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☆ JetBlue adds incremental perks like early boarding and booze to keep travelers reaching for status
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

JetBlue Airways has unveiled new perks for less-frequent flyers who are striving for elite status, the latest carrier to rethink its loyalty program to reflect shifting travel habits. Other changes include:JetBlue breaking up its elite Mosaic status into four levels, with benefits corresponding to each. To earn level 1 of that program travelers will need 50 tiles, and that comes with benefits like access to seats with extra legroom at check-in and same-day flight changes. JetBlue is also offering perks when a customer moves up a level of elite status like pet-fee waivers or a $99 credit card statement credit. American Airlines late last year, for example, raised the spending threshold required for customers to earn elite status.

☆ Southwest is the worst airline in the US, according to a new study — take a look at how the 11 biggest US airlines rank
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The personal finance website WalletHub released its list of the worst airlines in the US on April 19. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesWalletHub analyzed 2022 flight data from the US Department of Transportation to come up with its ranking. The nine national airlines were selected based on the highest passenger revenue, Gonzalez said. The last category was safety for 30 points, which factored in the number of fatal injuries in aviation accidents, the number of injuries in aviation accidents, and the number of aviation accidents — the data is measured from 2017 to 2022. Take a look at how these US airlines rank, from the lowest to highest scores.

☆ Delta bets on premium travel as 'shock absorber' for economic downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] Delta Airlines passenger jets are pictured outside the newly completed 1.3 million-square foot $4 billion Delta Airlines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Mike SegarCHICAGO, April 12 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) is doubling down on more profitable premium travel as it looks to shore up its defenses against an economic downturn. Chief Executive Ed Bastian told Reuters the U.S. carrier will have premium seats on every plane it flies starting this summer. Rivals United Airlines (UAL.O) and American Airlines (AAL.O) are also chasing premium revenue. CHANGING TRAVEL PATTERNSThe quest for premium revenue has its underpinnings in the post-pandemic travel patterns.

☆ The future of business class airline travel is here and it has a minibar
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Crystal Cabin Awards announced a shortlist of concepts that could shape the future of consumer aviation. Crystal Cabin Awards, an international award that highlights innovative interior aircraft designs, announced its 2023 shortlist of winners on Monday. A spokesperson for Crystal Cabin Awards did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to CNN Travel, Adient and Boeing envision lie-flat beds, extra storage for luggage, a minibar, a library, and even space for another passenger. "It's going to be a real game changer for the economy travel experience."

How to earn American Airlines milesThere are myriad means of earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®While not as lucrative as some of the other available American Airlines credit cards, at least the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't charge an annual fee. Earn miles flying American Airlines and boost your earning with elite statusAside from using co-branded credit cards, one of the best ways to earn American Airlines miles is to actually fly the airline and its partners. Earn miles flying American Airlines' partnersYou can also earn American Airlines miles on over a dozen airline partners. The best ways to redeem American Airlines milesAs with earning American Airlines miles, there are plenty of ways to use AAdvantage miles when the time comes.

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☆ I've flown on 5 US low-cost carriers and I'd fly on all of them again each for different reasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Moreover, every city it flies to connects to at least two others, and it flies nonstop across the US, connecting places like Las Vegas to New England and Disney World and Disneyland. This is an advantage it has over Avelo. Breeze's A220 extra legroom economy seats. These routes are helping Breeze break into markets and serve cities not previously connected nonstop — gaining popularity among travelers who many times had layovers when flying across the US. Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: Breeze Airways, The Orange County Register

☆ Flight attendants say it's okay to recline your seat on a plane, but there's one thing you should never do
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But if there's anybody who can settle the age-old debate, it's flight attendants. Five out of six flight attendants interviewed by Insider all agree: you have the right to recline. "It's definitely not rude to recline your seat," flight attendant Andrew Kothlow of the blog "Two Guys on a Plane" told Insider. "In first class reclining your seat isn't so rude because there's space to recline, but reclining in the main cabin of the plane is," the flight attendant told Insider. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesBut the passenger etiquette the flight attendants demonstrated more concern toward was their boldly bare-footed customers — and for good reason.

