After first picking the ad agency co-founded by Magic Johnson, Walton Isaacson, for its diversity, equity and inclusion branding back in December American Airlines has selected the firm as their agency of record. Two things struck me from the news of the new agency.
United Airlines says it needs more flights to make service to the airport work. And if it doesn’t get slots for more flights, it will terminate service in October.
Hotels are full and hotel promotions are less generous. But since we’re past the packed summer months, with kids back in school, we at least do have hotel promotions. Marriott is now out with theirs for stays between September 21 and December 15.
Here’s an adorable little dog flying American Airlines. But there is no way it is a service animal, and a pet in cabin (that requires paying a pet in cabin fee) must remain in their carrier under the seat for the duration of the flight.
Service animals aren’t ‘pets for someone with emotional challenges’ they are trained working animals.
Southwest Airlines will give you a companion pass valid for two months at the start of next year for booking just two one way flights or a single roundtrip.
Several readers asked me yesterday what to make of IHG hotels’ systems being down. I figured “it’s just poor IT” and things will return to normal eventually. That remains true, but the hotel giant acknowledges they’ve been hacked.
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.
90% of Americans say they’d choose not to fly an airline after a negative experience with customer support.
I’d like to believe that this were true. It’s coming from a company that sells customer support solutions, so it probably isn’t.
Marriott actually makes hotels pay them for the right to charge you a resort fee. Having just audited the franchise agreement for their AC Hotels and Westin brands, I found it fascinating that they charge a one-time $1500 fee, plus $550 per year, to hotels that bill customers resort or destination fees. Marriott also has the right to exempt elite members from paying resort fees, under their franchise agreement, but doesn’t do this.
American Airlines pilots know they’re going to get well paid in a new contract. The company has publicly offered a 17% raise. They want 20%, and changes to work rules that (among other things) keep the airline from altering their schedules and leaving them without lodging on the road. United’s pilot union agreed to a deal offering a 14% raise, but when they heard about what American’s pilots were on the verge of getting – and unwilling to take – they backed out of the deal wanting what American was getting.
Some pilots – including union leaders – are furious with what they appear on the verge of settling for.
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 »
