Here’s The Only Way The New Chase-United Credit Card Deal Makes Sense

by Gary Leff

united credit card
Feb 23 2020

I think I’ve figured out why Chase and Visa would agree to give United $400 million more a year – starting right away – for a credit card deal they already had in place for several years.

Much of United’s explanation why made no sense. This new deal isn’t likely to lead to a lot of “portfolio growth” (more cardmembers). They already were introducing new cards, new benefits, and have been running aggressive acquisition bonuses. However 5 words in United’s SEC filing seem to give away the plot.

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Priority Pass App Will Soon Let You Order Food And Buy Duty Free

by Gary Leff

priority pass select card
Feb 22 2020

Wouldn’t it be great to pick up pre-ordered food nearby the lounge you’re headed to and get a discount on the meal?

Bringing more airport vendors on the platform means better customer data – with a broader view and greater understanding of each customer, in order to better tailor offers that move the needle on sales – and cross-marketing to existing customers.

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8 New Controversial Claims By Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary

by Gary Leff

ryan air plane landing
Feb 22 2020

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary believes a lot of controversial things and says them. I’ve often been skeptical that he even believes what he says – whenever he’s been out of the news for awhile he’ll talk about making customers of the European low cost carrier pay to use the lavatory, which I guess he believes entrenches the belief in customers’ minds that his airline is cheap.

However in a new interview he made made several claims only a couple of which are clearly self-serving.

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Airport Security Director Fired After Falling For A Scammer’s Trick, Buying Him Gift Cards

by Gary Leff

Feb 22 2020

Milwaukee airport’s security manager has been fired after falling for a scam, buying gift cards and sending them to someone in Saudi Arabia posing as her boss.

She’s the security director and she’s not careful dealing with online scammers. That’s not a good look, and she was let go for “substandard or careless job performance.” However what she ran into is very common and part of a multi-billion dollar scam that I’ve run into many times over the past three years.

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