Buried in the note from United Airlines to employees were a pair of startling statistics that demonstrate just how hard the airline industry has been hit by shrinking demand. Sobering Statistics: Airlines Demand Is Down 97% Just how much has...
A Somber Prognosis From United Airlines On The Future Of Aviation
A dismal forecast for aviation is projected in a letter signed by outgoing United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and incoming CEO Scott Kirby. With travel demand at “essentially zero” painful cuts are expected. The nearly 1000-word letter accomplishes several...
Dear United, Please Don’t Match AA On Lifetime Status Promotion
American Airlines is currently counting credit card spend toward Million Miler status. Several have asked me if United Airlines will match. My answer: I certainly hope not. What Is Million Miler Status? Million Miler status is special lifetime status...
Winners And Losers In American’s New AAdvantage Award Fee Structure
As part of its status extension announcement earlier this week, American Airlines also announced changes to its fee structure for AAdvantage awards. There are definite winners and losers in the new arrangement, depending upon your travel patterns. AAdvantage Award...
Stranded Americans Accuse U.S. Carriers Of Price Gouging
Should the U.S. government subsidize rescue flight for stranded Americans? Repatriation flights are not cheap and many Americans are expressing outrage over what they view as price gouging. Since late January, over 60,000 Americans have been repatriated from over...
What Constitutes A “Significant” Flight Schedule Change?
The U.S. Department of Transportation has made clear that even in the COVID-19 era, airlines must offer ticket refunds when a cancellation or significant schedule occurs. But what constitutes a significant schedule change? U.S. DOT Affirms Carriers Must Offer...
Editorial: Out-Of-Touch Airlines Whining About Generous Taxpayer Aid Is Appalling
In what world does someone demand money from someone else, get it, and then bitterly complain that it is unfair when asked to pay a small portion of it back? But listening to airlines and unions, which have suddenly...
Sweet Moment: United Airlines Pilot Emotionally Thanks Medical Personnel On His Flight
In a sweet moment captured on video, a United Airlines captain sincerely thanked medical volunteers heading to New York. Prior to boarding a flight from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Newark (EWR), United Captain Jim Crail asked all medical personnel...
American Airlines Announces AAdvantage Augmentations, Advantageous Award Adjustments, And Auspicious Auxiliary Allocations
I knew it was only a matter of time, but American Airlines dutifully matched Delta and United and will offer a full-year status extension to AAdvantage elite members. But wait, three’s more! American Airlines Extends AAdvantage Elite Status For One...
Cool: Turn Your Airline Window Seat Into A Stained Glass Chapel
Ok, I just love this innovative idea and cannot wait to try it out. Transforming Your Airline Window From Dreary To Dazzling Once we start flying again you can bring on your own portable “stained glass window” to give...
Wow: Emirates Now Only Serves Three Destinations
With the exception of a handful of repatriation flights, Emirates is only offering scheduled flights to three destinations. COVID-19 has eliminated most travel demand and government restrictions on travel further diminish whatever demand remains. Consequently, Emirates will operate regularly...
Fearing U.S. Tourists, European Union Travel Ban May Extend Until September
If we take French President Emmanuel Macron at face value, it seems clear he views American tourists as more of a liability than a reward. Hence, he’s pushing the idea of keeping European borders shut through September. European Travel...
Workers At American Airlines Turn Admirals Club Into Mask Factory
With most airport lounges closed across the United States, a team of clever airport agents at American Airlines banded together in Miami to turn an empty lounge into a production line to create safety masks. Rather than sit idle,...
Why Was An Air France A330 Shot At In Congo-Brazzaville?
Why was an Air France A330-200 shot at twice after landing in Congo-Brazzaville? The working theories are interesting…to put it mildly. On April 11th, an Air France A330, registration number F-GZCK, landed at Point-Noire in the Republic of the Congo...
Doublespeak: Airlines Desperate for Future Customers, Priced for Peak Economy
Airlines across the world are finding the most challenging environment they’ve ever faced. But their post-coronavirus outlook is confusing based on planned staff reductions and forward pricing. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card...
Loyalty Program Elite Status Winners and Losers
While elite status seems inconsequential during the coronavirus crisis, some programs came out on top while others lagged behind. This is the loyalty program elite status winners and losers. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
When Will You Feel Safe Enough to Fly Again?
Some areas of the world are coming to the other side of the coronavirus crisis and while the coast is not yet clear in most parts of the world, when will you feel safe enough to fly again? If...
Passing Over Holy Week
What an odd week this has been. For two of the Abrahamic faiths, this is one of the most important weeks on the calendar. Passover and Eastertide center on God’s deliverance but are remembered in community…neither were intended to...
How United Airlines Cleans Aircraft
With the potential of economic life resuming and travel starting to ramp up (slowly) next month, United has released a pair of new videos to assure us it is properly cleaning its aircraft interiors. The first video provides an...
First Class Brunch Showdown: Emirates Vs. Etihad Vs. Qatar Airways
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. How about...
