News and notes from around the interweb:

• It was somewhat of a surprise when the Biden administration announced that TSA would start enforcing REAL ID at airport security checkpoints, 20 years after the REAL ID Act passed. The Trump administration actually went through with it (sort of, you can still fly without ID) because they think REAL ID helps them with anti-immigration efforts.

  However, too many people still didn’t have a REAL ID-compliant drivers license. And with all the publicity around pending enforcement, there was a rush on state DMVs – beyond what they were capable of handling. Maine had among the lowest rates of REAL ID compliance (27%). With all the people trying to get one the state rushed production and there was a bad batch. TSA scans of these licenses don’t bring up all of the required information, and passengers are having their IDs rejected. (HT: Joe R.)
  

• Four months ago I wrote that a free CitizenM hotels status match could be a backdoor into Marriott Gold status since Marriott was acquiring Citizen. Marriott now confirms this.

  Soon, all mycitizenM+ members will get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with exclusive benefits across 30+ hotel brands and 10,000+ destinations worldwide, in addition to the benefits they receive at citizenM hotels. With these added benefits, the subscription cost will increase to $170 annually (from $120) for those who sign up or renew after October 28.

• Delta Sky Club packaged snack cutback

  Delta did a very heavy food budget cut for the Sky Club, packaged snacks were one of the first easiest cuts. This wasn’t limited to the individual snacks. Many substitutions and cuts were made, and I’ve noticed people complaining more about the food ever since.

• It’s no coincidence she’s walking in front of a Spirit Airlines gate.

  She think she the main character pic.twitter.com/vnsn4oZzuI

  — Wild content (@NoCapMediaa) August 27, 2025

• I had missed this earlier but I’m glad to see Mesa raising additional financing. They’ve got a pretty generous product, but growing both a credit card portfolio and a mortgage business is an expensive proposition. More runway is great for the sustainability of the business, and for the rewards we’re earning.

• Someone rented from Hertz and didn’t get charged extra by the AI scanner.

  First time receiving “no damage” email. CLT/AI scanner, with pre-existing damage below trunk hatch.
  byu/howlsofwind inHertzRentals