Scott Kirby To Become United Airlines CEO In May, What Can We Expect For The Airline?

by Gary Leff

united-plane
Dec 05 2019

Oscar Munoz is leaving United as CEO and Scott Kirby will take on that job May 20, 2020. Munoz will become Executive Chairman for one year. United’s current chair, former FAA administrator Jane Garvey, will retire from the board at that point. This mirrors predictions I have offered here for some time.

Though there’s been some growth – and will need to be more as Kirby steps into the CEO role – Kirby’s history is one that suggests management from the spreadsheets. He’s taken things too far in the past, such as elimination of elite bonus miles and a plan to charge for water on board at US Airways, moves where he’s had to reverse course. It remains to be seen whether he can moderate those tendencies as he formally takes the reins at United.

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Hyatt Free Night Certificates Are More Useful In Hyatt’s New Peak/Off-Peak Award Pricing

by Gary Leff

cityscape
Dec 04 2019

Hyatt free night certificates remain valid whenever award rooms are available even on nights where peak pricing applies.

A category 4 hotel is 12000 points off-peak, 15000 points standard, and 18000 points at peak. You’ll want to redeem these certificates during peak nights, and use points during standard and off-peak nights (while paying attention to certificate expiration).

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Great Summer Business Class Award Space for Whole Family Using Delta or Air France Miles

by Gary Leff

Dec 04 2019

Air France KLM is offering great award space between the U.S. and Europe for this coming summer. There are plenty of routes and dates where you can book business class awards for at least four passengers.

Often Air France and KLM awards can be booked using their own Flying Blue miles – easy to get, they’re a transfer partner of American Express, Chase, Citibank, and Capital One – however in this case most flights appear even to be bookable using Delta SkyMiles as well (Delta is an American Express transfer).

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Hyatt Moving to Peak/Off Peak Award Pricing and Increasing Value of Spending Points on Meals and Spa

by Gary Leff

Dec 04 2019

In a change that mirrors what other larger hotel chains have done, Hyatt appears to be moving closer to revenue-based redemptions and delivering average rather than outsized value for points.

Starting in March there will be new off-peak and peak pricing levels for each free night award and In late January they’ll improve the value of points for in-hotel redemptions, getting at least a penny per point in value.

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Wide Open Business Class Awards to Tahiti Through End of Schedule

by Gary Leff

Dec 04 2019

French Polynesia is one of the toughest awards in the world to book. In part that’s because there are only four flights between the U.S. mainland and Tahiti, and because three of those aren’t even operated more than 3 times a week.

It’s a desirable destination, perhaps one of the most naturally beautiful in the world. And right now you can book 2 business class award seats on about half the dates between now and end of the airline schedules.

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