Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Improves Miles Expiration Policy, Becomes a Better Place to Move Credit Card Points

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Dec 10 2019

Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles is a transfer partner of American Express, Citibank, and Capital One. Up until now it hasn’t been a great store of value, a place to transfer points and hold them, because Asia Miles expired after 36 months – this didn’t get extended with more activity in your account.

The good news is that this is changing – effective January 1, 2020 you can extend the life of your miles with any activity in your account every 18 months. Earning any miles, or redeeming any miles will extend validity.

Continue Reading »

This Passenger Pranked Three Employees At The Airport – And He Has a Great (?) Sense Of Humor

by Gary Leff

person moving wheelchair
Dec 10 2019

What would you do if you were pushing a wheelchair and the passenger… fell out? What if you were a flight attendant, standing on the jetway, and saw this happen to one of your passengers?

And what if it was all a prank? This passenger deals with a lot more in life than I do each day, yet manages to maintain a great positive outlook and has fun with the people he meets. I find that inspirational.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Adds Big New Routes to Austin and Several One Off Event Flights

by Gary Leff

austin airport food court
Dec 10 2019

American Airlines announced this morning several new routes, the biggest of which are from my home airport in Austin. They also announced several one-off services to major events like the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting and Augusta National Masters Golf Tournament.

The Austin flights in particular are exciting because they’re a departure from American’s usual strategy. These are point-to-point flights that don’t touch hubs, instead they’re aggressively competing with new flights between Delta focus cities.

Continue Reading »

Town Of Burien, Washington Stops FAA From Sending Flights Over Its Skies

by Gary Leff

man expressing stress and noise at the airport
Dec 10 2019

When residents complain about airport noise I’m not usually sympathetic, the airport was there before you were and planes aren’t as noisy as they used to be. And when you see thousands of noise complaints about an airport it’s frequently just one to three residents making them all believe it or not (the complaints process has been automated).

But what about when the FAA redirects air traffic overhead?

Continue Reading »

United Airlines Charter Takes Off With Kansas City Chiefs Equipment Still On Board

by Gary Leff

Dec 09 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West last night and stopped the New England Patriots’ home winning streak at 21 games. But the real drama was lost luggage leading up to the game.

The Kansas City Chiefs took a United Airlines-chartered aircraft to play the New England Patriots. When they arrived some of their equipment was left on board. The plane then went to Newark, and the equipment didn’t reach them until two hours prior to kickoff.

Continue Reading »

Scott Kirby’s Leadership Style: Times He Overruled The AAdvantage Team at American

by Gary Leff

united plane
Dec 08 2019

Kirby definitely gets in the weeds, including in the management of frequent flyer programs, and he’s known to overrule the executives below him. It may be that the sense is he doesn’t listen to investors (which is good, the growth plan that’s benefited United was unpopular with investors) but my sense is that he’s less likely to listen to his own teams.

Continue Reading »