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Search Results for "ASIA".

How to Book Cathay Pacific Award Space that American Tells You is Unavailable

by Gary Leff on July 2, 2015

Jul 02 2015

Cathay Pacific first class award seats especially have gotten much tougher to book in recent months. Cathay still regularly makes unsold seats available in the week and even day prior to travel, but advance award availability can be scarce. Business class awards aren’t as easy as they used to be, but aren’t as restrictive as first class.

…[W]hen you see award seats available online using the customary sources for this data — the Qantas frequent flyer website and the British Airways site — but an American telephone agent says it isn’t available, it’s natural to think that the space is being blocked (either on the American side, or that Cathay is imposing point of sale restrictions to prevent American’s members from booking the space).

Federal Government Launches Investigation of U.S. Airline Collusion

by Gary Leff on July 1, 2015

Jul 01 2015

Scott Mayerowitz and David Koenig broke the story that the Department of Justice is demanding copies of communications between major airlines as part of an investigation into unlawful collusion to limit capacity and increase airfares.

..In the face of the double whammy of recession (which kept people out of the air) and high fuel prices, the airlines developed capacity discipline as a means of survival. It’s conceivable there were unlawful communications or signaling along the way and no doubt the Department of Justice will find that.

Disney Bans Selfie Sticks, and Pilots Discover a New Way to Get Themselves Fired

by Gary Leff on June 27, 2015

Jun 27 2015

A collection of the most interesting links you’ll want to see, many you’ll want to click.

American Shuts Some Major Domestic Cities Out of Ever Redeeming a Saver Award

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2015

Jun 26 2015

On Sunday I wrote about American’s unwillingness to offer even a single saver award seat in any class of service for any of their Buenos Aires flights more than a month out.

On several routes American is getting absurdly tough on domestic routes as well.

New Pyongyang Airport Terminal is Absolute Perfection! Built in Harmony With Modern Aesthetic Taste and National Character!

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2015

Jun 26 2015

Earlier this week, Kim Jong Un visited the new domestic terminal of Pyongyang International Airport.

The terminal was ordered built in July 2012 because the existing domestic terminal was seen as too run down compared to what countries around the world had. Last November much of the work was ordered torn down and redone because the project didn’t “reflect North Korea’s “Juche” (self-reliance) philosophy and national identity.” (The official in charge was purged.)

American Airlines Actually Sells International First Class Seats to Hong Kong

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2015

Jun 25 2015

Remarks by American Airlines’ Doug Parker and Andrew Nocella in Hong Kong celebrating the first anniversary of service there shed some light on the carrier’s current direction.

Making a big deal of a Hong Kong service anniversary — such that they sent the CEO and the Chief Marketing Officer — signal strongly that American values the Hong Kong route, and their Asia Pacific expansion.

They share thoughts on international first class, Tokyo Haneda, and the dispute with the Mideast carriers.

Delta’s CEO the Most Cray Cray in the Industry? Claims Detroit World’s Best Airport.

by Gary Leff on June 24, 2015

Jun 24 2015

Delta CEO Richard Anderson may just be competing for the title of most cray cray in the airline industry with French Legion of Honor recipient and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker.

Lufthansa First Class Award Space Available!

by Gary Leff on June 23, 2015

Jun 23 2015

Lufthansa first class award space is almost never made available to partner airlines more than 14 days in advance of travel. If you want to book Lufthansa first class you either need to be using Lufthansa’s own Miles & More points (they’re a transfer partner of Starwood Preferred Guest) or waiting until close-in to departure and changing flights.

However…

The Challenges and Solutions for Booking Australia Awards With American AAdvantage Miles

by Gary Leff on June 23, 2015

Jun 23 2015

A reader asks, “Any idea when AA will allow award booking on their planned flights to Australia? Do you think they are likely to offer more than 2 C award seats per flight? (I’m trying to figure out how to get a family of 4 to Australia with AA miles in business class, a dad you know, Quantas never releases more than 2 seats per flight)”

An Insider Preview of American’s Brand New Meal Service Rolling Out This Summer

by Gary Leff on June 22, 2015

Jun 22 2015

This afternoon I popped over to Dallas to learn about upcoming catering changes at American. I was able to try some of the new entrees, that appear to be improvements, and most importantly signal that the airline is investing in product which has been an ongoing open question for the US Airways-American merger.