News and notes from around the interweb:
- I wrote about a family downgraded by American Airlines when the airline needed their seats for pilots who were deadheading to work a flight back to the States. They were picked because they’d redeemed miles, which seems like the wrong priority actually. Most of all, though, the compensation offered was inappropriately low.
It turns out the father got hosed on the way home, too – this time a broken seat, and he was offered a downgrade and voucher, or just to sit in the broken seat. In fact, returning from Europe he’d be entitled to EU261 compensation for a downgrade, not merely a goodwill voucher. - “[A] 33-year-old truck driver named Larry Walters tied 42 helium weather balloons to a Sears lawn chair, strapped on a parachute, packed a BB gun, sandwiches, and a six-pack… and cut the rope. …[H]e shot up like a rocket to 16,000 feet — straight into the main approach path for LAX.
Two airline pilots radioed the tower: they had just passed a man in a lawn chair holding a gun at 16,000 feet…When police asked why he did it, he said: “A man can’t just sit around.””
On July 2, 1982, a 33-year-old truck driver named Larry Walters tied 42 helium weather balloons to a Sears lawn chair, strapped on a parachute, packed a BB gun, sandwiches, and a six-pack… and cut the rope.
He expected to float a few hundred feet over his San Pedro backyard.… pic.twitter.com/WmM0uajUsw
— American™ (@1776_13) August 23, 2026
- Another reason forced confiscation of carry-on bags, when there’s still overhead bin space available (because gate agents are afraid of getting yelled at if gate checking ends up having to happen at the last minute, so they start requiring it too early) is maddening:
- Emirates Skywards tightens mileage expiration even more shortening validity of points by a few months. This really is a dumpster fire of a program.
- When you buy an airline ticket, you aren’t just purchasing transportation. It’s a product bundle. Your seat has a seatbelt, which is great against severe turbulence. You can reasonably expect the seat not to be smeared with who knows what. It’ll generally have a tray table, it seems to me, unless the airline calls out that it won’t. Airlines advertise a premium product, especially in recent times, but fall back on ‘our contract of carriage doesn’t promise what we advertised’ when they fail to deliver.
But my toxic trait is believing that when this is what the passenger receives, the airline hasn’t delivered the product they promised and therefore hasn’t earned the full fare charged.
@AmericanAir I’m on a flight that has been delayed 30-45, my tray table doesn’t work. The flight attendant said “oh I’m sorry. I guess we can move you to an open seat? Only open seat is a mid in the back of the airplane.” I’m in an aisle seat in an exit row. I expect compensation pic.twitter.com/ulndU4IsHh
— Smitty (@ozlegend12) August 24, 2026
- Even though the food is broadly the same, here’s a hidden benefit of the British Airways-American Airlines Soho lounge for oneworld emeralds at New York JFK… Also, it’s New York JFK.
At Greenwich T8 @AmericanAir @JFKairport. Is this an acceptable state to find a bathroom? No toilet paper in first stall, only other vacant stall filthy & floor sticky, sinks strewn with wet paper towels. Open trash can with big black bag alongside. #paxex #avgeek #flyertalk pic.twitter.com/SREutUtuXY
— Adam Jackson (@adamjac) August 24, 2026
“In fact, returning from Europe he’d be entitled to EU261 compensation for a downgrade, not merely a goodwill voucher.” YES!! Preach, Gary!!
You know it. I know it. We’re overdue for an EU/UK 261-equivalent in the US, including compensation and a baseline duty of care. And, at least bring back a Rule 240 equivalent so folks can get home sooner, even if it’s on a competitor’s flight. It doesn’t raise airfare or bankrupt airlines (see Ryanair); it actually creates the incentives for more reliable operations. Travel insurance is good, but it isn’t enough. We deserve better.
American and their fake caring only cares about money, service is gone! They want you to be loyal to the brand, spend thousands on earning miles and status than treat passengers like pawns. I can give my money to any airline, the loyalty is over, I’m shopping for a new card.