Apr
01
2020
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Wait, Why Is Priority Pass Adding Airport Restaurants… Now?
American And Alaska Advance Partnership, Reciprocal Mileage Earning Starts Today
Apr
01
2020
Alaska Airlines is planning to join the oneworld alliance and is scaling its partnership with American Airlines back up. Here’s some inside scoop on why American had been cutting ties with Alaska, and how they changed their mind.
The rejuvenated partnership continues to build even in difficulty times. As of today you can now earn redeemable miles credited to one airline when traveling on the other. This doesn’t yet extend to earning elite status miles (that’s still limited to codeshare flights), but that will change as Alaska advances towards oneworld membership.
Marriott Extends Flexible Cancellation To June 30
Apr
01
2020
Marriott has updated its coronavirus policy, granting flexibility on cancellations through June 30th as well, though with no new information on what to expect from the Bonvoy program.
There’s a bunch of fine print to this. They’re warning that refunds may take 90 days; Design Hotels and Homes & Villas by Marriott are excluded; and this doesn’t apply to group boookings.
What Should Loyalty Programs Do While People Aren’t Traveling?
Apr
01
2020
Loyalty programs need to stay relevant. When people aren’t traveling, they aren’t engaging with the brand. Expect co-brand credit card applications to fall. There will be fewer new customers, and perhaps even more people than usual will cancel cards when annual fees come do. Both the number of active members of a program will drop and the size of the credit card portfolio will decline as well. The volume of card spend is likely to fall in recession.
Yet loyalty programs are key to a travel brand’s resurgence. What should they be doing?
Every Delta Flight Will Get A New Standard Of Cleaning
Apr
01
2020
For years airlines have cleaned planes less than you probably think. Between flights it’s usually been just a quick clean between flights, picking up the most obvious trash but not even getting everything out of seat back pockets. First flight of the day has been the cleanest – less pressure to get cleaners on and off quickly so that planes don’t sit much between flights.
When times have been tough cleaning is an area that airlines cut back. Coming out of bankruptcy Delta wasn’t deep cleaning planes more often than every 12 to 18 months. Now that times are tough airlines will have to invest more in cleaning.
Chase Sapphire Reserve $100 Annual Fee Credit
Apr
01
2020
The card’s annual fee recently increased by $100 along with introducing new benefits, which may actually be more relevant to a lot of consumers right now. However they won’t want to lose cardmembers of a product that is focused heavily on rewarding travel and rewarding restaurant spend.
With Few Passengers, One Airline Resorts To Selling Its Inflight Meals Online
Apr
01
2020
With world supply chain disruptions and all of the food I’m not able to get at the grocery store – I haven’t been able to get decent bacon in weeks – I could see meal delivery services finally taking off, after spending so long burning through investor cash. I’d happily pay for Singapore Airlines laksa or ANA ramen at home.
Frozen Canadian airline Thai food, though, seems like more of a stretch.
United COVID-19 Positive Manager Blasts Executives Pressuring Workers To Come To The Office
Mar
31
2020
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Elizabeth Warren And Bernie Sanders Demand Airline Ticket Refunds
Mar
31
2020
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and several Senate colleagues including Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and 6 others, announced a letter to the CEOs of major U.S. airlines demanding “every company to issue full cash refunds to all customers who cancel their flights during the COVID-19 crisis.”
They don’t just want refunds for passengers whose flights are cancelled, they want refunds for everyone. But they’re a little late, grandstanding after they’ve given up any leverage by voting for the $58 billion airline bailout.
FAA Proposes New Rules To Allow Supersonic Flights, Fly To London in 3 Hours and Tokyo in 5
Mar
31
2020
The FAA took a new step to change the rules around supersonic travel. That should remove a huge hurdle to flying to London in 3 hours and to Tokyo in 5 hours.
