Airbnb Now Adds Resort Fees, Because Cleaning Fees Weren’t Enough

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2022

Airbnb is taking on the worst features of hotels, without mirroring the things that make hotels attractive. Their cleaning fees are legendary, even while hosts give lists of chores for guests to complete (not just taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and washing the sheets but sometimes even mowing the lawn).

Sometimes Airbnb – and competitors like Vrbo – are the best option like when renting a house with a whole family or in a town without hotels. But it seems like they’re working hard to kill that advantage, as evidenced by this reported listing where the owner even charges you extra for booking with them and then adds on a resort fee.

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The Water Bottle In The Seat Back Pocket Was Bubbling – It Was A Tank For Live Fish!

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2022

In 26 years of business travel I’ve seen and experienced a lot, from bird strikes to passengers self-upgrading and even one who brought their own alcohol on board and refused to stop drinking it even though they were in first class and the flight attendant was happy to bring them another. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this: a passenger with a water bottle in their seat back pocket that was bubbling and had a tube sticking out of it.

On closer inspection, though, it wasn’t just water inside the bottle. There were fish.

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FAA Refuses To Consider American’s Request To Put Doors On Business Class Seats

by Gary Leff

Oct 18 2022

The American Airlines electronic submission was on letterhead that did not include the carrier’s mailing address at 1 Skyview Dr, Fort Worth, Texas. It also did not list.. a fax number.

As the government explains, 14 CFR § 11.81 requires listing “[y]our name and mailing address, and, if you wish, other contact information such as a fax number, telephone number, or email address.” Since the FAA doesn’t know where to find American Airlines, and didn’t think to ask the agency’s own American Airlines Certificate Management Office, they declined to consider the request to place doors on business class seats.

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[OPENS OCTOBER 25] What American’s Newest Lounge Looks Like, And I’m Blown Away

by Gary Leff

Oct 18 2022

Back in August American Airlines teased a new design template for its Admirals Clubs, starting with the new club opening on the E (regional jet) concourse at Washington’s National airport.

We got clues to what American was thinking design-wise when they shared renderings last year of the delayed new Austin club. It’s a total departure from the current design template that’s most generously described as sterile and institutional. It’s gorgeous and feels genuinely high end. In other words it feels too nice for American Airlines and I’m struggling to know what to make of it.

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American Airlines Will Allow Passengers To Check Bags On Longer Connections

by Gary Leff

Oct 18 2022

American Airlines now allows passengers to check bags to their final destination even when their connections are exceptionally long. They used to only allow bag checks all the way through on connections under 12 hours. That’s now been increased to 16.5 hours, and this new rule applies not just to American Airlines travel, but also when checking a bag in with American Airlines and connecting onto one of their airline partners.

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20% Discount On All Southwest Award Flights Booked By Thursday Night

by Gary Leff

Oct 18 2022

Roughly speaking you’ll get 1.5 cents per point against base fare, rather than 1.2 cents per points, under this offer. They’ve offered this deal in the past, most recently in March and it’s a good way to provide a good deal while filling up planes, and at the same time not cannibalizing higher fare paid travel that Southwest would otherwise generate – so wins all around.

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