Before the pandemic American Airlines was about to start construction on a dedicated business class lounge in Philadelphia.
With American’s returning focus to Philadelphia, after having lost its partnership with JetBlue and vision for growth in New York, they’ve re-engaged on a Philadelphia Flagship lounge. However I do not currently expect the lounge to be complete for summer 2024.
Airline inflight wifi in the United States is converging around free, or for those carriers that charge the price generally hovers around $8 per flight. The exception to this is American Airlines, where connectivity for a single device on a flight can cost over $20.
Instead of paying per flight, I pay $49.95 per month covering a single device on their narrowbody aircraft (both ViaSat and Intelsat, formerly Gogo, equipment). American has just announced two new pricing options, and I’m confused?
JetBlue’s deal to buy Spirit Airlines isn’t just being challenged by the government. There’s a civil suit as well, because why not piggy back on government opposition for a payday? Only lawyers made an oops in redactions – and as a result exposed “internal company estimates of plans to hike fares on Spirit planes by as much as 40%.” And this could make JetBlue’s defense of the deal against government anti-trust charges that much harder.
Last week I wrote that Maui’s mayor said it was time for tourists to return to the island. Just stay away from the western part. They need visitors to Wailea. They need visitors to Kihei.
And many of you slammed me, calling me insensitive to the tragedy that had occurred on the island. Now the Governor is asking for people to return, locals are asking him for a state of emergency, and local unemployment has increased ten-fold.
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.
New Yorkers are left with less competition, one less viable competitor and an airline shifting its focus to “Filthadelphia.”
But New York wasn’t a distraction from Philadelphia, it was a better place to focus limited resources that did not work out – in part because of a change in administration, part because of whom they drew as a judge, and part because of JetBlue’s deal to buy Spirit that came after. Philadelphia on its own may even work to some degree, but ultimately Philadelphia is not New York.
In the face of overcrowding of Delta’s Sky Club lounges, last year the airline limited lounge access to within 3 hours of departure. Then they made several more changes. But These measures haven’t been enough.
American Airlines pilots approved a new four year contract that increases pay by more 20% immediately and more than 45% during that the four years of the agreement. The deal includes many “quality of life” (work rule) concessions. 73% of pilots voting were in favor of the new deal. One of the items that pilots got in their new deal is first class deadheading – flying first class when not piloting an aircraft between segments that they’re working on a trip. (That’s different than commuting to and from their base if they live in a different city than where they’re assigned to start and end their trips.) This is broadly similar to a benefit that United pilots won three years ago. On the one hand, this promotes well-rested pilots. Larger seats are more comfortable and…
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.
Paula Rodriguez flew Delta Air Lines from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to Atlanta, intending to connect to San Francisco. Her dog traveled with her on the flight.
Though her paperwork was sufficiently in order for Delta to allow her to board in the Dominican Republic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied her entry to the U.S. in Atlanta.
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 »
