Last week word broke that American was targeting letting go 30% of management and support staff. They were being offered voluntary departure packages, at 3 to 6 months at one-third pay. Hanging around and being terminated later wouldn’t be as good a deal. United meanwhile changed its internal rules so that laid off employees receive no severance.
Southwest Airlines, by contrast, is being really generous with its employees.
Alaska Airlines is offering 50% bonus elite qualifying miles for flights through the end of the year, and also elite qualifying miles for credit card spend.
You might actually catch the virus while you’re traveling. And if you do you’re faced with an unexpected situation. You’re going to need to quarantine. That may mean a couple of extra weeks on the ground with lodging and meals, and changes to your onward or return flights. You may need additional medical care.
If you travel to Cyprus and catch COVID-19, Cyprus will cover all of your expenses. That should make it easier to visit with confidence. But isn’t this just an invitation for anyone with the virus to travel to Cyprus and have all their expenses covered..?
American Airlines is offering double miles, up to an additional 10,000 miles, for new tickets booked by June 30 and travel by September 30. They’re also promoting a fare sale through June 14 and vacation package discounts to goose summer bookings.
Starting today there are several changes to American Airlines catering: more hand sanitizer and substantial changes to beverage service.
I’ve been consistently hearing from American Airlines employees that several Admirals Clubs are expected to open in June. I’ve heard about major hub clubs, and the dates being offered are late in the month.
Asked about what I’ve been hearing, an American Airlines spokesperson offered “We hope to have more information to share this week.”
This morning I covered a fantastic story about an interaction between American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, where they connected over issues of race and the challenges confronting our country right now. This story, initially shared by the flight attendant to Facebook, is gaining broad coverage across the internet.
Doug Parker actually shared his version of the encounter as well, first with American’s executive leadership and then with employees on their company intranet. Here’s what he wrote.
Update: American’s new award change and reinstatement fees have been pushed off from June 1 to July 1. That’s an extra month where you can take advantage of waived change fees, booking before the potential for big new costs go into effect.
Yesterday British Airways announced a change to its frequent flyer program purporting to preclude members from taking it to court or participating in any class action lawsuit.
However that would seem to run directly contrary to the express provisions of 14 CFR § 253.10. In other words, it appears that British Airways may be breaking the law.
Working as a flight attendant has been transformed over the last 40 years from high status to much lower status in American esteem. One day a year though we’re supposed to re-elevate the role. Yet somehow I’ve never really internalized that May 31 is international Flight Attendant Appreciation Day.
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 »
