How American Airlines Is Keeping Government Payroll Support For Itself, Not Giving It To Employees

by Gary Leff

Jan 13 2021

The government’s $900 billion Covid relief bill passed at the end of December included $15 billion to airlines, on top of the $50 billion provisioned to U.S. airlines as part of the original CARES Act.

This was pitched as payroll support, meant to cover the cost of the less than 40,000 people who were furloughed or laid off from U.S. carriers. In exchange for the money airlines have to bring these people back onto payroll through March 31, and pay them retroactively to December 1, 2020. American Airlines found a way not to do that with many of the employees they’ve laid off, however.

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7 Problems With New U.S. Covid-19 Testing Requirement For All Arriving International Passengers

by Gary Leff

passport getting stamped
Jan 13 2021

This new testing requirement isn’t going to control spread of the virus, which is already running rampant throughout most of the country. It isn’t going to stop entry of new variants of the virus, which are already here (and which we’re doing little tracking of in any case).

We need fewer barriers to low-cost at-home testing. We need greater tracking of new variants of the virus. We need more rapid approval and deployment both for Covid-19 treatments and vaccines. A travel ban that applies internationally, but that does nothing to limit spread via travel within the United States, at what’s likely the tail end of the pandemic is purely cosmetic but may have long-lasting consequences.

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Hyatt May Lose 22 U.S. Hotels Effective April 8

by Gary Leff

hotel room
Jan 13 2021

Service Properties Trust, which owns 329 hotels across numerous brands, has had disputes with IHG and Marriott and is transitioning those properties to Sonesta Hotels where it’s a one-third owner. Hotel chains often guarantee minimum revenue to property owners, and Service Properties Trust had a dispute over those payments.

Hyatt hasn’t refused to make payment, but has reached its full $50 million guarantee on the 22 hotels under its Hyatt Place brand owned by the company. That gives Hyatt the right to terminate its agreement with 90 days’ notice. Hyatt sent this notice of termination which is effective April 8, 2021.

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New DOT Rule Raises Involuntary Denied Boarding And Mishandled Bag Compensation

by Gary Leff

Jan 12 2021

The Department of Transportation has finalized its rule increasing the minimum amount of cash an airline has to pay a passenger for involuntarily denying them boarding, and banning airlines from denying boarding to passengers that have already boarded. The rule increases the maximum amount airlines can be on the hook for when they mishandle domestic checked baggage as well. These changes go into effect April 13, 2021.

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U.S. Will Require All International Arriving Passengers To Have A Covid-19 Test

by Gary Leff

Jan 12 2021

Starting January 26 the U.S. will require a negative Covid-19 test within 3 days prior to departure, or documentation of having already recovered from Covid-19, for everyone arriving in the country (citizens and non-citizens alike).

This applies to air passengers only. Anyone who wishes will still be able to fly to Mexico for instance, and drive across the U.S. border.

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