Priority Pass Raising Lounge Per Visit Fee Effective October 1 For Some US Cards

by Gary Leff

priority pass select card
Aug 28 2018

Priority Pass is a card that gets you into lounges around the world. You don’t have to belong to an individual lounge program, this program works to have lounges in most of the places you go.

There are over 1000 airport lounges that a Priority Pass will gain you access to, most of those are spread throughout airports around the world. Around 60 options exist in the U.S. and that increasingly includes airport restaurants.

When you have a Priority Pass card it may come with visits for you as the cardholder, and it may come with complimentary visits for guests.

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This Ramp Worker Has Mad Skills — and Could Care Less About On-Time Departures

by Gary Leff

man raising arms in air
Aug 28 2018

It’s hard to mind so much having a little fun on the job when they show enthusiasm, and a lack of care in the world for who might be watching — as in the case of this ramp worker who took a break from his job to play “toss the cone.”

The man shoots — and he scores! And he’s caught on video experiencing the true thrill of victory. The video is just 13 seconds, and worth watching all the way to the end.

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How John McCain Supported America West and Ultimately Helped Put Doug Parker in Charge at American

by Gary Leff

map of usa
Aug 28 2018

Senator McCain wanted to eliminate the perimeter rule at Washington National airport, but maintained that if that wasn’t politically feasible he wanted airlines based outside the 1250 mile perimeter to have access to Washington National airport. This meant America West getting a Phoenix – Washington National non-stop.

McCain also supported the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act which handed out airline subsidies after 9/11 to America West Airlines, US Airways, American Trans Air, Aloha Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Evergreen International Airlines, and World Airways.

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Marriott Explains What Systems Still Aren’t Working and When They’ll Be Fixed

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Aug 27 2018

On a scale of travel company IT integrations, Marriott’s new program launch didn’t go nearly as well as the largest travel program merger — American Airlines-US Airways — nor nearly as badly as the biggest debacle United-Continental.

While Marriott managed to get functionality up quickly to book reservations, even now 9 days later there are several lingering issues.

I spoke with David Flueck, Marriott’s Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty, to get a sense for where things stand — what bugs are still outstanding, and when we can expect those to be resolved.f

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The Capital of a Small European Nation Figured Out How to Get The World Talking About a Visit

by Gary Leff

lets your build your pleasure map
Aug 27 2018

They call themselves the ‘g spot’ of Europe, “nobody knows where it is but when you find it, it’s amazing.”

Their quiz actually made me blush a little. Their things to do – like the National Gallery of Art – are described as “pleasure spots.”

Truth is though that while this isn’t likely to directly cause people to visit, it is likely to raise awareness for Vilnius, Lithuania.

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JetBlue Increase the Price of First Checked Bag to $30, Will Other Airlines Match?

by Gary Leff

baggage claim
Aug 27 2018

Over the last year JetBlue has made several moves to squeeze more revenue from customers. The airline has been eliminating its product advantages over competitors, and diminishing its customer-friendly approach. They still offer more legroom and their inflight internet generally works, but the legroom advantage is less than it used to be and the airline no longer offers a free checked bag to everyone.

Now JetBlue has made a move that its domestic rivals hadn’t yet — increasing the cost of a first checked bag to $30. And what everyone wants to know is, will other airlines match?

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Has United’s President Done a 180, Started Caring About Customer Experience?

by Gary Leff

airplane seats
Aug 27 2018

United Airlines President Scott Kirby, who has previously served as President of American Airlines (and US Airways and America West before that), is the most ‘by the numbers’ executive in the airline industry today. I’ve called him a destroyer of airlines.

However he’s just given an interview where he actually says that brand matters to an airline’s success in the long run and so more than what’s in the spreadsheet matters. Does the new rhetoric match reality?

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American’s CEO Finally Tries His Own Coach Product. Here’s His Reaction.

by Gary Leff

back of airplane seats
Aug 27 2018

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker has finally flown the airline’s new standard coach product, a full nine months after it has entered service.

American debuted a new domestic interior on their first Boeing 737 MAX back in November. That isn’t just the new product that is going on one plane (of which they have 100 on order). They’re taking all of their existing Boeing 737s and replacing the interior with new seats with less distance from seat back to seat back, that have less padding, and no seat back video.

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