Last night, the USA announced sweeping and unprecedented new travel restrictions against foreign nationals who have visited the Schengen Area over the last 14 days. How are U.S. airlines responding to this new travel ban? For details on the...
USA Bans European Travel For 30 Days Effective Friday, UK Excluded
In an Oval Office speech to the nation, President Trump announced the USA would suspend all commercial and cargo travel from Europe for 30 days for non-Americans, effective Friday. The United Kingdom and Ireland, which are not part of...
United’s Doomsday Strategy May Lead To Kirby Kutbacks…
Earlier today I wrote about United’s aggressive steps to combat an unprecedented drop in demand and revenue. But what might some of these measures mean for customers? Are Kirby Kutbacks Coming? Incoming United CEO Scott Kirby has been a...
United Airlines Enters Survival Mode
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst is a catchphrase United is aggressively embracing in light of continued uncertainty over domestic and international travel. In a startling keynote address at the J.P. Morgan 2020 Industrials Conference yesterday, incoming United...
Emirates Emphasizes Cleanliness Over Glitziness
Emirates has produced a new promotional video it will now show before the safety video onboard its flight, showcasing the efforts it is taking to keep aircraft lean. It’s a change of pace from the carrier’s usual appeal to...
Lufthansa Battles LOT Polish Over Condor Acquisition, Climate
Lufthansa has condemned LOT Polish Airlines’ proposed acquisition of Condor, stating that it represents “dubious, competition-distorting” state interference by Poland. In a combative charge that takes a page out of Delta’s longstanding playbook against Qatar Airways, Lufthansa labeled LOT...
Coronavirus Politics: Should Senior Citizens Fly?
There’s hysteria. Then there’s common sense. And as we try to make sense of what is hysteria and what is not, a big question is whether senior citizens should fly. Sadly, that question has become a political issue. The...
United Airlines Suspends 13 Routes
In April, United Airlines will suspend service on 13 routes and reduce service on 170 more as coronavirus fears continue to depress travel demand. Last week, I wrote that United planned to cut April international capacity by 20% and...
Ouch: Thai Airways A330 Rips Off Tail Of Private Jet
A Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 jet ripped off the tail of a Gulfstream IV jet in Laos, rendering both aircraft unserviceable. The accident occurred yesterday as TG575 was preparing to depart from Vientiane (VTE) to Bangkok (BKK). During initial...
American and United Match Delta’s More Flexible Change Fee Waiver
American and United quickly matched Delta’s decision to further loosen its change fee waiver, a move that was long overdue, but nevertheless better late than never. Up until this point, the “Big 3” U.S. airlines have used change fee...
Now Open: American Express Centurion Lounge Los Angeles
The American Express Centurion Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is now open and looks great. American Express Centurion Lounge LAX Hours + Location Hours of operation will be daily from from 6:30AM until 11:00PM. While not surprising...
Review: United Airlines 737-900 First Class
What is traveling across the country on a 737-900 like in United’s domestic first class on one of its longest transcontinental fights? My TAP Air Portugal ticket only got me as far as Boston. From Boston, I booked a...
United’s New Schedule Change Policy Is Indefensible
Over the weekend, United clandestinely updated its schedule change policy in a dramatically customer-unfriendly way. There is no justification for the policy change. None. New United Schedule Change Policy Up until Saturday, a schedule change that resulted in an...
Lufthansa Grounds Entire A380 Fleet. Is Air France Next?
Last week, I reported that Lufthansa was considering grounding its entire Airbus A380 fleet. It’s now official: all 14 Lufthansa A380s will soon be grounded. Who’s next? Air France? British Airways? Aero Telegraph (via OMAAT) reports it viewed an...
Flying Into Coronavirus Zones, For Fun
Coronavirus is highly contagious and can be fatal. So why am I flying into coronavirus zones? For fun. Kind of.
Airlines: Remember Those Elite Travelers You Didn’t Need?
Airlines ramped up elite status qualifications over the last few years because they had too many elite travelers. But now, they need them more than ever, are they remorseful? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
American Airlines Pushes Credit Cards Then Closes Accounts
American Airlines has begun to excommunicate members for signing up for their credit card offers. But what’s the whole story and do they have the right to do it? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
United Won’t Loosen Premier Qualifications (Yet), But Will Extend Status Matches
United Airlines will not loosen the requirements to re-qualify for premier status in 2021…yet. But it will give travelers participating in a status match challenge more time to complete the challenge. United is sending out a lot of email...
United Airlines Attempts to Assuage Our Fears
United Airlines reached out to every MileagePlus member with an email on COVID-19, meant to assuage fears and calm frayed nerves. The letter, written by outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz, talks about United’s current travel waiver, how aircraft are cleaned,...
Airlines Warn Of Wasteful “Ghost Flights” From London Heathrow
Airlines are seeking a waiver from Heathrow’s “use it or lose it” slot during this time of weakened travel demand. Absent that, expect a lot of empty flights to/from London Heathrow in the days and weeks ahead. LHR “Use...
