Marriott Launches Its New Mobile App – The Rails on Which They’ll Deliver New Benefits

Feb 07 2017

Marriott has launched a newly redesigned mobile app for iOS users, with an update for Android coming soon. They’re touting it heavily (“the new Marriott Mobile app breaks the mold of typical hospitality apps”), but reading through the press release I wasn’t sure what was really new so I spoke with Marriott’s VP of Global Loyalty Thom Kozik.

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Air India Pilot Refuses to Divert Plane After a Bird Strike, Keeps Flying

Feb 07 2017

Air India’s flight AI436 from Bhopal to Delhi experienced a bird strike on departure from Bhopal. The captain of the Airbus A319 decided to make the 364 mile flight instead of turning around or diverting.

Making sense of news coverage of aviation-related events is tough, because so much of what’s reported in the mainstream press about airline incidents is wrong.

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United Fails Basic Marketing With Polaris Business Class Rule

Feb 06 2017

I hear from customers almost every day who aren’t getting the new business class seats on their upcoming flights over the next few months — and argue with me that they are. “But the confirmation says Polaris” they tell me and I have to explain that this simply means they get the new soft product, and it will be years before most flights have the new seats.

That’s a problem, but there’s something far pettier and a much bigger lost opportunity, that I want to highlight.

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