Earning American Airlines Lifetime Elite Status Via Credit Card Spend

by Gary Leff

american plane
May 21 2020

Without people traveling, and with fewer immediate opportunities to spend accumulated miles, the airline has a challenge with its co-brand credit cards. They earn around $3 billion a year in revenue through their partnerships with Citibank and Barclays, but spending is going to fall both because of less travel and also because of the economy in recession.

The airline has an interesting approach to this, encouraging spend on their cards between May 1 and December 31, 2020. Spending on their Citibank and Barclays cards will earn credit towards lifetime elite status. Here are answers to questions not available in American’s original release.

Continue Reading »

Should Flight Attendants Be Allowed To Wear Face Shields? American Airlines Says No.

by Gary Leff

May 21 2020

Flight attendants and even passengers are now expected to wear face masks when flying. But what about face shields? Some airlines are outfitting their cabin crew in full personal protective equipment. That provides a consistent look for the airline.

What about a flight attendant taking it upon themselves to wear a face shield, when that’s not something the airline allows? Is it alright during the pandemic, or something the airline should be able to ban?

Continue Reading »

Delta and United Both Report: People Aren’t Shifting To Cash Back From Mileage Credit Cards

by Gary Leff

credit cards
May 21 2020

Delta’s CFO acknowledges SkyMiles members taking “a little hiatus when people aren’t going to travel,” but that the program still continues to motivate spend because it gives people “something to look forward to [the] prospect of saving up for something.” Then he offers insight into how the Delta portfolio is performing relative to American Express’s other products.

Continue Reading »

Several Passengers Have Been Stuck Living In Airports Because Borders Are Shut Down

by Gary Leff

passport getting stamped
May 20 2020

With borders closing in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus, and national policies in some cases changing quickly, some passengers got stuck in the middle. Most people got advance notice, but what if their flights home were cancelled? Or there was confusion, and they were allowed to board a flight when they won’t be admitted at their final destination? Not every country ran rapatriation flights, either.

Continue Reading »

Why Travel Is Going To Stay Cheap In 2021

by Gary Leff

May 20 2020

Delta is capping all flights at 60% of capacity through June 30. To maintain that commitment they’re adding flights “to give confidence” to customers. Even if Delta is able to sell 60% and eventually 75% of seats on planes, we can expect them to then add flights and seats which will continue to put downward pressure on prices. And of course as other airlines as seats that’ll push pricing down even further.

Continue Reading »