The Most Generous US Airline Program Won’t Go Revenue-Based

by Gary Leff

Mar 14 2016

Alaska Airlines is arguably running both the best airline operation (based on mainline on-time statistics for a non-Hawaiian U.S. carrier) and the most profitable one (based on operating margin). That’s in spite of their intense ‘Battle for Seattle’ with frenemy Delta, the partner that’s been building up a hub in their home town. Alaska has been growing significantly, and rewarding their Mileage Plan members.

At a time when everyone else is cutting back marketing spend through less generous frequent flyer plans, Alaska Airlines has been doubling down with a generous rewards program.

It wasn’t always going to be that way.

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BREAKING: Marriott May Not Buy Starwood After All, Chinese Firm Comes In With Higher Bid

by Gary Leff

hotel stairs
Mar 14 2016

There was substantial interest in Starwood once the hotel chain was clearly on the block for sale. Three Chinese firms were supposedly seeking government permission to make a bid to buy Starwood Hotels. Hyatt was rumored to be the lead bidder.

There had earlier been speculation about a Starwood-IHG (or Wyndham) merger. Wyndham hired away enough Starwood talent that it’s recently been referred to as Wynwood.

Eventually Marriott submitted what was expected to be the winning offer.

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The Sad Decline of the Andaz Maui

by Gary Leff

Mar 13 2016

I was super excited by the Andaz Maui opening and planned to stay when it first debuted. When I was finally able to stay in July 2014 I absolutely loved it. It was a more boutique property than the resort factories I’d stay on on the island before. And it was a great value not least of which as a Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond member.

This time the room was in disrepair – from the furnishings to the flooring to the phone – ultimately on cash and points the stay was still a value. I wasn’t even charged the $40 per night resort fee that would have applied to a paid stay. I received a bountiful breakfast as a Diamond member. I got my money’s worth for sure. But it wasn’t the special place that I had visited only a year and a half earlier.

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Here’s What Flying Today Has Become

by Gary Leff

Mar 13 2016

We live in a very different travel world than the one I grew up in. I never thought I’d get to the place to where I said, “kids today!” And that’s as much about the people working in and setting policy for the airport, and the people working on the planes, as it is for the passengers… who aren’t all rainbows and unicorns themselves.

Pay attention, it’s a strange strange world we live in. Here’s what I saw this weekend.

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Devaluations Aren’t as Bad as You Think — and More Predictable

by Gary Leff

Mar 13 2016

Programs issue too many miles. There aren’t enough award seats, especially with planes flying full. They need to either increase the number of award seats or increase the cost of each seat, otherwise you just have frustrated members who can’t redeem.

At the same time programs don’t need to spend as much marketing to fill planes when planes are already full. But that’s an argument for reduced earning, not for changing redemption prices.

Programs with set award prices (award charts) usually devalue in a predictable way.

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Passenger Next to You Coughing Up a Storm: How Do You Avoid Getting Sick Inflight?

by Gary Leff

Mar 12 2016

I took a set of connecting flights, and on flight number one was seated next to someone that was sick. Then I took my next flight. It was a completely sold out flight. I was initially thrilled with my upgrade at the gate. But once I settled into seat 5A I discovered that the passenger sitting behind me in 6A was sick as well.

Much coughing ensued. There was no opportunity to change seats. I guess I could have (should have) gotten off the plane. And I realize that this is a challenging question, what to do — for sick passengers, for those not wanting to get sick, and for the airline?

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