News for 07.27.2024
MilesGeek for 07.27.2024 Alaska Airlines expands with 18 new routes ✈️ (5 minute read)
Alaska Airlines announced a significant network expansion, unveiling 18 new routes and one new destination, Eagle, Colorado, which will cater to winter travelers heading to the Vail resort. The expansion includes both seasonal and year-round flights, with routes covering popular leisure spots in Mexico and the U.S. West Coast. This move aims to capture the leisure travel market amid slower business travel recovery. Alaska will operate these routes primarily using Embraer 175 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
Delta earns $2B from Amex co-branded cards 💳 (5 minute read)
Delta Air Lines reported earning $1.9 billion in the second quarter of 2024 from its co-branded American Express credit cards, a significant revenue source expected to surpass industry averages. With 30% of SkyMiles members holding these cards, the airline aims to achieve a long-term goal of $10 billion in earnings from the SkyMiles program. CEO Ed Bastian attributes this success to Delta's premium services, which attract business travelers and partnerships like the one with American Express.
Avianca resumes Chicago O'Hare flights after 5 years ✈️ (3 minute read)
After a five-year absence, Avianca, Colombia's flag carrier, will resume nonstop services to Chicago O'Hare International Airport starting in late October. This marks Avianca's return since its last service in 2019. The airline will operate daily flights from O'Hare to Bogota's El Dorado International Airport using an Airbus A320, accommodating 180 passengers. As a member of the Star Alliance, Avianca's return enhances its LifeMiles loyalty program's value, further boosting its U.S. presence.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program introduces major updates 🚗 (5 minute read)
Hertz has announced significant changes to its Gold Plus Rewards program effective December 31, 2024. Key updates include a hard expiry of points after five years, with no applicability to Canadian members. Award cancellation fees will be removed starting September 1, 2024, and points can now be transferred once annually to family members. These changes aim to manage Hertz's points liability, potentially impacting members who rarely rent cars. The removal of cancellation fees is a customer-friendly improvement.
CrowdStrike IT outage leads to massive flight cancellations ✈️ (3 minute read)
A major IT outage caused by a CrowdStrike update affected Microsoft Windows-based systems on July 19, 2024, leading to severe disruptions in the U.S. airline industry. The outage resulted in over 2,500 flight cancellations and 8,300 delays, particularly impacting major carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines. Emergency response systems and hospitals were also affected. Airlines are issuing travel waivers and working to resume normal operations, but delays may continue through the weekend.