☆ Justice Department sues to block JetBlue’s acquisition of Spirit Airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Justice Department on Tuesday sued to block JetBlue Airways ' $3.8 billion proposed takeover of budget carrier Spirit Airlines , the Biden administration's latest attempt to prevent industry consolidation. Spirit Airlines agreed to sell itself to JetBlue last summer after a long battle for the carrier between JetBlue and Frontier Airlines . A JetBlue-Spirit combination would be the first major U.S. airline merger since Alaska Airlines' takeover of Virgin America in 2016. The Justice Department at the time required Alaska to scale back its code share with American Airlines to clear the deal. Separately, JetBlue is awaiting a ruling on its Northeast partnership with American Airlines, which the Justice Department sued to undo in 2021.

☆ The FAA won't have to establish seating size and space rules despite all the complaints, US court rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On Friday, a US court ruled against FAA having to establish minimum seat sizes and spacing for safety, Reuters reports. On Friday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that advocacy group FlyersRights.org couldn't force the FAA to adopt seating dimension rules. That is why some passengers pay for wider seats and extra legroom," Walker wrote. There needs to be a minimum size established, and it needs to be larger than the current sizing," commenter Epiphany Pizor wrote. In 2018, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, directing the agency to issue seat dimension rules regarding passenger safety.

Circuit Court of Appeals said an advocacy group, FlyersRights.org, had no right to force the FAA to adopt seating rules because it was not "clear and indisputable" that tight seating, while uncomfortable, was also dangerous. Congress had in 2018 given the FAA one year to establish minimum seating dimensions including pitch, the distance between seatbacks, that were "necessary" for passenger safety. "To be sure, many airline seats are uncomfortably small. "But it is not 'clear and indisputable' that airline seats have become dangerously small. Circuit Court of Appeals, No.

☆ I've tested 19 electric cars. There are 4 huge reasons you should consider buying one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I've driven electric cars from Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Rivian, and more. EVs are quick, fun, and quietThe 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line. Tim Levin/InsiderAlmost all EVs, from budget Chevys to sporty Audis, have more pep in their step than comparable gas cars. The 2022 Kia EV6. Tim Levin/InsiderSince electric cars lack bulky components like an engine and transmission, automakers enjoy lots of flexibility to add extra interior room for people and stuff.

☆ United says it will make it easier for families to book seats with their children for free
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Airlines in recent years have been charging travelers to book "preferred" location seats on flights. President Joe Biden has called on lawmakers to "fast-track the ban on family seating fees," the White House said earlier this month. On a roundtrip between Newark, New Jersey, and Los Angeles in August, preferred seats on a United flight showed as $37 each way for one person. "Delta does not charge family seating fees and regardless of the ticket class purchased, will always work with customers on a case-by-case basis to ensure their family seating needs are met," a spokesman said in a statement on Monday. Preferred seats and its extra legroom section, Main Cabin Extra, open up the day of departure if they're needed, a spokesman told CNBC.

☆ Reasons Plane Travel, Airline Customer Service, Airports Are so Terrible
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Bartie Scott | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It's almost impossible to imagine a time when air travel was pleasant, much less enjoyable. Lost baggage, overbooked flights, outdated equipment, hidden fees, and disorganized staffing have fliers at their wits' end; consumer complaints about airline service have risen by 300% from pre-pandemic levels. Many of these measures had been put in place to improve safety following some rattling accidents in the early days of commercial air travel. So in 1978, at the urging of the economist and "inflation czar" Alfred Kahn, President Jimmy Carter enacted the Airline Deregulation Act. He added that "airline service, by any standard, has become unacceptable."

☆ I'm an experienced female solo traveler—here are 4 tips I use to be smart about my money on the go
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Solo travel is one of my favorite perks of being single. Plus, like the everyday costs that rack up quickly for singles, solo travel can often be more expensive than going with a companion. I'm not alone: Search interest in female solo travel specifically recently hit a 10-year high, according to Google Trends. These are my top four tips for smarter saving and spending on your next solo trip. The destination itself might even be a chance for you to save money.

☆ Why I'd buy a Tesla Model Y over the Mercedes EQB after driving both electric SUVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderTesla's always been the one to beat when it comes to range. The Model Y serves up an EPA-estimated 330 miles of driving per charge, making it one of the industry leaders. The 2022 EQB carries a comparatively weak 243-mile rating, which drops to 227 miles in the quicker EQB 350 model I tested. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderTeslas are refreshingly minimalist and uncluttered, but not nearly as conventionally luxurious as BMWs and Benzes. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderIn the Model Y, technology takes center stage in the form of a big, feature-packed display.

