorous, but the relative status of pilots has fared (somewhat) better than flight attendants. Some of the same effects have influenced the way we regard pilots today versus 40 years ago, although there are additional factors that have made serving as a flight attendant fall in status even more than flying up front.

Prince William’s Family Flew Private After All, But It Was a Crappy Regional Jet Cut Them Some Slack

by Gary Leff on August 26, 2019

Aug 26 2019

On Saturday I wrote about Prince William and Kate Middleton taking a coach FlyBe trip. The royals are no stranger to flying commercial, and as I noted even flying economy. At times it’s been because there weren’t any first class seats available, and other times because the best seats from a security standpoint are at the back of the aircraft.

This time, however, blog commenter Pete points out that the aircraft they flew turns out to be a substitute Embraer ERJ-145 brought in just for them.

Customers Are Giving Themselves Elite Status at Businesses Without Loyalty Programs

by Gary Leff on August 25, 2019

Aug 25 2019

Loyalty marketing is a near-universal. It has two components, recognition (elite benefits) and rewards (rebates). Different elements move the needle more for different customers, different businesses can authentically utilize each in varying proportions, and some products can truly replace traditional awareness advertising with loyalty marketing while others need to first generate broad attention.

When a business develops a relationship with a customer it doesn’t always realize it.

Standing With the Protesters in Hong Kong

by Gary Leff on August 14, 2019

Aug 14 2019

Tell me you can watch Hong Kong airport protesters since “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Miserables without crying. The song, by the way, is banned in China.

It’s not clear what the U.S. can do, or any of us can beyond paying attention, outside intervention could just as easily play into Chinese hands dismissing and minimizing the moment as some sort of external plot, delegitimizing the grassroots nature of the protests.

We may not be able to do very much, but we have our sympathy to offer and we can be inspired by what people will risk for freedom and not be so cavalier about giving away our own.

Do Coach Passengers Suffer Because First Class is Getting Worse?

by Gary Leff on August 10, 2019

Aug 10 2019

Christopher Elliott bends himself into a pretzel to support whatever new narrative produces a pro-consumer, anti-business, populist column. He used to argue that coach passengers were subsidizing first class. He used to argue that loyalty programs are bad for you and should be avoided and also that the existence of first class was an affront to democracy.

Elliott seems to forget which direction traffic flowed over the Berlin Wall, and indeed not to realize that even North Korea’s Air Koryo and Cuba’s Cubana de Aviacion offer business class.

A New Way to Describe Elites Rushing the Gate to Board

by Gary Leff on August 5, 2019

Why Charlotte Needs Another American Airlines Admirals Club

Aug 05 2019

There are all sorts of tales and frustrations around passengers crowding the boarding line. Those who line up early, blocking the way for passengers in early boarding groups, are sometimes derisively referred to as “gate lice.” The sort of passenger who doesn’t know the drill, that it isn’t time for them to board yet, is the once a year (at most) flyer sometimes referred to as a “kettle” (as in ‘Ma’ and Pa’ Kettle).

But Ms. Blumenthal turns this elitism on its head, offering us the platinum push off to describe the elite who knocks everyone out of the way as their boarding group is called. Her husband, she says, is a master.

United, American and Delta CEOs are Meeting With President Trump This Afternoon to Pick Your Pockets

by Gary Leff on July 18, 2019

Jul 18 2019

Impossible to Parody. The CEOs of United, Delta, and American are meeting with President Trump this afternoon to promote protectionism and argue that the U.S. should abrogate its treaty obligations with the U.A.E. and Qatar because those smaller airlines receive subsidies from their home countries — an argument the carriers have spent the past four years making without credibility or success.

American Airlines Flight Attendant Threatens to Make Life Difficult for Asian Woman Returning to the U.S.

by Gary Leff on July 17, 2019

Jul 17 2019

According to the passenger the family was filming the flight attendant because they found her rude on the plane.

Apparently the mother in the family had fallen ill and sought direction on “properly dispos[ing] of her throw up” and the family claims that the flight attendant responded “oh please I’ve been dealing with you people for 30 years.” They also claim the flight attendant followed up on her threat with customs staff.

Huge Cruise Deal and a Fascinating Look at L.A. Aviation

by Gary Leff on July 16, 2019

Jul 16 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

Out Today: Nomadic Matt’s Ten Years on the Road