Philippine Airlines files for bankruptcy
Last Friday, Philippine Airlines (PAL) filed for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy according to Bloomberg. While this is an indication of serious financial trouble within a company, it is not (yet) shocking for flyers - the airline is permitted to continue normal operations while trying to restructure debt and other financial means in order to survive.
Tickets will keep their value and the airlines Mabuhay Miles loyalty program will keep operating as usual.
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While it may seem counter-intuitive that the Manila-based airline is seeking bankruptcy in the United States, this is often the case with multinational companies due to them having an entity in the U.S. for regulatory reasons. With this bankruptcy case, filed in New York, the airline hopes to be released of some debt and to reduce its fleet by 25%.
Both Boeing and Airbus planes will be returned to their lessors, bringing the fleet down from 92 to 70 aircraft. Also, the airline will ask Airbus to delay the arrival of 13 new narrow-body jets. Like other airlines worldwide, PAL has temporarily grounded some of its fleet while demand for air travel remains low.
In many similar cases, we have seen struggling South East Asian airlines transform into a more regional-first airline. For example, Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Thai Airways have all become more focused on their regional operations after restructuring processed triggered by decreased demand due to the pandemic.
Currently, there is no indication if the fleet reduction will impact mainly regional or mainly intercontinental operations. The airline has been aiming for a higher quality of intercontinental service by offering flights on new Airbus A350s to prime destinations like New York (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR) in recent years.
However, given the strong network in the region and relatively few longer flights, it might make more sense for the airline to put regional flights first.
Related: A Review of Philippine Airlines’ A350 in Economy From Manila to New York
Times are still tough for the airline industry. The intercontinental airlines, with flag carriers such as British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa, rely on business travel to make money. Although passengers numbers as a whole are on the rise again, the proportion of business versus leisure travelers is way off compared to pre-pandemic numbers. This balance leads to leisure-heavy airlines flourishing, while more traditional airlines are still struggling to stay afloat.
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4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
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Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees