Over the summer United offered to sell miles for 1.88 cents apiece, I believe for the first time. What’s interesting is that selling miles cheap was the US Airways strategy that came over to American Airlines, and now that former US Airways and American President Scott Kirby is United’s President they’re doing it too.
He knows that the airline is in control of their cost of redemption, and that any miles sold above that cost generates profit.
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.
A lithium ion camera battery exploded in a suitcase before security at the Orlando airport Friday evening. Some passengers reported that it sounded like a gun shot, however it appears to have been an accident and not an attack of any kind.
The TSA ordered that all passengers who had cleared security had to evacuate the terminal and be re-screened. And all passengers that were onboard planes that had not yet taken off returned to their gates to get off, leave the terminal, and be re-screened.
Saudi Arabia commandeered the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh to use as a prison as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved against powerful senior princes and government leaders over this past weekend.
Now the Saudi government has taken over the Marriott Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, too.
While I was in Singapore for the unveiling of Singapore Airlines new cabin products I visited the carrier’s training facility.
I’ve had better crews on Singapore and some less good crews on Singapore but on average I find their service to the best in the industry — high level, precise, and mostly consistent. It doesn’t surprise that flight attendant training is the longest in the industry.
You won’t see this offer unless you’re logged into your American Express Membership Rewards account, but some people at least are targeted for a 20% transfer bonus to Aeroplan and I do not recall ever seeing an Aeroplan transfer bonus before though no doubt readers will correct me if my memory fails. I’m targeted myself.
Overall I’d say that the new terminal 4 in Singapore is gorgeous, I’m happy originating there but I wouldn’t want to connect. And as for the Cathay Pacific lounge is was amazing for a business class lounge at an outstation!
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.
A week and a half ago American Airlines suspended most of their catering at LAX after trace amounts of listeria was found at Gate Gourmet, which catered most of their flights (along with Delta, and several international airlines).
That’s a smart precaution to take, but it created big operational problems.
When Delta and Northwest merged, the combined Delta became the largest airline leapfrogging United and American. Then United and Continental merged and took over the number one spot. And of course American and US Airways merged, to become the biggest single airline.
Except that Delta continued to grow organically, and surpassed United.
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 »
