American Airlines Pilots Lobbying Against Biden Vaccine Mandate

by Gary Leff

Sep 26 2021

Pilots are already treated differently by government mandates during the pandemic. Pilots aren’t allowed to fly within 48 hours of taking a vaccine shot due to potential side effects. And pilots are not required to wear face masks while in the cockpit.

The Biden administration executive order directing OSHA to introduce a vaccine mandate on companies with 100+ employees includes an expected alternative means of compliance in the form of regular Covid-19 testing. While United Airlines is not permitting this, a fear of losing pilots would seem to be enough reason why American Airlines would embrace this alternative.

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American Airlines Updates Its Contract Of Carriage Again To Further Limit Passenger Rights

by Gary Leff

Sep 25 2021

At the start of the month American Airlines updated its rules to make clear that they would not reimburse hotel stays you book yourself when your flights are severely delayed or cancelled (you have to wait for them to give you a hotel room if you want them to cover it) and to say they don’t have any obligation to get you to your destination – they can just refund your ticket if they prefer.

Now they’re updating their rules again to further limit your right to a refund in the event of delays of over 4 hours.

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Loyalty Programs Need To Do More For People Who Qualify “The Real Way”

by Gary Leff

Sep 25 2021

Customers who earned their status the hard way for next year, rather than just having it extended, have something of a legitimate beef with their brand. They’ve chosen their travel provider, trying to earn their status. They’ve selected less convenient flights, sometimes connections rather than non-stops. They’ve chosen less convenient hotels. They may have paid more than what competitors were pricing their products at. And they’ve done all of that all while accepting lower levels of service (fewer meals in airline cabins, limited housekeeping or breakfast benefits and closed club lounges at hotels).

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Chinese Airline CEO Taken Away By Police

by Gary Leff

hongkong airlines plane
Sep 24 2021

The Chairman and CEO of HNA Group, parent of Hainan Airlines and several other carriers, has been taken away by police. At one point HNA was the largest owner of Hilton and owned stakes in a dozen airlines (like Virgin Australia, TAP Air Portugal) as well as airport catering companies.

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Major Marriott & Hilton Owner Wants To Make Lodging Like Ultra Low Cost Airlines

by Gary Leff

Sep 24 2021

The owner of the TWA hotel is MCR Hotels, the fourth largest hotel ownership group in the country spanning 125 properties in 34 states including Marriotts, Hiltons and IHG hotels.

Its CEO declares that hotels need to move to an a la carte pricing model, based on the success of ultra low cost airlines like Allegiant, Spirit, VivaAerobus, and Wizz Air.

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