Airline gives elites first crack at rebooking
American Airlines is taking some heat after an internal memo leaked telling employees that their first priority during delays or cancellations should be to get elite passengers to their destinations, even if it means using a competing airline, but economy passengers shouldn’t get that option.
The Fort Worth-based airline said it issued the memo because the policy, which it described as similar to the rebooking stance of some other carriers, had not been made clear to airport staff and was being executed inconsistently.
“It’s important to note that it is the same policy as other airlines,” American Airlines spokesman Curtis Blessing said.
However, bloggers have complained that American’s move is more in line with discount carriers than with large airlines and further separates elite fliers from everyone else.
Most major airlines have “interline agreements,” which outline how much rival airlines will pay one another to fly a competitor’s passengers in the case of flight delays or cancellations. To avoid writing a check to a competitor, an airline will rebook a passenger on a rival carrier only as a last option.
Discount carriers don’t usually have such agreements.
Here is what to expect if an American Airlines flight is canceled or delayed for several hours, as outlined in the memo:
The first priority is to rebook elite members of American’s AAdvantage program and business- and first-class passengers. The memo spells out the priority order, with Concierge Key status members at the top.
Agents are instructed to try first to book such elite passengers on another American flight or with airlines that have close business ties with American Airlines. “Do all possible to keep on [American Airlines] and [joint business partners], but allow fastest itinerary to final destination” even if a competing airline must be used, the memo says of elite status fliers.
Passengers who are described as “non-elites,” such as fliers in economy or basic economy seats, are at the bottom of the priority list and will not be flown on competitor airlines, the memo says. It outlines a few exceptions, such as unaccompanied minors, passengers with disabilities, members of the military and people traveling to a family event, such as a funeral or wedding, or flying to catch a cruise ship.
Spirit’s Wi-Fi will cost you
Spirit Airlines has developed a reputation for offering dirt-cheap fares as well as a lengthy menu of passenger fees, including a $10 charge just to have an airport agent print out your boarding pass.
But the low-cost carrier doesn’t have a fee to let passengers connect to onboard wireless internet because the airline is one of the few that don’t offer Wi-Fi in planes.
That is about to change. In November, Spirit will begin adding satellite-based Wi-Fi on its entire fleet, with completion expected by the end of 2019.
Chief Executive Ted Christie announced on the airline website that the Wi-Fi speed will be fast enough to stream videos but won’t include any free content such as Netflix, Hulu or other movie-streaming services. Delta Air Lines, for example, offers about 1,000 hours of free movies and television programming on its entertainment system, known as Delta Studio.
On Spirit Airlines, the fee to hook onto the onboard Wi-Fi will start at about $6.50 a flight for travelers who just want to surf the web. The fee to connect to Wi-Fi fast enough to stream videos will start at $9, representatives say.
United tightens loyalty program
Starting next year, United Airlines will make it more difficult to reach the MileagePlus plans’ most elite status level — Premier 1K — but the carrier is offering a new perk for such top-tier fliers.
Starting Jan. 1, members of the loyalty reward program must spend a minimum of $15,000 and accumulate at least 100,000 miles or fly at least 120 segments to reach Premier 1K status, a 25% increase from the current spending minimum of $12,000. The mileage minimum won’t change, just the spending obligation.
Another change involves how many miles travelers collect once they reach Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum or Premier 1K status. Instead of collecting the equivalent of twice the number of miles when they buy a discounted fare, Premier status members will get 1.5 times the number of miles.
But fliers who reach Premier 1K status are already getting a benefit: Starting in September, such fliers got to board along with the very first passengers, during the “preboarding” period, instead of boarding with Group 1. Premier Gold members can now board with Group 1 instead of with Group 2.
Also, Premier Silver members now get to check up to three bags that weigh as much as 70 pounds apiece — up from a maximum weight of 50 pounds — free of charge when flying business or first class. When flying economy, up to two bags are allowed.