Delta Improves Filtering Of Jet Bridge Air To Limit Spread Of Coronavirus

by Gary Leff

Sep 11 2020

On board and inflight is one of the safest indoor environments from a Covid-19 transmission perspective. But that doesn’t mean that travel is safe. Most planes (but not smaller regional jets and turboprops) have HEPA air filtration that’s highly protective.

That doesn’t mean the virus doesn’t spread. Often when this and other viruses are attributed to flights it’s likely spreading at airport security, in the gate area, or on the jet bridge. These are places where passengers congregate closely together and where the air isn’t filtered as well.

Continue Reading »

Federal Government Admits It’s Too Incompetent To Know Who Should Get Global Entry, Who Shouldn’t

by Gary Leff

passport
Sep 10 2020

The federal government submitted false statements in court to defend terminating global entry applications for New Yorkers. Now the government said they just didn’t know what they were talking about when making the claims, rather than intentionally lying.

The real question here is whether’s it’s a bigger problem if the federal government lies to the courts, or if the people responsible for trusted traveler programs do not know what information they’re receiving, or what information they need, in order to determine eligibility?

Continue Reading »

Southwest Airlines Will Have An Advantage Over Legacy Carriers Even As They ‘Eliminate Change Fees’

by Gary Leff

Sep 10 2020

The popular narrative seems to be that United, Delta, and American ‘eliminating change fees’ hurts Southwest Airlines. Southwest hasn’t had change fees, and this takes away one of Southwest’s advantages.

Other airlines still have their advantages over Southwest, from premium cabins to lounges, but those are the same as before. What’s different in the new environment is a growing cost advantage for Southwest, and most people misunderstand what ‘no change fees’ on United, Delta, and American means anyway.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Plans Executive Platinum Upgrades On British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas And More

by Gary Leff

airplane cabin
Sep 09 2020

Senior Vice President Vasu Raja told an investor conference that since American is shrinking he “envision[s] a more seamless experience across partners” both with new partners Alaska and JetBlue and with “longstanding” partners IAG (British Airways, Iberia and others), Japan Airlines, and Qantas.

He notes that while American will “be a smaller airline” the networks of partners are “strong in major business travel markets,” and so it makes sense to offer a “seamless benefit for Executive Platinums [in the form of] upgrades across the global network.”

Continue Reading »