View from the Wing

United Wanted Favors From New Jersey. Apparently They Really Did Give a Politician His Own Flight in Exchange.

by Gary Leff on April 29, 2015

Apr 29 2015

In February it was revealed that federal prosecutors were investigating United Airlines operating twice-weekly service for the private benefit of the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who referred to this as “the Chairman’s flight.” It was a money loser and was cancelled three days after he stepped down amidst BridgeGate.

Now documents apparently draw a ‘direct link’ between providing this flight and obtaining approval for projects. And the story apparently begins with a dinner between the Chairman and United CEO Jeff Smisek…

United Bringing Back Charlie Trotter’s Ghost to Rethink Meal Service in Both Economy and Premium Cabins

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Apr 28 2015

United wants to brand its meals with the halo of chef Charlie Trotter. Trotter passed away, of course, in 2013. So they’re partnering with “alumni chefs of Charlie Trotter’s legendary Chicago restaurant and their culinary peers” instead.

Cue United’s partnership with The Trotter Project.

We’ve been down this road before, with the actual Charlie Trotter. From 2007 to 2010 United served Charlie Trotter meals…

Looks Like Despite All the Trash Talk, American and Etihad Aren’t Breaking Up After All

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Apr 28 2015

American is expanding its codesharing relationship with Etihad. And that’s a bigger deal – and better for flyers – than it might first appear from such otherwise minor news. That’s because it signals a strengthening relationship despite heated rhetoric against the major Gulf carriers by US airlines including American. And because it means more flights on which to earn American miles…

The Economics of Airport Projects: Denver’s See No Evil Approach

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Apr 28 2015

The new Denver airport hotel and related train station project are so far over budget that the project’s independent watchdog is incurring a 137% cost overrun.

Yet the airport doesn’t think it’s fair for an independent auditor to claim current projected costs (which could still rise) of $721 million off of a $500 million budget. With some creative accounting they’re ‘only’ over budget by 17%.

…Nonetheless, the airport contends that:

Hyatt and Marriott Credit Cards Badly Need to Improve Their Annual Free Night Benefit

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Marriott and Hyatt cap the hotel categories you can use their annual free night benefit at — which may have been fine years ago, but they’ve increased the cost of hotels since then. The benefit becomes worth less and less each year.

In contract, Hilton and IHG Rewards Club — two programs I don’t think of as cutting edge — actually do this one better..

Social Media Doesn’t Matter

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Apr 28 2015

When travel companies ask what their social media strategy should be, they’re missing the point. They need to understand their business, and do it well. Then they need to communicate authentically with their customers, wherever they happen to be.

Social media strategy isn’t even a thing. You have a business strategy, and then a willingness to be real with your customers. Anything else is a waste…

Amazing Video from a 1928 Commercial Flight, How Hotels Have Changed, and 7000 JetBlue Points for New Members

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2015

Apr 28 2015

A collection of interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.

Is This the Knock Out Punch in the Argument Over Kids on a Plane? Unruly Kids Blamed in Crash Investigation.

by Gary Leff on April 27, 2015

Apr 27 2015

Kids on a plane, children in first class, unaccompanied minors, all controversial topics for frequent flyers. I’m generally in favor, though not when I’m trying to sleep.

Though this is the first time I’ve seen rowdy children named as a contributing factor in an air crash investigation…

How to Delete Your Google Search History

by Gary Leff on April 27, 2015

Google collects a tremendous amount of information. That’s pretty useful — to Google and to us. They improve their selection of what search results to show us based on what we’ve chosen in the past. They also give us similar results that we’ve liked before when we search again. And of course they tailor ads to our searching which, while creepy, is actually quite good — I’d rather have ads that contain relevant information and offers than ones that are utterly useless to me though in practice it doesn’t much change the likelihood that I’ll click. Google search data is also fascinating in the aggregate for social sciences. What people are searching tells us something about what they’re thinking, and en masse it tells us something about what “we” are thinking as a society. It…

Free Avios, What’s Better than a Selfie Stick? and a Turkish A320 Halts and Catches Fire.

by Gary Leff on April 27, 2015

Apr 27 2015

A collection of interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.

United Wanted Favors From New Jersey. Apparently They Really Did Give a Politician His Own Flight in Exchange.

United Bringing Back Charlie Trotter’s Ghost to Rethink Meal Service in Both Economy and Premium Cabins

Looks Like Despite All the Trash Talk, American and Etihad Aren’t Breaking Up After All

The Economics of Airport Projects: Denver’s See No Evil Approach

Hyatt and Marriott Credit Cards Badly Need to Improve Their Annual Free Night Benefit

Social Media Doesn’t Matter

Amazing Video from a 1928 Commercial Flight, How Hotels Have Changed, and 7000 JetBlue Points for New Members

Is This the Knock Out Punch in the Argument Over Kids on a Plane? Unruly Kids Blamed in Crash Investigation.

How to Delete Your Google Search History

Free Avios, What’s Better than a Selfie Stick? and a Turkish A320 Halts and Catches Fire.

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About Gary Leff

	Bilt Mastercard® Earn Points Paying Rent (up to 100,000 each year) plus earn 3x at restaurants; 2x on travel; as long as you make at least 5 purchases per month. No annual fee.
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