Southwest CEO Gary Kelly’s Amazing Tribute Video To Retiring American CEO Doug Parker

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2021

On October 22nd American Airlines CEO Doug Parker received the Wings Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I shared the video American prepared for the event, and Parker’s acceptance speech, earlier today in my coverage of his retirement announcement. Parker will stay as CEO through March 31 when he becomes Chairman and current airline President Robert Isom becomes CEO.

The real star of the Wings Club event, enjoyed by around 1300 guests at the New York Hilton, was Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly’s music video tribute. It’s been held close to the vest since that night.

Continue Reading »

Family With 7 Week Old Baby Kicked Off A Flight In What Seems Like A Horrible Mix Up

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2021

A family with a 7 week old baby was kicked off their American Airlines Charlotte to Philadelphia flight on Saturday after a disagreement with flight attendants. They were called ‘rude’ and ‘disruptive’ but it appears to have stemmed from a misunderstanding as the baby’s mother got up from her seat to accommodate another passenger. They reportedly had to wait around the airport for eight hours before being accommodated on a new flight home.

Continue Reading »

Spirit Airlines Makes A Run At Philadelphia After American Leaves Its Hub Undefended

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2021

Mid-year Spirit Airlines announced a big expansion in Miami, an American Airlines hub, becoming the second largest airline there. Traditionally they had stuck with lower-cost Fort Lauderdale.

Now they’re making a run at American’s hub in Philadelphia. They’ve just announced 7 new routes, increased service to another and flights to 20 total destinations. Spirit and Frontier together are the next two largest airlines in Philadelphia after American.

Continue Reading »

Wow: Hawaii Just 3154 Points Each Way During Peak Season On Southwest

by Gary Leff

tropical hotel pool
Dec 07 2021

Hawaiian, United, American, Delta and Alaska are all running sub-$100 each way Hawaii fares from the West Coast. Southwest Airlines has matched the lowest of these ($62 each way) and that makes their flights available super-cheap on points as well.

You can book Hawaii for just 3154 points each way, or 6308 Rapid Rewards points roundtrip ($5.60 in security taxes each way as well). The best part of Southwest redemptions is that they are fully refundable, you can cancel and redeposit your points at no charge.

Continue Reading »

Doug Parker Stepping Down As American Airlines CEO

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2021

American Airlines announced that Doug Parker will step down as CEO on March 31, 2022. He will remain chairman of the board. Current airline President Robert Isom will become CEO and join the airline’s Board of Directors.

Robert Isom becoming CEO points to a more or less a status quo future. And David Seymour was elevated to Chief Operating Officer at the airline after overseeing its disastrous summer 2019 operational meltdown.

Continue Reading »

Alaska Airlines Starbucks Buy One Get One Deal

by Gary Leff

alaska airlines plane
Dec 06 2021

Most airline sales aren’t really sales, but this is legit. It’s a bit of an odd marketing play, though, since you don’t have to buy a Starbucks drink to get ‘buy one get one’. You don’t get a gift card for a drink when you buy one, get one. There’s no Starbucks tie-in whatsoever except, it would appear, some marketing dollars from Starbucks to cobrand the promotion.

This strikes me as a genuinely good deal if you’re traveling with someone in and out of Alaska Airlines cities.

Continue Reading »

Recalculating How Much Frequent Flyer Miles Are Worth

by Gary Leff

Dec 06 2021

How much airfare a mile buys is different than ‘how much a mile is worth’. You can’t spend miles on nearly as many things as cash (and get lower value for things other than travel when you redeem that way). You don’t earn interest on your miles. There’s more devaluation risk with miles.

Here’s a stab at quantifying the discounts that you should consider taking when converting ‘how much airfare do miles buy’ into ‘how much are miles worth’?

Continue Reading »