Category Archives for General.
American Airlines announced that August 1 is the date they’ll begin to move to a revenue-based frequent flyer program with the method for earning miles on American’s own flights changing on that day.
The airline’s President, Scott Kirby, has told investors that the revenue-based frequent flyer program will drive higher revenues. That’s unlikely to be true.
The oneworld alliance no longer requires to through-check luggage onto partner airlines when passengers are traveling on more than one reservation.
Cathay Pacific has announced that they are not only ending through-checked luggage on separate reservations, they are going a step further and will no longer provide protection during irregular operations to passengers traveling on two different reservations.
The demise of TWA is often blamed on investor Carl Icahn who acquired the airline in 1988 through a leveraged buyout. But the reason it was an attractive buyout target even then was because its assets were of greater value than the airline.
The biggest strategic problem that TWA faced was St. Louis. While other airlines were making money in the late 90s, TWA wasn’t, and that was largely a function of their home market. St. Louis didn’t have nearly the percentage of high yield business passengers as other airline hub cities.
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.
On June 1 the oneworld alliance (which includes airlines like American, British Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and more) changed its policies so that member airlines no longer had to check bags to their final destination for passengers traveling on more than one reservation on a oneworld airline.
Member airlines also wouldn’t be required to check customers in to their final destination on the second reservation, either.
American’s moves this week leaves Alaska Airlines as the last major mileage-based airline frequent flyer program in the U.S.
Back in March Alaska Airlines said they wouldn’t be going to a revenue-based frequent flyer program where miles earned for travel is based on the cost of a ticket rather than distance flown. However:
Supermodel Karlie Kloss tweeted her disdain for Philippine Airlines this week. And it got plenty of attention because… she’s a supermodel and a former Victoria’s Secret Angel.
She doesn’t actually say what her problem with the airline was. Fortunately, Philippine Airlines tells us.
There are two easy offers for free United miles worth taking advantage of quickly.
You can earn 500 United miles for joining e-rewards and taking one survey. Even more valuable is this offer: 750 United miles for joining MyPoints.
Effective June 1 oneworld airlines no longer are required to interline bags (or even check you in for connecting flights) when traveling on separate reservations. This is a hugely-unfriendly move.
Here’s what it means for your travel and why it’s happening.
Several days ago we saw Europe roundtrips in the $400s. Some of these fares were leftover from Memorial Weekend, but in general in any case had to be booked that day — and didn’t necessarily make it the full day.
But the fares are back, and they’re getting even better..!
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 »