☆ The $54,500 Mercedes EQB is a solid electric SUV for people who think Teslas lack luxury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Mercedes-Benz EQB 350. It starts at $54,500, and the 2022 EQB 350 Mercedes lent me came out to $58,050, including optional heated seats. The Mercedes-Benz EQB 350. The Mercedes-Benz EQB 350. The Mercedes-Benz EQB 350.

☆ Mercedes' cheapest electric car is more luxurious than a Tesla but with way less range
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Once a child outgrows an infant car seat, a convertible seat is the next step up. Based on our tests, Consumer Reports recommends that parents transition their children to a rear-facing convertible seat by age 1. By contrast, in almost all the rear-facing convertible seats, the head of the dummy avoided contact. Bottom LineMost children will need to move from an infant seat to a convertible seat to remain rear-facing. The Britax ClickTight convertible seats also stand out because they’re almost as easy to install rear-facing as they are to place when forward-facing.

☆ I've driven 19 electric cars. Here are 4 reasons you should consider buying one (that have nothing to do with the environment).
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Everyone's elite, but not for long. Airlines make travel perks harder to earn this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

And now it's a small army," said Cohen, who leads a digital entertainment consulting firm and has lifetime elite status on United and American Airlines . Travelers willing to shell out more for tickets and popular rewards credit cards are swelling ranks in front cabins and airport lounges. Osorio frequents airport lounges on trips booked with rewards points that she earned through strategic credit card use and sign-up bonuses. Bigger space for big spendersDelta, American, United and American Express have been opening bigger airport lounges to fit more travelers. A new American Airlines and British Airways lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport, November 29, 2022.

☆ I splurged my miles to fly Emirates' luxe business class. I ate a multi-course meal, lounged at the in-flight bar, and learned the seat upgrade is worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Tonya Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Writer Tonya Russell traveled to the Maldives and tried out Emirates' business and economy class. "While economy class proved to be just fine, upgrading is worth it at least once," she writes. How to upgrade to business class on an Emirates flightIf you use the same airline family, you may be able to transfer miles from another airline to your Emirates flight. The meat alternative was a chicken TV dinner with rice, which wasn't as appetizing as the salmon that circulated through business class. While economy class proved to be just fine, if upgrading is within your means, it is worth it at least once.

☆ We asked Broadway actors which audience behaviors annoy them most — here are their 8 theater-etiquette rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Iris Dorbian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider asked Broadway and off-Broadway experts about their top etiquette tips for watching a show. Recently, Insider spoke to a number of Broadway and off-Broadway experts to ask about proper theater etiquette. Below are eight tips to follow the next time you're in a Broadway theater. Robin Rothstein, a playwright and former director of operations at touring-show producer Broadway Across America, told Insider: "The Broadway theaters are old and seats are small. Now that you know the eight rules of proper Broadway etiquette, buy a ticket and enjoy a show.

☆ Airlines can price climate change into your plane ticket. There are reasons to not buy it
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

United Airlines , for example, has committed to net zero carbon by 2050 without any contribution from traditional carbon offsets. Southwest Airlines ' "Wanna offset carbon?" Consumer psychology and the environmentIt's not just about the dollar amount of the carbon offset purchase in the consumer psychology. If airline travelers want to stay environmentally conscious without paying carbon offset fees, Keyes recommends choosing cheaper airlines when traveling. "It's true that we all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions.

☆ The Bleisure Traveler—Coming to the Rescue of Airlines Everywhere
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alison Sider | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A new group is rivaling corporate road warriors as airlines’ favorite customers. They travel on strange days, buy extra perks on top of already expensive tickets and are changing the economics of the business. Some airline executives say hybrid work and other postpandemic changes have cracked open demand from travelers willing to spend more for extra legroom and other perks, helping offset revenue from once-crucial corporate bookings that still haven’t fully returned.

☆ American Airlines will make it harder to earn frequent flyer status next year in loyalty program shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Members of American Airlines ' loyalty program will have to spend more to earn elite status next year, part of a slew of changes that the carrier announced Thursday. Starting in March, AAdvantage members will need to earn 40,000 so-called Loyalty Points to earn Gold status, up from 30,000 in the current earning year. Airlines allowed loyalty program members to hold on to their elite statuses during the pandemic when travel demand dried up. The programs were a lifeline for airlines during the Covid-19 crisis since carriers make money when travelers earn miles through rewards credit cards. For example, after AAdvantage members earn 15,000 Loyalty Points, they will be allowed to board in Group 5 for one earning year.

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