New Yorkers Sue Trump Officials For Banning Them From Global Entry. A Court Says They Have A Case.

by Gary Leff

passport getting stamped
Apr 22 2020

In December New York State law began allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses and stopped sharing applicant information with immigration enforcement agencies.

In Early February the Trump Administration announced that because of this law, New York residents would no longer be allowed to enroll in or renew Global Entry. They claimed they needed access to New York’s DMV database as part of their identity verification process. Several New Yorkers are suing.

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Austin Hotel Buyer Walks Away From $2 Million Deposit , Because No One Wants To Own A Hotel Now

by Gary Leff

Apr 22 2020

The $100 million sale of the Renaissance Austin hotel< failed to close with the buyer forfeiting $2 million in earnest money. The deal was announced in February and hotels are worth a lot less today than they were two months ago – enough so that it made sense to walk away from a $2 million deposit. Whether the unnamed buyer no longer wanted to do the deal (reasonable) or was unable to get financing (also a challenge now) is unclear.

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United Airlines Pilot Sues The Westin Denver Airport Over Indecent Exposure Arrest

by Gary Leff

Apr 21 2020

A year and a half ago police stormed the Westin Denver airport room of a United Airlines pilot, arresting him for dancing, gyrating and waiving” naked in front of the TSA screening checkpoint below the window of his room.

Police entered with guns drawn. He was naked. He took a phone call, he said, just as he was about to get into the shower…

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Stimulus Checks Going Out The Door… To Airlines

by Gary Leff

woman using ATM
Apr 21 2020

So far $2.9 out of $25 billion has been disbursed “to 54 smaller passenger carrier and two major passenger airlines,” and agreements have been reached with Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit and United.

It turns out the government has put itself on a payment plan to fulfill its bailout commitments.

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8 Ways Hotel Stays Will Be Different To Meet Demands Of Post-Pandemic Guests

by Gary Leff

Apr 21 2020

For hotels to attract guests they’re going to need to be responsive to these customer demands. They need to give guests confidence to stay, and hotels will compete to offer a product that appeals to these sensibilities.

Marriott has now outlined their plans for increased health and safety for both employees and guests. But even more change will be coming to the industry.

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Branding Videos Are Tough During The Pandemic. American Airlines Pulls It Off.

by Gary Leff

Apr 21 2020

American is out with a new video, You Are Why We Fly. That’s not one of American’s new slogans (e.g. “caring for people on life’s journey”) but does harken back to one of the airline’s more important messages of the past: we know why you fly.

‘You are why we fly’ speaks to why they keep going in the face of unprecedented challenges, why they continue the business with fares so low and planes so empty, why employees travel from place to place and continue to interact with customers at the airport and on board even in the face of the global pandemic.

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With Virgin Australia In Bankruptcy, What Happens To The Miles?

by Gary Leff

Apr 21 2020

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program has suspended redemptions even though it is a separate company and not included in the administrative restructuring. The frequent flyer program had been spun off in 2014, but reacquired.

The program’s 10 million members apparently had been redeeming points for “gift cards, electronic goods, and wine,” according to the airline, while members weren’t redeeming for travel. There was a ‘run on the bank’ as members questioned the viability of the program with the airline in trouble.

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