The ‘Buy It Now’ price for a Rapiscan backscatter machine, just like they used to use at TSA checkpoints, is $7995. Just what you need to add realism to the airport security play set (which a reader generously gave me for Christmas in 2005). These are government surplus, and I love this line from the description: As you know with most government agencies, when they get a new grant, they have to justify the grant by buying new equipment, leaving good equipment for surplus I do not think that’s what happened in this case. (HT: Yahoo! Travel) You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. You can also…
About Gary Leff
Several American Airlines Policy Changes Go Into Effect Tomorrow
From Traveling Better. Photography: AA’s ban on photography will now extend to filming employees at/in “any airline area” including ticket counters, gates, cargo, baggage, (and of course on-board) effective Dec 3rd, Guns: Changes to minimum age to check to 21, and, now unlimited guns per case. Airsoft and BB guns considered guns now. Plus unspecified update(s) to firearms checking on international flights. Bassinets: some changes to bassinet policy/locations Non-Hub connections: unaccompanied minors and checked pets will not be allowed on non-hub connections. I did not know American banned onboard photography and taking pictures at ticket counters and gates. Here’s the new photography policy: Of course I rarely document my domestic travels, which is most of my American Airlines flying. And they actively encouraged photos when I first flew their new business class product. I guess…
Man Arrested at LAX Security Checkpoint Today For… Theft of a Farm Animal
This is from Brian Sumers. Just before noon Pacific time the man proceeded through a security checkpoint in terminal 6. He was found with ammunition in his bag. That’s when screeners called the police, who discovered an outstanding warrant. Police discovered the man was wanted on a warrant for “theft of a farm animal,” according to my law enforcement source. The source did not know what kind of animal it was. Airport police then arrested the man for grand theft. Everyone on his flight can breathe easy knowing that their emotional support animals on board are safe from this menace, thanks to the TSA and LA airport police. You can join the 40,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day)…
An Airfare Pricing Trick, Miles Bonuses for Dining and Parking, Quitting Uber, and Banning Carry on Bags
News and notes from around the interweb: Why you should always search fares for one person even if you’re buying tickets for two Here are complaints from a driver who quit Uber. Their complaints amount to — Uber’s software should be better than it is, and they’re really profitable so they should pay more. (We know Uber’s valuation but far less about their actual operating results than we would a public company.) And that a driver has to pay “insurance, fuel, maintenance and taxes.” Taxes! (HT: Reid F.) From a war on water to a war on everything Miles for parking Dining for Miles (Rewards Network a.k.a. iDine) updates from Free Frequent Flyer Miles: The Delta Airlines Rewards Network (iDine) new member bonus of 2,500 miles was extended to January 5, 2015. United Airlines Rewards…
American Airlines (and other oneworld alliance) Elites Get New Checked Baggage Benefits
The oneworld alliance has improved its free elite checked baggage allowance and priority baggage handling. Specifically mid- and top-tier elites will get priority baggage delivery and mid-tier elites get an increased checked baggage allowance. Priority Baggage Delivery oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members — in the AAdvantage program the equivalent is Platinum and Executive Platinum; with British Airways Silver and Gold — will receive priority luggage tags when checking baggage on any oneworld alliance member. Notice I say the benefit is for priority luggage tags rather than “priority checked baggage” as oneworld advertises — because there’s huge variability across airlines in how well priority bags are delivered. It’s fair to say that the benefit will be equivalent to what’s offered to business class passengers. Whether the execution happens or not varies by airlines and airports, though…
You Do NOT Risk Losing Your Points When You Cancel a Credit Card
It struck me that on the same day both The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets wrote about whether you can lose your points earned via a credit card when you cancel the card. I gave a pretty comprehensive answer to this question about 20 months ago. This is something that a lot of program members get confused about, largely because the banks themselves have offered confusing information. Under almost all circumstances you will not lose airline or hotel points earned through a credit card when you cancel the card. That includes both signup bonuses and points from spending on the card. Card companies will often tell you otherwise when you call to cancel. Ignore them. It’s true that points can expire in many programs, or accounts turned inactive where you forfeit your points, when…
200% Bonus on Purchased Star Alliance Avianca LifeMiles
Last December Avianca’s LifeMiles (one of the unknown frequent flyer programs you should pay attention to) offered triple miles on purchased miles for one day only. They offered it again in May. It was a targeted promotion, but several people who called were able to successfully take advantage of the offer that hadn’t been targeted for it. GlobetrotterHQ reports that this offer is back through December 4. Again, this appears targeted, but some may find it worth calling to try to take advantage of even if they didn’t receive an email about the offer (and hang up, call back). Here’s the Google translate of the terms of the offer: Applies only to members who have received this email. This promotion is available in LifeMiles.com, POS or Call Center Avianca Avianca. For residents of Colombia, is…
Please Keep Perspective: Air Travel Isn’t Everything That’s Wrong With Society
Frank Bruni packs a ton of complaints about aviation into a single New York Times column, which really is meant as an allegory for his complaints about society as a whole. He packs a lot of disparate complaints into one column! lack of infrastructure investment poor manners inequality The ‘rich get richer’ theme doesn’t especially work in aviation, at least in the US context he’s describing since airfares have gotten far lower over time in inflation-adjusted dollars, even after including all add-on fees and even with the run-up over the past two years. legroom hasn’t gotten materially worse, even with JetBlue adding seats and American adding seats. In fact US carriers have been adding extra legroom seating that offer a mid-range product between economy and first class, it’s easy to forget that “economy plus” is…
New Newark – London Service Coming Offering Business Class for the Price of Coach
La Compagnie, the all-business class airline flying Paris – Newark with angled seats and just 3 flight attendants for a 74 passenger cabin, will use its second 757 that’s about to be delivered to fly from a London area airport to Newark. No details are announced yet as far as whether they’ll serve Gatwick, Luton, or Stansted. La Compagnie brags about a load factor hovering around 50%, at deep discount pricing. So clearly the time is ripe to enter a second market (and clearly with only a 50% load factor, adding a second Paris flight would make no sense). The founders of La Compagnie are the same folks that were behind L’Avion, who won the lottery managing to sell the operation to the British Airways which now operates it as OpenSkies. They re-entered the market…
The Worst Security Line Ever? United’s Worst Twitter Fail? And Buying Avios Via Magazine Subscriptions
News and notes from around the interweb: TSA Line at Chicago Midway Stretched Over a Mile Long 12,000 Avios for £155 with best-ever Iberia / Economist offer Does Washington Dulles — IAD — stand for Inside a Dump, I Advocate Demolition (of the C/D terminal), Incompetent AirLounge Dragons, or International Arrivals Disaster? I pay for Gogo’s unlimited monthly internet plan for American and US Airways, grandfathered at the old rate of $39.95 per month. I get great use out of it, and it’s changed my flying life. They offer an unlimited plan across airlines for a bit more, that I didn’t sign up for under old pricing and that I don’t want to give up my old grandfathered pricing for. Now that Gogo is offering international service on more flights (on Delta and Japan Airlines)…
