One Airline Has Two Status Levels — But Benefits are Exactly the Same

by Gary Leff

spirit plane
Mar 04 2019

Spirit Airlines offers one of the best deals in travel, their ‘Big Front Seat’ which is often very modestly priced above the regular seat. It can be less than $40 more for a recliner style seat similar to what larger airlines offer in first class. They call it ‘Big Front Seat’ for a reason though since all you’re getting is the bigger seat up front, not other services like checked bags bundled in.

The carrier has done as much or more than anyone else to drive down the price of airfare across much of the U.S. and in the last year especially they’ve improved their operation – completing flights and performing on-time. They even joined PreCheck.

However they have one of the worst frequent flyer programs on the planet.

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Airline Pilot Used Fake License for 25 Years, Exposed After Taking ‘Strange Turns’ Over Swiss Alps

by Gary Leff

south african airways
Mar 03 2019

Star Alliance member and United Airlines partner South African Airways is promising to check the licenses of all of its pilots — and obtain copies from a government regulator instead of pilots just bringing in copies themselves — after discovering that one of their veteran long haul pilots had been using a forged license for 25 years.

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Passenger Charges Obese Seatmate $150 for Taking Up Too Much Space

by Gary Leff

Mar 03 2019

The passenger sharing the experience asked a flight attendant for help, but there were no empty seats on the flight. At this point the larger passenger is embarrassed, apologizing that he can’t just take a later flight. And the flight attendant “tells him that unless someone on the flight agrees to let him take up part of their seat, he’ll need to book another flight.”

That’s when our anti-hero proposes a Coasian bargain.

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Starbucks Rewards Planning to Devalue, Move Closer to Revenue-Based Redemption

by Gary Leff

starbucks coffee
Mar 03 2019

It’s only been three years since Starbucks devalued their rewards program by moving towards revenue-based points earning. Gone was the ability to get outsized value from the program, for instance, by ringing up each item you’re purchasing separately.

Now we know that Starbucks is going to devalue the program again by moving closer to revenue-based redemption. Word is that redemptions will work as follows:

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Alaska Airlines Status After Just Two Roundtrips

by Gary Leff

alaska airlines plane
Mar 03 2019

Airlines will frequently give you elite status if you have status with a competitor in order to make it easier to move your business.

Alaska Airlines in particular is quite aggressive, they will even match to their top tier MVP Gold 75K level when you email with proof of your existing status.

They also have a new offer out that does not require you to be a current elite flyer, just someone that has plans to fly cross country a few times.

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Rumor: American to Admit Defeat, Give Passengers More Space in Coach

by Gary Leff

Mar 02 2019

In late 2017 American Airlines rolled out a new coach product. It featured less space than ever between seats (not just in coach, but less space for extra legroom coach and even for first class). There was less recline, too, and no seat back video. They found space for more seats by squeezing inches out of the lavatories. And they found space by taking padding out of the seats.

Not only was this new interior what’s going into their new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, but they’ve been taking more comfortable Boeing 737-800s and ripping out those interiors to match what I’ve sometimes called “Torquemada configuration.”

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