View from the Wing

The JetBlue Flight Attendant Who’s A Dead Ringer For Meghan Markle

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

Thirty two year old JetBlue JFK-based flight attendant Christine Mathis says she first started getting confused for Meghan Markle in 2011 when passengers would say she ‘looked like that girl from Suits‘ on USA. It picked up when Markle married Prince Harry. She says passengers would ask her why she was working as a flight attendant after marrying a royal?

Now that they’ve been in the news constantly over Megxit she’s signed on with a talent agency as a professional lookalike.

Seriously, Who At American Airlines Thought This Was Food?

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

One passenger shared the meal they were served in first class on an American Eagle breakfast flight from New York LaGuardia to Atlanta. It looks like a broken up granola pieces sandwich and that’s what the passenger thought that it was, describing it as “the driest sandwich known to mankind” although they “thought it was chorizo too at first.”

Airline, Hotel and Catering Conglomerate HNA To Be Taken Over By Chinese Government

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

HNA group has struggled under a mountain of $100 billion worth of debt. They’ve been unable to pay employees or pay for fuel at Hong Kong Airlines. And that was before coronavirus.

In addition to airline stakes they own stakes in airline caterer Gate Gourmet and Hilton Hotels.

American Released Data to the SEC That Shows How Award Travelers are Doing

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

It’s been tough to be an American AAdvantage member over the last several years if you actually want to use your miles to fly American. Since US Airways management took over in the final days of 2013, far fewer passengers have been traveling on American using their miles. That’s largely the result of a lack of saver award inventory.

The airline pledged to change that, and just released new numbers to the SEC that says how they’re doing.

Starting March 11 You’ll Be Able to Select Your Meal in Advance On American Airlines Regional Jets

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

American Airlines started letting customers pre-select their meals online when they’re flying in premium cabins back in the fall of 2012. Delta didn’t roll out this feature until early 2019 and United is still in testing.

While American moved forward with pre-orders for buy on board in coach, they didn’t actually extend pre-orders to first class on regional jets. That’s finally changing.

Qatar Airways Increases Its Ownership Stake In British Airways To 25%

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2020

Feb 19 2020

Qatar Airways owns 9.99% of Cathay Pacific, 5% of China Southern (double American’s stake), and 10% of LATAM. They owned 49% of Air Italy before that carrier shut down. Their biggest remaining investment is in IAG, the parent of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and soon Air Europa.

Qatar owned 21.4% of the British Airways parent – and has now increased that to 25.1%.

Two New American Airlines Paint Schemes Fire Back At Delta

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2020

Feb 18 2020

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

3 Cases Where American Airlines Gate Agents May Hold The Boarding Door For Passengers

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2020

Feb 18 2020

United has a program called ConnectionSaver to hold planes for connecting passengers where it won’t cause system or other passenger delays. United expects 25% of flights to arrive 10 minutes early (or more) every day. So holding plenty of flights still allows for on time arrivals.

American doesn’t defer to a computer for this. Their operations center can make the decision to hold a flight, for instance when there are a large number of connecting passengers they’ll have difficulty accommodating in the event of a misconnect. However there are 3 cases where gate agents are allowed allowed to hold the boarding door for customers past 10 minutes to departure.

$7000 Per Night North Island Resort Now Bookable With (The Wrong Number Of) Marriott Points

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2020

Feb 18 2020

In December Marriott changed its terms and conditions to say that category 8 high season pricing of 100,000 points per night is no longer the highest price a hotel can get.

It turns out that prospect was all about just a single hotel: the $7000 per night North Island in the Seychelles has now joined Marriott’s Luxury Collection. The hotel is now bookable at 365,000 points per night.

First Class Passengers On American Airlines Can Give Up Their Seat To Whomever They Wish

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2020

Feb 18 2020

The Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Borden Dairy was flying American Airlines from Dallas Fort-Worth to Charleston, South Carolina with her CEO. The CEO insisted she take his first class seat. However she reports that an hour into the flight a flight attendant realized she wasn’t the passenger on the manifest. That’s when things got heated.

The JetBlue Flight Attendant Who’s A Dead Ringer For Meghan Markle

Seriously, Who At American Airlines Thought This Was Food?

Airline, Hotel and Catering Conglomerate HNA To Be Taken Over By Chinese Government

American Released Data to the SEC That Shows How Award Travelers are Doing

Starting March 11 You’ll Be Able to Select Your Meal in Advance On American Airlines Regional Jets

Qatar Airways Increases Its Ownership Stake In British Airways To 25%

Two New American Airlines Paint Schemes Fire Back At Delta

3 Cases Where American Airlines Gate Agents May Hold The Boarding Door For Passengers

$7000 Per Night North Island Resort Now Bookable With (The Wrong Number Of) Marriott Points

First Class Passengers On American Airlines Can Give Up Their Seat To Whomever They Wish

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About Gary Leff

	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)
	Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening. AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]