United Says They’ll Deny You Boarding If They Think You’ve Been Exposed to COVID, Or Refuse Testing

by Gary Leff

May 05 2020

They can deny you boarding if they merely suspect you have coronavirus, or if they want you to obtain a test showing you do not have the virus and you decline. What will lead them to suspect someone may have the ‘rona? It could be temperature checks. It could be data shared via an app or the government in the future. It could be information about known exposures, including on a prior flight.

Consider this part of the new normal that we’re figuring out – we do not know what is going to happen in practice but United is updating its rules to allow them to take action based on what sort of testing or screening occurs.

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A Tale Of Two American Airlines Companion Certificates: Barclays vs Citi

by Gary Leff

steward on plane
May 05 2020

Earlier in the day Citibank shared that the companion tickets earned from their American Airlines co-brand business card (after $30,000 spend in purchases each cardmembership year, at card renewal) that expire in 2020 will be extended to June 30, 2021.

Barclays has shared that their American Airlines companion tickets – offered as an initial bonus on new consumer cards, and earned from spend on their Red, Silver, and Business cards – will have their expiration extended as well.

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Marriott Hits Up Credit Card Partners For A Billion Dollars

by Gary Leff

bonvoy
May 05 2020

Marriott announced a deal for $920 million dollars with its co-brand credit card partners. In exchange for the cash Marriott has extended its co-brand deals with both partners.

These deals aren’t just good for the travel company, they’re good for consumers. But there’s an interesting reason we’re seeing hotel chains access their loyalty programs for cash before airlines do the same.

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United Airlines Imposing Unpaid Time Off, Planning For Huge Layoffs With No Severance

by Gary Leff

man talking on camera
May 04 2020

Despite getting billions in federal aid precisely to ensure that employees do not see layoffs or a reduction in pay, United Airlines is reducing pay for non-union staff, including administrative help, by enforcing unpaid vacation time. They’re also planning to lay off at least 30% of this group October 1, as soon as CARES Act restrictions lift – and they’ve adopted a new policy that says any of these employees laid off will receive zero severance.

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Where We Stand: It’s Time To Start Planning (Domestic) Trips

by Gary Leff

May 04 2020

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly says it is safe to fly again, “We’re doing everything possible to encourage people to come back and fly.”

I’m going to offer what I hope is a slightly more limited and nuanced take, that it is safe for some people to plan now to travel again during the months of June, July and August. This is speculative, but sums up my currently thinking about where we stand.

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Here’s The Next Big ‘Passengers Behaving Badly’ Conflict We’re About To See

by Gary Leff

May 04 2020

With airlines beginning to require passengers to wear face masks on board, we’re about to see a new conflict, because people are just as awful as they used to be. It’s just that there are fewer of them flying.

When American Airlines debated internally whether to require passengers to wear masks, or merely encourage them to (including by providing the masks), the argument that ultimately gave way to a mandate was that cabin crew would be in a position of having to enforce the new rules. And there are always going to be exceptions, which creates grey areas and opportunities for conflict.

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