Australia Likely to Keep its Borders Closed Until 2021
1 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says it’s unlikely his country will open its borders before Christmas — keeping the country closed to foreign visitors into 2021.
Morrison’s sentiment appears to be shared by Qantas, with the airline choosing not to operate the majority of its international operation until at least March of 2021 and instead sending many of its long-haul aircraft to be parked for the foreseeable future.
The news also confirms that the idea of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is unlikely to occur with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressing that the second wave in Victoria and New South Wales will prevent the two countries from allowing free movement for its citizens.
With the decision to close the borders, both countries have sent negotiators to the North Pole to discuss a waiver with representatives from Santa Claus in order to permit Santa, his elves and reindeer to enter both Australia and New Zealand to deliver presents at Christmas without a 14 day quarantine.
American Extends AAdvantage Miles Validity
2 American Airlines is extending the suspension of the expiration of AAdvantage miles through December 31. The airline had previously extended the life of AAdvantage accounts through June 30, causing dormant accounts to see their miles expire.
With this update, the airline is reinstating miles for anyone who lost theirs on July 1. Those who bought flowers or threw money away on a newspaper subscription to extend their mileage validity, however, are likely out of luck. AAdvantage miles usually expire after 18 months of inactivity on the account, but AA has extended that time frame due to the pandemic.
When asked to comment, a Delta spokesperson might have shook their head and laughed and said “Mileage expiration? Please, our miles never expire. You can’t ever redeem them for anything, so what’s the point in having them expire? Suckers.”
Philippines Airlines Raises the Bar on PPE
3 As U.S. airlines are still working on removing the loopholes to require face coverings aboard their aircraft, Philippines Airlines is stepping its PPE game up to new heights. The airline will now require full face shields for all passengers.
In addition to checking the temperature of all its passengers, the airline will require face shields beginning August 15, and unlike masks in the U.S., it will be BYOFS. Philippines Airlines will not be supplying the shields, and it will not have any sympathy for those who leave them at home — no shield, no flight.
The airline will also have its cabin crew outfitted in full PPE from head to toe. With a recent outbreak of a second wave of the virus in Manila, the country and its flag carrier are not messing around right now.
Alaska Sold Three Seats for the Price of One
4 Alaska Airlines ran a very creative buy one, get one — BOGO — offer over the weekend to take advantage of the blocked middle seat strategy which will remain in place through October.
Customers were able to purchase a main cabin seat at regular price on Alaska and could also buy the other seat available for sale in the row for just the taxes and fees.
While Alaska is committed to leaving middle seats open through October 31, the seat on the other side of the middle is not guaranteed to be vacant — leaving the now-outrageous possibility that there are strangers seated in your same row. This option eliminated that possibility, giving passengers an additional level of personal space and freedom to binge trashy Netflix series peace of mind while traveling during the pandemic.
Brazil Fights Spread of Virus by Banning…Pillows
5 A pillow fight is developing aboard airplanes in Brazil with the government banning pillows on board flights operating to or from the country as well as on domestic flights.
Airlines are being told not to provide pillows on flights and passengers are not permitted to bring their own. United says that it will increase the number of duvets it provides in its premium cabin to allow passengers to roll the blankets up to serve as a pillow which seems to be one of several easy ways to get around this regulation. United’s original strategy of telling customers to just look in dark corners of the airplane to find pillows that were abandoned years ago has been thwarted by new pandemic-related cleaning procedures which have resulted in those pillows finally being found and removed.
There’s been no comment from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency on their policy on balled-up sweatshirts and jackets standing in for pillows. The powerful Brazilian pillow industry was blindsided by the decision and said it would not take this lying down.
Airline Potpourri
- Bahamasair has suspended service to the United States, the only international destination it serves.
- Greater Bay Airlines is seeking Hong Kong government approval to launch its operation, because what Hong Kong needs most right now is a new airline.
- JetStar Asia is resuming weekly service to three cities: Jakarta (CGK), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), and Penang (PEN).
- Qatar is resuming service to Adelaide with 2x weekly service from Doha on August 16, making it the only international airline serving five Australian cities.
- Singapore is resuming service to Perth with 3x weekly flights beginning August 18, making it one of several international airlines NOT serving five Australian cities… but it’s one step closer.
- Ukraine International Airlines is resuming its flight to Toronto/Pearson later this week with plans to return to New York/JFK and Delhi in April.
- United is reducing the capacity of some its 76-seat Embraer aircraft down to 70 seats to comply with the terms of its contract with its pilots.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
My neighbor caught his kid chewing on electrical cords. He’s since been grounded.