Inflight credit card announcements aren’t going to go away no matter how much customers complain. However I do think the announcements could be done in a way that’s friendlier for passengers — and more effective for card issuers and their co-brand partners.
American Airlines Blocking CLEAR From Setting Up Expedited Security Lines
CLEAR lets you skip to the front of the security line. You use a fingerprint for identification and even if you’re precheck you go ahead of everyone that’s waiting to have their ID checked.
Delta made an investment in CLEAR two years ago. That’s helped CLEAR to expand, and in turn Delta got their biometric technology which they’ve experimented with for aircraft boarding and for SkyClub access. In the future you should be able to check bags based on fingerprints rather than showing ID.
French Open Tennis Champ Uses an Aircraft Engine to Spit Out Practice Balls
French Open champ Alona Ostapenko uses an Air Baltic Bombardier C Series. For practice. Watch this.
Citi Devaluing Trip Protection Again and Leaked United Internal Catering Update
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.
New Aircraft Lavatory Offers Urinals
I’d be concerned about passengers figuring out how the setup works, since they’re used to lavatories pretty much all operating the same way. Given the behavior and intellect of some of your fellow passengers, airlines would probably need to hang a sign inside that says “don’t eat the big white mint.”
American Still Not Ready to Compete With Better Product on Transcons
Delta, JetBlue, and even United have expanded cross country flying with lie flat seats. For months American has been expected to do this too.
Back in March American Airlines confirmed privately that they plan to put Boeing 757s with lie flat seats on cross country domestic flights. But we’re still waiting.
Delta is Launching a Flight to India — and Obi Wan Kenobi Tells You Why
Delta announced that they will fly to Mumbai, India next year. They haven’t said where they’ll fly from, but presumably it’ll be Atlanta where they can muster plenty of connecting traffic. New York has competing flights already from United and Air India, great for non-stop traffic, but a less than ideal city for connections.
They’re doing it because they have a great new partner in Jet Airways and a more fuel efficient aircraft in the A350 but they want you to think it’s because of Donald Trump.
Cathay Pacific Devalues Asia Miles With One Month’s Notice
Effective June 22 they’re making changes to mileage earning and redemption. This matters to folks in the U.S. because Asia Miles is a oneworld frequent flyer program (earn and redeem on American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, etc.) and because it’s a points transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
To me the most important takeaway is that roundtrip premium cabin long haul awards are getting more expensive.
Aer Lingus Says ‘Oops’ and 38,000 Miles.. For a Checked Bag?
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.
What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Done for Miles?
Maybe buying a year’s worth of toilet paper is something. Buying 12,150 cups of chocolate pudding (“Pudding Guy”) to earn over a million miles, and then donating the pudding was the stuff of legends, and even an Adam Sandler movie.
I’ve gone dumpster diving.











