News and notes from around the interweb:
- If it’s not for passenger use, then who is it for?
When an airline sells you a seat, that seat comes with a tray table. When they don’t deliver the advertised product, how can they keep all of your money?
Notice that this isn’t even a part of any of the Department of Transportation proposed new rules, and we’re reliant on DOT, because the greatest coup airlines received in the Airline Deregulation Act was pre-empting state regulation, which the Supreme Court has interpreted to mean pre-empting common law contract claims for good faith and fair dealing when it comes to price. No class action lawsuits over this!
This morning on @AmericanAir this greeted my wife. What? pic.twitter.com/Q2wMkvCYif
— James Schmeling (@jschmeling) June 12, 2023
- Generating the biggest offers from Capital One Shopping
- Apparently Pickleball tourism is now a thing
- Jim Capuano when he realizes Marriott doesn’t have to spend money on beds, or even rooms. Lower capital expenditures makes Marriott the brand partner of choice for owners.
- Imagine my disappointment when I learned that Priority Pass would operate as a Fastpass at Tokyo Disney (and DisneySea) and then I figured out that it’s not that Priority Pass…
- Air Canada introduces 3 hour time limit for lounges you won’t be able to enter until 3 hours prior to scheduled departure of first flight on your itinerary. Of course that doesn’t mean you have 3 hours in the lounge – you will leave some time prior to scheduled boarding and probably have at most around 2 hours and 10-15 minutes in the lounge.
These rule changes are always meant to reduce lounge crowding yet never seem to have that effect, and are bizarrely enforced even when lounges are empty. I’ve finished meetings early many times, unable to catch an earlier flight home, and wound up just working in the lounge. No longer an option!
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club now lets you redeem points for American Airlines flights online
- British Airways stewardess on debut flight makes huge blunder delaying passengers by five hours and costing airline £50k A350 heading to Austin…
I like people who finish meetings early. They are devaluing their lounge product, though maybe not as much as when they deny entry or have long waits to get in.
Amex Centurion has the same 3 hours prior rule, but with an exception for connecting passengers, which is pretty much every time I am there that early.
By the way, I complain when there are things like a broken tray table, and will ask for miles which I often get.
LOL to the bold lie that flight attendants are there “for your safety” — not only they don’t have a college degree, but aren’t even trained properly!
When American Express sells you a Platinum American Express card, that membership comes with Centurion Lounge access. AMEX keeps all our money when they can’t deliver the advertised product, such as a multi-hour waiting list to enter. For example, last weekend, American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders were ripped off at the DFW Centurion Club. Once card members clear the waitlist, they discover the DFW Centurion Lounge has removed all their automatic pushbutton cappuccino and latte machines. Instead, AMEX offers their valued premium card members drip coffee. For a party of four people desiring cappuccino drinks, members and their guests can leave the Centurion Lounge and pay $24.46 more when they visit the Starbucks at gate D10 across from the DFW Centurion Club entrance at gate D12. Why spend another AMEX annual fee of $695 to renew your Platinum AMEX card only to wait to get lounge access and then find out all the coffee machines and the Centurion Club showers continue to be out of service? Fortunately, my Capital One card offered complimentary access to the new DFW Capital One lounge. The DFW Capital One lounge near gate D22 offered a better club experience, and their showers and cappuccino machines worked correctly. The Capital One lounge was like visiting an AMEX Centurion Lounge with better service, a more comprehensive food selection, and an outstanding view of the aircraft field.
Furthermore, the Capital One lounge at DFW offers food and canned beverages you can take on your next flight or enjoy in their lounge. Because guests can choose their food to-go, this helps to reduce club overcrowding. Please share your experience regarding the lounges at DFW.