Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for May 2023.

American Airlines To Appeal Antitrust Ruling Breaking Up Partnership With JetBlue

by Gary Leff

May 31 2023

The judge’s decision, rather than considering whether consumers would benefit overall, looked at individual markets and saw fare increases – when fares were rising everywhere due to inflation, supply chain issues and strong demand. The judge discounted expert witnesses for the airlines because they were working with airline data while giving weight to government experts. And the judge argued that the combination was per se illegal, since it reduced competitors, rather than looking at its effects to see more actual competition.

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Ticket Agent In Singapore Calls Chinese Passenger “A Dog” Who Doesn’t “Know How To Be Human”

by Gary Leff

May 31 2023

A China Southern Airlines check-in counter agent in Singapore has been suspended after calling a passenger “a dog.” The man was checking in for China Southern’s Singapore – Chongqing flight 546 on May 23rd and asked about an upcharge for exit row seats, but there was a communication challenge. He asked for a Mandarin-speaking agent, but was ignored.

The passenger began filming with his phone, and the employee took offense. According to the passenger, he “used three languages (to scold me), ‘you are a dog, you don’t understand human language’.” That’s not on the video, however the agent was filmed saying “If you want to be a dog, I can treat you like a dog… That’s easy.” The agent also said that the man doesn’t “even know how to be a human.”

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Woman Avoids Jail After Spitting On Passenger, Fleeing Down Emergency Slide At Chicago O’Hare

by Gary Leff

May 30 2023

A Rochester, New York woman was allowed to avoid jail time after refusing to get off her cell phone, walking to the front of the aircraft and getting into an argument, and spitting on a passenger.

Then, after the American Airlines Chicago O’Hare to Buffalo flight turned around to head back to the gate, she pushed a flight attendant out of the way in order to access an emergency exit – opened the door and slid down the emergency slide.

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Airbnb Rental Doesn’t Allow More Than 2 Suitcases, Use Of Kitchen Or Washing Machine

by Gary Leff

May 30 2023

Airbnb rules are frequently infuriating. You pay a cleaning fee and still have to clean. Just stick it in the rate, right? And the list of chores can be maddening. I’ve been told to carry trash to a community dumpster several blocks away, and I’ve encountered condos with lock boxes over the thermostat to prevent use of the air conditioner. Others have been told to wait on property to manage repair services, and to mow the lawn.

Here’s a reported notice to guests, though, that contains some items I haven’t seen before

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The Longest Small Regional Jet Flight – By A Lot – Will Happen In August?

by Gary Leff

May 30 2023

The Embraer 145 is a ‘small’ regional jet, usually outfitted with 50 seats. Operators don’t usually put in a first class or even wifi, thinking that the flights are short enough and passengers usually have no real competitive options.

The aircraft’s range can push 1,300 miles and a little beyond in optimal conditions. One flight on an Embraer 145, though, has been scheduled to fly… 2,249 miles?

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