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Starwood hotels previously offered points to guests who skipped housekeeping, a program termed ‘make a green choice,’ ostensibly for environmental benefits but primarily aimed at reducing housekeeping expenses.
A Delta Air Lines passenger was removed from a flight departing Sarasota, Florida, due to his Donald Trump t-shirt. The shirt depicted Trump extending his middle fingers with the caption “Hawk Tuah Spit On That Thang.” After another passenger complained, airline staff instructed the man to change his shirt if he wished to fly. He initially complied by turning the shirt inside out and boarded the aircraft.
News and notes from around the internet:
Earlier this month, I traveled to Honolulu and back on Hawaiian Airlines. They operate Austin – Honolulu non-stop three days a week, and since I hadn’t flown Hawaiian in a year and a half, it seemed worth sharing some observations.
On August 30, 2024, Congressman Ritchie Torres criticized the CEOs of United, Delta, and American Airlines for "effectively boycotting Israel" due to their flight suspensions. He highlighted that the U.S. government has not deemed these flights unsafe and noted that El Al continues its operations.
The Known Crewmember (KCM) system, which allows certain individuals to bypass standard security screening, has been found to be insecure. According to reports, anyone with basic knowledge of SQL injection could log into the site and add unauthorized individuals to both KCM and CASS systems. This vulnerability permits them to skip security screening.
The Westin Tempe has narrowly avoided foreclosure and is now offering a range of unusual services to its guests, including selling condoms and paid upgrades. Even elite members of Marriott’s Bonvoy program are being targeted with these offers.
The Department of Justice has allowed the period to lapse for objecting and filing suit against Alaska Airlines' acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. This indicates a deferral to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval, which is considering conditions it may impose on Alaska.
Passengers on a flight from Guiyang to Shanghai last Saturday locked a crying toddler in an airplane lavatory to quiet her. The child, approximately one year old, was traveling with her grandparents and had been crying continuously throughout the nearly three-hour flight.
Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, transported over 180 million passengers last year. Known for its low fares and additional fees, the airline is now proposing a new policy aimed at reducing disruptive behavior on flights.
United Airlines is supporting a flight attendant’s right to wear a Palestinian flag pin after she was called out on social media during a Chicago to Newark flight. The attendant also wore a keffiyeh-inspired lanyard.
United Airlines has raised concerns with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding Alaska Airlines' proposed acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. In a filing, United disclosed a conversation with the Deputy General Counsel at the DOT to avoid any improper ex parte communication over an active matter before the department. United declined to comment further on the matter.
JetBlue is currently facing significant challenges. The airline has transformed into a smaller version of a fee-based legacy carrier, sacrificing much of its competitive edge. As a result, it is now struggling financially and attempting to fend off activist investor Carl Icahn.
JetBlue is set to reduce its service at Washington's National Airport this winter, one of only three U.S. airports with legally limited flight numbers, facilitating profitability.
A man was arrested at Santiago airport on Tuesday after causing significant damage to the American Airlines check-in area. The individual, reportedly of Haitian descent, had purchased a ticket to Miami, only to discover upon arrival that the ticket was fraudulent.
Air France has taken a 20% ownership stake in Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which will transition from the Star Alliance to SkyTeam on September 1. In a bid to attract customers from competing alliances, SAS EuroBonus is offering a status match.
A guest at a Hyatt all-inclusive resort reportedly drank excessively, leading to the entire party being cut off from alcohol for the day. One member of the affected group shared their experience, stating, "A person in our party got a bit too drunk and was escorted to her room. We were informed after that it meant that we were all cut off from alcohol for that entire day." The individual expressed frustration over the policy, particularly since their trip was part of a wedding package.
A passenger at the gate area of a Delta flight captured a photo of a woman preparing to board for Detroit, accompanied by a large dog and four carry-on items.
Flying standby can be a viable option to avoid delays, but the process has become increasingly challenging. During major airline events, finding available seats may take days, and other airlines might also be fully booked during peak travel times. American Airlines, in particular, has made it more difficult to standby for an earlier flight. European airlines often do not allow standby at all. Status with an airline can help, but booking a backup flight on a second airline and canceling if it's not needed is advisable—especially if using miles that offer free cancellation and...
A passenger at Miami International Airport brought another man, shrink-wrapped in green plastic, to the check-in counters for South American airline LATAM. The assisting passenger carefully lifted and placed the wrapped individual on a baggage scale. Later, the man in green plastic hopped away from the check-in area.