Report: American Airlines Considers Restoring Seat Back Video Screens

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Jul 01 2020

Just before the pandemic grew out of control, American Airlines data revealed that frequent customers represented a declining share of airline revenue.

It seemed that a combination of award chart devaluation (higher prices for the best awards), product devaluations (less space per passenger on domestic narrowbody aircraft) and making status harder to earn (minimum spend requirement and taking away the ability to earn as much towards that via credit card) had in fact pushed frequent customer share of wallet towards competitors.

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American Airlines Lays Out Brand New International Flight Strategy

by Gary Leff

Jul 01 2020

On Saturday I told you that a big international route announcement was coming from Americanincluding, quoting internal comments by CEO Doug Parker, “what we plan to fly next summer and what we don’t plan to fly.” That announcement is now out.

They’re revamping their international strategic focus, and bringing back many routes for summer while break-even load factors are so low thanks to the CARES Act. LAX is no longer their Pacific hub. They’re doubling down on close partnerships. And that means a lot of flight changes.

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U.S. CDC Takes On American Airlines: Government Health Agency Blows It Again

by Gary Leff

Jun 30 2020

CDC Director Robert Redfield has something to say about American Airlines. He thinks it’s horrible that American will sell middle seats on planes, which he explained in response to a question by Senator Bernie Sanders, In doing so he seems not to know that American Airlines hasn’t blocked middle seats throughout the pandemic, and other airlines like United haven’t done so either.

It’s troubling that six months into the coronavirus crisis the CDC is only just now studying whether or not distancing on planes matters.

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Delta Brings Back On Board Booze Starting Thursday

by Gary Leff

airplane seat
Jun 30 2020

U.S. airlines eliminating inflight alcohol is as much cost-cutting as it is a coronavirus protection measure. Serving a customer tomato juice isn’t safer than serving that tomato juice with vodka. Eliminating booze in domestic economy, where airlines were charging for it, is another measure – because that eliminates the need for a payment transaction, an interaction between flight attendant and passenger. Still, American Airlines dropped alcohol service in “Main Cabin Extra” extra legroom coach, where it was previously free. Delta eliminated it even in first class as well as their “Comfort+” extra legroom coach seating. When few people were traveling, and there was little competition in service, the bet was this didn’t matter. Of course dropping meals and booze from most flights meant little reason to ‘buy up’ to a bigger seat (especially when Delta,…

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Marriott Extends Cheapest-Ever Points Purchase Offer Through July 15

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Jun 30 2020

Marriott is offering points with the biggest bonus we’ve seen – you are effectively prepaying for stays at a discount.

A 60% bonus on purchased points, that began May 18, was set to end June 30. This has been extended to run through July 15. The best previous deal I’m aware of was a 50% bonus, though of course Marriott points aren’t worth as much as they used to be either. They’re willing to sell you points at a cost per point of $0.0078.

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