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JetBlue Introduces New Business Class, And Seats Above Business You Aren’t Supposed To Call First Class

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2021

Feb 01 2021

JetBlue just introduced its new Mint (business class) seat, which will roll out on Airbus A321LRs that will begin flying to London this summer. Some A321neos will get the product, too, so it will eventually be available on certain domestic flights as well.

They’ve selected the Thompson Aero’s VantageSolo seat for their new business class Mint Suite. In addition there will be a row of two seats at the front of the plane they call the Mint Studio (reminiscent of Etihad’s Business Studio) featuring a larger screen, extra side table, and a guest seat so that passengers can dine together. JetBlue claims it will offer more space than any other US airline premium product, and the largest lie flat bed offered by a US airline.

Bankrupt Norwegian ‘Pauses’ Frequent Flyer Program

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2021

plane on runway

Feb 01 2021

Norwegian has shut down its transatlantic operations. Several subsidiaries are in bankruptcy reorganization. They plan to focus only on domestic and intra-European flying, with another subsidy from the government of Norway.

Now they’ve temporarily suspended their loyalty program.

Is Passenger’s ‘African American Service Charge’ On American Airlines A Hoax?

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2021

Feb 01 2021

Update: This was caused by a data matching error at Capital One Kyetra Bryant flew American Airlines from Charlotte to Denver over Thanksgiving. She and her companion checked in at a kiosk and paid a checked bag fee. She says the charge appeared on her bank statement as “African American, African service charge.” Hey @AmericanAir What is an African American African service charge??!?!? pic.twitter.com/UmR0sBGLPT — A Simp Named Slickback (@___seeryandavis) January 29, 2021 At first it seemed like perhaps a ‘rogue kiosk’ is at fault (because while American is unable to manage processing confirmed upgrades online, they have rogue AI kiosks) or… American Airlines appears to blame Mastercard, The customer alerted American to the offensively labeled baggage fee on her bank statement in mid-December. We were disturbed by what we saw and immediately launched an…

American Airlines May Be Forced To Require Employee Vaccinations For Better Marketing

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2021

Feb 01 2021

If there’s a chance customers might choose another airline because they can be confident that airline’s employees have been vaccinated against Covid-19, American would be forced to do the same thing in order to stay competitive according to the carrier’s CEO.

Rumor Of Impending Covid Testing Requirement For Domestic Travel Has ‘No Basis In Reality’

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2021

Jan 31 2021

A CDC official has said that the Biden Administration is actively considering requiring a negative Covid-19 test for domestic flights and not just for international flights to the U.S. which is now in place.

However American Airlines CEO Doug Parker made clear to employees that this ‘rumor’ has ‘no basis in reality.’

One Guest Booked A 446 Room Fairmont Hotel For 65 Days. They May Be Forced To Cancel.

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2021

Jan 31 2021

The 446 room Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge inside Alberta’s Jasper National Park, is booked out for 65 days by a single guest from February 23 through April 29.

In order to accommodate this big sale the hotel cancelled reservations of guests that already had bookings at the property.

No Plans For American Airlines To Reintroduce Real First Class Meal Service Before Covid Ends

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2021

Jan 31 2021

During American’s “State of the Airline” presentation and question and answer with employees, Managing Director of Flight Service Brady Byrnes explained that they’re working through what’s next for meals and are talking with the flight attendants union “about what is the right timing both from a customer and from a crewmember perspective.”

The purpose of American’s current Charlotte meals test is to “kind of understand when we do reintroduce full service, what products we should be offering, kind of streamlining the service for our flight attendants and really making sure that our customers enjoy it.” The return to service is going to be streamlined.

$10 Billion Embezzled From Bankrupt Airline Group

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2021

hongkong airlines plane

Jan 31 2021

China’s HNA Group began with Hainan Airlines and then acquired brands like Radisson Hotels; airline caterer Gate Gourmet; 25% of Hilton; nearly 10% of Deutsche Bank; and 29% of NH Hotels. They acquired stakes in Red Lion Hotels; Virgin Australia; TAP Air Portugal: South Africa’s Comair; Azul Brazil and much more. The company’s corporate structure sometimes makes it difficult to discern what they own, what they’ve sold off, and what they’ve merely sold to themselves.

Before the pandemic they worked to reduce a debt load that exceeded $100 billion by selling off assets, but continued to face problems paying for fuel, problems paying employees, and problems paying investors. HNA even offered investors airline airline tickets in lieu of interest payments.

American Airlines Is Bringing Pre-Order Meals Back For Transcon And Hawaii Flights

by Gary Leff on January 31, 2021

Jan 31 2021

American Airlines started letting customers pre-select their meals online when they’re flying in premium cabins back in the fall of 2012. Delta didn’t roll out this feature until early 2019 and going into the pandemic United was still in testing.

The airline offered meals pre-ordered between 30 days and 24 hours before a flight, selecting from items that are offered on board anyway. Most meal service on domestic flights was scrapped, though, early in the pandemic.

Help Crowdfund The Last 10% Of A Pilot TV Show On Travel

by Gary Leff on January 30, 2021

Jan 30 2021

Last spring I wrote about a new documentary under development about the frequent flyer hobby. There have been many stabs taken at this.

Now there’s a new twist on travel, not about earning miles and points but about taking regular people on incredible adventures. I reader has an IndieGogo campaign but this one looks like it could really happen.