Booking Throwaway Tickets to Reduce the Price of Star Alliance Awards

by Gary Leff

Nov 16 2017

ANA is a Star Alliance airline based in Japan. For the most part you can use their miles to redeem the same awards you can get with United miles, but they charge fewer miles for those awards. And American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to ANA.

And while ANA does add fuel surcharges to awards, those are very low or non-existent for flights to Japan and North Asia and they don’t add fuel surcharges to awards on Air Canada, Air New Zealand, or Etihad. Yes, they partner with Etihad and other airlines outside of Star Alliance too. Cancelling and redepositing miles costs just 3000 miles (rather than cash).

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Delta Will Start Limiting SkyClub Member Access to Same Day Delta/Partner Airline Passengers

by Gary Leff

delta sky club
Nov 16 2017

Four years ago Delta raised the price of SkyClub memberships, and started requiring those with access via credit card to pay for guests. This was all being done for you.

Delta is introducing new access restrictions effective January 1, 2019. Regardless of how you access SkyClubs, you will need to be flying Delta or a partner airline. Simply flying any airline same day will not be enough.

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Senate Tax Bill Contains a Stealth Attack on Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar

by Gary Leff

people boarding from tarmac
Nov 16 2017

You might have thought that the crux of Senate tax reform legislation was whether to eliminate a slew of tax deductions while reducing rates on various taxpayers. But it’s also a Christmas tree of special interest items that can be achieved through the tax code.

Delta’s Senator, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, stuck a provision into the Senate tax reform bill that’s currently under consideration and it’s considered a stealthy under the radar attack on the Gulf airlines.

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Warren Buffett Lost Over $1 Billion on the Airlines, Basic Economy Passengers Have it Worse

by Gary Leff

Nov 16 2017

Warren Buffett recovered from his once upon a time investment in US Air debt long enough to invest in the airlines again. But his recent investment in major airlines, having lost over a billion dollars last quarter, is not at this point proof that they’re good investments, or validation that their managements are running good businesses.

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American Losing Another Mileage Partner: Gulf Air Exits April 30th

by Gary Leff

Nov 15 2017

Gulf Air was a reasonable way to connect via London, Paris, Frankfurt or Athens on through their Bahrain hub to various destinations in India and Pakistan. They also fly to places tough to get to on European carriers such as Iraq and Sudan.

Meanwhile American hasn’t been adding partners recently. Or benefits. There hasn’t been great news for AAdvantage members in awhile.

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