It’s Absurdly Past Time To Lift U.S. Covid-19 Travel Bans

by Gary Leff

Jul 17 2021

Travelers are banned from entering the U.S. if in the prior 14 days they’ve been in China, Iran, the European Schengen area, U.K. and Ireland, Brazil, South Africa or India. That’s true even though the U.S. requires testing of everyone entering by air; if the traveler has had a full course of an mRNA vaccine; and is coming from a place with far less Covid-19 than the U.S.

This makes no sense. Americans can go to Europe and they can return – in some cases even if they’re unvaccinated. But vaccinated Europeans can’t fly to the U.S. And this is somehow for our protection?

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American Airlines Needs To Do More For Elites Earning Status This Year ‘The Real Way’

by Gary Leff

Jul 17 2021

Everyone knew that 2021 would be an odd year. It might not be a total loss, like 2020, where American like most everyone else just extended status. However business travel hadn’t returned in the first half of the year in a meaningful way, and much of long haul international travel remained out of reach. Customers who normally made their status on international business class tickets just weren’t doing so, yet no one wanted to lose these customers when their business returned.

With how easy they’ve made it to keep status, the airline now needs to encourage people to actually fly the airline.

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R&B Singer Reports Being Threatened Over Boarding With First Class Passengers On American

by Gary Leff

Jul 17 2021

R&B singer Lyfe Jennings flew American Airlines and recorded his last interaction with the airline as he boarded his flight, being asked whether there would be any issues on the flight – whether he was going to be a troublemaker – after, he says, he was continually questioned over boarding as a first class passenger. He believes the airline’s employees were skeptical that he belonged in first class because he’s black.

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Is The Delta Amex Portfolio Now The Largest, Most Successful Cobrand In The World?

by Gary Leff

Jul 16 2021

During Delta’s earnings call on Tuesday the airline shared several fascinating statistics, for instance that corporate travel rose from 20% of 2019 levels in March to being 40% recovered in June, and the airline expects to be back to 60% of 2019 levels by September.

Perhaps even more interesting is the detail they shared on their American Express credit card relationship.

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American Airlines Pilot Announces He’s God After Kicking Off Anti-Mask Passenger

by Gary Leff

cockpit with pilot
Jul 16 2021

A passenger had to be removed from an American Airlines flight to Charlotte over their refusal to wear a mask. So far, just like any other day in travel since 75% of airline incidents reported to the FAA this year have involved masks.

But the pilot of this flight followed the passenger’s ejection with a speech to those on board in which he declared himself God on the aircraft as he implored everyone to follow the rules.

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This Hyatt Charges $20 Extra To Use The Bathroom Mirror

by Gary Leff

Jul 16 2021

At Hyatt’s Motif hotel your room rate does not include the coffeemaker, TV, alarm clock, iron, mirror, of bath products.

For $20 per night you get unlimited local calls if you’ve somehow forgotten your cell phone; access to an electric vehicle charging station (Hertz gives me those all the time!); and an in-room Alexa that will let Jeff Bezos listen in while you’re doing you-know-what.

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