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.
Airline Goes Out of Their Way to Help Ungrateful Family (The Perils of Basic Economy)
What obligation does a passenger have to understand their fare, and how what they’re buying will meet their needs (or not)?
And while It’s fair to blame airlines for a lot of how we experience travel, don’t we also have to take some responsibility for ourselves? The whole experience would be better for everyone, all around, if we’d practice gratefulness.
Marriott Resort Says They Don’t Upgrade Elites “Due to Small Size of Hotel”
Marriott’s Autograph Collection Waterline Marina Resort has followed the lead of the JW Marrriott Guanacaste and declared that they do not upgrade Platinums. And they’ve brashly done so at Marriott.com:
British Airways CEO: Biggest Threat to the Airline’s Future is its Employees
In a speech at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London British Airways CEO Alex Cruz declared that ‘the main threat to BA’s future’ is the airline’s employees.
He’s been forced to walk that back and clarify his remarks on an internal website,
How Credit Will Be Approved in the Future and Which Airlines are the Largest in the World?
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.
Why Eliminating Award Charts is the Wrong Way to Do Revenue-Based Redemption
There’s a real problem that programs are facing, how to deliver award seats in a world where planes are full and airlines aren’t growing faster than the economy? If there aren’t unsold seats on desirable flights the model breaks down. The answer though isn’t to move towards low value redemptions where a mile is worth a penny. That’s giving up.
Fortunately it’s not really an either-or proposition. In fact United’s own experience with revenue-based redemptions shows that this new model can easily co-exist with award charts.
Why Starbucks Rewards Devalued Again and ‘Gate Lice’ Goes Mainstream
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.
United Revealed Plans For MileagePlus, Polaris, and Basic Economy in its Earnings Call
Plenty of reporters will be covering the United Airlines first quarter earnings call, but largely focusing on the airline’s revenue performance and questions about the fleet – especially the 737 MAX.
My interest is largely focused on customer experience – product, fares, and the loyalty program – and that’s something that gets discussed but not nearly as widely picked up in the coverage. So these are the things that struck me as interesting during United’s earnings call.
Air France Business Class Award Space to Tahiti Actually Exists
Award space between the US and Tahiti is as tough to get as any route in the world.
Right now Air France business class has some availability for two passengers a few days each month. That’s better than I’ve seen it, whether searching in November or February or April.
United’s New Free Sandwich and American Dishes on its Charlotte Hub
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.