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Thailand Now Allowing Tourists From The Whole World (Yes, Even The U.S.)

by Gary Leff

Starwood's Business Card is Better than the Personal American Express Card
Dec 09 2020

Thailand has managed the Covid-19 pandemic well. Despite identifying early cases outside of China at the start of the pandemic, the country hasn’t seen significant virus activity and 90% of cases have been asymptomatic.

The country has been among the most closed to tourism, like much of Asia, but they’re now offering special tourist visas to people from all over the world – there’s a process to jump through and quarantine on arrival, but it’s now possible for Americans to visit.

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I’m Not Your Mother, And This Plane’s Not Your Living Room

by Gary Leff

Dec 07 2020

When passengers see a messy cabin, they tend to leave it that way themselves and perhaps even in worse condition (Cf. lavatories). It’s the ‘broken windows theory’ of policing applied to an aircraft cabin. Slovenliness begets slovenliness. But the reverse is also true. Hold up your end, keep things looking respectable, and your fellow passengers are more likely to do so as well – and an airline’s employees and contractors will have a much easier time maintaining the plane for the people flying in your seat next, too.

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Great ANA Business/First Class Award Space To Japan From August Through End Of Schedule

by Gary Leff

first class cabin
Dec 04 2020

Right now there’s great business and first class award availability on Star Alliance airline ANA from several US cities to Tokyo and back starting in August and running through the end of the current airline schedule (basically, October). That’s great for connecting onward to Asia.

Two passengers can fly from Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose or Seattle using miles from United (or Chase), Avianca LifeMiles, or even better Virgin Atlantic (which partners with several credit card transferable points programs).

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The World’s Biggest Airlines – And Aviation Regions – Have Shifted Because Of Covid And Thanksgiving

by Gary Leff

Nov 24 2020

OAG schedule data shows which airlines and which regions have brought schedules back closest to pre-pandemic levels.

As Covid-19 epidemics spread like wildfire both in the U.S. and Europe, European flight schedules have been pulling back amidst lockdowns while U.S. passenger travel has held firm and grown slightly entering the Thanksgiving period. In fact the entire world’s week-over-week increase of 400,000 seats is accounted for by Southwest Airlines.

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Chaos At Shanghai Pudong Airport As Cargo Workers Test Positive For Covid-19

by Gary Leff

Nov 23 2020

Knowing what kind of response to expect from the Chinese government, people react with chaos when news of fresh cases nearby breaks out. On Sunday night Shanghai Pudong airport “descended into chaos” after two cargo handlers there tested positive for Covid-19. Hundreds of flights were cancelled.

Authorities set up a testing site at the airport and ordered all airport cargo employees to be tested. Although passengers reportedly understood and feared that everyone was going to be tested and quarantined. That may have been the initial plan, scaled back as riots were feared.

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