The Single Most Customer-Unfriendly Policy in Travel – And a Workaround

by Gary Leff

british airways plane
May 20 2018

Booking Qantas first class awards but not being able to find American Airlines space Austin – Dallas to connect to it reminded me that it’s worth reminding you of why this can be a huge headache when you travel (and not just because you have to buy a domestic flight when booking a ticket with miles) — but that there’s also something you can do to get around the hassle.

American Airlines has what I think is the single most consumer-unfriendly policy in travel. They won’t through-check bags on separate tickets.

Continue Reading »

American’s New Domestic Product is So Bad Their CEO Won’t Fly It

by Gary Leff

back of airplane seats
May 20 2018

Back in November I flew American’s inaugural Boeing 737 MAX flight. The plane has American’s new interior that’s been controversial, offering less legroom than ever before. It’s the new standard domestic product for American.

American’s CEO Doug Parker thinks it’s weird that I broke the news he told employees in a closed session that he hasn’t flown the new 737 MAX even though it’s the carrier’s new standard domestic product for the whole fleet. Months later he still won’t say that he’s been on it.

Continue Reading »

Truth About Hyatt’s New 15% Discount Rate

by Gary Leff

May 19 2018

Hotel chains want you to book directly through them because it costs them less to make a reservation themselves than it does to pay a commission to Expedia or other online travel sites (or travel agents).

Hyatt has a new attempt at this you need to know about — a 15% discount — but beware.

Continue Reading »

Did American Airlines Hint They Could Be Leaving the New York – London Market?

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
May 19 2018

A couple of days ago I wrote about American President Robert Isom’s comments in an off the record employee Q&A about New York JFK. He talked about the challenges of being in a different terminal from their transatlantic joint venture partner British Airways at both New York JFK and London Heathrow.

Together they’re running what they consider to be a New York – London shuttle, but it’s not convenient because it’s a split operation, and he hints that they may have a solution to that.

Continue Reading »