Delta wants you to believe that they are making the cheapest awards more restrictive to help you. Apparently Delta customers have been telling the airline that they want the flexibility not to be allowed to get seat assignments in advance. And they’ve been saying that more rules and restrictions are both simpler and more intuitive. As a result this is an enhancement you should like.
Basic economy tickets aren’t a ‘new way to offer cheaper fares’. They are new restrictions on the cheapest fares, a way of making the product worse so that some passengers will pay more.
Now that United, Delta, and American all offer Basic Economy fares (no advance seat assignment, no cancel/changes, no upgrades or extra legroom seats, and in United’s case no full-sized carry on bag) it’s only been a matter of time before one of the carriers tried booking award tickets into Basic Economy.
I admit to being surprised that it’s happened so quickly, since it’s not in the best interests of the airline – it’s a bad business decision – but I’m not surprised that it appears to be Delta going first.
About 5 years ago the ban on using personal electronics below 10,000 feet on U.S. flights was lifted. Now passengers can use their phones or tablets with the door closed, during taxi, and takeoff. But devices are supposed to be in airplane mode.
This is the first time I’ve heard of a real consequence for not doing that — though as a result of something that would only occur with certain airlines in Europe, the Mideast, and Asia.
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.
Dubai-based Emirates tweeted out a photo of one of their Boeing 777s encrusted in Diamonds. For Emirates this is actually believable. And they serious Need. To. Do. This.
A disrupted relationship with Jet Airways — from the carrier’s own troubles, and the possibility that Etihad takes back control — could stymie Delta’s indeterminate and underspecified promise to serve the market.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce welcomed Royal Air Maroc CEO Abdelhamid Addou into the oneworld alliance this afternoon at the Royalton Hotel in New York.
This is a big win for AAdvantage frequent flyers. Award travel on the carrier is abundantly available and with the addition of Miami service in April they’ll offer non-stop Boeing 787 travel from 4 North American cities to Casablanca with connections beyond.
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.
A woman is suing Hilton for $100 million after she says an employee videotaped her in the shower at an Albany, New York Hampton Inn and uploaded the video along with her name to a porn site, and used to footage to blackmail her.
In May I wrote that Phoenix airport would replace the small The Club lounge there with a new 9,532 square foot lounge.
At the time I speculated it would be “a Centurion lounge — or perhaps less likely could become an Escape or Airspace lounge.” It turns out the recommendation is for two lounges.
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 »
