Which International Flights Won’t Return After Covid?

by Gary Leff

plane tails
Dec 18 2020

International route networks are currently very limited, often only flights that can be supported by cargo with passengers a plus are operating. That’s both because of limited travel demand, with business travel non-existent and a raging virus keeping people at home, and because of travel restrictions and local restrictions too (there have to be activities at a destination happening to make the travel worthwhile).

But which routes are going to come back, and which ones are gone for good?

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Singapore Airlines Brings Back Daily Non-Stops To 3 U.S. Cities – And Its Premium-Heavy Airbus A350

by Gary Leff

Dec 18 2020

Throughout the pandemic Singapore has flown non-stop from Los Angeles. Now they’ve announced daily non-stops from New York, LA and San Francisco and will fly their premium-heavy long range A350 to New York and San Francisco.

There’s going to be a lot of excess business class seats flying all over the world for a long time, and this is a great example of adding capacity ahead of demand which will make this a flyer’s market for some time.

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Westin Drops Its Workout Partnership With New Balance, No More Workout Clothes For Guests

by Gary Leff

Dec 18 2020

Starwood was a pioneer 17 years ago when it introduced “Westin Workout Powered By Reebok.” They’d make workout clothes available to guests, so you wouldn’t have to pack them but could still get exercise in. And they put exercise equipment in some rooms, too.

The idea was that a hotel doesn’t just give you a place to sleep, and maybe stay nourished, but helps you live your active lifestyle and be ready for the day with peak performance. The trend towards hotels offering a ‘wellness’ or lifestyle experience has only grown since then.

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American Express Surveys Possible $750 Marriott Credit Card

by Gary Leff

looking down at credit card
Dec 17 2020

Today the $450 annual fee Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant offers 2 points per dollar (plus 3x at restaurants and airlines and 6 points at Marriotts); Platinum status after $75,000 spent each year; a $300 Marriott credit; Priority Pass Select; and an annual free night up to 50,000 points. They’re evaluating annual fees for this card up to $650 or even $750, but here’s what they’d offer.

They’re surveying a new, lower fee product too.

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The CEO of Emirates Now Leases Planes To American Airlines

by Gary Leff

Dec 17 2020

Now that airlines have been getting direct subsidies from the U.S. government during the pandemic, and they’re on the cusp of more, they no longer oppose airline subsidies.

One of the arguments they deployed during their campaign against Mideast airlines, though, is that the Gulf carriers weren’t just subsidized by their governments but their fortunes were too intertwined with those of the state. They pointed out that the CEO of Emirates, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, is a member of Dubai’s ruling family and in addition to founding the airline also serves as President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

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For New Transportation Secretary, United Airlines Gate B5 At Chicago O’Hare Will Always Be Special

by Gary Leff

airport
Dec 17 2020

Mayor Pete Buttigieg has no particular experience in transportation policy or running a large bureaucracy, but he did propose to his husband at Chicago O’Hare – though it wasn’t because of any particular love of aviation. Still, O’Hare has already changed its twitter profile and United Airlines is memorializing gate B5 online.

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Get 6 Months Of CLEAR Membership Free (Including Free Family Members Added To Your Account)

by Gary Leff

Dec 16 2020

CLEAR takes your finger prints and retina scan and lets you access airport security checkpoints without ID, and some other venues as well. There’s usually no line to use CLEAR, so you skip the security wait. At busy airports and peak times it can be much better than using PreCheck.

The service is offered by a private company, and you pay for it. However through December 31 you can sign up with six months free.

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Cheap Covid Tests We Could Take Everyday – And Travel – Are Here, But FDA Screwed It Up

by Gary Leff

Dec 16 2020

Back in August I wrote that cheap $5, 15 minute Covid-19 tests could really open up travel and other activities.

The good news is that the Abbott Labs BinaxNOW test I wrote about four months ago has finally received an Emergency Use Authorization. The bad news is that this $5 test is now a $30 test because in order to approve it the government required people taking the test to be monitored. And it requires a prescription.

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