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.
American Airlines Basic Economy Even Worse: Will Strand Customers During a Strike
When American Airlines first unveiled the details of its new Basic Economy fares — new restrictions on its existing lowest fares — I told you about some of the restrictions that American didn’t.
Customers booking Basic Economy fares are at the bottom of the list to be re-accommodated, even if things goes wrong and it’s American’s fault.
American’s Inaugural 737 MAX Flights are Loaded, and You Can Redeem Miles
On Friday I wrote that American’s inaugural Boeing 737 MAX flight would be loaded over the weekend into schedules.
The domestic inaugural is planned for November 29 Miami – New York LaGuardia, though American warns that the aircraft could be used earlier than that as a replacement plane if needed.
30 Day Free Trial for Hotel Booking Site That Undercuts Booking Direct
I covered new hotel discount site Club1 Hotels when they first launched. They were offering free memberships for a year and many readers took advantage of it.
The website was a bit clunky, but there were plenty of deals. Because it’s a membership site they’re able to sell hotels for less than hotel websites and less than Expedia, Booking.com, and others.
Delta Emails Out Self-Serving Disinformation About Open Skies
The Business Travel Coalition’s Kevin Mitchell apparently sent out an email criticizing Delta’s call for protectionism against Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar. And Delta sent out an email attacking back.
There are a lot of vested interests in this debate and each side tries to advance its commercial case, including by hiring experts to represent them in the court of public opinion. There are also facts.
Get Driven to the Plane in British Airways First Class and Best-Ever JetBlue Card Signup Bonus
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.
88 Year Old Former Olympic Wrestler Died After Lifting Checked Luggage (And There’s a Lawsuit)
A two-time Olympic wrestler spent much of his life working as a butcher. But when he retired from that job at age 72 he went to work for Spirit Airlines as a baggage handler.
After 16 years on the job, at age 88, his family says that he “lifted 500 pieces of luggage in one shift, triggering a hernia that would send him downhill.”
United Warns Elite Frequent Flyers: Unless You Spend More Money, Your Flight’s Gonna Be Bad
United sent an email to elite frequent flyers that can be translated as, “Customer who fly 100,000 miles a year and spend perhaps $30,000 aren’t worth giving an advance seat assignment to unless they cough up an extra $20 on their trip.”
Hotel Booking Site Admits Manipulating Star Ratings to See If Customers Will Pay More
Booking.com admits listing the Hudson Hotel in New York more than once under slightly different names with different star ratings, to see whether customers bookings would be any different.
Booking.com may have charged some customers more even when they were listing the same hotel at a lower price.
Freaky: Flight Crew Fall Ill On Two Different Planes at the Same Time
A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados returned to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday after 3 flight attendants fell ill complaining of headaches.
While the Barbados flight was on the ground in Fort Lauderdale, a JetBlue flight from Boston to San Diego diverted to Buffalo “after several crew members reported feeling ill and were taken to the hospital.”