News and notes from around the interweb:
- American Airlines apologizes for refusing a 1742 Guarneri violin as a carry on despite policy that should have allowed it. No airline wants to be like United, which breaks guitars — something we still remember 8 years later.
- Housekeeping staff at the Sofitel Beverly Hills say they aren’t given proper equipment to clean up medical waste left by guests receiving treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center across the street. (HT: Alan H.)
They said management does show a safety video every year that explains how to properly handle and dispose of bloody linens and used needles, but that the hotel does not provide the safety equipment shown in the video.
- British Airways flight briefly lost communication over Hungary. When fighter jets scramble that’s not for the benefit of the passengers onboard.
- Passenger boards the wrong flight, pilot comes out to talk to him. And he travels on the wrong flight.
- Chinese sex toy manufacturer plans to open a chain of ‘love hotels’ that rent rooms by the hour. (HT: Alan H.)
Lin saw the potential of love hotels in China. It’s a lucrative market for China, according to China National Tourism Administration, which estimates that the love hotel industry could be worth up to $11 billion.
Originally developed in Japan, love hotels charge by the hour, offering both privacy and relaxation to its occupants. Many love hotels offer specialized themes which vary greatly, from space travel to Hello Kitty.
Earlier this year Hainan Airlines put up delayed passengers at an S&M-themed hotel and made passengers share rooms.
- Court requires airline to pay delay compensation, even though the delay was initially precipitated by another passenger damaging the aircraft. EU compensation rules are already stricter than you find elsewhere in the world, but this judgment expanding on the rules seems to push too far.
- Delta’s new RFID baggage tracking system. More importantly, to me, is that they’ve copied Alaska Airlines and now pay out compensation for delayed bag delivery.
Regarding delay compensation in the EU. The delay was not caused by another passenger, but by an incompetent maintenance crew that accidentally activated the evacuation slide. The ruling is absolutely appropriate!
No, Gary, that passenger was not flown to the wrong destination. He was simply allowed to board a later flight to the same destination. Big difference.
Yes the flight he boarded was to the same destination.
Two thumbs up to the pilot of the easy air jet. Checks to see that the passenger has a ticket to the same destination on the same airlines, and is practical enough to let him stay on the flight. And of course, the passenger had already gone through all normal airside security checks.
Well done for a grain of sanity in the ocean of over-paranoid aviation security!
United was not the first to break a guitar and have it celebrated in song. Long-defunct Republic Airlines had that distinction in 1983, recounted by folk singer Tom Paxton – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwV8ozElNjk.