Delta Gives Non-Union Employees Big Raise For Labor Day

by Gary Leff

delta plane
Sep 01 2019

Yesterday I shared a leaked Delta memo showing that the airline would be giving 4% raises to flight attendants and ground employees. In addition the airline said employees could expect bigger bonuses. That’s big news this Labor Day weekend.

The authenticity of the memo was being called into question in some quarters because another (obviously fake) memo was circulating earlier in the week promising 9% raises. However the real memo is.. real… and Delta employees get news of a 4% raise for Labor Day.

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A Bunch of Underpriced Hotel Rooms

by Gary Leff

Hawaiian resort
Sep 01 2019

I’ve written in the past about Luxury Travel Diary hotel auctions. Unfortunately I frequently forget to check them. Somehow they manage to get great rooms to auction off, and not enough people bidding so — with no reserve — rooms often go for a lot less than I think they should.

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American Airlines Will Start Rotating Snack Baskets Much More Often Starting October 9

by Gary Leff

Aug 31 2019

Currently American Airlines changes up their domestic first class snack baskets every six months. I don’t love most of what they offer, and boy the contents get boring after awhile. The last changeover was April 10.

While I don’t think the new choices starting October 9 are better the good news is that the airline will begin rotating out contents every two months beginning with this next refresh. Here’s what’ll be in the new baskets.

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Delta Giving Out Raises, Expects Bigger Bonuses – And That’s a Problem for Southwest and American

by Gary Leff

delta check in airport
Aug 31 2019

Ground and flight attendant employees get a 4% raise. Employees who receive merit-based pay adjustments will have a 4% increase in the total compensation pool available to them. And bonuses are expected to be higher, too.

Just as importantly the airline communicates that it is investing in solving pain points in jobs, and employees are reminded that they’re empowered to address the most important issues at the airline (safety). It’s a well-written memo.

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How Marriott Bonvoy Became Part of Getting the President’s Personal Assistant Fired

by Gary Leff

bonvoy
Aug 30 2019

he President’s personal assistant, Madeleine Westerhout, was fired on Thursday. On Friday the story came out that she had made comments at an off-the-record dinner with reporters August 17th hosted by deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley which got back to the White House.

Apparently Ms. Westerhout, after “a couple drinks and in an uncharacteristically unguarded moment,” made comments which – once reported back to the White House – made her continued employment untenable. That’s not the part of the story I’m interested in.

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What Keeps American Airlines From Offering a Checked Baggage Guarantee

by Gary Leff

Aug 30 2019

Delta and Alaska Airlines commit to delivering checked bags within 20 minutes of each flight arriving. United and American make no such commitment. An American employee asked about what the airline can do to improve its baggage delivery times, and management provided a response in writing outlining some of the challenges that they have with bags – and how it’s supposed to work.

They also explained why bags often don’t make it when you change flights during irregular operations.

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