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American Airlines Suspends Flights To Sydney, Tel Aviv And More – Disingenuously Blames Boeing

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2022

american plane

Feb 19 2022

American Airlines is suspending or delaying Seattle – London and Bangalore, Dallas _ Santiago and Tel Aviv, Miami – Sao Paulo, and Los Angeles – Sydney. They’re blaming delays in the delivery of Boeing 787-8s for this, a result of production and regulatory issues faced by the airframe manufacturer.

They’ll get compensation from Boeing – covering money they’d have made with these planes, and they don’t even need to fly! – but the truth is that the lack of available aircraft is at least as much American’s fault, maybe more so than Boeing’s.

Earn Miles For Groceries, Hide Your Cash And Save $500 On Business Class Tickets

by Gary Leff on February 19, 2022

Feb 19 2022

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.

Why Are Hotel Rooms Airlines Give You On Overnight Delays So Bad?

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2022

Feb 18 2022

You may have to wait in long lines (with all other passengers) to get the room – if you can get an employee to help you, and if the systems they use have any rooms to offer. And when you finally get the room that’s being offered, it may not be up to your standards. Here’s a better way.

What’s Really Going On At The Charlotte Admirals Club

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2022

Feb 18 2022

The main Admirals Club in Charlotte is closed for renovations. Some travelers had hopes this would mean improving the club, still in US Airways-style, but it doesn’t. American – which has been somewhat cagey about the work that’s happening – says the updates which will take several months are about bringing the space up to fire code.

Here are permitting details for what renovations will actually be taking place.

This Marriott Hotel Assesses A Fee To Cover Property Tax Debt When Members Redeem Points

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2022

Feb 18 2022

The Marriott Courtyard Jefferson City in Missouri adds $4.90 onto award bookings, and that’s strange since the hotel doesn’t have a resort or destination fee. The website doesn’t tell you what this fee is for. But it’s really quite interesting – and galling.

Is TripAdvisor Still Relevant?

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2022

Feb 18 2022

How do you determine what hotel to book in a city you’ve never been, where there aren’t chain hotels you’re used to staying at or where you aren’t familiar with the particular properties? Let’s assume it’s a hotel and not a home rental you’re looking for – where do you go for information?

There’s a robust discussion in social media about TripAdvisor – and whether it’s still relevant. The answer is yes – if you follow a simple formula to use it correctly.

Amazon Co-Owns Airline That Deports – And Allegedly Tortures – Migrants

by Gary Leff on February 18, 2022

Feb 18 2022

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.

Help Out A Cancer-Stricken 27 Year Old Flight Attendant

by Gary Leff on February 17, 2022

Feb 17 2022

27 year old Miami-based American Airlines flight attendant Tori Panopoulos has breast cancer and is scheduled for a double mastectomy on March 1. She has a GoFundMe and is looking to raise $10,000 because of the time she’ll need to take off for treatment.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX Now Offers Pay-In Access

by Gary Leff on February 17, 2022

Feb 17 2022

The Star Alliance lounge at LAX is no longer limited to business and first class passengers and Star Gold elites on Star Alliance airline flights (and other airline eligible passengers such as Air Tahiti Nui passengers in business class). Instead, you can now pay for access to the lounge.

Hotel Owner Keeps Threatening To Sue Guests Who Leave Negative Reviews

by Gary Leff on February 17, 2022

Feb 17 2022

A year and a half ago an American in Thailand was taken to jail for writing a bad review of a hotel on TripAdvisor. He spent a couple of nights in jail on charges of defamation. Under pressure of public outrage, the hotel finally dropped charges.

Around the same time the owner of the Sri Panwa Resort in Phuket was threatening to sue guests who left negative reviews for the property. Now that Thai hotel owner is again.

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 »