News and notes from around the interweb:

• 1000 free miles for joining Vietnam Airlines LotusMiles (a SkyTeam program) using promo code TRIEUSENVANGW. (HT: Frequent Flyer Bonuses)

  

• Another ExpressJet incident, this time for Delta not United as crew contact law enforcement over a passenger who yawned, napped, and didn’t want to move seats away from his girlfriend.

  “Our crew, operating Delta Connection flight 5378 from Charlotte to New York City, made the decision to contact law enforcement officials based on their observance of concerning behaviors by the passenger toward his seat companion, including physical actions and verbal tones,” the statement said, without elaborating.

  “At ExpressJet, we train our crews to use their professional experience and practice best judgment to ensure the safety of all of our customers. While we regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers, the safety and security of everyone on board is our top priority and cannot be compromised.”

• Another 6 Indian airports will see hand-baggage stamping stop on June 1 this is such a strange procedure, and when staff stamped the wrong tag on my bag in Mumbai I was almost denied boarding.

• New qualification criteria and benefits for Singapore Airlines elite status

• China will no longer allow Emirates flight crew from Taiwan to wear Taiwanese flag pins

• Sound can make airplane food taste better

  “Donning a pair of noise-cancelling headphones could actually be one of the simplest ways in which to make food and drink taste better at altitude,” he writes.

  Chefs at the Fat Duck Restaurant in Bray – Heston Blumenthal’s coveted establishment – go one step further. They claim listening to soundscapes that contain lots of tinkling, high-pitched notes can actually accentuate our perception of sweetness by 10 per cent.

  At the Fat Duck I was given an iPod to listen to sounds of the ocean as I ate a dish meant to mirror the beach and sea.