Tag Archives for austin.
A 71 year old deaf Florida woman was connecting in Austin enroute to Seattle. She was a nervous flyer traveling alone for the first time in her life. Her hearing aid wasn’t working well, and wound up spending 3 days in jail and having her arm broken by police after she was unable to hear instructions from a gate agent – and asked twice to get on an earlier flight.
Chase’s new Sapphire Terrace is now open in the Austin airport. It’s the bank’s first airport space in the U.S., though not officially a ‘Sapphire Lounge’. That’s because it’s unique, not a full lounge and mostly outdoor space. It’s also open to Sapphire Reserve cardmembers but not a part of Priority Pass.
The space has been really transformed compared to just a week ago when I looked in on it.
It seemed pretty obvious that the airport manager didn’t resign, but rather “got resigned.” It turns out there’s not even a resignation letter.
Last month I broke the news, based on an Austin city permit that Chase would be opening a space in the Austin airport, an indoor-outdoor space next to the Delta Sky Club< which takes over the public outdoor deck. It's opening this month and will offer grab and go food. Chase has shared that the “Sapphire Terrace” will open March 20, and be available to Sapphire Reserve cardmembers departing from Austin (no access on arrival) and offer complimentary local beverages (“like cider from Austin Eastciders and beer from (512) Brewing Company as well as non-alcoholic beverages”). There will be “shuffleboard, a giveaway, and more” and “artwork from Austin artist and muralist Rex Hamilton that’s inspired by the vibrant colors and native flowers of Texas.” Sapphire Reserve cardmembers will be eligible to bring two guests. The…
Last month I broke the news, based on an Austin city permit that Chase would be opening a space in the Austin airport. Then I shared further details that it would be an indoor-outdoor space next to the Delta Sky Club taking over the public outdoor deck, opening in March and likely offering grab and go food.
Chase is now offering more details on the space. The “Sapphire Terrace” will open March 20.
It appears that Chase is taking over the outdoor deck that had been open to all passengers next to the Delta Sky Club near gate 1 at the East end of the terminal – and could be finished as soon as next month.
Food is “most likely pre-packed grab and go.” and “[w]ord on the street is that it’s a high end local taco spot that will be serving food.”
FedEx freighter flight 1432 was cleared to land in Austin, while a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, flight 708 to Cancun, was cleared to take off, using the same runway. The incident occurred around 6:40 a.m. on Saturday morning. Thankfully the FedEx plane pulled up and away, mere feet from landing on top of the passenger flight.
Delta gained control of a full gate at Dallas Love Field under a legal settlement last summer, and will begin fully utilizing it in June.
Meanwhile Delta is finally going to grow in Austin. I broke the news they planned a focus city in my home town nearly five years ago. Growth here, delayed by the pandemic, is finally beginning.
While Chase’s use of the space is confirmed the Austin airport offering will not be a permanent space or part of the lounge network.
I just took my first trip with scheduled charter airline JSX, which lets you fly in and out of private terminals. You can show up just 20 minutes before your flight and skip TSA security. And you get more legroom than flying coach on another airline. In my case that was all for $83 more than flying Southwest.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
