Southwest Declares Emergency In Denver, No One To Work The Ramp

by Gary Leff

Dec 24 2022

I’ve had several readers ask why Southwest Airlines is cancelling so many more flights than other carriers this holiday, and why their operation in Denver is worse than United’s – so it’s not just weather. I initially assumed that the way Southwest routes its planes – throughout its system, rather than isolating them with back-and-forths – tends to cause cancellations across the system when there are localized disruptions.

However it turns out they’re having a bigger problem in Denver. There are a lack of employees working the ramp. And this has led to extreme measures at Southwest – which aren’t working.

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Emirates: We’re Going To Keep Devaluing Over The Next Month

by Gary Leff

private airplane bar
Dec 24 2022

Emirates has instituted a ~ 20% increase in miles required for premium cabin awards on many non-stop itineraries to and from Dubai, while so far leaving connecting itineraries and fifth freedom routes unchanged, though that could change. This was done with no notice, and after already raising business class award pricing earlier this year. But they aren’t done, according to the airline.

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Sam Bankman-Fried Chilled In The American Airlines Greenwich Lounge After Making Bail

by Gary Leff

Dec 23 2022

His parents put up the equity in their home, among other contributions to his bond, and he was released under numerous conditions. He has to confine himself to his parents’ home. To get there he flew New York JFK – San Francisco, presumably in American Airlines business class, because he was spotted in American’s JFK Greenwich lounge.

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Playing Benefits Whack-a-Mole With The Park Hyatt New York

by Gary Leff

Park Hyatt New York Proves Why Hotel Loyalty Makes Sense
Dec 23 2022

The Park Hyatt New York is a sublime property, and one of the most redeemed-for hotels in the Hyatt program. I’ve had some excellent stays there, including upgrades to suites, and I love that they allow Globalist members to take their elite breakfast as room service or in the restaurant.

Recently, however, they’ve told top tier elites that their benefits are far less than what the program promises.

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Those Buses That Replaced American Airlines Flights? You Can Now Bring Guns With You

by Gary Leff

Dec 22 2022

There’s a shortage of pilots that hits regional airlines hard. The large U.S. airlines pay more, and attract pilots out of the regionals. There just aren’t enough pilots to fly regional jets, and American Airlines still has about 100 of those smaller jets parked.

One solution they’ve found to continue serving small airports close to major hubs is bus service. They use Landline buses between Philadelphia and Allentown/Bethlehem, PA (ABE); Atlantic City, NJ (ACY); and Lancaster, PA (LNS).

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Senator Kyrsten Sinema Is An Executive Platinum Member With Very Specific Seat Preferences

by Gary Leff

Dec 22 2022

She likes room temperature bottled water available at all times (honestly, so do I). She likes a weekly hour-long massage. She wants to avoid flying Southwest though they’re a huge carrier in her home state. She starts work at 8:45 a.m. (reasonable) and doesn’t let staffers schedule activities past 8 p.m. without her express approval (also non-crazy!). She doesn’t like weekend work events before 1 p.m.

And her travel preferences turn out to be just like everyone else’s. She “does not like to fly” and asks staffers to pick her preferred seats when she does.

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New United Airlines Pilot Union Head Resigns In Days For Homophobic And Misogynistic Comments

by Gary Leff

Dec 22 2022

Captain Neil Swindells was elected to head the United Airlines pilot union in a controversial and close vote, where members of the group’s Master Executive Council tried to shut down discussion of his homophobic, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic online commentary.

I wrote, though, that he was unable to represent all of his pilot members equally. And this wasn’t just an internal pilot issue – the head of the pilot union gets a board seat at United Airlines. He was clearly unable to represent shareholders, either.

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Flight Attendant Yells At Passenger: “I Am Not Your Servant!” After Airline Fails To Deliver Special Meal

by Gary Leff

Dec 21 2022

Video of an inflight confrontation between a passenger and a flight attendant has gone viral, where the crewmember declares “I am not your servant!” That’s after yelling “My crew is crying because of you!” The passenger told her to shut up, and she yelled shut up right back.

People on social media, and especially other cabin crew, are cheering this IndiGo flight attendant on from afar. But it should never have gotten to this.

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