That this bid made it through the ‘screening process’ says as much about the problems at Alitalia (and the Italian government) as any lengthier analysis. An Italian high school aviation teacher earning 1,200 euros ($1,500) a month became a minor celebrity in Italy on Tuesday by slipping through a fake plan to buy ailing Alitalia as a protest against years of mismanagement. “This was a provocation. It was my way of making a citizen’s protest,” said Fabio Scaccia, who teaches aerodynamics and aircraft design at a trade high school in the city of Frosinone just south of Rome. When Italy’s Treasury Ministry announced the 11 expressions of interest to buy struggling Alitalia on Monday night, even the most well-connected business journalists were stymied by the number three entry: “Fabio Scaccia (individual)”. No one knew who…
Honoring the Founder of Southwest Airlines
The Wall Street Journal carries a piece (subscription required after seven days from this posting) on Lamar Muse – founding President and CEO of Southwest airlines – who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has been given only a few months to live. Lamar Muse, the pioneering executive who helped a fledgling Southwest Airlines take off in the 1970s, is dying, which raises an awkward question for the carrier: How do you honor a man who’s been both ally and adversary? During his eight years as chief executive of the carrier, Lamar Muse helped turn a struggling start-up into one of the most audacious success stories in corporate history, putting in place a business strategy that Southwest still follows to this day. Yet it was co-founder Herb Kelleher who went on to become the…
New Delta Account Signup Bonus
Feb
04
2007
Delta is offering 1000 miles for new frequent flyer account signups and 5000 miles for booking a Delta flight with an American Express business card. Offer appears valid through April 15th. Update: Turns out to have been targeted – sorry!
Because it isn’t cold enough outside
Cold Stone Creamery is offering buy one get one free with coupon through the end of February.
W Hotels Store Warehouse Sale
For seven days the W Hotels Store is having a Warehouse Sale. Lots of junk, a few decent items, advertised as “up to 80% off.”
Northwest Ups the Offers to Elites
Jan
30
2007
Northwest has finally improved the offerings of its elite program. It doesn’t bring them up to par with American and United, which both offer a substantial international upgrade benefit to their top tier flyers, but it’s a move in the right direction. The Flyertalk discussion is here. After flying 60, 90, 120 and 160,000 miles Northwest is offering elites the choice of new benefits (much as United has been doing the past couple of years). Choices include bonus miles, the ability to give away lower tiered elite status, lounge memberships, and most importantly — starting at 120,000 miles flown — international upgrade certificates. Now, Northwest only offers 2 at 120,000 miles and 2 more at 160,000 miles flown (compared to 6 for United and 8 for American at 100,000 miles) but Northwest’s certificates appear to…
Looking Forward to Khao Lak
I’m terribly glad that the Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort is honoring its mistake rate which published prices in Ugandan Schillings rather than US dollars. Some on Flyertalk speculated that it would be cheaper to get the government of Uganda to revalue its currency than to honor the deal. In the end I won’t be paying in ‘UGX’ nor will they offer up the rooms for 60 US cents (roughly the currency conversion). Instead, for US$50 a night including tax with 3rd night free (thus $33/night) the hotel is honoring the room types booking as well as complimentary breakfast. Someone who recently returned from the property sent along pictures of the private pool and backyard view from the resort’s Presidential Oceanfront Villa. Wow.
Baby Steps Towards Elite Recognition at Avis
I usually think of car rentals in four categories. There’s Avis and Hertz at the high end, then the Budget/Thrify/Dollar/etc in the middle. I don’t really count the Foxes and Paylesses of the world, though they’d be a category of discount off-airport agencies. And there’s the ubiquitous Enterprise, who I’ll do anything to avoid, if only because I hate to do the mandatory “walk-around” and hear the speech about how they’ll hold me responsible for every last scratch and how I really need to buy their collision damage waiver even though I’m renting with a Diners Club card. Frankly I like the service of Avis and Hertz, a car already ready with printed contract most of the time at airport locations and they both tend to be a bit less persnickety with normal wear and…
Free Copy of Freakonomics
Jan
25
2007
Signing up for an email newsletter nets you a free copy of Freakonomics.After completing the form I get the following message: Your copy of Freakonomics will be on its way to you shortly. Plus, you’ve been entered for a chance to win a Magellan® eXplorist™ 500 LE handheld GPS*.
The New (Not Quite Finished…) Westin Dawn Beach St. Maarten
The brand new Westin Dawn Beach on St. Maarten opened in December to much controversy on Flyertalk, both because some folks dislike ‘spoiling’ a public beach with a new resort, and because others claimed it had opened too early — rushing things to take advantage of the high season while not nearly ready for prime time. Since I was going to be in the Carribean anyway, I decided to check it out for myself. Turns out to be on the verge of becoming a lovely resort, but it certainly wasn’t ready — by a long shot — in the middle of this month. This is going to be a very beautiful property. Emphasis on going to be. The small strip of beach in front of the hotel has great white sand. The color of the…
