Marriott Releases New Program Award Pricing for Hotels in Several Cities

by Gary Leff

hotel stairs
Apr 23 2018

In the new Marriott loyalty program they’ve largely taken the better Starwood elite program and the better Marriott earn and burn proposition — however Starwood members won’t see exactly what they’ve come to expect on the Marriott side and and Marriott members have seemed likely to experience some devaluation of points.

Marriott’s CEO says they’re making the program less expensive for hotels. That’s created a pretty strong starting point to assume that earning and redeeming points couldn’t offer quite as good a value as before.

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Video: Police Taser Man on American Flight After Racist Tirade, Sexual Assault

by Gary Leff

police tasing man on flight
Apr 23 2018

While American Airlines flight AA2446 from Miami to Chicago O’Hare was still at the gate last night the instigator of a ‘disagreement’ between two passengers was asked to get off the plane. He refused. And in a post-David Dao world airlines now deplane everyone when that happens, rather than starting off dragging the passenger down the aisle.

Now, disagreement is a great euphamism here.

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Why Stronger EU Compensation Rules Will Cost Customers the Most

by Gary Leff

airplane docked
Apr 22 2018

Earlier I noted that an EU court ruled that airlines will have to pay compensation to passengers when they cancel flights as a result of labor actions. When unions organize a sick out, and there aren’t enough crew to staff a plane, airlines don’t just lose revenue from the flight they will have to issue checks to each inconvenienced passenger.

To a consumer that sounds great, right? The Court of Justice of the European Union handed unions a new gun to aim at airlines, and may make unofficial actions much more effective. That could make air travel less reliable, more costly, and less pleasant.

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Lufthansa First Class Bookable in Advance Right Now

by Gary Leff

lufthands headquarters
Apr 22 2018

Normally Lufthansa only makes first class award space available much in advance to its own Miles & More members. Star Alliance partner frequent flyer programs can only book that space within 2 weeks of departure.

Right now though some frequent flyer programs have access to Lufthansa first class space through the entire calendar.

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