Hoisted From the Comments: Why So Many American Flight Attendants Hate Providing You Service

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2015

On Tuesday I wrote that American is encouraging their flight attendants to offer predeparture beverages in premium cabins.

It’s an ‘optional’ though desirable service element, in that flight attendants aren’t going to take the time to offer beverages if it delays a flight. A late boarding that’s done quickly for instance, the priority is an on-time departure.

And boy do flight attendants commenting on the post hate predeparture beverages and the customers who want them.

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Fly American’s Premium A321T Fully Flat Business Class for $99 (and First for $178)

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2015

American is flying its premium-configured Airbus A321Ts between New York JFK and Boston. Most of its flights between the two airports through January 4 are operated by this plane.

The American Airlines Airbus A321T is a 3-cabin aircraft with economy (including Main Cabin Extra extra legroom seating), fully flat business class, and 1-1 seating first class. It’s the most luxurious, high-end narrow body aircraft and the best plane flying domestically in the U.S. (and I include the Qantas Boeing 747 that flies Los Angeles – New York JFK in that assessment).

Anyone can book available business class seats on the plane for free (even as they charge for extra legroom coach seats)!

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American Express Just Dropped Millions of Points into Accounts By Accident. What Should You Do?

by Gary Leff

Dec 18 2015

A thread started on Flyertalk Thursday night reports that Membership Rewards balances for several members doubled — or even grew ten-fold.

Most of the discussion there seems to be centered around how likely it is that a member could get away with keeping the points accidentally deposited into their account. In fact, many seem to be transferring the points out right away hoping that helps them abscond with their sudden loot.

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American Airlines New Uniforms are Absolutely Underwhelming

by Gary Leff

Dec 18 2015

The uniform process is almost complete, and most of the pieces have been unveiled in the airline’s employee newsletter.

They need one uniform for legacy US Airways and American crew. And they’re due for an update. These strike me as fine. And certainly better than a photo leaked at the beginning of October. This should let them ‘move on’ from the uniform issue, though there’s little distinctive about it.

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Amazon Plans to Start Its Own Airline

by Gary Leff

Dec 18 2015

I remember when you used to go to Amazon.com to buy books.

They built their e-commerce model and expanded to where you can buy almost anything. They’re not a book seller, they’re a seller, and their advantages are ease, reliability, and comprehensiveness.

Now they appear on the verge of building out their next business: a cargo airline based in Wilmington, Ohio.

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Delta Sees the End of First Class Upgrades in 2018

by Gary Leff

Dec 17 2015

Delta made a number of very revealing comments at today’s Investor Day. Their upsell plans, and vision for the future, paint very clearly the end of elite upgrades. And they’ll say as much — 80% of first class seats will be paid for in some way (upsells) and customers will have to buy exactly the product they want.

A financial analyst even asked the logical question of whether upgrades will be at best to extra legroom seating. And Delta didn’t deny it.

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