United Gets Contract With Mechanics Too! Ready to Complete 2010 Merger and Move Forward

by Gary Leff

Aug 12 2016

Earlier today we got news that United’s flight attendants had ratified a contract. It was a close vote — 90% of flight attendants cast ballots and only 53% of those voted in favor. But it lets the airline move forward combining the legacy United and legacy Continental flight attendant groups as one.

As I wrote at the time, United will finally be one airline in the sky. From a customer-facing standpoint that will complete the merger.

But the airline’s work isn’t done, even with that. United has been working for years on a contract with mechanics.

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United Will Finally Be One Airline in the Sky

by Gary Leff

Aug 12 2016

United’s flight attendants have voted 53% in favor of a new joint contract.

United and Continental merged in 2010, with Continental management eventually taking over, but six years later that merger is still not complete.

United still needs to get its mechanics contract done, but the flight attendant deal is a big step. They’ll be one airline going forward now — at least once they’re in the sky.

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AIRFARE DEAL: Southeast Asia from Major US Cities from $426 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

Aug 12 2016

Japanese Star Alliance airline ANA has Phnom Penh, Cambodia starting at $426 from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

This is a $145 fare each way plus tax, available August 15 through December 9, or January 1 through May 23 for outbound travel. Your transpacific flight needs to be Monday through Thursday in each direction. There’s a $300 change fee.

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How to Still Earn 100% of Flown Miles on Cheap American Airlines Tickets

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Aug 11 2016

American Airlines joined Delta and United in awarding miles for flights based on the cost of a ticket rather than the distance you fly.

But if you aren’t an elite (giving you a reason to credit to American), and your ticket isn’t super expensive (where you’ll earn as many miles as before), there’s still a program that will award you 100% of your flown miles on nearly all American Airlines fares.

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American Express San Francisco Lounge Gets New Chef, Menu — and He’s Really There!

by Gary Leff

Aug 11 2016

Earlier in the month American Express announced Daniel Patterson as the new executive chef.

Patterson is best known for his two Michelin-starred restaurant Coi in San Francisco which he is stepping down from he says because he’s too busy and isn’t comfortable with a role where he’s chef ‘in name only’. So I was surprised to see the American Express tie-in. Here are his new menus for the lounge.

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Luckiest Man in the World Survives Plane Crash, Wins Lottery

by Gary Leff

Aug 11 2016

Last week Emirates flight EK521 from Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai was involved in an accident. The Boeing 777-300, registration number A6-EMW, caught fire after touching the ground in Dubai. It was an incredible incident with the plane catching fire, but all of the passengers and crew onboard got out. Only 13 passengers were injured.

But one of those passengers may just be The Luckiest Man in the World.

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