Delta Plans To Mortgage SkyMiles To Raise Cash

by Gary Leff

Aug 24 2020

Past advance sales of large blocks of miles to credit card partners have on balance probably been good for members, borrowing against the program may not be although it’s far from a foregone conclusion.

You’d expect lenders to want a strong program to secure future member interest and an ongoing revenue stream yet in practice that’s not how things usually work out. Still, while Delta has a strong elite program, there’s really not much left to devalue on the earn-and-burn side.

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Delta Furloughs 1,941 Pilots

by Gary Leff

Aug 24 2020

Delta has let employees know that they’re furloughing 1,941 pilots hired July 17, 2017 and later. That’s out of a remaining approximately 11,200 remaining pilots with the company, after accounting for voluntary early departures from the airline.

Furlough letters will be sent out this week.

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Clever Price Discrimination (And Elite Benefits Denial) Strategy From Marriott In North Carolina

by Gary Leff

Aug 24 2020

The Le Meridien and Sheraton in Charlotte are in the same complex. It’s increasingly common for a large hotel to be sold as more than one brand, to appeal to different types of travelers or to people interested in different brands.

However right now it appears that the two hotels are being sold as one. According to reader reports only the Le Meridien is open and people reserving the Sheraton are getting moved to the Le Meridien.

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EPA Approves Chemical To Disinfect American Airlines Planes, But Only For Flights Departing Texas

by Gary Leff

american plane
Aug 24 2020

Since American Airlines only performs electrostatic spraying every 7 days a persistent chemical application is needed (in contrast to other airlines striving to spray between every flight). SurfaceWise 2 will kill viruses for at least a week.

The EPA has approved use of the chemical – but only for application in Texas airports and for flights departing Texas.

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One Man Lives – And Farms – In The Middle Of Tokyo Narita Airport

by Gary Leff

japan airlines plane
Aug 23 2020

Toyko Narita airport was built on top of former farming villages, despite local opposition, backed by the Communist and Social Democratic parties, known as the Sanrizuka Struggle. While land for the airport was initially acquired voluntarily from its owners, by 1971 the Japanese government began expropriating property.

Opposition clashed with construction workers and police, leading to deaths and mass arrests. Over 500 guerrilla actions have taken place against Narita airport since its opening in 1978.

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