Mar
22
2021
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.
[Roundup] A Second Airport Popup Shot Bar Makes This A Trend
Could This Be The New American Airlines Business Class Seat
Mar
22
2021
I shared this month that American Airlines is still planning new cabins for Boeing 787-9s they take delivery of, and Airbus A321XLRs. There will be full mockups of the cabins for testing this time.
Just before the pandemic American Airlines was previewing potential seat choices.
You’re Vaccinated, Your Kids Aren’t. Can You Travel?
Mar
22
2021
Adults can get vaccinated and children cannot. You may be able to travel, but what about travel with your kids?
Is it reasonable to travel with children who haven’t been vaccinated? And will countries allow unvaccinated children to enter?
American Airlines Passengers Brawl Over Who Gets Off Their Plane First
Mar
22
2021
A passenger on board an American Airlines flight to Phoenix shared video of what happened when they landed and arrived at their gate. A fight broke out between passengers over who would disembark first. Another passenger can be heard saying “they’re calling for law enforcement.”
The CEO Of American Airlines Explains Why Back-To-Front Boarding Doesn’t Work
Mar
21
2021
You can’t split up families. And back-to-front leads to bunching as well. And since those don’t work out as well in practice as in theory, their regular boarding process stands.
This is why airlines all tinker with their process from time to time and never stop tinkering, because they’re never been able to do much to improve – with few exceptions.
This Marriott Resort Imposes A $30 Loyalty Tax On Free Night Redemptions
Mar
21
2021
In a move that may be ‘the most Bonvoy thing ever,’ the J.W. Marriott Los Cabos Resort says they charge guests using points a $30 redemption fee. This fee, or loyalty tax, applies only to free night awards and is not billed to guests paying cash. It’s not even disclosed in the rate details when booking a points stay.
United Airlines CEO Says He’s Wanted To Eliminate Change Fees Since 1998
Mar
21
2021
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby shared that in 1998 he was a Vice President at America West and a single conversation changed his view about change fees, and he’s wanted to eliminate them ever since. It took until August 2020 to do it and then American, Delta, Alaska and JetBlue all followed.
The interesting part of the story isn’t the golf game that game him the epiphany, it’s why it took 22 years for this change to happen.
Does United Airlines Have The Answer To Improving Flight Attendant Service?
Mar
21
2021
At most U.S. airlines if a flight attendant provides great service it’s because of their own inner drive. It’s not because of any training program or incentives that the company has set up.
One of the most frustrating thing I hear from cabin crew all the time is about the small percentage of their colleagues who are slackers, who perform poorly and do as little work as possible (increasing the workload for everyone else). This is frustrating because there’s usually very little consequence. And seeing poor performers do just as well as those who provide exemplary service is demoralizing.
Marriott’s New CEO Continues To Flatter China’s Authoritarian Rulers
Mar
21
2021
Late Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson lent international support for China’s argument that their response to Covid-19 was world-leading. Sorenson knew that crushing the pandemic through any means necessary was good for travel and the hotel business. And he knew that flattering Chinese officials and supporting their narratives is key to staying in their good graces. China is a key growth market for Marriott.
New Marriott CEO Tony Capuano appears to be taking a similar approach.
The Federal Government Is About To Reveal What It Knows About UFOs
Mar
20
2021
The last Director of National Intelligence says there “quite a few” incidents that are “difficult to explain” incidents “exceed[ing] the sound barrier without a sonic boom.” And in some cases “we don’t have good explanations” for what we’ve seen “all over the world.” Many haven’t been made public before.
