Saudi Arabia is starting a new, second national airline with plans to compete – and beat – Emirates. They are going to invest $30 billion in the effort.
It’s likely to be called RIA and will be based out of Riyadh. And their goal is… transit passengers.
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.
An airline passenger was stopped at the boarding gate by an agent who thought his carry on bag was too big to go on the aircraft. They told him he’d have to fit it into the bag sizer, and if it didn’t fit he’d have to pay to check the bag.
So shoved that bag in. He kicked it. He pushed it. The agent insisted that the bag go all the way in. The man didn’t give up. Only then the bag was stuck.
A man accused of groping another passenger on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow was found not guilty after using the Economy Class defense.
The man had been accused of groping a sleeping student sitting next to him while on the flight home from his honeymoon. He claimed that stroking his thigh – “for up to two hours” – was simply the result of being crammed into economy. Where were his hands supposed to go?
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.
If the airline is offering to cover lodging then you shouldn’t be able to seek reimbursement from your credit card. Hopefully these new customer commitments do not lead to a bunch of denied credit card reimbursement claims, effectively limiting the benefit to weather-related events or at least going through the claims process with an airline before seeking reimbursement from your card (within the card coverage provider’s allowable timeframe).
Offering rooms when the airline is at fault isn’t new. Reimbursing rooms when the airline can’t get you one may be. However for those of us in the know on credit card trip delay coverage, these airline policy changes under threat by DOT may wind up being a real negative.
What’s new, generally speaking, is that several carriers have amended their policies to actually reimburse you when they’re unable to provide you with a room and you book one yourself.
And the largest U.S. airlines have committed to put you on another airline when major delays are their fault, but there’s fine print – often doing the bare minimum to get a ‘check mark’ on the new Department of Transportation customer service comparison chart.
American Express is offering 12 simultaneous bonuses for transfers from Membership Rewards to airlines and hotels. They’ve only ever done this once before. It’s a cacophony of opportunity for those who have their transferable points. The offers run through September 30, except for Marriott and Hilton which runs through October 31.
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.
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 »
