Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for February 2021.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb: Canadian Pension Official Forced To Resign Over Vaccine Tourism

by Gary Leff

Feb 27 2021

The concern with travel abroad is that someone might become infected by the virus, including a new variant, and bring it back with them when they returned. But in this case the CEO was being vaccinated and the inactivated virus vaccine is highly likely not just to protect from symptoms but also infection (and spread). He’ll be less of a risk than most Canadians when he returns to the country. Getting vaccinated is a public benefit, not just a private one.

Furthermore, he’s now one less dose that Canada needs to provide for, meaning one more Canadian will get vaccinated more quickly. In places where vaccines aren’t widely available yet, three cheers for vaccine tourism!

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American Airlines Should Spend Government Payroll Subsidies On.. Payroll

by Gary Leff

Feb 27 2021

American Airlines is bringing 11 pilots back to work after furlough. They’ll start requalification training on March 2, 2021. All of them have received a WARN Act notice, letting them know they may be re-furloughed at the start of April.

One thing that’s boosted how much money American Airlines keeps for itself out of the second bailout is voluntary leaves. They’ve convinced employees to go on unpaid leaves. Many thought they would collect unemployment, understanding that American would not contest these claims.

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Very Cool: American Airlines Texting Elites As They Head To The Airport, May Even Block Middle Seats

by Gary Leff

a321 aisle
Feb 26 2021

I’ve heard from several Executive Platinum passengers recently who have received texts from Admirals Club agents shortly before they arrived at the airport. These usually welcome them and let them know the status of the club and Covid procedures. The texts aren’t from an automated system – they’re from an agent in the Admirals Club, which I think is a really nice touch.

And it’s gets better.

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Man Wins $180,000 After Slipping In A Puddle Of Bailey’s And Hitting His Head At Heathrow Airport

by Gary Leff

Feb 26 2021

Andreas Wuchner was checking in with British Airways at London Heathrow airport for a flight to Zurich when he slipped in a puddle of Bailey’s liqueur and hit his head when he came down.

British Airways has to pay him approximately $180,000 in strict liability, and he’s now pursuing additional damages for negligence. It took over three years to get this far.

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American Airlines Is Cold Calling Elite Members To Sell Them Elite Qualifying Miles

by Gary Leff

economy seats
Feb 26 2021

American Airlines, like many other travel companies, has reduced requirements for earning elite status in 2021. However they haven’t done nearly enough considering that business travel won’t restart for some time.

American Airlines knows this and is cold calling customers, and following up with an email, offering to sell bundles of elite qualifying miles, segments, and qualifying dollars at a variety of price points.

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Fresno And Nantucket Are Coming! Several New Routes Bookable On American Airlines This Weekend

by Gary Leff

Feb 26 2021

American Airlines is adding several Chicago routes, bookable starting this weekend. The one I’m most excited about is Chicago – Fresno, but there are also surprising additions like Chicago – Nantucket (!) which airlines don’t pay enough attention to even seasonally, with service beyond Boston, New York, Philadelphia and to a lesser extent DC.

Here’s an internal employee update on all the new, resumed, and extended routes out of the Windy City for American AIrlines.

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Boycott Hyatt Movement Growing As Chain Hosts CPAC Conference

by Gary Leff

Feb 25 2021

Hotels host meetings and events, and generally do not carefully vet the messages that will be shared or the people who will gather at those meetings to make sure they’re consistent with the values of their median customer, consistent with the values of their most vocal customers, or consistent with the values of twitter.

From time to time that becomes a problem, and seemingly becomes a problem for Hyatt (and, oddly, for the Hyatt Regency Orlando) relatively often.

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