News and notes from around the interweb:
- In June I wrote that a consortium of airlines was selling your reservations data to the government and it turns out the practice is even more extensive than realized: 5 billion ticketing records available for searching and more agencies with access – ICE, CBP, ATF, SEC, TSA, State Department, U.S. Marshals, IRS and FBI. ARC registered as a data broker in California because they’d been acting outside of state law.
A data broker owned by the country’s major airlines, including American Airlines, United, and Delta, is selling access to five billion plane ticketing records to the government for warrantless searching and monitoring of peoples’ movements..ARC has previously told the government to not reveal to the public where this passenger data came from, which includes peoples’ names, full flight itineraries, and financial details.
- Jeffrey Eisenberg, a former managing director of operations for strategy and performance at United Airlines, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against United Airlines alleging retaliation and wrongful termination after raising concerns about corruption (conflict of interest with a vendor) and safety violations (retiring key software without replacing it, safety risk assessment issues, non-compliance with FAA flight attendant staffing rules).
In the small world department, I worked with Eisenberg 23 years ago in a role completely unrelated to airlines and travel. I knew he left for US Airways, but don’t think I knew where he went after that.
- Qatar Airways will give up to 40% bonus on transfers from Citi through October 15. The bonus will post by November 30. That’s actually a little tempting.
- Marriott’s new partnership with Lufthansa Miles & More gives Bonvoy Gold to Senator and HON Circle members.
Meanwhile, Marriott stays earn 40 Miles & More status points apiece, up to 120 status points per calendar year. Better than a hole in the head (a loch in kop), as my grandfather used to say!
- American and Delta suspended employees over vile social media posts following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. United has done so as well. I don’t love this, and especially don’t like the government’s involvement here, outside of pilots where fitness to fly issues may be involved.
It is the right of every American to feel safe and free of political hate in our airspace.
Thank you @Americanair, @united, and @Delta for suspending employees who praised Charlie Kirk’s assassination. @USDOT applauds you for taking the first step in sending the right message.… https://t.co/IToGncLQMv
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) September 15, 2025
- TIL:
The Pony Express, one of the most iconic transportation networks ever created, only lasted 18 months.
The rider, usually a teenager, would go 75-100 miles (switching tired horses about every 10-15 miles) before handing off the letters to another rider on horseback.
From:… pic.twitter.com/lt2Z3lTod2
— Craig Fuller ⚓️ (@FreightAlley) September 15, 2025
OK, I’ll bite.
If you think it’s OK that a person is killed because of their opinion, you shouldn’t cry when you get fired for yours.
(saw that online)
Wow, small world indeed.
TWO roundups today? How wonderfully decadent (happy new season tonight, @1990!). Here’s to a third before the end of the day.
@L737 — All 10 episodes at once! ‘Oh, sirrah. How deliciously absurd.’
@Thing 1 — So, you’re advocating against free speech and for cancel culture? Bad take. I’d say, honor Charlie by being for free speech, even offensive speech, against violence, and not for canceling anyone. C’mon, let’s try to be consistent.
@1990 @737 Wow. Literal binge VieWing!
@1990 – Hey, you guys wrote the cancel-culture rules. I’m just living in the reality the Progressives created.
As progressives said time and time and time again, words are violence, “free speech” only applies to the government, not private companies. Okie dokie.
+1 for Thing 1
@Thing 1
COTD & +1
Hey, if you take away their hypocrisy? They’d have no guiding philosophy whatsoever.
@cr — Epic pun! Hulu’s probably gonna crash tonight. Bah!
@Thing 1, @Tom Dually, @Mike P — Sadly, no one side has a monopoly on hypocrisy. (No, no, just the radical leftists are baddies! Only the libertarians are totally consistent…) So, that’s why above I advocate for actual free speech and to reject cancel culture. The problem is that means you’d have to support your perceived opponents ability to respond (without seeking to ruin their livelihood, etc.)
Freedom of travel was nice while it lasted. Welcome to the police state. Might as well get them Stasi uniforms.
@DaveS — Do we get extra Biscoff if we report on our seat-neighbors? I hear the guy in 12B is a dissident. Now, where’s my cookies?