News and notes from around the interweb:
- United has resumed charging more for passengers traveling solo on certain routes after first removing the fares when the practice was first exposed. American did not remove all of these fares at any point.
A week after causing an uproar by charging some solo passengers significantly higher fares than groups of two or more, American Airlines continues employing that pricing tactic on dozens of domestic routes. But after backtracking briefly while the story was dominating national headlines last week, United resumed penalizing single flyers on some routes Thursday, too.
…we’re only seeing those higher United fares for single travelers within the next 30 days and on select dates ahead of holiday weekends like the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. American is still doing the same on a much broader scale – in fact, it never stopped.
- The new American Airlines $19 steak sandwich box for sale looks sort of decent. It looks like a regional jet first class meal on American. Probably not worth $19, but better than a hole in the head as my grandfather used to say.
Nonetheless, ‘never spend a dollar you don’t have to‘ clearly applies to the packaging. You’d think a proper airline would spend on a nice looking, branded box. Not AA!
- Updated website for IHG’s friends and family rate they no longer require an authorization form. Go make friends with someone who works at IHG or one of its hotels. (HT: Loyalty Lobby)
- And they thought Marriott had left them cheese as a welcome amenity?
Husband and I stayed at a SpringHill Suites in VA over the weekend. We ended up being able to check in at noon, 3 hours before the standard 3:00 PM check in time.
After being in the room for about 10 minutes we hear a chirping noise coming from the edge of the bed.
We found a live mouse, stuck to a glue trap covered in droppings. The trap was set right next to the bed, and one of us could’ve easily stepped on it.
- NTSB finds fuel leak, wrongly installed parts in engine of American Airlines jet that caught fire
- Chase is running a 20% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan through July 17, 2025. This is stackable with the Chase Aeroplan co-brand’s 10% bonus on Ultimate Rewards transfers to Aeroplan (after transferring 50,000 or more Ultimate Rewards points in a single transaction; max 25,000 bonus points per year).
I like to think (and thank) Gary/VFTW is part of that ‘uproar’–keep namin’ and shamin,’ dawg!
You don’t pay more if you fly alone. You pay less if you buy multiple tickets. Just stop with this.
So bend over and take it in the $#*&$ you solo travelers!
United isn’t charging more for solo travelers, they are providing a discount for multiple travelers on the same reservation. I know you will spin it as the same thing but the price of a solo ticket DID NOT go up so there is no way they are charging more. Yes 2 can travel cheaper than one but that is common across many activities. Try booking a cruise line room for 1 versus 2 and see the cost per person. If airlines run promotions to fill seats on certain flights that they anticipate have a lower load factor (you can bet this isn’t offered on flights that are almost always full) then fine. It is good yield management.
Oh, please.
United had companion fares in the ’90’s.
@Craig Jones — If that’s what you’re into, you do you, sir!
Regarding the guests who checked into a Marriott SpringHill Suites in Virginia and discovered a live mouse stuck on a glue trap and covered in mouse droppings, it seems this could be considered an unfortunate part of a new complimentary organic Bonvoy grab-and-go breakfast featuring locally sourced, cage-free vermin. Marriott Ambassador Elite guests should receive an additional bonus of two complimentary glue traps as a perk for their status as top-tier guests.
SpringHill Suites hotels offer a complimentary breakfast buffet as one of their amenities. This buffet typically includes hot and cold items, often featuring eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, toppings, and mouse droppings. The addition of toppings and droppings is marketed as an exclusive breakfast option for all guests at Marriott SpringHill Suites. Complimentary breakfast is void where prohibited. Please note that complimentary glue traps are not available at Marriott Hotels located within two miles of the Orlando Walt Disney World Resort or the Magic Kingdom Park.
Agreed. Most companies offer discounts when you buy larger quantities. I’m no fan of airline pricing, especially dynamic pricing, but there is nothing to see here. Non issue.
Not surprised. United is the garbage can of the major carriers.
@AC
Nah, the fares ARE higher on routes where there had been some recurrent stability on advance purchase fares.
On competitive routes, relative to DL and AA? Consistently $50-60 higher on UAL AS COMPARED TO EARLIER FARE STRUCTURING.
So are we all mad at Costco now too for having cheaper bulk pricing?
Any BOGO sale?
Are we enraged that people who stay Saturday night pay less?
How about when airlines used to routinely give 10 percent discounts on travel groups of 10 or more?
As long as there has been commerce you’ve paid less for buying more.
It amazes me that anyone is surprised that airlines are doing the obvious. Of xoeuse businesses are going to charge less if they can lock in a 2x purchase over a 1 purchase, especially if the product spoils!
Gary, I love your blog. However, your email blasts do not format correctly in Outlook email. The newsletter is great, but emails end up 3x the width of a page.
Ah yea, soak the business traveler. Well, that’s why I don’t fly them
AA’s $19 steak sAAndo : Hey we’re not BK ! Go there AAnd ” hAAe it ‘your wAAy ” or go to DeltAA for AAn ‘enhAAnced’ & premium ” S’h*t ShAAck ” fAAst food experience !
UA – We’re baaack ( just like cockroaches ) in ‘roach’ class !
@ Craig Jones – Could you pretty please find it in your empathetic heart of hearts to at least
offer me a cigarette, post coital ? …lol
Looks like Spring Hill really screwed up in missing the rodent’s prearranged ” late check-out “.
Poor thing was still ‘chirping’ in his/hers/they’s last throngs of ‘the ultimate check-out’ !