News and notes from around the interweb:
- This may be the funniest Marriott hotel elite experience I’ve ever read. It reportedly happened at a hotel I’ve covered in the past for a scam fee they were charging guests.
I’m with the family and got a room with a sofa bed for the kid. I called down and asked for bedding and they told me they didn’t provide it for sofa beds. Went back and forth with it before they said they were joking and sent it up.
Next morning I went down to find out where breakfast was. They directed me to the lounge. I went up and my key wouldn’t work. Went back and got it turned on and went up, they had two bags of bbq chips, 3 pretzels in a jar, and a broken coffee machine. Called down they apologized and said that was what it was. I ordered room service since I had plans that day and didn’t feel like putting up the fight. Afterwards my wife called down and asked for extra towels and the front desk made a crack about how I smelled.
At least the next day a different staff member gave them their breakfast coupons.
- It’s amazing that the federal government goes after JetBlue on competition grounds yet has kept extending a policy “that allows the legacy carriers to jointly and legally collude to cut capacity in New York and Washington (without fear of any pesky low-cost carriers adding any flights).”
The airlines are again asking to be able to keep slots at congested airports without having to use them (fly) which limits supply and drives up price. As justification, they cite decades-long air traffic control staffing issues at New York TRACON, ironically right as the FAA has finally reached a deal with the controllers union that will allow it to solve those staffing issues.
Come to think of it, blocking the JetBlue-American partnership just served to protect the two biggest player in the New York market as well… And the gift of slots as a property right to airlines is itself government subsidy as well.
Congestion-based takeoff and landing fees would actually raise money rather than giving a publicly-created resource to private businesses, and would do a better job allocating flights in ways that create the greatest value for passengers.
- And speaking of airlines using government to keep out competition, here’s Texas Monthly: The Upstart JSX Versus the Airline Bullies.
The author interviewed two American Airlines executives who insisted on anonymity to trash JSX, which makes sense since American’s CEO was caught on tape admitting their crusade is about shutting down a competitor.
- Lufthansa’s CEO travels with a bodyguard
- American Airlines AAdvantage Dining offering 150 bonus miles & Loyalty Points on Open Table reservations
- Excellent Chris Sloan piece on United and Scott Kirby. This may seem like a remarkable some, but Kirby said even a decade ago that Delta was the airline he admired most.
“I respect Delta a lot. It annoys me because they’re really good and they’re competitive,” he said. “They help prove that customers will choose based on the brand and what they like about the airline. We’ve learned that from Delta, and we copy that.”
- Real Housewives star addresses rumors about her behavior boarding flight at LAX claims she didn’t push past people in wheelchairs in order to board first. (HT: Paul H)
Nothing wrong with a slick dude having a bodyguard , IF she is sleek and hot .
I’ve seen so many jet bridge miracles.
Lame and wheelchair bound until they get their bags or are carted onto the plane.
(Headline) Why =/= While
@Paul … that was an easy one .
An odd article about Spohr. Like you, I never met him. Now living in Europe and flying many flights a year on LH, I judge him by his airline. His planes are mostly spotless. His flight crews are sharp, presentable, friendly, and normally go the extra mile for his customers. Food service is excellent, free on biz in Europe and free on international. Flights are reliable. Ground staff are professional. In short, no one lords it over customers. Fa’s don’t hide from customers.
While I now only fly biz and FC, I used to fly economy international frequently. Same opinion then. As a result of a seemingly lifetime of flying with CO, then merged UA, I earned my Lifetime 1k. Use lt to gain entry to Senator and FC lounges. Again very professional.
My point, Gary, is that LH is an excellent company, run by a Cadre of highly professional team members. That’s why LH is successful. That Spohr has a bodyguard should be of absolutely no concern or interest to you or me. The results speak for themselves. And there is no way in hell I would switch it with flying now in the States. Your blog is about half filled with stories about how bad it is flying in the States.
If he’s trying to copy the world’s #1 PREMIUM airline, why can’t he just admit defeat and have United file for Chapter 7 so Delta can continue to grow?
United is the best airline in the history of commercial aviation – at least according to Kirby. Must be all the refund money United refused to hand back to customers during Covid that got spent well. I’d love to sit in on a chat between Kirby and Tim Dunn.
Proofreading needed. This Marriott Hotel Likes To Insult Guests WHILE Denying Them Elite Benefits [Roundup]
Man oh man. There is nothing but bad news about Marriott these days. And the pricing is outrageous, especially in North America and Europe.
Too big, too fast, not enough of the old Starwood mojo.
Good thing I just achieved useless lifetime status with them.