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News and notes from around the internet:
Not a bad idea for JetBlue
"If I'm JetBlue, I call Tootsie Roll Industries and cut a deal to brand it Junior Mint and have Tootsie Roll provide the snacks (Junior Mints, Tootsie Rolls, Charleston Chew, Double Bubble, Sugar Daddy, Dots) for the airline. Win-Win branding for both," tweeted Joe Brancatelli (@joesentme) on July 31, 2024.
Qatar Airways offers competitive point rates
Qatar Airways charges just 6,000 points for short-distance American Airlines flights in coach. However, regional carrier flights don’t always show up online or even for agents over the phone. Dan’s Deals wrote about booking a mainline flight and then changing to the desired regional one. "They sent him a link to pay the $25 change fee – he didn’t pay, but the ticket was reissued anyway." By changing the frequent flyer number in his reservation to his AAdvantage account with elite status, he was upgraded.
Delta's IT failure complicates rebooking
When Delta experienced an IT failure that caused major disruptions, it became nearly impossible to get flights rebooked. They eventually agreed to reimburse travel purchased on other airlines but not in time for many travelers. "But someone who couldn’t get their ticket changed and just gave up and bought a new ticket on Delta? Not eligible apparently – because they are reimbursing tickets on other airlines only?" shared by u/wuhee indelta.
Brand standards questioned at Hampton Inn
"Free 'newspapers' at the Hampton Inn, Carrboro, NC," commented u/Ex-Clone inHilton.
JetBlue-Spirit merger debate continues
The Spirit Airlines acquisition no longer made sense for JetBlue after their partnership with American Airlines was quashed by the Justice Department. Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed confusion over anti-trust concerns: "At a combined 10.1% of the market how could a Spirit and JetBlue merger be an anti-trust issue? If anything it would allow the combined low fare entity to compete more effectively with the bigs," he tweeted (@jaredpolis).
Other topics included:
- The misery of LAX-it rideshare lot in Los Angeles.
- Soup Dumpling Index: How many pork xiao long bao you can buy with $10 at Din Tai Fung locations worldwide (HT: @crucker).
United Airlines has announced the issuance of travel waivers for passengers whose flights were affected by closures at London Heathrow Airport.
ITA Airways announced that flight AZ806 managed to land safely after a brief hold due to nearby missile activity.
EVA Air has announced the reinstatement of its Premium Economy Class on the Seattle route, with three weekly flights scheduled from March 8 through July 27.
Emirates Airlines has announced the launch of a new door-to-door delivery service called 'Very Important Parcels' (VIPs), promising the same level of care as provided to its passengers.
Cargolux has announced the transportation of two lions, Tsar and Jamil, from captivity in Ukraine to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.
Hainan Airlines announced that its Beijing–Oslo flight HU769 landed successfully in Norway.
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