Skift Business Traveler: British Airways Eroding Loyalty Program

Skift Take
WHAT TO KNOW NOW
The flag carrier for the UK needs a better loyalty program. British Airways has been in the process of eroding its loyalty program for years now by taking small chunks out of its benefits. Earlier this year the airline updated its Executive Club to shift more rewards to higher-spending travelers. Now the carrier is trying to take even more benefits away from its budget travelers by removing lounge and priority boarding rights from the least expensive tickets. If British Airways is keeping all of the goodies for the elite, at some point,the people in the back of the plane could revolt.
SOCIAL QUOTE OF THE DAY
Silvercar Expanding to Ft. Lauderdale - http://t.co/5cWLZnmzAL via @dealswelike
- @boardingarea | Required Reading for Frequent Flyers
AIRLINES
Airline Fares Down Just $2 Despite Cheap Fuel: For airlines, the record profits keep coming, thanks to cheaper jet fuel. Read more at Skift
A Peek Inside the Four Seasons Private Jet, and It’s Glorious, But…: Four Seasons has just revealed its completed private jet that it announced last year, and, as hoped, it is a haven of luxury travel inspired by crisp champagne and snappy caviar. Read more at Skift
United Drops Loyalty to Dreamliner in Favor of Older 777 Jets: The switch to 777-300ERs comes as happy news for Boeing. The manufacturer has been desperately seeking more orders as it transitions to a complete update of the plane with the 777X, which is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2020. Read more at Skift
Southwest CEO: An Acquisition Would Be a Low Priority and a Distraction: When Southwest acquired AirTran for some $1.4 billion in 2011, Southwest’s growth opportunities “were in need of some refreshing,” CEO Gary Kelly recalled. Read more at Skift
AIRPORTS
Airports Provide Nordic Designer Pods for Weary Flyers: Helsinki, where millions of people change planes each year en route between Western Europe and cities including Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo, last month became the third airport after Abu Dhabi and Dubai to install GoSleep Pods, six foot by two foot capsules in which the weary can snooze in light- and sound-proof comfort. Read more at Skift
Nepal Quake Agony as Seen From the Airport and Environs: Soon after landing at Kathmandu airport, the Thai Airways captain made a bizarre announcement to passengers: Nobody is in the control tower. Read more at Skift
Frankfurt Airport Will Invest $3.2 Billion To Add Its Terminal of the Future: After a reconfirmation from Fraport AG’s supervisory board, the owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) announced its decision to start construction of a new Terminal 3 this year, to accommodate a significant increase in passenger numbers in the coming decades. Read more at Skift
TECH
Health App Might One Day Tell Flight Crew When You’re Blue or Green: The old flight attendant call-button could be on its way out if a clever health app by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands takes off. Read more at Skift
Lyft Hasn’t Given Up, Hires Facebook and Nike Executives to Challenge Uber: Lyft hired two vice presidents with experience at consumer giants Facebook Inc. and Nike Inc., doubling the ride-sharing startup’s executive team in six months as it mounts a challenge to Uber Technologies. Read more at Skift
Selfies Are Changing the Fundamental Reasons Why We Travel: The rise of social media is creating a new breed of travelers for whom the ability to instantly publicize their trip is as important as the experience itself. Read more at Skift
HOTELS
NY Official Who Took on Airbnb Wants To Guide Startups on Regulation: The state attorney general and New York City’s chief lawyer announced a new effort to help technology startups understand what regulations they’ll need to follow and to help regulators understand what rules might be getting in innovators’ way. Read more at Skift
Hilton Garden Inn Coming To All 50 States With Hawaii Plans In 2016: Have you always wanted to visit all 50 states, but didn’t know where to stay? Hilton Garden Inn now has you covered as the hotel brand is working on having a property in every one of those in the nifty 50. Read more at Hotel Chatter
YOUR TURN
The Points Guy has a new Editor in Chief and it's none other than our old friend Zach Honig. Our congratulations, good sir.
TIPS AND COMMENTS
Can be sent to gm[at]skift[dot]com or to @grantkmartin