Southwest Airlines is preparing to layoff 1,750 employees as part of its latest effort to cut costs and juice profits. But what is really going on at Southwest? Is Elliott Investment Management maliciously pulling the strings or are these...
Make American Airlines Great Again: A Five-Point Blueprint
American Airlines has finally awakened and realized that it will continue to fall behind Delta Air Lines and United Airlines unless it offers a more premium experience for its passengers. Here’s how it can be done. 5 Ways American...
United Airlines Fuels More Speculation After “Denial” Of Merger Talks With JetBlue
United Airlines’ denial of merger talks with JetBlue won’t do much to silence rumors that United is actively considering the acquisition of JetBlue. Is United Airlines Considering A Merger Or Acquisition Of JetBlue? Chatter about a JetBlue – United...
Irregularities Emerge In Aftermath Of American Airlines 5342 Crash
As investigators begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together concerning the collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter with an American Airlines regional jet, there are several key details that have emerged that make it impossible to...
Senate Confirms Sean Duffy, Trump’s Pick For Secretary Of Transportation
UPDATE: Sean Duffy has been confirmed by a 77-22 Senate vote, with many Democrats voting against him after he signaled support for President Trump’s freeze on federal funding (which was rolled back today). He has already been sworn in:...
United Airlines Builds A Moat…
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes United has built a “competitive moat” around its rivals. The imagery of a ring of water around the carrier may not be precise, but Kirby is quite right to point out that structural...
Air Canada Pinpoints The Untapped Potential Of Aeroplan
Air Canada Executive Vice President Mark Nasr understands loyalty and that a primary goal of airline loyalty programs should be to push people to fly the associated airline…a straightforward but increasingly minority position in the frequent flyer world. Air...
American Airlines CEO Laments, “It Has Never Been Harder To Operate An Airline”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom lamented this morning how difficult it is to run an airline like AA. But to blame AA’s problems on the FAA, supply chains, and Boeing fails to fully account for why American continues to...
End Of An Era: United Airlines Makes It Easier For Me To Give Up 1K Status, Embrace Free Agency
The 2025 changes announced to United MileagePlus today confirm my already-made decision to abandon the hamster wheel of frequent flyer elite status. I’m sad, but somewhat relieved! The End Of My Era As A United Premier 1K Flyer Today,...
Under Pressure From “Wolf Of Wall Street,” Southwest Airlines Announces Early Retirement Of Executive Chairman, Shuffles Board
Under pressure from Elliott Investment Management, Southwest Airlines announced its Executive Chairman will retire early and that it will place six “independent” members on its Board of Directors. Southwest Airlines Announces Six New Board Members, Early Departure Of Bob...
Frontier Revisits Merger With Spirit
I’m pleased to see that Frontier Airlines is again exploring a merger with Spirit Airlines that could create a more powerful, nationwide budget carrier. Report: Frontier And Spirit In Mrrger Talks Once Again Even as Spirit Airlines explores bankruptcy,...
United Airlines CEO Discusses The “Profitable” Future Of MileagePlus
Top leaders at United Airlines have foreshadowed a future of MileagePlus marked by accelerating profit. What does the future of MileagePlus look like for travelers? United Airlines CEO, COO On The Future Of MileagePlus At yesterday’s Q3 earning call...
Alaska Airlines Updates Mileage Plan: Winners And Losers
There’s a lot to like about the changes Alaska Airlines announced today for its Mileage Plan loyalty program, but also some bad news, especially for regular Alaska flyers. Overall, though, Mileage Plan remains a unique and valuable program with...
Delta Plans To Unbundle Business Class…Will American + United Follow?
Unbundling business class would be a big deal in the United States, but it appears that Delta Air Lines is seriously considering it, meaning American Airlines and United Airlines will almost certainly follow. But does it make financial sense...
NYC Mayor Eric Adams Was A Fool: Here’s How He Could Have Flown Business Class Without Breaking The Law
Much hay has been made about New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ fondness for Turkish Airlines, but this entire issue exposes a frequent flyer novice who could have saved himself a lot of time (and now jail time) by...
Timeline: Staggering Pilot Incompetence Blamed For Voepass ATR-72 Crash
In August I wrote about the crash of Voepass flight 2283 which was captured in a flat spin moments before impacting the ground killing everyone onboard. The imagery was shocking and it’s the only time I’m aware of that...
The 10 Best Frequent Flyer Programs…United Airlines Is #3?!
Point.me has released a report on the world’s best frequent flyer programs, with a surprise “bronze” finish for United Airlines MileagePlus. Let’s unpack this list and explore the value of each of the top programs. The 10 Best Frequent...
The New Coke Problem: Gary Kelly Ousted From Southwest Airlines Board
With the announcement that Executive Chairman Gary Kelly will step down, Southwest Airlines has caved into activist investor Elliott Investment Management. But Southwest Airlines must zealously guard against a “New Coke” disaster as it seeks a return to profitability....
United Airlines CEO Analyzes The Airline Industry…And Names Names
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has analyzed industry-wide earnings numbers in a video message to employees, arguing that the future of United Airlines is bright, even if a recession hits and the broader airline industry falters. Unlike in more...
DCA Slot Roulette: Who Should Win The New Beyond-Perimeter Slots?
Airlines are jockeying for new beyond-perimeter routes after Congress approved five new slots for longer-distance flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Who should those slots go to? DCA Slot Awards: Five New Beyond-Perimeter Slots Are Up For...
