Passenger Videotapes Himself Being Denied Boarding For Refusing To Wear A Mask

by Gary Leff

Jun 04 2020

A Ryanair passenger tried to fly from Dublin to London Gatwick without a face mask. He had flown before the face mask requirement went into effect, and claims not to have known he needed one – and if it was required, Ryanair should’ve provided it, the airline shouldn’t be able to keep his money and not transport him.

The passenger claims that Ryanair threatened him with a lifetime ban if he shared this video. And he further argues that if underwear were made a requirement of flying after he purchased the ticket then it’s an ex post facto change and shouldn’t be enforced.

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Why The China Travel Ban Failed And The Virus Spread

by Gary Leff

Jun 04 2020

Research shows us that the ban on travel from China by non-U.S. residents didn’t work. I had thought it came too late because the virus was already here, but looking at details of the virus itself it appears that wasn’t true. The virus cases that actually spread came after the ban. So the ban didn’t work.

A new investigation shows why the travel ban failed, and it isn’t the partisan reasons many people think.

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Southwest Airlines Looks To Become Much Bigger Than Other U.S. Airlines By End Of Year

by Gary Leff

southwest plane
Jun 04 2020

While it makes tremendous sense for airlines to cut back their operations significantly in the face of reduced demand, if there was one airline that didn’t do this to nearly the same extent they could benefit in an outsized manner as travel began to return.

Since they’re still paying employees anyway, still making lease payments on planes (or own them), and fuel is cheap the variable costs of flights are fairly low. If one carrier could aggregate the bulk of demand it could be a better financial strategy than shrinking.

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Two Men Indicted In Credit Card Bonus Scam

by Gary Leff

credit cards
Jun 03 2020

Never sell your miles, never lie on a credit application (that’s a crime, though only the main perpetrators are charged here), and look skeptically at people contacting you to participate in schemes, there were even multiple assumed names apparently being used here.

The indictment by the way tells us how much a bank was paying airlines for frequent flyer miles…

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American AAdvantage President Leaving The Airline

by Gary Leff

Jun 03 2020

American Airlines is shrinking with a goal of at least 30% fewer management and support staff. That runs throughout the airline, including Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents.

Over the past two days rumors have been swirling about which members of top leadership will depart, as the airline offers buy out packages. (At this level buy outs are richer than what’s been publicly reported for management staff.)

Very soon we’ll know which members of top management are leaving. I’ve heard whispers of top names all day.

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UK Considers Revoking British Airways Heathrow Slots After BA Cuts Flight Attendant Pay Up To 50%

by Gary Leff

plane tails
Jun 03 2020

With British Airways terminating all of its cabin crew and offering to re-hire about 70% for as little as half what they were making before, the U.K. parliament is taking up my suggestion that the BA shouldn’t be able to keep its free gift of London Heathrow slots – their most valuable asset, which protects them from competition.

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