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American AAdvantage Makes 2021 Elite Status Easier To Earn, Introducing New Elite Choice Benefits

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2020

economy seats

Oct 14 2020

American Airlines announced that earning next year’s status – normally from travel in 2021 for status valid the rest of the year and all of the following year (through January 2023) – will have lower requirements to earn, and members can get started earning now. Travel in October 2020 through December 2020 will count twice: towards earning status this year, and towards earning status next year.

In addition, American will waive the reduced spending requirements for elite status up to Platinum Pro for members spending $30,000 on cobrand cards next years. Members earning Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status will get new choice benefits.

What Do Consumers Complain To DOT About, And Which Complaints Actually Get Action?

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2020

Oct 14 2020

The Government Accountability Office published a new report taking the Department of Transportation consumer complaint process to task noting that DOT doesn’t publish the results of 81% of their investigations. There’s little transparency into DOT complaints.

Aside from the recommendation to share more information about the process, what’s most interesting I think is the window that the report itself provides into what consumers are complaining about, and what complaints the Department of Transportation actually listens to.

[Roundup] Flying Perks Are Scaled Back, But Emirates Brings Back Their A380 Bar And Shower

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

Oct 13 2020

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.

Business Class Awards Wide Open To Europe For Next Summer For The Whole Family

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

Oct 13 2020

Swiss is making tremendous business class award space available between North America and Zurich for summer 2021. You can find four or more business class awards not just from East Coast gateways like New York JFK (and Newark) and from Chicago but even from Los Angeles and San Francisco, which used to be nearly impossible to find. From Zurich you can connect beyond to myriad destinations you might like to visit.

An Awkward Moment During The Delta Earnings Call

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

Alison Sider of the Wall Street Journal asked whether Delta supports a CARES Act extension (airline payroll support), since Delta CEO Ed Bastian hasn’t been nearly as public on the issue as others like American’s Doug Parker.

Bastian was in a tough spot.

Delta Hints At When They’ll Stop Blocking Middle Seats, Start Making Money

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

delta airplanes on tarmac

Oct 13 2020

Delta is losing less money, making customers happy, and sees the near-term dominated by leisure travel that doesn’t touch the coasts. Business travel has tripled, but it’s off of a low base. All the forecast good news means they foresee when they’ll stop blocking middle seats.

The brightest spot is their American Express credit card deal – they are beginning to acquire customers again, excited by the performance of the current limited-time offer.

Drugs Were Found In A Passenger’s Luggage, Now He’s Suing The Airline

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

Baggage Handler Plays Luggage Toss Out the Side of an Alaska Airlines Jet

Oct 13 2020

Frequent flyers know that checked baggage is never a good idea. It can get you arrested even when there’s nothing illegal inside. They say there’s only two kinds of luggage: carry on and lost. It turns out there’s a third, “accessory to a crime.”

Thailand’s Tourism Re-Opening Plan Includes Following Visitors 24/7, Banning Contact With Locals

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2020

Oct 13 2020

Remember Thailand’s ridiculous tourism visa scheme? Turns out that no one even applied. It’s been called off, and leadership is back developing a new plan: Assign someone to follow around each tourist, and make sure they don’t have contact with any Thai people.

Two Singapore Airlines Airbus A380s Are Now A Restaurant Where Diners Can Redeem Miles To Eat

by Gary Leff on October 12, 2020

Oct 12 2020

Singapore Airlines took two of their latest configuration Airbus A380s and turned them into a popup restaurant. They offered tickets for “Restaurant A380 @ Changi” yesterday and their two planned dates (October 24 and 25) sold out in 30 minutes.

So Singapore is extending the concept, offering the restaurant for a longer period, and has also created a waitlist.

Chase Introduces New Ultimate Rewards Dining Hub

by Gary Leff on October 12, 2020

Oct 12 2020

Chase has now integrated its Tock partnership, through something called Chase Dining, into the Ultimate Rewards website and Chase mobile app offering, And they’re letting Sapphire cardmembers redeem points at 1.25 or 1.5 cents apiece.

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 »