Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for February 2024.

United Airlines Just Grounded A Fleet Of Planes Because Its No Smoking Signs Don’t Turn Off

by Gary Leff

Feb 12 2024

United Airlines was the first airline to create a nonsmoking section back in 1971. Delta was the first to fully ban smoking worldwide in 1994. U.S. airlines were no longer permitted to allow smoking on any flight starting in 2000. Yet planes still have ashtrays! You’ll usually find them in or near the lavatory, because customers may smoke even though it’s illegal to do so. Passengers need to be told when not to smoke. And crewmembers need to be able to turn on that sign. If they can’t turn it on, because it is always on, then an exemption from the rule must be requested. Oops!

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TripAdvisor Wants To Move To Nevada, And That May Stop Tesla From Moving To Texas

by Gary Leff

aston martin
Feb 12 2024

TripAdvisor was acquired and became part of the same company as Expedia. It was later spun off as a public company. It earns most of its revenue from Expedia and Booking.com, selling eyeballs of customers searching hotels to those platforms. Even reviews got de-prioritized. It stopped being primarily a tool to help customers figure out where to stay.

Now there’s corporate intrigue over where TripAdvisor itself should find lodging. Can it move from Delaware incorporation to Nevada? And what a judge says there may decide whether Tesla can leave Delaware, too, after a judge struck down Elon Musk’s $55 billion compensation package.

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From QR Codes to Customer Woes: United’s “Agent On Demand” Is A Premium Perk Lost

by Gary Leff

Feb 12 2024

Three years ago United Airlines launched ‘agent on demand’ where customers would reach local agents, rather than a call center, when contacting customer service via their mobile device – scan a QR code at a hub, and chat by voice or video to deal with rebooking and other issues. This is a great feature, especially for the average passenger. It helps get real help faster, and utilizes agents efficiently.

It isn’t great for everyone, though.

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Delta, Alaska Airlines Getting Killed At Dallas Love Field Thanks To Government Monopoly Given To Southwest

by Gary Leff

Feb 12 2024

Southwest has a government-granted near monopoly at Dallas Love Field airport. The airline, which fought tooth and nail for the right to be allowed to fly there as an upstart, and now uses the machinations of government to keep out competitors. With only two gates at the airport usable by competitors, no one can build a customer base to make flights work.

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The Children’s Toy That Was Banned From Planes By The FAA

by Gary Leff

Feb 11 2024

1999’s big toy innovation was Furby, a robot toy that was kind of like a furry, colorful owl. 14 million were sold that one year alone. As long as it had batteries, Furby was on and talking. It began by speaking its own Furbish language, but as it listened to its owner it would learn English. Tickle the Furby and it might kiss you. If you rewarded that behavior with pets, the frequency of kisses would increase. If you had two Furby (Furbies?) they would talk to each other.

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