The Complicated Process For American AAdvantage Elites To Get Extra Legroom Seats On Alaska Airlines

by Gary Leff

alaska airlines plane
Apr 06 2021

With Alaska Airlines joining the oneworld alliance and continuing to partner more closely with American Airlines, the two airlines have introduced reciprocal elite benefits – the most valuable of which are access for elites to extra legroom seats and upgrades.

As the partnership was being developed, American Airlines Senior Vice President Vasu Raja emphasized the need for a seamless customer experience between the two airlines so “that a customer of either Alaska or American Airlines would choose us over one of our competitors’ long haul services” as a result of upgrades, seat assignments, and other benefits. And yet….

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American Airlines Treats Alaska Airlines Elites Better Than Their Own With New International Upgrades

by Gary Leff

inside airliner
Apr 06 2021

With the new American Airlines-Alaska Airlines partnership, Alaska Airlines elites get free companion upgrades even though most American Airlines top tier elites do not.

And now Alaska Airlines elites are getting new international upgrades – for specific flights – that are bookable past when American’s Executive Platinum upgrades expire.

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Radisson Rewards Splitting Into Two Programs, Your Address Determines Which You’ll Be In

by Gary Leff

hotel lobby
Apr 06 2021

Radisson Hotels was purchased from Carlson by Chinese conglomerate collapsing HNA Group, and then sold to Jinjiang International.

Come June Radisson in the Americas (United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean) will be separate from Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. And they’re splitting the rewards program in two. This satisfies a U.S. government demand to separate U.S. customer data and firewall it off from its Chinese ownership.

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JetBlue Introduces Transatlantic Coach Product With Mix-and-Match Meals, Up To 2 Extra Inches Of Room

by Gary Leff

Apr 06 2021

I’d absolutely fly JetBlue’s Collins Meridian seat with 32 inch pitch over a 30″ slimline on some competitors. And I appreciate that they’re trying to signal a thoughtfulness in their approach to food by letting you choose which appetizer you do not want, while at the same time preparing only 3 appetizers in total to accompany 3 different entrees.

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Is This The Worst Argument Yet Against Vaccine Passports?

by Gary Leff

picture of american passport
Apr 06 2021

Vaccine passports can be a temporary tool that allows travel to re-open. Since several Covid-19 vaccines have been shown not just to protect the person that’s vaccinated, but also to prevent spread, they can help assure a country that visitors who have had a shot are less likely to infect their citizens with the virus.

There are complex arguments – both practical and ethical – around vaccine passports. But this celebrity doctor’s complaint about them seems ignorant of the facts..

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Massive New Bailout Of Air France, Including Funds From China

by Gary Leff

air france plane
Apr 06 2021

Last year Air France KLM received $12.3 billion in government aid. Now the government of France will provide a new $4.7 billion in support, while the Dutch government is in talks with European regulators over an additional $1.18 billion.

The new aid to Air France is “a state-backed recapitalization,” converting loans from the government into “bonds with no maturity” along with additional capital through the issuance of new shares.

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