News and notes from around the interweb:
United’s automated seat switching tool helped 18,000 people improve their seat assignment in July, with a 40% success rate. It’s one of these tools that is very cool and helps the median traveler quite a lot, but reduces the success rate of those of us who used to obsessively handle this stuff manually (since we now have more competition).
I got a check for over $600 once from United for delayed bags, covering the cost of items I’d purchased over three days. The bag didn’t get transferred in San Francisco, and therefore missed my connection to Bangkok and then Phuket ultimately on Thai Airways. United also failed to authorize delivery of the bags, so I had to arrange pickup from Phuket airport myself (I was in Khao Lak). This payout for a one day delay though is pretty good:
$1544.16 Clothing Reimbursement/ Delayed Bagsbyu/bleebli007 inunitedairlines
Boston hotel workers could strike once their contract expires August 31, affecting “room attendants, front desk agents, restaurant servers, and dishwashers” at properties “including the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, and the W Boston.”
Meanwhile Waikiki hotel workers have authorized a strike at “the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Hyatt, Moana Surfrider, The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, and the Marriott.”
I guess JetBlue isn’t much to contend with these days but this isn’t the way to win premium customers. Right now Delta needs to double down on its premium brand – they could see real lasting damage from the CrowdStrike event, along the lines of what happened to Southwest post-Christmas 2022 meltdown.
America’s “most premium airline” @Delta has a grand total of one agent staffed to handle SkyPriority bags at BOS. Coasting on the laurels of the past? pic.twitter.com/XnAhIBi7sy
— Vinay Bhaskara (@TheABVinay) August 9, 2024
Ok, maybe American had a point removing seatback entertainment.
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) August 10, 2024
Hotels are pushing back against the union that pulls the strings of New York City government, got Airbnb largely banned and made it virtually impossible to open a non-union property in the city. (HT: Paul H)
Trump’s personal 757 had to divert with mechanical issues. It received extensive maintenance two years ago, and clipped another aircraft in May.
Following a mechanical issue on his plane, @realDonaldTrump walks off his plane in Billings MT, to get on a smaller plane, to continue to Bozeman for a fundraiser and rally. pic.twitter.com/RIVgPUNEKC
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) August 9, 2024
Resorts World Las Vegas is conducting inspections of guest rooms during hacking convention
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