News and notes from around the interweb:
- “Low-cost airlines: They changed the world — but what next?” (HT: Jonathan W.)
- A flight attendant was found with 60 pounds of cocaine in her bag at LAX. Flight attendants, and trusted crew generally, make good mules because they usually receive less scrutiny.
Very much reminiscent of the Lufthansa flight attendants who were arrested in a quantitative easing scheme in 2011. Out of circulation euro coins were sent to China to be melted down. The flight attendants brought back 63,000 pounds of these €1 and €2 coins over four years.
- “Do Millennials Really View Travel Differently?” Consultants frequently tell loyalty programs that millenials want instant gratification (read: low-value merchandise awards, which is usually the service they’re trying to sell to the programs). But millenials redeem for free travel just like everyone else, and are more likely to redeem for hotel upgrades, their number 2 redemption from hotel programs.
- Alaska Airlines will now let you redeem miles for TSA PreCheck. At 10,000 miles to cover the $85 fee, that’s a terrible deal. (HT: One Mile at a Time)
- A strongly pro-management take in the current battle between United and dissident shareholders fronted by Gordon Bethune
- Southwest is targeting customers who have a Known Traveler number in their profile for temporary A-List elite status and an expedited path to renewal. Because I flew Southwest back in November I added by number so I’d receive PreCheck. Now I’m a Southwest elite!
As a TSA PreCheck™ and Rapid Rewards® Member, you’re already getting great benefits. We’re now giving you even more by allowing you to experience A-List status and its special perks through May 25, with the opportunity to extend it.
To extend your A-List status through December 31, 2016, register, book, and complete 2 revenue roundtrip flights (or 4 revenue one-way flights), or earn 5,850 Tier Qualifying Points, between March 21 and May 25, 2016.
Did you get an email from Southwest about that A-List offer? I also have my TT number in my RR account, but haven’t gotten one.
Not sure why flight attendants aren’t going through the same checks the rest of us do. This is a perfect example of why they should be. Sure it is a few bad apples, but what happens if they decide to smuggle firearms onboard instead of drugs.
Agree with Bill, if you are doing security checks to ensure safety, then everyone needs to be checked. Who’s checking TSA staff?
Also, is it just me, how is it that the flight attendant is able to run off on foot from TSA/airport security and not be caught? Ridiculous!
When was she arrested? No articles that I’ve read indicate she’s been apprehended.
You would think that with all the illegal drugs that the airline crews are hauling in these days the airlines don’t need any revenue from devaluing frequent flyer programs, charging baggage fees and fuel surcharges! Maybe we should start confiscating their fleets and airline executive mansions under the RICO Act?
To the best of my knowledge, all crew do go throughthe same security. The issue is that the scrutiny might be relaxed a bit.
I witnessed an interaction between a cockpit crew mwmber and security at ZRH. The crew member balked at some request, exclaiming in German, “Do you think I will bring a bomb to my cockpit” the response was immediate and firmly stated, “Of course not, because you will not get passed here.”
I got a different targeted offer from Southwest
As a TSA PreCheck™ and Rapid Rewards® Member, you are getting great benefits. We are now giving you the chance to speed up your earnings. Earn double the points and get even closer to that reward flight and trip you’ve been working toward.
Only the Rapid Rewards® Member who received this email/offer from Southwest Airlines® is eligible for this promotion. Offer is nontransferrable. Member must register for this promotion between March 21, 2016 and May 25, 2016, and registration must be completed prior to commencement of travel. Valid on new reservations booked within the promotional time period.
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How can she be arrested when she ran away? Your reporting is so sloppy. This blog needs some quality control.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-cocaine-lax-employee-20160321-story.html
” The flight attendants brought back 63,000 points of these €1 and €2 coins over four years.”
Points?
@Bill,
Airline crews undergo background checks which are more in-depth that Global entry, prior to getting access, which is why they have an “easier” daily security line than the rest of us. This is not really any different than the Delta baggage handler last year, who was sending guns to NY gangs from ATL