Lufthansa does not see demand bouncing back for years and has responded by announcing the retirement of several longhaul and shorthaul aircraft. When I accuse my German wife of being pessimistic, she corrects me and says she is just...
United Significantly Reduces Flying Schedule At San Francisco + Los Angeles
Much like it did in Newark, United Airlines is dramatically scaling back flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco. In a note to SFO and LAX employees, United’s Executive Vice President Greg Hart announced the cutbacks, set to begin...
Will You Reward Or Punish Airlines & Hotels For Status Extensions?
Airlines and hotels have been generous with status extensions for 2021. Will you reward them with more business or use the chance to be a free agent while still maintaining your status? With a dwindling number of holdouts, airlines...
Newlyweds “Trapped” At Five-Star Resort In The Maldives
“Everyone says they want to be stuck on a tropical island, until you’re actually stuck. It only sounds good because you know you can leave.” Olivia and Raul De Freitas are newlyweds. The South African couple married last month...
Air Canada’s Innovative Approach To Elite Status Sharing
Kudos to Air Canada for thinking outside the box when it comes to status extensions in a way that will encourage further travel once COVID-19 passes, not discourage it. Matching an increasing number of carriers, Air Canada will extend...
United Airlines Sued For Refusing Refunds: Class Action Coming?
Jacob Rudolph decided enough was enough. After repeatedly denying his refund request, Rudolph has sued United Airlines and is now seeking class-action status, a move which would allow all those impacted by United’s failure to promptly to refund tickets...
Critical Thinking On COVID-19 With A Nod To History
What if we are approaching this all wrong? If you have some time, listen to the interview below with Dr. John Ioannidis of Stanford University. He’s a a Greek-American physician-scientist and epidemiologist who studies scientific research itself. Ioannidis published...
American Airlines Kicks Employees Out Of First Class…Was It Necessary?
American Airlines has informed employees they will temporarily lose access to first class seating on narrow body, two-cabin domestic flights when non-revving. Is such a draconian approach really necessary? In a memo shared by View from the Wing, American...
I’m Sitting Pretty On Elite Status For 2021…
Thanks to an unexpected gift from my preferred hotel chain and airline, I don’t have to set foot on another airplane or hotel this year and will still enjoy top-tier status until at least early 2022. After initially resisting...
Turkish Airlines Shuts Down Until At Least April 20, 2020
As the spread of COVID-19 accelerates in Turkey, Turkish Airlines is temporarily shutting down operations. Chief Executive Officer Bilal Eksi announced on Twitter that Turkish is suspending all domestic flights until April 20, 2020. International flights were already cancelled and...
American + JetBlue + United Drastically Slash New York Service
With COVID-19 raging in New York and demand continuing to sink, airlines are responding by drastically slashing already-reduced service from the Big Apple. Over 120,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, with over half of...
Emirates Captures Zeitgeist With Brilliant Ad
Emirates has a new ad that imagines how we will look back on this COVID-19 era. It brought a tear to my eye… We’re in this period–hopefully temporary–that all of us will never forget. Life has come to a...
What Does Airline Meal Service Look Like During COVID-19 Crisis?
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. U.S. airlines...
How To Request An American Express Centurion (Black) Card
Last autumn, I wrote extensively about why I was considering an American Express Centurion (Black) card. While I ultimately opted against the card, it’s now easier than ever to request one. I chose not to get the card for...
Air France Sends Me A Note…
Yesterday afternoon, an unexpected email popped up from Air France in my inbox. Actually, it came from KLM, Air France’s Dutch partner, and was signed Airfrance (sic), not Air France. Anyway, here’s the letter: Dear Customer, Due to a...
Americans Trapped In Moscow Airport After Aeroflot Flight Ordered Back To Gate
After abruptly and unexpectedly suspending international air traffic yesterday, hundreds of Americans and thousands of others find themselves trapped in Russia. One asthma-stricken man remains stuck without a visa in Moscow Airport almost out of medication. Yesterday, April 3,...
United Airlines’ Strategic Fleet Retirement Plan
Earlier I wrote about the revenue challenges United is facing during this time. That was not the only issue discussed during yesterday’s virtual “town hall” meeting with employees. United has also identified which aircraft it will retire and in...
Germany Backs Lufthansa Effort To Stop Issuing Refunds
The German government has endorsed Lufthansa’s argument that it cannot survive if it must issue refunds for cancelled tickets. Just last week the European Commission re-affirmed regulation that mandates airlines to promptly refund tickets for flight cancellations. Lufthansa, among...
United Suspends Service To Four Hawaiian Cities
With airplanes running virtually empty, United will further reduce domestic flights and axe service to four stations in Hawaii. Between April 8 and May 3rd, United will suspend service between the U.S. mainland and: Hilo (ITO) Kona (KOA) Lihue...
Wow: United Airlines Loses $100MN In Revenue Per DAY
Speaking to employees in a town hall-style meeting, United’s two leaders presented sobering numbers and warned that recovery may be much slower than originally hoped for. Incoming CEO Scott Kirby and Outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz virtually sat down with...
