News and notes from around the interweb:
- Wide ranging discussion with Delta’s new CEO. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. On the topic of SkyMiles, he deflects and talks about how great the rest of the airline is. And trots out several misleading claims. They do run an amazing operation independent of SkyMiles but in terms of authenticity and fair dealing with customers Delta still lags.
- Through June 12 Virgin America is offering a 50% bonus on redeemable points and on elite qualifying points for flights between San Francisco or Los Angeles and Boston, New York JFK, Newark, and Washington DC (both DCA and Dulles). Registration required.
- IHG Rewards Club is offering up to 30,000 points when you book direct for stays in Asia, Middle East, and Africa through August 31.
- Delta will be launching a premium economy cabin on their Airbus A350s which will fly primarily transpacific in the second quarter of 2017. We don’t know many more details, other than that planes with premium economy should not also have “Comfort+” extra legroom seating.
- Cranky Flier sees Delta’s order for Bombardier C-series aircraft as good news for travelers, an improvement over the planes they’ll replace.
- Another lawsuit against TSA body scanners this time arguing that the agency’s final rule fails to consider more people driving instead of flying – and resulting automobile deaths – resulting from the TSA’s decision. Relatedly, the New York Times writes “Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security”
Sounds like the new Delta CEO is just like all the politicians running for President. They make up any story they want and their supporters (or in the case of Delta their customers) believe anything they say. It is very nice that you tell the truth, but Delta customers don’t care – they continue to pay through the nose, don’t get in return what they expected, and fly Delta and fly Delta and fly Delta.
Every time one of the US3 announce something I go through truly weird feelings. I’ll try to describe them:
1) Oh boy an announcement.
2) Oh this could be really cool.
3) Wait a minute. This doesn’t seem very good at all.
4) Is there something wrong with me that I can’t see how this is good for me (or anyone else)?
5) The US3 spokesperson seems really jacked about it. I better go back and read/listen to it again.
6) OK, I read it again. This is a bad thing.
7) And then it just keeps repeating.
Boy, that’s a lot of spin from Ed. Love how he discusses the fuel issue. No mention of inflation adjustments on oil and the effect on Delta’s costs(savings). But then he does mention inflation adjustments regarding ticket prices and then conveniently neglects the increased fee income as a cost to customers.
Nice selective choice of factors. This guy is bad news, an RA puppet.