Oct
11
2018
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.
“American Wants to Be Nice, Doesn’t Know How” and More
Radisson Hotel Being Used as Refugee Camp While Continuing to Sell Rooms to Guests
Oct
11
2018
Several years ago I wrote about the Radisson JFK being used as a homeless shelter.
I was torn over this. Customers don’t like staying in hotels where the largest in-house group are homeless, but I do think they have a right to stay on property if the going rate is being paid for their accommodations….
Murdered Oligarch Was Prepared to Testify About Aeroflot’s Role in Russian Spying
Oct
10
2018
Nikolai Glushkov was preparing for legal proceedings over claims that he looted over $100 million from Aeroflot when he served as the airline’s Deputy Director for Finance in the mid-1990’s. He had run out of money and was preparing to represent himself — until he was “strangled to death with a dog leash.” The Russian government has impugned the circumstances around his death, while the British government is investigating murder and notes that “a black van [was] seen near his home the night he was strangled.” Had his trial proceeded he was prepared to testify that Aeroflot was the centerpiece of Russia’s clandestine services. The airline, Ms. Litvinenko said her husband told her, was a centerpiece of the Russian spy services, which since Soviet days had used its global network of offices and air routes…
Business Travel: Companies Increasingly Letting Employees Fly Business Class
Oct
10
2018
Corporate travel policies are becoming more generous allowing employees to fly in premium cabins.
There’s a tight labor market and companies don’t want to lose their best employees. The spread between business and coach and winnowed down. With more competition for premium cabin seats there are fewer upgrades available.
The Caribbean Beach Where Pigs Swim and Pilot Loses License for Accidentally Eating Marijuana
Oct
10
2018
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.
Indian Airport Security Told Not to Smile as Much
Oct
10
2018
Security staff in India are being told to smile less. They’re worried about the perception of lax security, in other words security theater, although the agency’s director seems to believe that good security treats passengers poorly.
$1 Buys Both 1000 American Miles and Long-term WSJ.com Access
Oct
10
2018
About five years ago I took advantage of a free 6 month trial subscription to the Wall Street Journal. I have no interest in a paper copy, but I do value access to articles behind their pay wall. And I still have that access. That’s because I suspend paper delivery of my subscription. You can do that for two months at a time. When they aren’t delivering the paper they aren’t decrementing the remaining days on your subscription you still have full access to website content. Many people are more interested in the miles offered for trial subscriptions, and take advantage of various shopping portal signup offers. Right now for instance Frequent Miler points to a $1 offer for a two month Journal trial that earns 1000 American AAdvantage miles. This offer should be around…
Big Changes at Air India: Flight Attendants Have to Share Hotel Rooms, Can’t Upgrade Their Friends
Oct
09
2018
Government-owned Air India is a basket case. Part of the airline’s efforts to turn itself focus on cutting back on crew expenses and perks. Some of those efforts are reasonable, while others may be surprising.
American Airlines Stock Hits Two Year Low: What’s Going On?
Oct
09
2018
American Airlines stock hit two year low. It’s down about a third this year. The market doesn’t seem to think their strategy is going to deliver results. Investors appear to be mirroring customer sentiment, judging from the comments and interactions I have with readers. It also appears to be mirroring employee sentiment, judging from what I hear from American’s front line.
The total value the market places on American Airlines right now is less than $16 billion. In contrast United’s market cap is $22 billion. Their stock has gone in the opposite direction from American’s this year. Southwest’s market cap is $34 billion and Delta’s is $35 billion.
Richard Branson’s Advice to Elon Musk and New Airline Customer Service Via Text
Oct
09
2018
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.
