Hertz announced a $168 million settlement covering 364 claims against them, at an average of just over $460,000 per customer.
There are perhaps a dozen more customers who are suing Hertz, that are not a part of the settlement. I have to think that in many of those cases the customers believe the egregiousness of their experience warrants a greater cash payout and that it makes sense to get closer to trial.
Artificial intelligence has seen real breakthroughs. I don’t think we fully grasp yet just how far the science has come. But millions of people are getting their first self-aware glimpse via the free AI Chatbot. To be sure, much of our interactions with our phone and Google involve AI. And Tesla and Amazon have some pretty impressive projects. But does it really hit home until you have the ability to auto-generate a rap battle between airlines in under a second?
Armed federal officers publicly threatening to defy orders from the President seems like it’s getting insufficient attention.
The Biden administration largely continuing Trump’s border policies (he’s building the wall!) seems under-covered as well.
The claim about vulnerable flights as a result is absurd.
With United Airlines set to resume San Francisco – Hong Kong flights in March, business class saver award availability is wide open. You can book use the space to connect onward in Asia on airlines like Singapore and Thai.
As of this writing at least two business class award seats are available for every day except one March 24, 2023 – October 28, 2023. On most dates there are at least 9 saver awards in business class on the route.
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.
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.
Chris Christie’s niece, Shannon Epstein, reportedly asked a family on board her Spirit Airlines flight home to New Jersey whether they were “smuggling cocaine” – because they appeared to be Hispanic.
She didn’t make it out of the New Orleans airport on Thanksgiving Day. Her flight was taxiing out when the pilot decided to return to the gate to have her removed from the aircraft. Officers met the plane and she… attacked them.
While some claim the ‘middle class ruined airport lounges’ or that credit card companies providing lounge access has ruined it, neither is exactly correct.
Virgin Australia went through bankruptcy during Covid. Under new Bain Capital management they hired the former head of Qantas’ Jetstar, who had just accepted a senior job with Qantas Frequent Flyer, to run their Velocity Frequent Flyer program. And Qantas tried to have him jailed.
I’ve fallen in love with some first class amenity kits over time, from Singapore Airlines to Asiana to Thai Airways. Business class amenity kits are usually far more pedestrian, from the bags themselves to their contents. Still, there are sometimes kits which are quite fun. Before the pandemic, when Delta was more of a premium airline inflight, their last amenity kit was Tumi with a couple of Le Labo items inside.
Air Canada has introduced a new Acqua di Parma amenity kit, a thoughtful premium brand choice.
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 »
