Delta and American Express Re-up Credit Card Deal Through 2029

by Gary Leff

delta plane
Apr 02 2019

I view Delta cards as strong, of course for their initial bonus and for the benefits they convey to passengers (especially those without elite status) flying the airline semi-regularly. I do not view them as a strong tool for spending, independent of weakness in the SkyMiles program itself.

That’s because even if you want to earn SkyMiles through credit card spend, American Express offers cards that earn Membership Rewards points faster than Delta miles, and Membership Rewards points will continue to transfer to Delta as well as having the option of being moved to other programs as-needed.

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5 Things American Airlines is Telling Employees About the New Airbus A321neo

by Gary Leff

a321 aisle
Apr 01 2019

American’s first Airbus A321neo is about to enter commercial service on Tuesday, April 2. They have 100 of the ‘new engine option’ planes on order (22 of these deliveries have been deferred). It’s being outfitted in a new ‘dense’ configuration along the lines of the American Airlines 737 MAX, which has the airline’s new standard domestic interior.

In a communication to employees the airline is highlighting five features of the new aircraft.

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Using Credit Card Travel Coverage Instead of Travel Insurance

by Gary Leff

airline checker canceled flights
Apr 01 2019

I’m not a fan of travel insurance for most trips. I think it’s overpriced, and often fails to deliver what consumers think they’re buying. The hassle in getting a claim covered can outweigh the value of the claim. To my mind it’s something to consider for a ‘trip of a lifetime’ where a loss really would be catastrophic (a trip that could never be replaced) but not for run of the mill travel.

That’s a different matter from making sure your health coverage extends to wherever you’re traveling and to medical evacuation coverage.

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Have Loyalty Programs Gotten Lazy? They Could Make More Money and Benefit Members at the Same Time

by Gary Leff

credit card with chains wrapped around it
Apr 01 2019

Mark Ross-Smith, who until recently was head of the Malaysia Airlines frequent flyer program, is chock full of insights. He lays out a number of things that most frequent flyer programs aren’t doing, costing them real money, because they’ve gotten lazy — focused on little besides the revenue stream they’re earning from co-brand credit card deals.

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Why Don’t Airlines Make Award Seats Available on Empty Flights?

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Mar 31 2019

Some airlines make awards available when they load their schedules, which varies between roughly ten to twelve months prior to flight. They might add seats right when schedules load, or they might wait a few days or weeks.

Other airlines will wait until travel approaches. Although in general I find the best time to be searching for award space is about 6 months to departure. And one of the toughest times is two months out — seats made available in advance may be gone, and last minute award space hasn’t opened up yet.

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Marriott Lifetime Titanium Still Available, There are Two Ways to Get It

by Gary Leff

hotel room
Mar 31 2019

Marriott’s new loyalty program doesn’t offer a lifetime status level higher than 50 nights. The old Starwood program didn’t either. However the old Marriott Rewards program offered lifetime 75 night elite status, and those who achieved that status in the legacy Marriott program, got to keep it.

Marriott carved out an exception that let some Starwood members earn it too — but said it could never be earned after 2018. That turns out not to be quite correct.

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