Delta CEO Richard Anderson overplayed his hand attacking (a limited number of) Gulf airlines (that aren’t also their partners) in his quest to get the federal government to limit their flying to the US by trying to link them to 9/11. It’s on its face absurd to attack Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar in this way, while remaining silent about Skyteam partner Saudia. And surreal to attack the subsidies received by Middle Eastern carriers while at the same time seeking its own subsidies. So while the airline might have gotten some sympathy with the misleading claims about its shrinking market share to India and vicinity (a smaller piece of a larger pie, when they don’t themselves fly to the destinations they complain about), their own statements begin to turn that sympathy towards Middle Eastern carriers. That’s…
It’s Good to Be the King: the Special Travel Perks Enjoyed By the Political Class
When one story comes out, reporters go looking for more similar stories. So post-Bridgegate when there’s word of a federal investigation into United running a flight for the Chairman of the authority that oversees Newark airport to shuttle him to his vacation place for the weekend, and after United ran Atlantic City service as a quid pro quo for support of tax dollars for Newark airport transit projects, it should come as a surprise that there’s more to come out of the New York area airports. Port Authority commissioners got perks at New York area airports. This is perhaps as obvious and to be expected as Mel Brooks’ rejoinder, “it’s good to be the king.” Newly released records show four commissioners at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were allowed to bypass…
No Need to Cancel and Rebook! The Awesome Hyatt 20% Award Rebate is Easier Than Expected
This morning I wrote about an awesome offer from Hyatt. Gold Passport members who have the Hyatt Visa (and you had to have the card at the end of January, unfortunately you can’t just sign up now) get a 20% rebate on points redemptions other than mileage transfers and rental car certificates through July 31. (Registration is required.) The terms and conditions of the offer says, Only points redeemed between 2/17/2015 and 7/31/2015 will be eligible for this promotion. I took that to mean that the reservation had to be made during the promotion period. If you redeemed points prior to February 17, for a stay between February 17 and July 31, you wouldn’t get the points rebate. So I suggested that some people would want to cancel and rebook existing award reservations that were…
A Tourist Authority Gives Up, an Airline CEO Lights Money on Fire, Plus Double Miles and 50% Off Awards
News and notes from around the interweb: Ithaca’s tourism authority gives up — says you should visit Florida this winter. Double American miles between the US and Germany on American, US Airways, and airberlin (HT: Frequent Flyer Bonuses) Blogger interviews the CEO of La Compagnie, the ‘all business class’ airline flying between New York and Paris and about to start service out of London (Luton airport). One question not asked? “How does it feel to light money on fire?” Up to 50% off Qatar Airways Privilege Club award tickets Google’s newest step in hotel metasearch (HT: Alan H.) SkyWest advertises its careers and the opportunity to join the airline with a pretty cool flight video. Of course video of flying says nothing about money, which is what many people work for, so this is unlikely…
US Airlines Want to Ban the Big Middle East Carriers, Because 9/11
US airlines have been out swinging against the major Middle Eastern airlines Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad — arguing that they are state subsidized and competing unfairly against US carriers, and asking the US to terminate Open Skies agreements that permit unfettered access to US markets. The end of open skies with the region wouldn’t much hurt US airlines, since they offer only limited service to the region. But it would hurt US travelers — precisely because US airlines offer only limited service to the region. And US airlines also don’t serve the secondary and smaller cities India and Pakistan these carriers serve, or for that matter Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. It’s true that the Middle Eastern carriers have grown. And they’ve thrown capacity in several US markets which pushed down fares, and to my…
Open Citibank Checking Account, Fund With a Credit Card, Earn Points
Years ago you could open a Citibank online checking account and fund it with a credit card. I charged as much as $80,000 in initial funding to these accounts. I earned miles, and wrote a check from my new account to pay off my credit card. Plenty of people did this, and after several accounts Citibank would invite them to no longer fund new accounts by credit card. Chase card charges to fund new accounts are no longer treated by Citibank as purchases. They’re cash advances. Citibank cards have always been treated as cash advances. And Citibank does not accept American Express for funding new accounts. But Doctor of Credit recently pointed out that Barclays charges are coding as purchases. And he verifies that Citi was allowing charges of at least $75,000 when opening an…
American Changing How Elite Upgrade Priority Will Work
American will be eliminating ‘through passenger’ priority for upgrades. The date this change will take place is speculated to be March 11. American’s upgrade priority for domestic flights (which 18 months ago also became priority for international flights) has been: Elite status level Whether the passenger is connecting off another American flight Whether the passenger is full (Y or B) fare [and they haven’t already received a complimentary confirmed upgrade] Time of request There are several things unique about this process. Unlike United and Delta, elites on full fare ticket don’t have a pass to trump the status of other customers. So a full fare American Gold doesn’t receive higher upgrade priority than an Executive Platinum the way they would if flying Delta or United. (It prioritizes loyalty over the course of a year above…
Awesome Offer: 20% Rebate on Nearly All Hyatt Redemptions Through July 31 for Co-Brand Cardholders
Following Hyatt’s announcement of new benefits for Diamond members, they’re out with something for co-brand credit card holders as well. Cardmembers can register to receive a 20% rebate on award redemptions. Here’s how it works: Register by March 31 Redeem any time by — and complete your stay by — July 31, 2015 The rebate will post 4-6 weeks after redemption. Nearly all redemptions are eligible, and there is no limit. That makes those expensive category 7 awards normally 30,000 points per night just 24,000 points (it’s almost like turning back the clock and pretending category 7 didn’t exist). It makes those category 7 suites 38,400 instead of 48,000. Category 7 Park Hyatt Sydney – Save 6000 Points Per Night You can also use it on cash and points awards (you get 20% of the…
Ralph Nader’s Letter to United CEO Jeff Smisek
Ralph Nader — a truly important voice in the 1960s and 1970s, who hasn’t been relevant since 2000 — wrote an open letter to United CEO Jeff Smisek. He criticizes United’s share buybacks, largely as a rhetorical device to contrast his real target: United’s decision to outsource machinist union jobs. (United reached a deal with the machinist union out outsource 1150 jobs at 16 airports, less than the 2000 jobs at 28 airports being discussed at the time of Nader’s letter.) There is much to criticize at United. The outsourcing of baggage handlers and customer service agents may have a negative effect on customers — you might get friendlier but less empowered agents, and baggage could get better or worse. These are complicated issues, and current United management doesn’t have a strong track record that…
Traveling on Separate Tickets: How Checked Bags and Protection During Irregular Operations Work With American and oneworld
Reader Robert wanted to know, I wish to understand how business class flights booked with Avios points and different One World partners can be put together to form a single itinerary with a common luggage limit. Imagine, for the sake of example, that the longest leg is JFK-MAD on Iberia booked by transferring Avios points to Iberia. The other legs are YYZ-JFK booked on American using Avios points at BA and MAD-LHR booked on BA using Avios points at BA. While American no longer ‘through checks’ bags to your final destination when traveling on separate tickets, they have an exception when those tickets are on oneworld alliance airlines. Furthermore, and this is beyond the scope of the question, it’s worth noting that when you’re connecting between American and another oneworld airline, American will treat you…
