U.S. hotel occupancy for the week of August 9-15 hit 50.2%, the first time it’s been over 50% since mid-March. In a normal year 50% occupancy is what hotels look like the at the beginning of the year, after the holidays but before business travel starts back in earnest.
The bad news for hotels though is that occupancy usually peaks in August and then begins to decline, with a brief interruption, but largely for the rest of the year.
Regular readers might imagine that I’m not the most popular guy at American Airlines, and certainly not the most popular in Corporate Communications. And despite all our ups and downs one person I’ve come to respect a great deal is Ross Feinstein who leaves the airline this week. There are two things about Ross that make him an outstanding communications professional.
Ross Feinstein will be missed at American Airlines. Selfishly I hope his next role is in the travel industry. For his sake, I hope it isn’t.
Around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening a woman approached TSA screening at Pittsburgh airport, through water on a TSA employee when asked for her ID, and then ran through the checkpoint.
Police rushed her and subdued her. She broke free, “started fighting with them and ran for the airport train” but was detained again.
Star Alliance member Air Canada has a limited partnership with oneworld member Cathay Pacific. Brand new today, it’s now possible to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan miles for Cathay Pacific flights online. And best of all, you can easily combine Cathay Pacific flights with other flights.
Nine years, seven months, and 20 days after the September 11th attacks that took 2977 American lives, United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (“Seal Team Six”) executed Operation Neptune Spear, along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the CIA’s Special Activities Division, raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
During that raid, bin Laden was killed. Now, nearly a decade later, the member of the SEAL team on that raid who says he’s the one that pulled the trigger refuses to wear a mask on a Delta flight, posts to social media about it, and gets banned.
American Airlines announced this morning that unless the government gives them another round of CARES Act payroll support, they will drop service to 15 cities October 7.
Except they cannot legally leave two of the cities without giving advance advance notice to the Department of Transportation, which they have not done.
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.
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker’s whole career is built on government subsidies. His airline is the most vulnerable to bankruptcy. So when the chips are down they’re playing the game that’s worked out best for him: threatening small cities where American Airlines has a virtual monopoly on air service, and announcing cuts to 15 cities that impose pain on 28 different Senators.
To avoid assigning any middle seats on a narrowbody aircraft with six seats across, that means blocking one-third of the seats in coach (67% load factor). Delta has been capping sales at 60% of the seats in coach. Starting October 1 they are going to be selling more seats, up to 75% of the seats in coach on each plane. That means filling each cabin 25% more than before.
American Airlines is suspending service to 15 cities effective October 7, and CARES Act subsidies are mentioned 3 times in the release that’s just 151 words. The airline makes clear that if a second bailout passes they’re prepared to serve these markets.
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 »
