Exclusive: Thursday’s Tense Showdown Between American Airlines CEO and Flight Attendants Union Head

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

Following Thursday’s American Airlines earnings call, senior management held a company all-hands “State Of The Airline” address. Over 4,000 employees tuned in live to the presentation and question and answer session, and a recording was placed online.

After talking through the news around his own compensation, CEO Robert Isom laid out where things stand with the company’s offer to flight attendants. This proved to be setting up the most dramatic moment of the event.

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In the Hot Seat: American Airlines CEO Explains His $32 Million Pay Package At Companywide Meeting

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

After American’s earnings call on Thursday, in prepared remarkets to the airline’s employees as a ‘State of the Airline’ event (a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing), Isom brought up his pay package and fumbled through an explanation. And as they say, when you’re explaining you’re losing. He came across as defensive and unsure of himself.

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Crumbling First Class Cabin: The American Airlines Broken Seats That Just Keep Flying Anyway

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

One of the more shocking things – beyond dirty seats – has been missing seat backs in first class, with seats taken out of service. The response from the airline (and some readers) has been that it’s better to fly planes in this condition than delay flights to address the problem. But I’ve always wondered, what are they doing when the planes aren’t flying to maintain the interiors so that this doesn’t happen so frequently?

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RARE: 9+ Cheap Business Class Award Seats To Asia Using Delta SkyMiles

by Gary Leff

first class seats
Apr 26 2024

Delta SkyMiles rarely have much value for international business class travel. They charge 4-6 times more than their partners do for the same flights. And flights to Asia are usually even more expensive than to Europe.

Right now, though, there is amazing business class availability on their Seattle – Taipei flight. You can get 9 or more passengers in business on many flights. And pricing starts at just 146,200 miles roundtrip.

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American Airlines Rolls Out Status Updates For The Chosen ConciergeKey Members

by Gary Leff

Apr 26 2024

Yesterday American Airlines shared the news with customers who would become ConciergeKey members for the next year. AAdvantage members saw the status update in their account – as happens each year, before receiving an email and (for new members at least) receiving a phone call.

Concierge Key is the status that American Airlines gives to its top spending customers and top corporate travel influencers. It became legendary when George Clooney was portrayed as a Concierge Key member on a quest to earn 10 million miles in Up In The Air.

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