It’s Time To Stop Using The Covid Excuse

by Gary Leff

Apr 24 2021

Marriott hotels – though not only Marriotts – ignore elite breakfast benefits because of Covid-19. In fact you now need to do a lot more research on hotels when considering a booking to find out whether they’re offering the facilities and services that you want and are paying for. No towels for the pool? Blame Covid.

Union boss Sara Nelson doesn’t want flight attendants working on flights because Covid. The CDC, apparently, needs to update its guidance on virus spread to include catching Covid-19 from aircraft galley ovens because the temperature of food is a risk – Nelson thinks flight attendants serving hot food is unacceptable in first class, but wrapped sandwiches are ok.

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Upgrades On American When Traveling With A Baby Just Got Cheaper

by Gary Leff

Apr 24 2021

When parents travel with a child under two years old, the child doesn’t need their own seat. A so-called ‘lap infant’ travels free when flying domestically. In general for international travel the lap infant will need a ticket, and so the parents have to purchase an ‘infant fare’.

Fortunately as of April 23, 2021 American Airlines no longer requires customers to pay more for their infant ticket when they upgrade which can mean a savings of hundreds of dollars – and a lot of headaches since the process used to be confusing.

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American Airlines Is A Marketing Company That Flies Planes, What Should Change From That Insight?

by Gary Leff

Apr 23 2021

Before the pandemic American Airlines was losing money flying planes – the sale of frequent flyer miles accounted for its profit.

During the American Airlines first quarter earnings call Stifel analyst Joe DeNardi asked CEO Doug Parker whether he realized how profitable the AAdvantage program is, and why he doesn’t devote more time during the earnings call to discuss it?

He offered that “in 2019, your loyalty program generated roughly the same amount of EBITDA as Marriott did” and wondered “”why don’t you allocate 40% of the time on these calls to the loyalty program” given its importance?

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American Airlines Mocks United Adding Video Screens At Seats As “Prettying Up Old Planes”

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Apr 23 2021

Reminiscent of Qatar Airways CEO declaring that ‘Delta flies crap plans’ Chief Customer Officer Alison Taylor suggested United is adding seat back video to older aircraft “to pretty up old planes, and we should be proud about our new planes and aircraft.”

CEO Doug Parker explained they’re removing video at passenger seats because that’s what passengers want.

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