Journal

  • This Will Be ‘The Next Big Thing,’ According to Richard Branson

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    Supersonic jetliner travel, which ended more than a decade ago with the Concorde, will make a comeback and transform the aviation industry in coming years, according to billionaire Richard Branson.

    “The next big thing, hopefully in my lifetime, will be supersonic travel coming back and people traveling around the world in next to no time,” Branson told Bloomberg Television in an interview in Washington Tuesday. “And hopefully in a relatively environmentally friendly way.”

    Branson’s Virgin Galactic is already working with Boom Technology Inc. on its supersonic jet, and Japan Airlines Co. in December took an option to buy as many

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  • Flight Upgrade: These 2 Words Could Land You in First Class

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  • United Airlines Might Replace Employee Bonuses With a Lottery

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    United Airlines is eyeing a plan to end quarterly performance bonuses for its employees, replacing them instead with something a bit more unconventional: a lottery-style drawing, with prizes including cash, cars, and vacations.

    According to a report from the Chicago Business Journal, the new program was announced in a memo sent by President Scott Kirby on Friday.

    “As we look to continue improving, we took a step back and decided to replace the quarterly operational bonus and perfect attendance programs with an exciting new rewards program called ‘core4 Score Rewards’,” the memo read in part. A United spokesperson told … Read More

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  • Steve Mnuchin’s Travel on Military Planes Has Reportedly Cost Taxpayers $1 Million

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    Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has reportedly racked up a nearly $1 million tab on taxpayer-funded trips since taking office.

    According to Washington watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Mnuchin has frequently opted for using military aircraft for his travel instead of taking commercial planes, which would come at a much lower cost to the taxpayer.

    In a new report, CREW detailed findings obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Between the spring and fall of 2017, Mnuchin reportedly took eight trips on military planes, totaling close to $1 million.

    Existing law … Read More

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  • How Airlines Are Doubling Down on Comfort to Woo Business Travelers

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    In 1944, Jean-Paul Sartre wrote that hell is other people, a maxim that perhaps most accurately describes the current state of commercial air travel, what with the long lines for security, overbooked flights, questionable “emotional support” animals, and the guy in 14F who can’t keep his elbows to himself. But for those lucky or savvy enough to fly in first or business class, hope is on the horizon as airlines double down on experiences and amenities for their most-prized clientele.

    “Privacy is a theme,” says Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy, a travel website that reviews airlines. Take Delta’s … Read More

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