Domestic Travel Bans Have To Be Really Long To Work, And Can *Increase* Virus Spread

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2021

We tend to look at the success story countries and extrapolate from them, why can’t the U.S. be like Australia? And of course there are reasons like Australia not having to worry about the virus coming in from abroad in as uncontrolled a fashion since the country is an island. But do travel restrictions inside a country, like we’ve seen in Australia where citizens couldn’t travel between states for much of the pandemic, usually work so well?

A new paper out of the University of Chicago finds that domestic travel bans may be counterproductive for controlling spread of Covid-19.

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Think Business Travel Will Return? American Airlines Isn’t Sending Employees Back To Its Own Office Yet

by Gary Leff

american airlines logo
Apr 26 2021

American Airlines invested hundreds of millions of dollars in a new headquarters, with their old facility bursting at the seams. They’ve since let go of 30% of management staff so don’t need as much space. And those that are left have mostly still working from home.

While they’re re-starting construction on unfinished parts of the new corporate campus, they’re bringing back people gradually, and recognize that some remote work makes sense into the future.

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This Surprising Gem May Be The Best New No Annual Fee Cash Back Card On The Market

by Gary Leff

Apr 26 2021

What if I told you there’s a way to earn an effective 6% back on rideshare, streaming services, and some of your restaurant spend – on a no annual fee card – and you’ve never heard of it?

That’s because if you came across the new Manchester United Credit Card from fintech startup Cardless you might have skipped right over it, but that would have been a mistake.

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A Five Hour Delay Caused A Flight Full Of Passengers Into 14 Day Mandatory Quarantine

by Gary Leff

Apr 26 2021

A delay of a little more than 5 hours caused a planeload full of passengers to be sent into 14 day mandatory hotel quarantine when they reached their destination.

Virgin Australia flight VA469 had departed from Perth, in Western Australia, enroute to Brisbane. But while the plane was in the air, the Australian state of Queensland where Brisbane is located closed its borders to incoming Perth traffic.

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Carry On Won’t Fit In The Bag Sizer? American Will Now Charge You To Check It

by Gary Leff

Apr 26 2021

From now on when American Airlines takes your carry on bag at the gate and requires you to check it, you can expect to pay for the privilege – unless you’re entitled to free checked bags with a premium cabin ticket, AAdvantage elite status, or co-brand credit card.

Frequently customers bring more carry on bags than they’re allowed, or bags that are bigger than what’s permitted. Gate agents are supposed to insist that the passenger checks the bag. They used to do this for free, but according to a new American Airlines “Airport Excellence Advisory” agents are now supposed to collect a checked bag fee.

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Breaking: Europe Will Re-Open To Vaccinated Americans This Summer

by Gary Leff

Apr 25 2021

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday that because the U.S. is using vaccines that are approved by the European Medicines Agency, the European Union will accept proof of vaccination to allow Americans to visit this summer, “because one thing is clear: All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A.”

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What Happened To The Sign From Gate 35X, And Other American Airlines Construction Projects

by Gary Leff

gate number
Apr 25 2021

Washington National airport built an entire new concourse to replace one miserable gate. Gate 35X was a bus gate that served 14 remote stands for 50 seat regional jets. The new concourse, in contrast, supports 14 large regional jets.

Just after the opening of this new concourse for American Airlines flights, which will also feature an Admirals Club, American Airlines shared some construction updates with employees as part of a question and answer session on earnings call day last week.

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