United Tells Employees They’re Cutting Service Levels in Business Class (You Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse)

by Gary Leff

flight attendant pushing cart
Nov 06 2018

Starting February 1 business class entrees will be plated in advance in order to reduce flight attendant workload and allow them to reduce flight attendant staffing in the cabin by one position.

Where any of their competitors fly with fewer flight attendants, United will too. The goal, apparently, is to offer the lowest levels of service among peers American and Delta. And that’s not just limited to business class, Boeing 757 international routes lose a flight attendant in coach too.

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Chase Launched the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store This Morning

by Gary Leff

apple selection
Nov 06 2018

Chase has launched their new Apple Ultimate Rewards Store today. Sapphire, Ink, and Freedom cardmembers can spend points for Apple products.

If you do want to spend points for Apple products, log into your Ultimate Rewards account and be sure to complete the transaction while points are still worth a penny apiece towards these items. No doubt there are people with more points than opportunity to maximize them, and the holidays are coming.

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Lesson Learned: Always Tell the Airline About Damaged Bags Immediately

by Gary Leff

wet clothes
Nov 05 2018

A reader who lives not far from me shared his story of arriving at the Austin airport on American Airlines and finds his checked bags wet and contents damaged.

They went home late on Friday night and he filed his claim with American Airlines first thing Monday morning — so the immediate next business day. American denied his claim because he didn’t file within 24 hours. And without that timely-filed claim, he’s out of luck with his credit card coverage too.

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Service Animal Does His Business on Plane, Passenger on Next Flight Told to Clean It Up

by Gary Leff

delta plane
Nov 05 2018

Last year comedian Nicole Byer went on Conan and told a story about finding poop in a sealed blanket on Delta. She was flying from Louisiana to Atlanta enroute to Los Angeles when she pulled her first class blanket out of sealed plastic and “brown crumble falls on me” then she saw a “brown thing” and the smell hit her. She says she found poop in her phone a week later since the phone was in her lap.

Now comes word that a service animal ‘became ill’ on a Delta flight

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A Little Girl Shows Us How to Brighten Each Other’s Day on a Plane

by Gary Leff

gary leff selfie
Nov 05 2018

When I get on a plane I will nod and smile, if someone nods and smiles at me. I’m usually all business. I get to my row, stow my bag, sit down — and work until boarding finishes.

I’m a “speak only if spoke to” kind of guy on a plane. I’ll never strike up a conversation unless I see someone in distress (“can I help you put your bag in the overhead?” “I overheard you’re worried about your connection…”).

But we’re all trapped together in a metal tube.

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American Top Elite Status Changes: Higher Spend Requirement, New Choice Benefit

by Gary Leff

back of airline seats
Nov 05 2018

When United announced at the end of September that earning 100,000 mile flyer ‘1K’ status would also require $15,000 in spending starting next year it was almost a foregone conclusion that American AAdvantage would do the same thing.

Meanwhile they’re introducing a new choice benefit for Executive Platinums who fly beyond 100,000 miles as well as adjusting mileage and status-earning when flying on their closest partner airlines or on ‘bulk’ or special fares.

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American Airlines Orders More 76 Seat Regional Jets

by Gary Leff

american eagle plane
Nov 05 2018

American Airlines is buying 15 more Embraer EMB-175 76 seat regional jets.

These aircraft will go to American Airlines wholly-owned regional carrier Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle) and are expected to be delivered starting in 2020. Likely for reasons of fleet commonality and price they did not opt for the potentially more comfortable E-2 variant of the plane.

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Icelandair Buying Wow Air: End of Low Cost Europe Fares Coming?

by Gary Leff

wow plane
Nov 05 2018

Low cost transatlantic carrier Primera has gone out of business while Wow Air cuts routes. Norwegian is selling planes and could still be acquired by British Airways parent IAG.

The market for flying passengers across the Pond at low prices is being shaken up. There was too much capacity pushing down prices too far especially as fuel prices rise. Now it looks like we’re seeing some actual consolidation in this market.

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