News and notes from around the interweb:
- I did not know American made videos of this. Touching.
Thank you @AmericanAir for bringing my boy home with dignity & respect. Most of all thank you for making us this video. I am so full of gratitude. #Rip #RIPSon #USNavy #USNavyson #proudmom #RIPCalvillo pic.twitter.com/FyvEQ99K6A
— Chancesmudder (@chances_mudder) April 5, 2024
- 25,000 points back on a Qatar Airways business or first class roundtrip or 10,000 back on economy, for U.K. residents on flights originating in the U.K. (HT: Head for Points)
Register and book by April 15 for travel through June 30. Miles post within 30 days of completed travel. You can, of course, transfer points between different Avios programs, for instance move British Airways points into Qatar Privilege Club.
- Go figure.
Blade now generates roughly half their revenue (~$120M) and all of their profit from their organ transport business. They bought a company in 2021 called MediMobility which is now their biggest driver of growth. Wild.
— Ryan Denehy (@DenehyXXL) April 4, 2024
- Ireland has gone insane.
Dublin Airport has decided to put an end to a long tradition of a Catholic priest blessing the planes on Christmas Day, as reported by @griptmedia. "Changes to security protocols around airside access" is the reason the airport authorities stated for taking this decision. Ireland… pic.twitter.com/fM2F7Bw5md
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) April 4, 2024
- TSA: People sneaking past security is a ‘larger problem than we realized’ 300 people have done it in the past year.
- “Filthadephia”
@PHLAirport @PHLCouncil @AmericanAir
Want to see the dirtiest bathroom in a 3rd world country? Just go to the men’s room, Terminal F baggage claim. pic.twitter.com/LsmN2dxK5k
— steven sav (@Vibe_Salesman) April 4, 2024
Agreed with your thoughts about the great AA Video, Gary, although a bit disappointed about the response from AA’s Twitter Account: “You’re very welcome! We love our military members”. Something more along aline of “The thanks are ours, we’re deeply grateful for your son’s service, and for the service of all of our military around the world” would have been more appropriate.
I think it would be classier to not post it on X.
AA Social Media team has style guides and copy/paste answers that keep the tone exactly the same. (I’m so excited!!!!). They also have some weird style guide that is unique to the Aadvantage member. They keep making the same reference to me being a super hero. I am not a super hero. (I am the world’s greatest villain yes so it’s like a shade off.)
I did not know about the wonderful tradition of a priest blessing the planes on Christmas Day .
So sad that this tradition has been nixed by Dublin airport . When I was last in Austria for Christmas,
the local trains had Christmas decorations as they chugged through the snow and forests .
Excellent to see the military honors and the AA employees saluting the departed serviceman . This is a high credit to AA . Without the military services , we would have no freedom .
AA DIDNT POST IN ON X. THE MOM DID MORONS
Okay John, just relax.
It’s called “dignified transfer”, done for all US servicemembers KIA (killed in action, also a terrible name for an automobile manufacturer) during the past 20-30 years. Similar honors from site of death pronouncement to Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to the servicemembers home. From Dover to their home the servicemember is accompanied at all times by at least one servicemember in uniform. Unfortunately I witnessed too many (any number greater than zero) 12 years ago during my mobilization to the NATO Role 3 MMU (Multinational Medical Unit, basically combat trauma hospital) at KAF (Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan).
Unfortunately some things don’t change, young vibrant men and women are still being killed in war. Still relevant is “Taking Chance”, a 77 minute 2009 American historical drama television film (starring Kevin Bacon). “The movie is based on the recollections of U.S. Marine Lt. Col Michael Strobl, a real person, who accompanied the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a Marine fatally wounded by gunfire near Baghdad during the Iraq War, from Dover Air Force Base to Dubois, Wyoming in April 2004. He attended both Phelps’s funeral and his memorial service, and wrote an essay about the entire experience, the emotions he felt and the people he met.”
AA “DIDNT” POST “IN” ON X. THE MOM DID “MORONS”
Ironic!
I’m retired from a major US airline and have been on the ramp for some of these services. It’s very moving and I am glad that these airlines do this for our service members. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!
The military salute happens more often then realized-not always with water cannon. If the person on the window seat didnt immediately shut it when they sat down and people actually looked at things other than their phones you might see one. Ive seen two.
It’s nice that American has honored this soldier. Delta Air Lines’ “ramp rats” asked the company for two old baggage carts. The paint shop cleaned them up and repainted them with the American flag and the seals of the various military entities. At their own expense, they purchased matching blue jumpsuits, matching hats and flags of the United States Of America and the service branches. Delta’s policy regarding transporting all human remains is that the shipping container is NEVER placed in a baggage cart with other baggage nor in “train” but in a singular cart with closed side panels. The deceased soldier is met with the ramp rats in their uniforms with the flags at the base of the belt loader. They insure that the container is placed in the cart and covered. I’ve witnessed several of these honors and as a Veteran, it’s very hard to stay composed. The hardest I watched was the arrival of a soldier and his K9 companion who was also given the same honors. Thanks again AA for your compassion.