American Airlines Is Using Its Small Business Program To Boost Bookings

by Gary Leff

economy seats
Mar 07 2020

Like Delta (Sky Bonus) and United (Perks Plus), American Airlines has a small business program. It’s designed for companies that aren’t going to have corporate-level agreements with an airline that come with discounts or rebates. Instead they offer points redeemable for travel and services from the airline.

The good news is that even some of the smallest businesses can join and can ‘double dip’. The traveler earns frequent flyer miles as usual, and the company earns points in the separate Business ExtrAA program on top.

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Inflight Services Changes For American Airlines International Trips

by Gary Leff

Mar 07 2020

Self-serve snacks go away, recycling is being reduced, and passengers aren’t going to be putting their virus-laden hands in the bread basket or the snack basket. The reminder here that alcohol in mini bottles is not a disinfectant apparently needed to be said? If it’s less than 60% alcohol it’s not going to help. American Airlines doesn’t serve Everclear.

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LAX Will Allow Taxis – But Not Uber – To Pick Up Curbside Again

by Gary Leff

Mar 06 2020

Last fall LAX banned taxis and ridesharing services from picking up passengers curbside. Passengers were bused to an off airport lot where they’d meet their ride. (The lot is actually an easy walk from the Southwest terminal 1.)

Initially after banning curbside pickups chaos ensued but after enlarging the lot and getting better signage the process wound up being merely inconvenient.

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10 Things Every Traveler Should Expect From Coronavirus

by Gary Leff

Mar 06 2020

Keep planning trips, there will be great deals – far better than what we’ve seen so far – but don’t make non-refundable plans. Frequent flyer redemptions are usually the most changeable. Coronavirus and the economy are going to get worse. Some airlines will fail, and others may merge. It’s wise to begin preparing.

At the end of the day the most important thing is to keep living life, while being flexible to adapt to new information.

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The New Qatar Airways Coronavirus Ticket Change Policy Is How It’s Done

by Gary Leff

first class beds
Mar 06 2020

We’re well past where it makes sense to offer flexibility only to new ticket purchases. Qatar is not only extending their flexible change policy to existing, already-purchased tickets they’re providing the option to take a travel voucher good for a year from date of issue – customers aren’t limited to traveling within a year of their original ticket purchase.

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Which Airlines And Hotels Have Ramped Up Disinfecting – And Which Ones Haven’t

by Gary Leff

Mar 06 2020

Different airlines and hotel chains are taking different approaches to the coronavirus – not just to the falloff in travel, but to making sure traveling with them is a safe experience for their guests. I reached out to several airlines and hotel companies to ask about changes to their cleaning practices in response to the virus. I was surprised by how varied the responses were.

I’m much more likely to have confidence in the airlines and hotel chains that signal they are taking the spread of coronavirus most seriously.

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