Southwest Airlines Looks To Become Much Bigger Than Other U.S. Airlines By End Of Year

by Gary Leff

southwest plane
Jun 04 2020

While it makes tremendous sense for airlines to cut back their operations significantly in the face of reduced demand, if there was one airline that didn’t do this to nearly the same extent they could benefit in an outsized manner as travel began to return.

Since they’re still paying employees anyway, still making lease payments on planes (or own them), and fuel is cheap the variable costs of flights are fairly low. If one carrier could aggregate the bulk of demand it could be a better financial strategy than shrinking.

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Two Men Indicted In Credit Card Bonus Scam

by Gary Leff

credit cards
Jun 03 2020

Never sell your miles, never lie on a credit application (that’s a crime, though only the main perpetrators are charged here), and look skeptically at people contacting you to participate in schemes, there were even multiple assumed names apparently being used here.

The indictment by the way tells us how much a bank was paying airlines for frequent flyer miles…

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American AAdvantage President Leaving The Airline

by Gary Leff

Jun 03 2020

American Airlines is shrinking with a goal of at least 30% fewer management and support staff. That runs throughout the airline, including Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents.

Over the past two days rumors have been swirling about which members of top leadership will depart, as the airline offers buy out packages. (At this level buy outs are richer than what’s been publicly reported for management staff.)

Very soon we’ll know which members of top management are leaving. I’ve heard whispers of top names all day.

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UK Considers Revoking British Airways Heathrow Slots After BA Cuts Flight Attendant Pay Up To 50%

by Gary Leff

plane tails
Jun 03 2020

With British Airways terminating all of its cabin crew and offering to re-hire about 70% for as little as half what they were making before, the U.K. parliament is taking up my suggestion that the BA shouldn’t be able to keep its free gift of London Heathrow slots – their most valuable asset, which protects them from competition.

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U.S. Will Ban Chinese Airlines Starting June 16

by Gary Leff

Jun 03 2020

The Trump administration has announced a plan to stop Chinese airlines from flying to or from the U.S. beginning in June 16. This comes after the Chinese government has prevented United and Delta Air Lines from restarting their own services to China.

The Chinese are currently limiting airlines to service levels based on frequency in late March, when U.S. carriers had already suspended Chinese operations. The Chinese government has offered one flight per week.

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Huge: Air Canada Aeroplan Introduces Etihad Awards (Combine With Star Alliance Flights, Too)

by Gary Leff

airline bed
Jun 03 2020

A year ago Aeroplan accidentally announced a partnership with Etihad Airways. That deal wasn’t ready for prime time, but now it’s live. You can earn and redeem Aeroplan miles for travel on Etihad, which is huge in my opinion – especially with no fuel surcharges.

You can combine Etihad flights with Star Alliance airlines in a single award and travel to India, the Mideast, the Maldives and more.

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Storm Troopers Enforce Disney’s New Coronavirus Rules

by Gary Leff

Jun 03 2020

Disney has been using Star Wars storm troopers to enforce social distancing requirements and compliment guest on their face masks at the Disney Springs shopping and dining complex near Disney World, which re-opened May 20. The characters “tell people to ‘stay in your sector’ and ‘move along.’”

This “could indicate how the theme park plans to utilize its colorful cast of characters to enforce safety measures” as theme parks prepare to re-open.

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