Uber is now admitting that they were hacked a year ago and didn’t tell anyone. Data on 57 million riders was stolen, and information on 600,000 drivers was taken as well. Uber paid off the hackers to destroy the data.
New 50,000 Mile Offer and My Most Embarrassing Travel Moment Returns
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
One Common Miles and Points Tactic Can Land You in Jail
A woman in New Hampshire has been arrested for redeeming Delta SkyBonus points. That’s their small business program, like American’s Business ExtrAA and United PerksPlus. She was the manager on her employer’s account, and used the points even after she was let go in 2013.
FAA Says It Has No Authority to Stop People From Throwing Live Turkeys Out of Airplanes
There’s an annual festival in Arkansas where live turkeys are dropped from an airplane. Attendees chase the surviving turkeys hoping to catch them.
The FAA said it would investigate but has determined they have no regulations that prevent turkeys from falling from the sky (last year two died on impact).
United Upgrade Awards That Refund Miles and Cash, Let You Keep the Upgrade
A reader noticed something funny happening with United miles (plus cash co-pay) upgrades. If the first segment of the itinerary didn’t clear, the miles and co-pay would get credited back even if the first segment was a short flight and the long international flight was upgraded to business class.
China Squeezes North Korea By Suspending Air Service
China is North Korea’s primary sponsor state. But North Korea is also a problem for China. Kim Jong Un’s saber rattling leads to the militarization of South Korean and potential re-arming of Japan, challenging Chinese hegemony in North Asia.
Meanwhile, as the U.S. antagonizes North Korea, if China plays a role containing them they gain prestige on the world stage — equal to or in excess of the United States.
Qatar Airways Really Is Subsidized… By The U.S.
The new Qatar Airways cargo flight to Pittsburgh will receive subsidies… from the region’s airport authority.
Pittsburgh is also subsidizing Alaska Airlines, Wow Air, and Condor.
American Airlines Just Surveyed All Its Employees – And Things Are Pretty Bad
American Airlines surveyed their workforce in a major endeavor called “American Voice.” And it took responses from 59,197 employees or 53% of mainline American to learn what I’ve been saying for some time: more pay doesn’t translate to better service or happier employees.
Airline Lies, Tells Passengers Airport is Closed and Get Flu Shots When You Fly
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Why Emirates Walked Away From Buying 36 More A380s – Possibly Sealing the Plane’s Fate
The Airbus A380 is popular with customers for its spaciousness, although airlines are just now starting to really squeeze passengers into it like never before. However it’s never been popular with very many airlines.
Conceived of as a plane for ferrying large numbers of people between major cities, flying between the largest slot constrained airports where passengers might connect onward, the industry has gone in another direction entirely: point-to-point flying with smaller more fuel efficient jets that bypass additional connections entirely.