China’s Domestic Air Travel Has Collapsed, Were They Telling The Truth About Recovery?

by Gary Leff

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Feb 09 2021

China’s initial Covid-19 outbreak was probably 40 times worse than they reported.

While much blame for lack of transparency is leveed at the national government, early on it’s likely local officials who downplayed the severity of the crisis. Now President Xi relies on projecting an image that China has beaten back the virus and is among the best in the world at doing so. Without this his re-election is at risk. What does a 50% year-over-year drop in air travel after China supposedly beat the virus say?

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Alert: 8+ Delta Business Class Award Seats To Israel For December Holidays

by Gary Leff

Feb 09 2021

Saver awards in business class are wide open flying Delta to Israel for the end of 2021. Israel is likely to have nearly their entire population vaccinated soon, if you’re looking for a place you might bet on opening up to travel for later this year it’s a reasonable bet to make.

Each flight showing availability has between 2 and 8 or more business class award seats available (8 is the most shown even when there are more than 8 available).

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Federal Mask Mandate Could Become Law, And Cabin Crew Given Vaccine Priority In Future Pandemics

by Gary Leff

Feb 09 2021

Airlines already had mask rules before the President directed the bureaucracy to make it a mandate. Penalties aren’t really greater than before (just $250 for a first refusal), and there are more exceptions – for instance airlines now have to allow medical exemptions to mask wearing which American, United, and Southwest didn’t offer before.

The mask order, which runs until rescinded by the CDC or until the Secretary of Health and Human Services rescinds the declaration of a public health emergency, could become a law, and airline workers could be given priority for as-yet-undiscovered vaccines with uncertain benefit profiles in future hypothetical pandemics. In other words, just your average week in Congress.

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American Airlines Launching Miami – Tel Aviv And 6 Other New International Routes

by Gary Leff

Feb 08 2021

As part of their soon-to-launch relationship with JetBlue, American will begin New York JFK – Tel Aviv, the most crowded Israel market but also the biggest.

Now they’ve announced the route that seemed to make sense six years ago when it looked like they’d go it alone to Israel: Miami – Tel Aviv. They’ve also announced six other new international routes, and two domestic Saturday-only regional jet routes. To several Latin cities they’ll be bigger this summer than they were in 2019.

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The Worst Travel Writer In America Says Who’s Been Naughty And Nice During Covid

by Gary Leff

Feb 08 2021

Christopher Elliott has naughty and nice list for travel companies during the pandemic. He sees some behaving as though “they think COVID-19 is a hoax.” That seems like an odd position to take considering their billions of dollars of losses. But what he’s saying is that airlines and hotel companies are making travel more comfortable or fun, that encourages travel, and that’s bad. And the self-styled consumer advocate glosses over a company that tried to steal customers’ money because they promise to make employees take vaccines.

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