United MileagePlus Hits Members Hard As Lufthansa and ANA First Class Award Prices Skyrocket

by Gary Leff

lufthands headquarters
Apr 23 2024

Lufthansa first class appears to have gone from 121,000 to 154,000 miles each way per person – meaning that a saver award now costs 308,000 miles roundtrip. That’s a 27% increase. And these are tough awards to book, because Lufthansa only makes them available to United’s program members within a few days of departure.

Meanwhile ANA first class from the Midwest and East Coast appears to have jumped to an eye-popping 242,000 miles – an instantaneous doubling in price.

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How American Airlines Is Dramatically Cutting Down Bag Check-in Wait Times With New Kiosk Strategy

by Gary Leff

Apr 23 2024

American is encouraging customers to prepay for bags with a discount (of course you may wind up prepaying bags and then not checking as many – overpaying for your bags)

Another way they’re encouraging this is speeding up bag drop for prepaid bags. You can just scan your boarding pass and out will pop the bag tags. Much faster than the current process!

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Here’s The Real Reason People Are Buying $200 Million In Gold From Costco Every Month

by Gary Leff

Apr 23 2024

Costco has sold gold bars since the fall. They get more than the spot price of gold, but it’s still a good deal compared to most places you’ll purchase it.

It’s one of the more unusual things that Costco sells, perhaps, and it’s gotten a lot of attention this month because of a Wells Fargo report suggesting Costco sells $200,000,000 per month in gold bars. That’s a run rate of $2.4 billion per year in gold sales.

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The Irony of Europe’s Green Aviation Policies: Fragmented Skies Fuel Higher Emissions

by Gary Leff

sulfur dioxide emissions
Apr 22 2024

A lot of European concern over the environment is virtue signaling that winds up counterproductive, or just cheap talk. At least France uses nuclear power!

Any criticisms of the aviation industry in Europe are unserious though because European aviation is more carbon intensive than U.S. aviation as a result of European government policies.

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Wow: Delta Air Lines Raises Pay 5% Across The Board, Adds New $19 Minimum Wage

by Gary Leff

Apr 22 2024

Delta Air Lines just announced a 5% across-the-board pay increase for its non-union workforce. It’s the third year in a row of pay increases, and follows February’s $1.4 billion profit-sharing payout.

The airline is also instituting a new $19 per hour minimum starting wage. Both changes go into effect June 1, and combine for an annualized expected cost of $500 million in increased wages. Minimum starting wage employees will earn $5,000 more per year than they currently do.

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