The economics of co-brand credit cards used to favor banks much more than airlines, though they’ve been lucrative for the airlines for years. By the time of United Airlines’ bankruptcy in 2002 the airline in some sense continued flying to support the underlying credit card business.
With banks spending more on their co-brand partnerships and more to reward consumers they’ve gone looking for ways to trim costs.
The number one thing that determines if you have a great flight is the seat next to you being empty. Having that extra space makes everything better, from the friendliness of flight attendants to the tastiness of the snacks.
It turns out you can ensure this happens every time that you fly. And Kate Middleton knows the trick.
Hyatt made a big bet on ‘well being’, this soft idea that Hyatt makes you a better and more fulfilled person and you’ll pay them a revenue premium for it. As part of that bet they purchased Exhale spas, and a year ago introduced points earning, redemption and elite benefits there including free classes for Globalists in conjunction with a stay.
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.
As if it’s not hard enough to get through on the phone when bad weather hits as it is, American Airlines is closing their Reno reservations office, and eliminating home-based reservations agents.
When a President expresses ‘full confidence’ in a member of their cabinet, the cabinet secretary’s days are numbered. There aren’t even leaks out of the American Airlines Board of Directors right now expressing ‘full confidence’ in CEO Doug Parker.
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.
Pakistan has taken a step farther than the rest of the world in the War on Plastic. Airlines flying to Pakstian are no longer allowed to use plastic cutlery inflight.
What’s more, airlines haveo been directed that they cannot transport cutlery in plastic sacks either and must instead wrap them in paper.
Historically awards between the US and New Zealand have been one of the toughest things to book. Years ago Air New Zealand used to open up business class awards 60 days prior to flight. Then they stopped. With a couple of brief exceptions there really hasn’t been meaningful Air New Zealand business class award space in years.
Right now though there is peak business class award space, a little in November and January but quite a lot in December, on Air New Zealand between Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston and Auckland.
Mandating more of the space on each aircraft go to each passenger is a bad idea that will drive up prices and make travel less safe.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
