View from the Wing

United Will Start Filling Middle Seats With Employees And Other Non-Rev Passengers

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2020

Jun 26 2020

Southwest, Delta, and JetBlue are limiting the number of seats they sell on each flight so there’s no need for passengers to occupy middle seats. Sometimes middle seats will be taken, but that usually means families traveling together. American Airlines has been limiting loads about half as much as others – but that ends July 1.

United Airlines, in contrast, has been happy to sell a ticket for any seat on any flight and fill all the middles throughout the COVID crisis. Starting July 1 even more of those middle seats will be filled.

American Airlines Will Sell Flights To Max Capacity Starting July 1

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2020

Jun 26 2020

Southwest, Delta, and JetBlue are limiting the number of seats they sell on each flight so there’s no need for passengers to occupy middle seats.

American Airlines does not. They cap capacity, but still sell enough seats so about half of middles might be occupied. American’s much lesser restriction will end July 1.

Controversy Erupts Over American Airlines Employee Praying At The Gate

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2020

Jun 26 2020

A passenger noticed an American Airlines employee at Washington National airport offering a prayer over the PA system at one of the gates and videotaped it. They sent it to a friend who shared it to twitter with outrage. Although I don’t really see anything wrong with offering a prayer right now, it may even bring some comfort during difficult times.

Marriott’s CEO Is Parrotting Chinese President Xi’s Re-Election Talking Points

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2020

Jun 26 2020

Marriott has about 100 hotels in China. To do business there is to acquiesce to the country’s leadership. Marriott has consistently towed the party line, as it did two years ago when spanked by the Chinese government for listing Taiwan as a separate country. They fired an hourly worker who ‘liked’ a tweet supporting Taiwanese independence and proactively removed banned books from hotels.

Now the CEO of the hotel chain Arne Sorenson is giving interviews on China’s effectiveness in containing the virus, adopting the country’s talking points and effectively assisting President Xi Jinping shore up a key vulnerability as he prepares for re-election by the Communist Party.

6 Airline Union Heads Joint To Ask Congress For Another $32 Billion Bailout

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

The heads of 6 major airline unions wrote to Congressional leadership asking for another 6 months of airline payroll – $32 billion for passenger and cargo airlines and airline contractors – to prevent employee layoffs through March 31.

This is a bad idea.

Unintended Consequence Of Closing Borders, Limiting Tourism: Thailand Edition

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

Tourists would come see the monkeys. TNow the government of Thailand is engaged in a sterilization campaign to keep monkeys in check since the lack of free bananas has led the monkeys to violence.

Hawaii Proposes New “Isolation” In Addition To Quarantine As It Prepares To Re-Open For Tourism

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

A new bill would allow the state’s Department of Health to place people arriving with COVID-19 into “isolation” not merely quarantine, separating them from their families. Critics have likened this to placing people in “camps.”

Wide Open Business Class Awards For 4+ Passengers Next Year, Use For Europe/Asia/Mideast/Africa

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

Turkish Airlines has 4 or more business class award seats available most dates next year, January – May 2021, from a variety of U.S. gateways. You can claim these seats using miles from a variety of different Star Alliance carriers, and connect onward to Eastern Europe, Mideast, Southeast Asia or Africa.

United is also offering wide open business class award space on several transatlantic routes.

American Pledges Up To 1 Million Business Extra Points For Minority-Owned Businesses, Non-Profits

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

American Airlines has a small business program, Business Extra, that gives points to businesses when their employees travel on the airline. This is separate from, and in addition to, the AAdvantage miles that travelers earn themselves.

The airline announced today that they are giving up to 1 million Business Extra points to minority-owned small businesses and also non-profits.

United Flight Attendants Are Now Required To Carry Thermometers

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

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.

United Will Start Filling Middle Seats With Employees And Other Non-Rev Passengers

American Airlines Will Sell Flights To Max Capacity Starting July 1

Controversy Erupts Over American Airlines Employee Praying At The Gate

Marriott’s CEO Is Parrotting Chinese President Xi’s Re-Election Talking Points

6 Airline Union Heads Joint To Ask Congress For Another $32 Billion Bailout

Unintended Consequence Of Closing Borders, Limiting Tourism: Thailand Edition

Hawaii Proposes New “Isolation” In Addition To Quarantine As It Prepares To Re-Open For Tourism

Wide Open Business Class Awards For 4+ Passengers Next Year, Use For Europe/Asia/Mideast/Africa

American Pledges Up To 1 Million Business Extra Points For Minority-Owned Businesses, Non-Profits

United Flight Attendants Are Now Required To Carry Thermometers

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About Gary Leff

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