How To Choose Which Airline To Fly?

by Gary Leff

airline seats
Aug 09 2020

If all you care about is schedule and price then choose your airline based on schedule and price. But fewer people care about just these things than is commonly imagined – it’s just that these are the only pieces of information people have historically been given.

Say you move to Kansas City, and decide to start fresh with a new airline. That’s a competitive market with lots of airlines you can reasonably fly. Southwest is biggest but several airlines are choices you can select from.

Continue Reading »

In Defense Of Disney World During The Pandemic

by Gary Leff

Aug 09 2020

For anyone going to Disney World, the relevant question is what would they be doing if they weren’t at Disney? In Florida numerous bars remain open despite restrictions, and gyms are open.

Disney is probably a safer activity than alternatives, which means that Disney being open likely reduces spread of the virus.

Continue Reading »

Why Social Distancing On Planes Matters Less Than You Think

by Gary Leff

airline seats
Aug 08 2020

Airlines are engaged in hygiene theater, cleaning surfaces and promoting electrostatic spraying. I appreciate the cleanliness and hope it sticks around after the pandemic. But the CDC and other research suggests surfaces aren’t a key vector of Covid-19 spread.

Social distancing guidance was based on the idea that large respiratory droplets are the primary way that the virus spreads, and those droplets fall to the ground quickly, so staying six feet apart from others is a good prophylactic. Masks help with large droplets. However increasingly researchers are concerned with aerosolized spread or airborne transmission.

Continue Reading »

Thousands Of Hotels Asked Guests For Donations, While Some Charged Resort Fees And Provided No Service

by Gary Leff

Aug 07 2020

The practice, which dates to April, has mostly ended – but one Hyatt hotel in Seattle was found still asking guests to reach down deep and give extra money to the property’s owners just this week.

After being called out, the hotel is no longer asking guests for donations, but it’s still charging a resort fee without delivering any amenities so that is kind of the same really.

Continue Reading »

American Pausing Mileage Expiration Through End Of Year, Will Restore Recently-Expired Miles

by Gary Leff

Aug 07 2020

Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue no longer expire miles, period. American Airlines does – requiring activity in your account every 18 months, or else you lose the miles you’ve already earned.

During the global pandemic, with program members not traveling, American waited until April to pause mileage expiration – and only did so through June. It appears they’ve had a change of heart.

Continue Reading »