News and notes from around the interweb:
- Denver is a pretty good connecting airport, staying within one terminal, but between distance from the city, worst TSA experience in the country, and a train that breaks down regularly there’s probably none worse in the U.S. for locals.
Denver airport line for the train
byu/AccountantDiligent inAirports - Giant Lego model of Reagan National Airport to debut next week
- Even as Uber has gotten worse for riders, they’ve taken more of the fare from drivers:
“[The old system] was clear, transparent,” Hadi told the Guardian and ITV News. “You can calculate, you can see. Say, for example here it says about eight miles, so I know eight miles plus how long it took me, plus the starting fare, minus Uber’s fee, which is 20%. Even when they increased it to 25%, I would exactly know how much. Exactly.”
The new system has resulted in Uber taking a variable cut, or “take rate”, of 29% of a fare on average, rising to more than 50% in some cases, the University of Oxford researchers found. The study also found that Uber’s take rate increased on higher value rides – something the company has denied.
- Canada’s competition bureau calls for lifting foreign ownership restrictions on domestic airlines this is absolutely correct… of course it wouldn’t be a panacea because incumbent carriers are granted exclusive privileges for takeoffs and landings at the busiest airports, so there would still be plenty of protectionism blocking competition.
- He was flying out of Houston, so United makes sense – and Qatar didn’t gift him a plane for post-presidential use.
Think the Former President has Global Services?
byu/StreetyMcCarface inunitedairlines - This is good news because, while Iberia business class isn’t a great experience, they generally are good about releasing a couple of business class award seats per flight and those are bookable without the draconian surcharges of British Airways redemptions.
Iberia is reportedly considering more U.S. routes as it grows Madrid (MAD) into a major hub over the next years: https://t.co/TGQa2TxoQQ
Potential new cities:
• Seattle (SEA)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Atlanta (ATL) pic.twitter.com/2unqqiHyQj— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) June 20, 2025
Screw Biden. He insisted on staying in the race which gave Trump the path to victory.
If he’s flying F it means the entire cabin is taken up by his bodyguards, screw that too.
Don’t forget the current road construction making access to the airport increasingly dangerous. Along with a train system to the airport that’s every bit as reliable as the train system in the airport.
I’m surprised that more O&D traffic hasn’t moved to Colorado Springs instead, even if that airport is on the extreme southern edge of the city.
Whenever I take an Uber in the Los Angeles area, I engage the driver in conversation about how much they get of the fare I paid with a credit card. They have reported less than 50% for several years. I always tip in cash so it can make up a bit for the company thieving so much of the fare from their drivers.
@jns how is Uber “thieving?” It’s their business model to connect gig drivers with people in need of transit. In doing so they charge a fee. Not thievery, market dynamics.
Uber has increasingly screwed over both drivers and passengers for some years now. The days of them being called a disrupter or force for good without spitting out your coffee in laughter are long gone. Nowadays I actually prefer a taxi where possible.
2 comments –
1. agree Uber isn’t stealing. They set the reimbursement and their take. If drivers don’t like it they don’t have to drive.
2. I flew Iberia business class IAD to VCE connecting in Madrid. I was fine with their business class (and I have flown a number of the leading airlines so have something to compare it to). The seat is the main attraction for me and that was fine. Food was OK, service was fine and they brought me a drink frequently. Even the “European” business class flight from Madrid to Venice was fine. Not service level of a ME or Asian carrier but just fine, especially for around 45,000 miles each. I’m not so entitled, like some on here, that I turn my nose up are reasonable products for a good price
I have been flying every other week since 2016 with DEN as a home base and can’t really agree.
I’ve run into long train lines maybe twice? Waiting for 2-3 trains max. Not denying that the breakdowns are real, but are they happening so often that it is a thing worth worrying about? No.
Also the security lines move so much faster with the new West security on level 6. The line wrapped back to the United check in desks the other day and I was through in 10 minutes.
Peña! Also, look at it on a map… oddly swastika-like. Routing through Denver soon. Can’t wait for the hour wait at TSA and at the Centurion.
I like Iberia business class, seat, service and F&B, just fine – better than the US airlines. And the lounges in MAD have good tapas and local beers. Given that it is usually also pretty reasonably priced in miles or dollars, it is a good option.
@ 1990 — Centurion is your best option? I feel for you. Get a United Club card.
We haven’t encountered the problems with the trains, but we do avoid arriving and connecting in Denver from international flights because of the horrible TSA lines. On international arrivals, never choose an itinerary with less than two hours connection time in Denver. If we can’t avoid Denver we prefer even longer than 2-hour connections since UA has improved their lounges.
“Uber “thieving?” It’s their business model to connect gig drivers with people in need of transit. In doing so they charge a fee. Not thievery, market dynamics.”
“Uber isn’t stealing. They set the reimbursement and their take. If drivers don’t like it they don’t have to drive.”
Just know that it’s attitudes and people like these that suck.
@Gene — Good call. I almost forgot United opened new lounges at DEN since I was last there. Sheesh, the old one upstairs would get so crowded it was practically a fire hazard.
And, you know me, glutton for punishment that I am, I’ve already got that card… still can’t believe they hiked it from $450 to $695… *punches self*
@PRH It’s called being an adult who takes responsibility for themself enough to find a different job if I don’t like my job, don’t want my job or can’t afford to make what my job is willing to pay me. If being an adult makes me “suck,” so be it. I never said I agree with it. I said it is what it is.
You see Uber’s strategy as screwing their drivers. I see Uber’s strategy as having broken the taxi monopolies, provided new transportation options in some communities and given people an opportunity to make some cash driving their cars around town. I see new ways to get around new places. I see food delivered to the doors of people who can’t go out and get it. I see someone at home with the flu not having to go out to get what they need to hunker down and rest.
And, again, I never said I agreed or disagreed with the morality of the business model. I just pointed out it is the business model that our society has accepted.