Jan
10
2019
For your strategic awareness, two American Express Centurion lounges will be closed temporarily starting Monday — Miami and Las Vegas.
Two American Express Centurion Lounges Close Temporarily Starting Monday
Etihad Laying Off Pilots
Jan
10
2019
Worldwide there’s a significant pilot shortage in commercial aviation. However at Etihad, where the airline has been scaling back from an expansive growth posture, they believe they have too many pilots.
According to an internal memo Etihad will be laying off some of their excess pilots this month.
Air France Killing Low Fare Carrier-Within-a-Carrier Joon and Millennials Everywhere Rejoice
Jan
10
2019
It’s been a year since Air France started service under the ‘Joon’ brand. A separate airline with lower labor costs is one thing – and Joon had lower flight attendant costs, but not lower pilot costs. It’s hard enough to pull that off without really being a separate company. Just ask United, Delta, US Airways, and Continental about the airline within an airline experiment.
Pretending that the Air France low cost carrier without low costs was really a different brand for millennials was just silly. It was created by consultants who think millennial means “no money, doesn’t care about comfort, and is into marketing buzz.”
Air Canada Just Completed Purchase of Aeroplan Frequent Flyer Program, Now Let’s Learn How They’re Changing It
Jan
10
2019
Air Canada, along with Aeroplan’s banking partners CIBC, TD, and Visa, completed their agreement to buy Aeroplan from Aimia.
That gives Air Canada its members to market to right away, and it eliminates expected new major competition between the two from the marketplace before it even begins.
Law Student Missed Her Flight Thanks to TSA and the Government Shutdown, So She Danced.
Jan
10
2019
She danced on the airport train. She danced in the terminal. She danced while having a drink. You can’t get frustrated with travel — with the airlines, with the TSA, with yourself — when you’re dancing.
Hyatt Will Pay You to Hack Their Systems
Jan
09
2019
United has a bug bounty program paying out up to a million miles for identifying vulnerabilities.
Now Hyatt has a bug bounty program, too.
US City Paying People to Visit and Paraplegic United Passenger Had to Scoot Down the Aisle Himself
Jan
09
2019
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.
Award Availability at the St. Regis Maldives is Better – and Cheaper – Than You Think
Jan
09
2019
Until March the most expensive standard room redemption Marriott offers is 60,000 points which is amazing value at the St. Regis Maldives.
Right now there’s better redemption availability at the property than the Marriott award calendar shows — and they appear to be underpricing awards for overwater villas.
American Taking Business Class Seats Out of 787-8s, Now They Don’t Know What to Do With the Aircraft
Jan
09
2019
When American ended Chicago – China service they freed up Boeing 787 aircraft and seemingly didn’t know what to do with them. They’re flying 787s now to Cancun and Anchorage.
Then they freed up even more 787-8 flying time. Since they removed business class seats from 787-8 aircraft, with the new configuration featuring only 20 seats up front, the plane no longer works for premium markets.
Marriott’s View of Loyalty Prevails: Al Maha Won’t Charge Guests for Meals, Activities After All
Jan
09
2019
Hotel loyalty programs face a unique challenge that airlines don’t. Airlines set the rules and provide the product directly. Hotels have to get properties which are often owned and even managed separately to comply, with benefits like upgrades delivered consistently by individual employees at a front desk perhaps thousands of miles away. They rely on individual hotels and even employees to comply.
Embedded in a loyalty program as well is a philosophy of how to treat guests redeeming their points.
