American Airlines Will Bring Parked Embraer Regional Jets Back Into Service By June 3

by Gary Leff

american eagle plane
May 13 2020

According to the Senior Vice President of Air Operations at the American Airlines wholly-owned regional carrier Envoy Air, “all of the E-175s and E-145s that we parked as a result of COVID-19 [are expected to be] returned to service by June 3.”

In addition all of the 20 Embraer 175 regional jets that had been operated by Compass are being brought into the Envoy Air fleet “over the next few months.” The first one, aircaft N208AN, was sent to Abilene for conformity checks by Eagle Aviation Services prior to entering revenue service.

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Airlines Won’t Enforce Mask Wearing Rules Inflight, But Most People Will Still Wear Masks (Thankfully)

by Gary Leff

May 13 2020

Airlines now require face masks for passengers to fly. But while they’ll make announcements prior to boarding, and enforce the requirement at the gate, the major airlines say they won’t enforce it to the point of diverting a flight is a passenger doesn’t wear a mask on board. They’ll still get a high degree of compliance, and that’s important.

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European Union Stands By Airline Refund Rules, Says Countries Should Make Vouchers More Attractive

by Gary Leff

klm planes
May 12 2020

The E.U. acknowledges that travel vouchers are a bad deal for customers. They might expire unused. Fares might go up. And airlines might go out of business. Individual airlines and governments should work to resolve these issues to make vouchers more attractive, and once that happens they think vouchers should be endorsed as an option. However the E.U. stands behind its requirement that cancelled flights entitle a customer to a refund.

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Hilton In DC Learns ‘Pimpin Ain’t Easy’ After Charging 5th Graders A $10,000 Coronavirus Cancellation Fee

by Gary Leff

May 12 2020

Within hours of the story hitting several media sources, a Homewood Suites by Hilton has reversed course and will refund $10,000 owed to a 5th grade class in Florida.

In a rather bizarre story the Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington DC Downtown wanted to charge an elementary school $20,612 when they weren’t able to travel to D.C. in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The hotel eventually agreed to take just $10,000, withheld from the group’s deposit. In an unexpected twist, the kids are getting the money back thanks to intervention by an incarcerated rap artist.

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United’s New Refund Policy Is An “Unfair and Deceptive Practice’ Per DOT Guidance

by Gary Leff

May 12 2020

Airlines are required to provide a refund when they cancel a flight, or make a significant change to their schedule. Federal law does not define what either of these two things mean, so airlines can create their own definition as long as it’s reasonable. United has adopted an unreasonable interpretation.

However the Department of Transportation reminds that even that new interpretation cannot be applied retroactively to tickets that were purchased before it went into effect.

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