I like to call out the things that struck me as most interesting, both from official remarks and from answers to analyst and reporter questions – the things that give me greater insight into the airline.
Here are (8) things that stood out to me in the American Airlines fourth quarter earnings call on Thursday morning.
What’s really interesting is these new markets. Student housing means expanding beyond the core urban professional renter, but is still adjacent, reaching a demographic likely to graduate into their current core – earlier.
But “single-family” is interesting, too, since they also say that “Bilt plans to venture into mortgage payment rewards.” So earning rewards paying your mortgage like they currently offer rewards for paying rent.
American Airlines announced changes for the 2024 member year that are generally positive. Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja had previewed broad changes in the airline’s employee podcast – but those weren’t announced.
AAdvantage reports up to Raja, and the changes he talked about are still coming.
A woman at American Airlines check-in in Montego Bay, Jamaica, only partially wearing a swimsuit top, melts down – attacking police and screaming – before being handcuffed and taken into custody.
American Airlines earned just $19 million in the fourth quarter and expects to lose money in the first quarter. Both are above analyst expectations. However their first quarter loss (historically the weakest period for a U.S. airline) doesn’t have United’s excuse of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounding.
The FAA halted expanded production of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft today, but also will be ungrounding the 737 MAX 9.
The federal government keeps kicking the air traffic control crisis in New York down the road. About three quarters of all airspace delays track to the New York metro area, according to the FAA. And this has knock-on effects as delays of planes flying out of New York wind up causing downline delays elsewhere in the country. So far all the government has been able to do is encourage airlines to fly less, rather than fixing the problem. The government hands out the right to takeoff and land at congested airports (“slots”) to incumbent airlines. These are treated as property rights (given free, so subsidies) that block competitors from entering the market. Since there’s a severe shortfall in air traffic controllers in the New York area, the government has waived the normal requirement that airlines…
Facing unexpected delays or cancellations on your next American Airlines flight? Be prepared for their latest policy twist: only AAdvantage members get the green light for alternative rebookings on most partner airlines.
Competition is heating up between the big banks to serve premium customers across travel, dining and experiences, with American Express looking to hire a leader that will help them build a new app ground-up.
Fifteen months ago Bilt raised $150 million at a $1.5 billion valuation. It became one of the fastest companies to ever become a ‘unicorn’.
Now they’ve raised an additional $200 million at a $3.1 billion valuation.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
