Delta just dropped a new award chart with increased mileage costs for some international business class routes – the award chart is live now and applies to travel from June 1, 2014 onward. (Travel prior to that date should price at the older levels.) For instance, US-Europe in business class goes from 100,000 to 125,000 miles roundtrip US-Asia in business class goes from 120,000 to 140,000 miles roundtrip US-Australia in business class goes from 150,000 to 160,000 miles roundtrip US-South Africa in business class goes from 140,000 to 160,000 miles They say the need for the change is because their product is so good. In June 2014, we will be the only U.S. carrier to offer full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in Business Class across our entire wide-body fleet. Except… except… United is…
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The American/US Airways Merger is Far From Over
The big news yesterday was that the Department of Justice filed suit to stop the American – US Airways merger. Why I Didn’t Expect the Government to File Suit to Stop the Merger I did not expect the DOJ to file a suit to block the merger, I assumed that some negotiation would generate sign-off on the merger. I speculated that the filing of the suit could be a negotiating tactic, but that my initial sense was this was unlikely — they wouldn’t need to go through the effort just to demonstrate their seriousness, and they laid out a fairly broad and sweeping case against the merger that would be difficult to walk back from with merely the sorts of concessions that American and US Airways could offer. Blocking the merger is bad for labor…
Cathay Pacific Adding Newark Service, and Award Space is Amazing
Cathay Pacific’s new route is Hong Kong – Newark. The flight will be operated by a 777 with 3 classes of service — business, premium economy, and economy. There’s no first class on the Newark route, but Cathay Pacific has my absolute favorite business class, reasonable people can make the case that EVA Airways is better with a very similar seat and as the only airline that serves Dom Perignon in (long haul) business. The flight times are: Depart Hong Kong 5pm, Arrive Newark 9pm (same day) Depart Newark 1:50a, Arrive Hong Kong 540am (next day) These are well timed for connections from other Asian destinations enroute to Newark, and for connections on both ends for the Newark – Hong Kong flight. This won’t really allow for any connections beyond Newark when arriving from Hong…
New York State Assembly Speaker Under Fire for Turning His Commute into Mileage Runs
@pcpontificates tweets, Sheldon Silver should talk to @garyleff about racking up airline miles. No need to do this kind of nonsense How would you like New York State taxpayers to fund your mileage runs? The Speaker of the New York State Assembly needs to retain US Airways Chairmans Preferred status and takes circuitous routings between New York City and Albany. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver spent $20,219 in taxpayer money over the past three years jetting from New York City to Albany — but the top-flight pol turned easy 150-mile, one-hour jaunts into epic 500-mile, five-hour odysseys in a greedy quest to rack up frequent-flier miles, according to sources and expense records. …“He brags about his ability to build up mileage,” said one Albany insider. “Taxpayers are footing the bill to allow Shelly to fly halfway…
Airline Marketing Aside, Business Class is About the Seat and It’s Not a Restaurant
Yesterday I wrote about the best meal I’ve ever eaten on a plane. It was Laksa – a spicy Malaysian noodle soup with seafood – and I had “pre-ordered” it in business class on Singapore Airlines for a two hour hop to Bali. I would have been utterly thrilled to receive that in a restaurant, in fact I desperately wish I could find a restaurant anywhere in the area I live that could re-create it. Asiana serves outstanding food in its long haul first class. If you like Japanese food especially, but even if you don’t, All Nippon’s first class meal service is truly outstanding. Beyond that, though, no matter what the hype — it’s food in the sky, served under very difficult conditions. And you’re at an altitude where you simply don’t taste things…
Sorry, Op-Ed Writers, Air Travel That You Don’t Understand Just Isn’t an Analogy for Your Pet Political Issue
Last month the New York Times ran an op-ed trying to argue that airline seating contains lessons about income inequality and class struggle. It didn’t do a very good job of it. It’s one thing when you try to stretch an analogy farther than the facts will take it… It’s another still when you get those facts wrong. In the Times piece it seemed like some were literally made up. The snacks in the piece suggest a JetBlue flight. Yet the author talked of cramped legroom (JetBlue is generous) and a forward cabin (JetBlue doesn’t yet have one). Supposedly first class offered “white linen tablecloths, with actual bone china.” And amenities kits. On New York – Miami. Which is a route JetBlue does not fly. Jayson Blair, much? Now it’s the Washington Post‘s Harold Meyerson…
The Best Meal I’ve Ever Eaten on a Plane Was a on a 2 Hour Flight in Singapore Airlines Business Class
Singapore Airlines offers a ‘Book the Cook’ service. You can pick the meal you want from an extensive menu that varies based on cabin class (business class or first class) and varies from city to city. Different airports have different choices. It’s only offered on flights departing from 14 cities, and 16 total airports: Amsterdam Munich Dubai New York (John F. Kennedy, Newark) Frankfurt San Francisco Hong Kong Singapore London Sydney Los Angeles Taipei Melbourne Tokyo (Haneda, Narita) Singapore isn’t the only airline with such an offering. For instance, Thai Airways makes this available, so does EVA Airways. And if you want a Royal Korean meal on Asiana flights departing Seoul you need to order it in advance. Choices and quality varies, and sometimes you may be happier with what’s offered onboard than what you’d…
Worst Case Scenario: Use Your Miles to Escape Terrorists, Avoid Natural Disasters, and Evade the Mob
Miles from Blighty posted earlier about seeing award space into Sana’a, Yemen using United miles. And I wondered, how useful would those miles be to leave Yemen right now? Granted, if you’re in Sana’a right now you’re probably there working for a government, a private employer that’s getting you out, or a non-governmental organization that’s hopefully working to do the same. In Yemen and across the region there are people fleeing because the U.S. has declared that really scary things are about to happen. (And presumably this is in comparison to the scary things that already do happen!) Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines flies six times a week from Sana’a to Istanbul with a 45 minute stop in Aden. And over the next few days availability is good — in coach only on the flight…
And this is Why You Don’t Book Tickets for Other People Using Airline Websites
Jeanne passes along this complaint about Delta that’s in the early stages of gaining traction online. Bottom-line: passenger is denied boarding by Delta because they couldn’t produce the credit card used to purchase the ticket (her boss bought the ticket). The passenger was enroute to Uganda. Her boss got involved in the call, trying to convince Delta the ticket wasn’t fraudulent. And while we have only the boss’ word for it, she contends Delta’s agent suggested… The talented and adept Delta Red Coat team answered all of my questions and explained to me that my employee was asked to present her credit card because the “country of Africa is full of frauds.” How embarrassing! All this time, I was under the impression that African was a continent full all kinds of different people. Thanks to…
Bits ‘n Pieces for July 30, 2013
News and notes from around the interweb: I’ve been aware of refund.me but not EU Claims which reader Will M. reported got him 400 euros per person for a delay he claimed was due to crew availability and KLM claimed was due to weather. You pay a commission on successful claims but don’t have to hassle with the paperwork and back-and-forth. If your high heels are shaped like, or made from guns the TSA will consider you a threat. A United baggage worked has been charged with stealing luggage from passengers diverted from San Francisco after the Asiana crash. The US Airways mobile app is finally out. As expected, reported are: unimpressive. You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just…
