You Can’t Visit The Airport Now, But You Can Still Hear Its Voice

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2020

Carolyn Hopkins is a comforting voice that nearly every traveler knows. She did voice over for Disney World 31 years ago. She’s the voice of the New York City subways, but she’s only ridden them once – in 1957. Her first airport announcement was for Chicago O’Hare – but now she’s done announcements for more than 200 airports.

Hopkins is the voice of New York’s LaGuardia and JFK, Denver, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Toronto Pearson, Calgary, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Seoul Incheon and many more.

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New American Airlines Website Details Benefits Of Secretive ‘Concierge Key’ Level

by Gary Leff

Apr 26 2020

American used to keep the details of its revenue-based Concierge Key status under tight wraps. They would refuse to answer questions about it. It was even referred to in hushed tones as George Clooney’s character was revealed to have this status in Up in the Air.

Now though there’s actually a new website detailing the benefits that Concierge Key offers. (HT: @xJonNYC)

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How Social Distancing Really Works On Planes Now (It Doesn’t Always)

by Gary Leff

people sitting on plane
Apr 26 2020

Airlines are blocking middle seats. Delta has stopped processing upgrades in advance, handling all upgrades at the gate, to manage seat assignments in domestic first class so that passengers aren’t seated beside each other. They’re also blocking seats near flight attendant jump seats, to keep passengers away from flight attendants.

These are all social distancing steps to limit contact between people during travel, both to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and also to give customers confidence to fly. But they won’t do this if it means losing even a single ticket sale.

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Banks Are Cutting Credit Limits

by Gary Leff

credit cards
Apr 25 2020

A month ago I wrote that credit cards might soon become tougher to get as banks tightened lending standards. In a down economy there’s more risk that banks won’t get paid back, so it’s logical they’d become careful about extending credit. Already we’ve seen what appears to be a tougher approach to new small business cards at Chase.

When banks expect an increase in defaults, they take steps to limit their exposure. During the Great Recession we saw banks unilaterally cut credit limits, especially where cards were going unused or underutilized.

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6 Reasons An “Immunity Passport” Isn’t Going To Work For Travel

by Gary Leff

Apr 25 2020

We do not need a vaccine to travel again. Widespread availability of a vaccine is probably two years away even if it’s developed in a year, since it has to be manufactured and distributed at massive scale. However a gimmick like an immunity passport, given our limited knowledge of the virus right now, isn’t likely to get us back in the sky.

So don’t get infected just because you think recovering from the virus will help you to travel, because it probably won’t.

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