austin

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Austin Airport Plans To Use Eminent Domain To Seize Their Own Property

by Gary Leff on May 23, 2022

May 23 2022

This is a little bit insane. In 2015 Austin entered into a 30 year lease so that a private company could build a second airport terminal. The ‘South Terminal’ also has two 5 year extension options built into the lease. But the city wants to use eminent domain to terminate the lease, because it now prefers to expand the main terminal.

They’ve offered to compensate the builders less than $2 million for a project that cost as much as $20 million, while the city teaches every business it would be dumb to enter into a lease on city property because no deal with Austin is guaranteed.

How The American Airlines Club In Austin VIPs Their Guests

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2022

May 22 2022

Some of you will be sure that American Airlines treated me this well ‘because I’m a blogger’ or something like that. Believe me I do not receive special treatment from American Airlines. For several years I’ve been unpopular enough among certain members of senior management that I’m surprised I still have an AAdvantage account.

Austin Airport Melted Down Today And Warned They Were Close To Running Out Of Fuel

by Gary Leff on March 28, 2022

Mar 28 2022

People were abandoning rental cars and walking to the terminal in order to make their flights. PreCheck lines extended outside the terminal. And the airport warned airlines to bring extra fuel.

How Austin Almost Got – And Then Lost – An American Express Lounge

by Gary Leff on January 23, 2022

Jan 23 2022

At the start of 2020 the Austin airport was on the verge of getting a new lounge accessible by American Express Platinum cardmembers. But a contracting dispute, the pandemic, and then American Airlines happened.

Confirmed: Virgin Atlantic Launching Austin – London Heathrow This Summer

by Gary Leff on January 8, 2022

Jan 08 2022

I wrote on Friday that Virgin Atlantic was expected to launch Austin – London Heathrow as its new U.S. route. Virgin is part of the joint venture across the Atlantic with Delta and Air France KLM. This is now confirmed. But they’ll be at a huge competitive disadvantage relative to British Airways on the route.

What’s With All The Hype About Austin? (Jon Stewart Figured It Out 7 Years Ago)

by Gary Leff on December 1, 2021

Dec 01 2021

Austin is cheaper and administratively easier than heavily taxed and regulated California, and cheaper and warmer than New York. And it’s still a place that Californians and New Yorkers are willing to call home.

American Airlines Building New Admirals Club Lounge In The Austin Airport

by Gary Leff on November 16, 2021

Nov 16 2021

American Airlines and the Austin airport are announcing plans for a new Admirals Club near gate 14 that’s twice the size of the current club.

American Airlines Quadrupled Austin Service, Could Tampa And Raleigh Be Next?

by Gary Leff on October 30, 2021

Oct 30 2021

Before the pandemic American Airlines served 8 routes from Austin, flying to its hubs. They’ve quadrupled their destinations since then and passengers are using the airport for connections in a major way as well.

In any employee meeting American’s Vice President of Network Planning dropped two other cities they’re thinking about as having similar characteristics to Austin.

Austin American Express Lounge Is Now Off The Table

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2021

Oct 22 2021

The Austin airport was supposed to be getting a new lounge accessible by American Express Platinum cardmembers. A contract was set to be awarded right before the pandemic. But the owners of Priority Pass disputed the award, wanting to build their own club. This stalled the process, the award was cancelled, and now the airport says they have no plans to try again.

Passenger Planned An Elaborate Hour-Long Inflight Meal To Avoid Mask-Wearing Entirely

by Gary Leff on September 29, 2021

Sep 29 2021

When face mask policies were introduced for air travel last year, ‘but I’m drinking’ became a common excuse and passengers could nurse a Starbucks throughout the entire flight. This is no longer acceptable, or at least while some passengers will still do it – and some flight attendants allow it – the rule doesn’t permit it and you may get kicked off the plane.