There are several scary stories out there about a coming frequent flyer apocalypse, but an underlying truth remains.
Now that airlines have moved towards more revenue-based redemption pricing, award price inflation is baked into the model. As demand rises and prices go up, so too do award prices for much of an airline’s inventory. And travel has picked up.
If I ever became President the first thing I’d ask is about UFOs. It turns out I have something in common with Barack Obama, who asked about UFOs once he was sworn in. Because you’re President, you get to find out all of the secrets like Area 51. So why wouldn’t you?
United Airlines flight attendant Jonathan Ray tested positive for Covid-19 in April 2020. He landed at Newark airport and checked into the Marriott Courtyard Wilmington Downtown to quarantine.
The property reported the twenty year airline veteran’s behavior while on property to United. He was suspended from his job and then terminated. And he’s suing – Marriott – for interfering with his employment relationship.
In the fall top American Airlines executives – including President Robert Isom – started cold-calling their best customers “to find out who it is that’s traveling and still earning elite status throughout the pandemic.”
Recently several top American Airlines AAdvantage elite members have reported getting calls scheduled with Rick Elieson, the head of the AAdvantage program. In one of these calls he leaked some great information!
American Airlines flight AA60 from Tokyo Narita to Dallas-Fort Worth diverted to Seattle on Wednesday after declaring a ‘level 3 security alert’ which the FAA defines as “life-threatening behavior.”
There was loud screaming in the cabin as well as “approximately 10 loud bangs” and three flight attendants were punched and kicked.
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.
Marriott and Hyatt no longer require vaccinated guests to wear masks indoors at U.S. properties, except where required by law. Employees will still wear masks. Hilton, though, still requires indoor masking.
In the midst of the worst storm Texas has seen in many decades in Februry, the state’s junior Senator Ted Cruz took his family out of the country. Amidst a backlash he changed his plans and returned home. He blamed his family for the mishap, saying he was just escorting the kids and always planned to return but that story turned out to be… less than accurate.
Now Cruz is poking fun at himself, with Houston media touting low fares to Cancun on Sun Country Airlines. Naturally he’s getting roasted on social media for it.
Greece is already open to Americans. France says it is opening June 9. Spain has said it is opening. Now the European Union has come to an agreement to accept vaccinated visitors this summer, and this is expectted to be passed by member states. The specific re-opening date when Americans will be able to enter without a Covid-19 test or quarantine remains to be set, as countries determine how they plan to verify vaccination.
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – the same people who brought you millimeter wave scanners at TSA checkpoints – are developing a new scanner so you won’t have to take off your shoes at airport security.
This project blasts these same millimeter waves at your feet, cutting down on the shoe carnival for flyers who lack precheck and reducing the time in line for passengers that no longer have to take their shoes off and put them back on.
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 »
