News and notes from around the interweb:
- I took Lyft from DC’s National airport to my hotel earlier in the week, and the car had a missing/non-working seat belt in the back seat. I reported this to Lyft, because it seemed important. They said they took the report and ‘needed no further information’. They denied a request to adjust charges, which seemed odd, because I rather thought their brand promise was you were paying for safe transportation (a passenger seat belt is legally required to be used in the back seat in D.C.).
It did prompt me to learn that New Hampshire does not require adults to wear a seat belt anywhere in the vehicle, and that a minority of states do not require adult rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts. It looks like that includes: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Ohio. Maybe this is common knowledge, but I hadn’t realized it.
- Last month I wrote about oneworld member Royal Air Maroc offering status matches, which unlocks access to American Airlines and Alaska Airlines lounge (even flying domestically, and even American’s business class lounges). Fairly quickly they stopped matching against U.S. frequent flyer programs – because some folks at Royal Air Maroc’s U.S. partners tell me that they were… unhappy with this, to say the least.
However the offer does not appear to exclude U.S. residents. So anyone with foreign airline status can still do this. And you can match your U.S. airline status with a foreign airline. Or, say you’re a Bilt Platinum, you get Air France KLM Flying Blue Gold…
- Alaska’s bug where they were adding fuel surcharges to their own London flights when connecting to it from a British Airways flight appears to be fixed.
- The Park Hyatt D.C. has 24-hour room service, but not 24-hour coffee. I find that strange. There’s no coffee on the overnight menu, and the hotel won’t prepare any. There’s a Starbucks across the street. A luxury hotel would offer to go get that for you, but this is not a luxury hotel.
- JSX is now selling flights from Santa Monica airport, which is both incredibly convenient and also controversial in Southern California because local NIMBYs hate commercial air service.
When plans for this were first announced I guessed Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Napa and Oakland as eventual destinations. Las Vegas was first out of the gate. Now they’ve announced Scottsdale – and additional Vegas frequencies.
Connecting the Los Angeles beachside community with one of the Southwest’s most popular leisure and business destinations, JSX will launch a new daily nonstop service between Santa Monica Airport (SMO) and Scottsdale Airport (SCF) in the new year. Additionally, the public charter will increase service between Santa Monica Airport (SMO) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to twice-daily flights, with a further expansion to three flights daily starting February 5, 2026.
- GHA Discovery expands Titanium breakfast benefits to more brands. Over 80% of their brands are now included, but NH Hotels needs to get with the program (and so does Viceroy).
NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi
Huh, it’s almost like we should regulate big-tech and reign in excess corporate greed… or, just keep allowing their lobbyists to ruin society… oh, we’re doing the second option? Ugh.
Also, bad C550 crash in NC today. Not a good day for general aviation. RIP.
This is a common problem with Lyft. I had a driver who smoked weed (the vehicle reeked for my entire 1 hour trip, so I know it wasn’t just the vehicle in front) and I was offered a $5 credit. They don’t care because they don’t have to.
I would be on the first flight out of SMO giving a middle finger if I wasn’t already traveling.
The way the city shortened the runway a la Mayor Daley is disgusting, and damages our emergency response capability. Further they cannot be trusted with the real estate. Finally, as anyone with a brain knows, the airport was there before 99.9% of the people. Yes of course its a money grab by them.
The ATR-42 is a good and relatively quiet plane. I say ‘relatively’ because I live in the area, and I swear the overall sound disruption of some of the prop planes that go in and out (like a King Air, or even a C172) are noticeably worse and more lengthy than some of the small jets that can still manage the 3500′. This is going to bother exactly zero additional people.
Its going to cost me some money, but at basically $200 a leg I am going to patronize this as much as I possibly can.
@Boraxo — How was Zork Fest?
Surely not being compensated for a broken rear seat built must be the biggest tragedy and news story of the day. Be careful out there, violent street protests are sure to pop up when the masses hear of this travesty. Still, I’m glad you survived your near death experience.
@Mantis — Everything still going well for you in Asia these days?
Park Hyatt not providing coffee should be its own story.
I rather wonder how frequently people offer some made up claim about the rs driver, hoping for rebates. Maybe that’s the problem: legit complaints get drowned out by the gamers. I can see it now: ” new ‘life hack,’after your rs trip, tell Uber/Lyft that [this] happened.”
This morning I went to mu grand daughter’s pre school Christmas program. Afterwards we all assembled in the church hall for snacks. The nice ladies serving didn’t have coffee available. I should write a strongly worded letter to the Lutheran hierarchy. Maybe I’ll get some compensation. Haha.