SpendSmart has released new data on the top brands expensed by business travelers based on $3.3 billion in transactions during 2018. Unsurprisingly the most money is spent on airlines, and the largest airlines are among the most frequent vendors expensed by business travelers.
But.. McDonald’s makes the list?
The CEO of Emirates teased merger speculation with Etihad in 2017. Etihad’s CEO teased it last year. The two airlines have been cooperating more closely. Etihad is lending pilots to Emirates.
Now Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum is speaking out about the possibility of a merger – and suggesting it could happen in the future, but not right away.
Asked about the Boeing 737 MAX during Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders meeting, Warren Buffett said that he “will never hesitate even for a second to fly on a 737 MAX” once it returns to service.
You may have an opportunity to fly the MAX again sometime this summer. Will you let it take you where you’re going?
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.
Diana Ross let loose on the TSA as she departed New Orleans on Delta Sunday morning after performing at the Jazz and Heritage Festival. It turns out that the singer of Touch Me in the Morning doesn’t like it when that actually happens.
Frontier Airlines flight 827 from Trenton, New Jersey to Charleston, South Carolina was delayed for an unusual reason. A passenger on board reports that “someone stole an exit sign” from the exit row so the plane couldn’t take off.
Someone been putting up fake power outlets at airports using stickers you can buy off of Amazon. Best I can figure it’s just meant as a cruel, cruel practical joke.
We all need to quickly charge devices between flights, especially when we’re flying planes and aircraft without seat power (and without seat back entertainment, where we’re forced to use those devices for entertainment). And airports are notorious for their lack of available outlets for passengers. Spotting an outlet may seem like the holy grail, but turn out to be a mirage.
San Antonio airport banned Chick-fil-A from opening there due to what they see as the chain’s political beliefs. Buffalo airport quickly followed suit. San Jose airport plans to combat Chick-fil-A with rainbow flags.
Fortunately airports can have chicken sandwiches, regardless of their politics.
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.
If an airline doesn’t arrive on time, customers will be unhappy. That’s simple enough, right? As American Airlines ties the attempt to improve their operation to the happiness of customers, it’s arriving on time that they find matters (“A14” or arriving within 14 minutes of schedule) rather the merely departing on time. Customers won’t be ‘likely to recommend’ if they landing early and find they have no gate for half an hour!
But is that all that matters? Obviously people want to get where they’re going, but they may still be unhappy. And several airlines can deliver well on performance, that’s not enough to distinguish one airline from another.
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 »
