Airport self-checkout kiosks demand tips. I’ve even had one that wouldn’t allow opting out.
In fact, websites now solicit tips. You never even deal with a human. You book a hotel, and boom – please add on to the charges!
I told you back in September that you’d start hearing a lot more about re-regulating the airlines in the months ahead. An advisor to Elizabeth Warren was coming out with a new book making that case. But the arguments are weak and maybe even disingenuous? Because Professor Sitaraman is a really smart guy and he’s studied his topic in depth so surely he has to know that the arguments he’s marshaling are superficial and wrong?
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.
Air Canada Aeroplan is offering a ‘mystery bonus’ on purchased points from November 13 through 29, 2023. And it can be seriously worth it. Check out your offer because it can be up to 125%.
American Airlines passengers report being sent to London instead of New York on Sunday when their flight from Antigua was oversold. They wound up having to cross the Atlantic twice, flying Antigua to London Gatwick overnight and then were booked to fly London Gatwick to New York JFK all on British Airways.
On Thursday, a horse escaped inside the cargo hold of a Boeing 747. The Air Atlanta Icelandic flight from New York JFK to Liage, Belgium declared an emergency while still in climb out as it reached 31,000 feet: “We are a cargo plane with a live animal, a horse, on board. The horse has broken out of its stall. There’s no issue with flying, but we need to go back to New York as we can’t resecure the horse.”
Grammy-nominated gospel singer Bobbi Storm tried to sing for the plane. A Delta crewmember threated to kick her off if she wouldn’t sit down and shut up. She took to social media to complain about the incident, says Delta reached out to apologize. But they should apologize to the rest of the passengers… and the crewmember who was doing the right thing, that they aren’t standing behind.
When you approach the check-in counter, and they weigh your bags, they might suggest that you do a little bit of rearranging if a piece of your luggage is overweight. Maybe you can move some items, wear a piece of clothing, or stick something into your carry on. But if you don’t have another bag?
A story of how one passenger in Europe handled this is getting attention and it’s rather sweet revenge on the airline.
Two women flying American Airlines first class from Charlotte to Orlando did one of the worst things imaginable on a commercial flight. This mother and her adult daughter were propping up a bare foot in two player mode.
American Airlines’ new ConnectMe tool, equipped on employee-issued iPhones and iPads, aims to enhance communication and ensure exact on-time departures, but it also creates pressure on employees, leading to stressed staff and decisions that potentially compromise customer service, such as premature requests to check carry-on bags. This technological push is part of a broader strategy to automate and streamline operations, although it raises concerns about the impact on both staff workload and passenger experience.
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 »
