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Tag Archives for delta.

Delta’s 72 Hour Rule & $150 Award Change Fee? Not This Time

by Gary Leff on September 15, 2018

Sep 15 2018

When frequent flyer programs launched award tickets were supposed to be a reward for loyalty, and award customers were expected to be treated better than paying customers. There are often steep change fees on award tickets now, but mileage awards are for the most part still cancellable with points redeposited into an account. In other words even after myriad rule changes over the years, inventory issues aside, they’re still more flexible than paid tickets.

Miles aren’t just an alternative currency used to purchase travel or services from an airline, they are a thank you for your business, and redeeming miles should feel like a reward and not a punishment. Delta got this one right.

Tiresome: Now American is Complaining About Competition from an Italian Airline

by Gary Leff on September 14, 2018

Sep 14 2018

We thought US airlines were done complaining about competition when Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar settled complaints this year. But American is back at it — now complaining about a European airline that’s part-owned by a Gulf carrier.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker is worried about airline jobs when airline employment is at a peak and when his own flight attendants and mechanics unions are furious at him. Although it’s a well-worn strategy to blame foreigners as a distraction for problems at home. It’s even more ironic though because he did this in a speech where he also talked about inclusion.

Fare Alert: Several US Cities to Hawaii From $246 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff on September 8, 2018

Sep 08 2018

There are some amazing Hawaii fares out there in coach, such as $246 roundtrip. And the deals aren’t just from the West Coast either.

These aren’t mistake fares, it’s a fare war. Several airlines are in on it, and there are great Hawaii deals from several US cities to several destinations in Hawaii.

People Pay More to Fly Delta for One Simple Reason

by Gary Leff on September 5, 2018

Sep 05 2018

Delta’s Executive Vice President and CFO Paul Jacobson spoke this morning at the Cowen and Company Global Transportation Conference. He put up a standard Delta chart showing that customers like the airline more than their competitors, and so customers are willing to spend more to fly Delta.

Jacobson offered this startling statistic. Delta had 5000 cancellations due to maintenance in 2010 and this year there will be “fewer than 100.” He says that’s “down 99% since 2010.”

American Relaxes Basic Economy Restrictions Today, Admits It Was All About Making You Pay More

by Gary Leff on September 5, 2018

Sep 05 2018

American Airlines Basic Economy fares are highly restrictive. The purpose of these fares is to make the travel experience worse, in hopes that you will spend more money to avoid them. However they need to balance that with the risk that you will just give up on them and choose to fly someone else instead.

American Airlines President Robert Isom, speaking at the Cowen and Company Global Transportation Conference, admits that “the premise of basic economy, it wasn’t a price cut…[but] an upsell.”

United is Raising the Price of Checked Bags, But What Do We Get for Our Money?

by Gary Leff on September 1, 2018

hand holding hundreds of dollars in cash

Sep 01 2018

It seems to me that if checked bags are going to be separately charged, then customers should be refunded if their bags are lost and offered compensation if their bags are delayed. But it’s a special type of gall to raise the price of checked bags and not offer such basic assurances in return.

Airline Now Calls Flight Attendants ‘Sky Angels’ and Everyone Has a Reason They’re Fired at Delta

by Gary Leff on August 31, 2018

Aug 31 2018

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

Does Earning Credit Card Rewards Take Advantage of Other Consumers?

by Gary Leff on August 30, 2018

Aug 30 2018

I don’t think interest, or credit card interest is evil. I believe that consumers generally understand the choices they’re making, even if you or I might make different choices. And people do need credit. If you didn’t have credit cards, the need for credit would still be there, and consumers would be left with the next best option.

If you need to fix a car to get to work, or pay a medical bill, credit cards are a better way to do that than payday loans which are better than having your legs broken. You’re paying interest, but you’re also getting something of value in return.

There’s Been a Rash of Passengers Running After Planes, and It Never Ends Well

by Gary Leff on August 29, 2018

man being apprehended by police on runway

Aug 29 2018

This isn’t the first time this year that a man scaled a fence at LAX. And it isn’t the first time someone ran after a Delta flight waiting to take off this summer.

At least he didn’t try to steal the plane or go after the aircraft with a van.

Surprisingly Civilized: Actual Printed Menus on a Midcon, Pillows for Shorthaul

by Gary Leff on August 24, 2018

Aug 24 2018

Flight attendants may be given detail on an airline’s food. They rarely pay it much mind, and I usually get blank stares and shrugs when I ask something about a dish before I order it. So I’ve learned not to ask.

Not only did I get a description of the dishes I could choose from, I didn’t have to ask the flight attendant what the wines were. If I ask I usually get another blank stare, “red and white” or sometimes if I’m lucky they will show me the bottle.