Avianca’s LifeMiles program is introducing ‘subscriptions’ to buy miles.
Plans start at $11 per month. That’s buying 8000 miles for $131.88 or 1.65 cents apiece. However the price per mile quickly falls. The $32.99 plan is buying miles at 1.41 cents per mile.
Southwest Airlines got as many reviews for its app in one month as in the previous 8 years, and they were nearly all 5 stars, “the numbers, frankly, look too good to be true.” This all began with the latest update to the app on January 17.
Pilots of a Transavia flight made an emergency landing in Vienna when a fight broke out over a passenger who wouldn’t stop passing gas. The pilots reported “passengers on a rampage.”
A Victoria’s Secret model admits that she’s a member of the Mile High Club, and says she got caught as she finished up.
She shared, “When asked if she’s ever joined the mile high club, Gale admitted “yeah,” before sharing that she and her boyfriend were busted coming out of the airplane bathroom.”
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian demonstrated again in his quarterly earnings call that he doesn’t understand the value proposition of his loyalty program. His metrics for success do not tie to his program’s own value proposition. Yet he offers some hope.
Kerry Philipovitch, American’s Senior Vice President of Customer Experience defends the idea of Basic Economy fares in the latest “Tell Me Why” podcast aimed at the airline’s employees.
She says that without Basic Economy “we’re going to see our most price sensitive travelers leave us” — as though stripped down fares are necessary to offer low fares, and even though immediately after she explains that American had been offering fares that match ultra low cost carriers before Basic Economy.
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.
Indonesia is a seen as one of the more socially tolerant Islamic nations, however they’re now considering legislation that would ban gay and extramarital sex.
While the party in power is generally seen as more socially liberal (and secular) than those calling for a ban they also see ‘compromise’ legislation as the best avenue to averting even a stronger crackdown.
In Marriott’s earnings call yesterday Arne Sorenson laid out his thinking on the loyalty program that will combine Marriott, Starwood, and Ritz-Carlton in 2019.
The only thing from Sorenson’s remarks that worries me is that they’re driving down the cost of the program for hotels, although no doubt that’s a part of how they get properties on board with program changes they’re planning to announce in the coming months.
A man from New Orleans packed a foot long sex toy and lube in his son’s carry on bag. Then he sent his son through a TSA screening checkpoint. Hijinks ensue.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
