About three weeks ago American adopted a new poliicy that they would no longer ‘through check’ bags onto another airline outside of oneworld if the other airline travel was on a separate ticket. This came closer to aligning with US Airways (and Delta but not United). They delayed implementation fo the policy until October 15. Now they’ve pushed it off again — all the way until February. I do not know why they’d do this. I’d have expected that if they were going to change the policy, they would change the policy, as-announced. I see three possibilities. I’d rank the likelihood of each explanation in the following order: The IT just wasn’t ready and the fix was pretty far back in the queue. They realized the lack of notice was going to be a problem.…
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This Airline Excuse Always Means Customers Are Getting Hosed
Earlier this week American changed its checked baggage policy effective October 1. Like US Airways, it will no longer interline bags on separate tickets although they’re a little more generous than legacy US Airways — because they’ll still do it if the flights involved are on oneworld airlines. They’ve at least now informed travel agents of the change, via the following message: Of course, most customers don’t know, and it’s a mere days away. Here’s what is just icing on top of the change — the purported reason, to align themselves with other airlines in the industry, as though that’s a value in and of itself. And what other airlines, exactly? United will still allow this. Delta will not, and the new American policy is similar to British Airways’. So it’s true that American isn’t…
Here Are The Worst Airports in the US. Is Yours One of Them?
Vice President Joe Biden thinks New York LaGuardia is a national embarrassment. It’s home to a new American Express Centurion lounge. Terminal C is much-improved, and the new US Airways club there is no longer the worst airline lounge in North America. The Marine Air Terminal, home to Delta’s Shuttle to DC, is super easy in and out (and the other terminals aren’t bad in this regard). Plus it’s close-in to Manhattan, I’ve frequently left midtown after 3pm and had no problem gliding onto the US Airways Shuttle to DC at 4. No, the truly worst airports in the US feature long travel distances to their respective city centers, are difficult to navigate especially for connections, and are often dilapidated as well. Here are my six worst airports in the US. Miami There’s very little…
Business Travel Tool: Get Uber to Show Up Automatically, and Bill it To Your Company
It isn’t just United and Hyatt that are integrating with on-demand car service Uber (and on-demand condom service too, cough). As Keri noted, Expensify – the business expense reporting app – is integrating with Uber, too. When you leave the San Francisco airport there’s a big billboard for Expensify that reads “Expense Reports That Don’t Suck.” I’ve used Expensify for work for the past two years. I take pictures of my receipts, code my expense reports, and submit them from my phone (or laptop). Which reminds me I have one approaching the cut-off date if I want to get reimbursed.. (Be right back!)
JetBlue Considers First Checked Bag Fee as Soon as They Can Make the Tech Work
Skift reports that JetBlue is considering a first checked bag fee. The challenge they currently face is that they need upgrade their tech to offer different fare options. A fee may be part of JetBlue’s new fare structure, Powers said yesterday, as the New York-based airline creates classes of tickets whose price would include services such as one free piece of checked luggage. While fliers could still choose a cheaper seat, they would have to start paying for any baggage, not just their second suitcase. Only in the airline industry is adding a fee considered not nickel and diming customers. “If you chose to buy a bucket without attributes and show up with a bag, you probably should pay for it,” Powers said. “It’s a terrific way, and in a JetBlue-friendly way, of monetizing all…
One More Reason to Love Connecting at DFW!
DFW Airport is getting a banh mi shop. It’s called Banh Shop and is slated to open later this month in terminal D (the ‘international’ terminal which does house some domestic flights) near gate 31. And here’s the weird thing…
My Favorite Flight in the World: Cathay Pacific First Class, Hong Kong – New York JFK
Cathay Pacific has such an all-around good first class product, that it’s my favorite. They don’t have the best food, but they have good food and good snack options. They don’t have the best service, but they have good service. I used to like their Shanghai Tang pajamas best, their new ones are still very good though not quite as good. Other amenities are good, and wines are as well (Champagne is Krug). Similarly, I don’t like their new caviar presentation (in a tin) as much as the older version that also included Balik salmon. But it’s still quite a good high-end offering. They don’t have the best lounges — or the best ground service — but their Hong Kong lounges are good, and the Wing’s first class side has the best showers in any…
We Should Have More Government Investment and Lower Taxes. And a Pony.
Chris McGinnis points to a survey by the US Travel Association arguing that people avoid flying because of delays and cancellations, which they suggest are because of lack of government investment in airport infrastructure and air traffic control improvements. They argue that 38 million domestic plane trips were avoided in 2013, for a total airfare loss of ~ $9.5 billion. And piling on, just like advocates for sports stadiums, they argue that this means a broader loss for the overall economy of $35.7 billion through lost hotel bookings, rental cars, dining out, and recreation. Because anyone who doesn’t take a plane trip sits at home. In the dark. Without heating or air conditioning. And doesn’t eat. (Which would suggest they save, which might be a good thing, although the positive effects of a higher savings…
Tips To Avoid Gate Checking Your Bag and a Scary Video of What Happens When You Do
This video of Air Canada baggage handlers tossing gate checked bags was uploaded on Thursday. It was taken before a flight from Toronto to Vancouver. Air Canada is investigating. “The gate check, unfortunately, turned into a gate toss,” Stewart said. The video runs a little over a minute and shows a baggage handler dropping items from the top of a movable staircase into a bin, which a second handler then moves into a nearby vehicle. I never want to have to gate check bags. I also hate to board first. I don’t want to spend 20 minutes on the plane more than necessary, especially in a coach seat. I’d rather work a few more minutes in the lounge or spend the time picking up a bottle of water or snack near the gate. The key…
A Big Lesson Learned for American: Respect Your Members
Now that I’ve had a day to reflect on the changes American announced to their frequent flyer program (not to mention to the US Airways award chart and to checked baggage allowances), more and more I think the lesson in all of this is about member respect. A lot of readers gave me flak for not recognizing the gravity of the changes themselves. And while I will personally miss stopovers at a North American gateway city, and the hidden value in distance-based awards, I just wasn’t that surprised to see them go. My frustrations remain with the lack of notice, and with how that sets the stage for all of the other news that is still to come.
