There’s a new New Yorker article that’s getting lots of play, “Why I Left United Airlines” Most of the complaints in the piece are complaints about the airline industry generally which are then used as a general indictment of mergers. And while I think that mergers generally fail to deliver on their promises to shareholders or customers, I’m not sure that United-Continental alone proves that and throwing in mergers in other industries anecdotally in a short piece serves to make the case either. For the most part, how you feel about the article will track your general mood affiliation with United and with airlines writ large. Nonetheless, this is a claim that I do believe: The United merger is a grand example of a consumer sinkhole—a merger that proves to be not just a onetime…
The Card That Earns 2 Delta Miles Per Dollar on All Spending
There’s actually a card that earns 2 Delta miles per dollar on all spending. I never knew this card even existed. It’s the Canadian co-brand Delta card issued by Capital One. Usually I think of our Neighbors to the North as being at a relative miles and points disadvantage. They don’t have as much competition in their loyalty programs as we do in the U.S. That’s why it didn”t surprise me that I considered Air Canada’s Aeroplan the most devalued airline frequent flyer program in North America, even before their most recent devaluations. I suppose though if you’re focusing your marketing on Canadians, and want them to accrue Delta Skymiles, that you’re going to have to be pretty aggressive with rewards. And the interesting thing here is that the card is offered by Capital One.…
A Moment of Brutal Honesty: United Thinks Their Problem is Too Many Customers
After what I thought was the most blunt explanation from an airline I’ve ever seen for a devaluation, it seems the trend towards revealing honesty in the industry continues. Usually devaluations are called ‘enhancements’ and benefits are removed ‘based on customer feedback’. Instead, we have United — which has long believed their customers are the problem — admitting as much on Twitter. United this week announced that the minimum revenue for elite status would go up 20% next year. Now United admits they’re doing it because they have too many frequent flyers that buy their tickets enough to earn elite status.
Uber’s $30 First Time Rider Credit Ends November 23
Readers know that I’m a big fan of Uber, the on-demand car service. You download an app to your phone, request a pickup with the press of a button. You watch your vehicle on a map as it drives to you and shows you how many minutes away the car is. You can stay inside at home or at a restaurant until it shows up. Your payment details are on file, so when the trip is over you just get out and you’re emailed a receipt. There are several options in different markets — like black cars, UberX which is individuals with their own cars that drive you, and in some cities even UberTaxi where you’re just requesting a cab through the app. For several months they have offered first-time users a free ride up…
United Devalues… Checked Baggage
Via Hans Mast United has copied another customer-unfriendly policy developed elsewhere at other carriers. They’re going to stop checking baggage through to your final destination when you’re traveling on separate tickets and your connection is on an airline outside the Star Alliance. Here instead of immediately following what Delta does by doing the exact same thing, they waited awhile and saw that American is doing it before moving forward themselves. One of the things I liked about United was that they’re still willing to check bags onto other airlines even when you’re traveling on separate tickets. Starting on or about March 1, that will only be true when you’re connecting to a Star Alliance airline.
The Guy With the Most Credit Cards Wins, Plus Stay Once and Get a Free Night
News and notes from around the interweb: Every important American airport, ranked by its food and drink. (Meanwhile, here are the Worst Airports in the United States.) ATC Zero: Inside the Chicago Center Fire (HT: L.B.) Stay once get a free night (HT: S.) The guy that has the most credit cards. I’ve rarely felt inadequate in my pursuit of miles and points before. Pilot makes a flight late waiting for passenger to apologize for criticizing their being late (HT: Alan H.) The meal service improvements at American I shared early last month (which are really just bringing back part of what was cut in September) have now been announced to customers: You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just…
Is the Spending Requirement for Chase Sapphire Preferred About to Go Up?
I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Key Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best all-around, most rewarding personal credit card. It has one of the best signup bonuses, has strong benefits, and is a great card that rewards ongoing spending (because it has flexible points that transfer to a variety of airlines and hotels, and because it earns double points on all travel and dining). Dan’s Deals is reporting that the…
$100 Off a Future Hotel When You Book a Flight Through Orbitz
Reader S. shared this deal: book a roundtrip flight and pay via Visa checkout, and get a $100 off hotel coupon. You have to book a standalone roundtrip ticket, which could be as simple as DC – New York – DC. Then you’ll get a hotel promo code emailed to you. It will be valid for a “prepaid promo code eligible hotel stay” of $100 or more booked by November 23, 2014 for stays completed by June 30. And of course you earn Orbitz Rewards dollars for both the airline ticket and the hotel. The program generally offers up to 5% back on hotel bookings and 1% on flights (for your first $5000 in purchases in a year). You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up…
Delta is Discounting First Class for the Holidays: Here’s Why
Delta is pitching cheap first class upgrades for the holidays. They’re advertising, UPGRADE TO FIRST CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS AN ADDITIONAL $49 EACH WAY AND ENJOY MORE LUXURY ON BOARD. My first thought, of course, was Tens of Dollars upgrades.. is Delta managing by doing what United does? Then of course I realized, the holidays, they’re simply saying ‘demand for our premium cabins falls when business travel dries up over Thanksgiving’ so let’s pitch first class to leisure travelers and recognize that the spread in pricing between coach and first class may shrink during that period. The way you maximize your chances of an upgrade is to fly when business travelers aren’t flying — avoiding Monday morning and Thursday and Friday evenings especially. But that also includes, just fly over the holidays. Unless of…
How Should My Comments Be Moderated, and What Should Be Expected of Commenters.. And Me?
I like to mix it up in the comments sometimes, especially when I think a comment is unfair or dishonest, or focuses too much on motives rather than on the strength of an argument. After all, it’s the internet. And many of us have seen that cartoon of the man hunched over a computer in his living room while his wife beckons him into the bedroom… “Just a minute, dear, someone is wrong on the internet!” But back in May I pledged to try to do better. I haven’t always lived up to my pledge, but I’m still inspired by a post a friend left on Facebook six months ago: How to compose a successful critical commentary: (1) You should attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that your target says,…
