Jacob Sullum finds himself defending the TSA against an even bigger idiot. As the New York Times piece he cites explains Mr. Hawley said that checkpoint screeners were opening one bag in four to look for scissors and small tools spotted on X-rays, and that this was a distraction from identifying greater threats. “It’s not about scissors, it’s about bombs,” Mr. Hawley testified. “Sorting through thousands of bags a day at two or three minutes apiece to sort out small scissors and tools does not help security. It hurts it.” But Stevens wants to reduce the number of bags going through checkpoints, to make it easier for the TSA to Take Scissors Away: Mr. Stevens proposed instead that the security agency reduce the number of bags that passengers may carry on board to one from…
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Mileage Pro Book Available with Free Shipping
Just got my copy of Mileage Pro in the mail. I plan to read it on my flight to Miami Friday morning. Alas, I ordered too early — OAG is offering free shipping through December 31st with promo code DGD5MY (I’d have saved $3.95!). Use the promo code at checkout and hit ‘recalculate’ and the cost of shipping and handling will come off. Oh well, I paid full price for shipping when I ordered it a week or so ago. I guess that’ll help me give the book for Christmas. An introduction to the book and free chapter can be found here.
US Citizens Permitted to Visit North Korea in 2006
My colleague Curtis passes along that Koryo Tours will be making available North Korea trips for US citizens in 2006. They brought 150 of the total 190 US citizens attending the Arirang Mass Games in 2005, and North Korea will be repeating the games in 2006. Tours are offered from Beijing. Scroll down to the bottom part of the page for details on US citizens visiting the DPRK. Personally I find visiting the country to be intriguing, it’s one of the most backward repressive regimes on the planet and international exchange and visits can only serve to open it up to the rest of the world and benefit its people. I’m also not concerned about the government earning foreign currency from visitors, to some extent even that can only serve to help a people while…
Is Elite Status Less Special?
Scott McCartney’s Wall Street Journal column argues today that airline offers making elite status easier to earn are swelling the ranks and diluting the benefits. Being an elite-level frequent flier won’t be quite as special next year. Eager to raise cash and satisfy their credit-card company partners — who have propped up struggling airlines financially — several carriers have made it easier to qualify for premium-level status as an enticement to spend more on credit cards. Some recent offers have also made it a banner year for “mileage runs,” trips made solely to push mileage totals over qualifying thresholds. As a result, the ranks of premium travelers who get perks like upgrades, exit-row seating and preboarding privileges are swelling — eroding the exclusivity long associated with elite status. By one count, the number of elites…
ING Direct Up to 3.75% Interest
Just realized that my ING Direct savings account is now paying out 3.75% interest. Not bad for a savings account. Not bad for a 12-month CD for that matter (not the best, mind you, but more than many). I only keep short-term dollars there, money I’m likely to need soon, but I find it quite easy to make fee-free electronic transfers between it and my two checking accounts. (Which also makes it a good workaround to make free electronic transfers between those two checking accounts.)
Dive in the dumpster, fly on the plane
Last month I reported on the Wendys/Airtran promo where you earn a free roundtrip ticket for 64 sodas. Naturally, this seems to be leading to a rash of dumpster diving. Danielle and a friend spent nearly two hours digging through dozens of grease- and ketchup-smeared garbage bags outside two Manhattan Wendy’s restaurants searching for soft drink cups with AirTran frequent-flier coupons printed on the side. In all, the pair collected about 330 cups, more than enough for two round-trip flights for each of them. “It’s pretty disgusting work, especially when you grab a handful of chewed meat,” says Danielle, who asked that her full name be withheld to ensure that AirTran would honor her claim. “But it’s about the only way I can afford to see my family [in San Luis Obispo, Calif.].” … Some…
New York Hotels Gone Wild!
One of the easiest stories to do on travel right now is the exploding cost of Manhattan hotel rooms. USA Today‘s Matt Krantz turns in the obligatory piece, focusing on the $330 a night Super 8 and then draws the stark contrast For less than the price of the Times Square Super 8, guests could stay this week at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, for $249 a night. It boasts an award-winning high tea, a cigar bar and full spa. The Super 8 offers an iron and ironing board. Of course, the Ritz-Carlton Phoenix isn’t anywhere near Wall Street or Broadway, making it difficult to use as a jumping off point for New York City’s business and sights. But the point is still a shocking one. (On less busy nights New York City properties are of…
Rowell Reviews Mileage Pro
David Rowell reviews the new Randy Petersen/Tim Winship book, Mileage Pro. His bottom-line: If people buy the book to get a complete standalone and ordered presentation of all data that would otherwise take a lot of surfing to try and piece together, they may be disappointed. But if they buy the book seeking a strategic overview of what mileage programs are all about and how best to approach them, they’ll be very pleased. My copy hasn’t arrived in the mail yet, it was held up slightly waiting to be autographed by the authors, but I’m looking forward to reading it!
TSA Adds People to Selectee List By Mistake
About 30,000 people were mistakenly added to a terrorism watch list that causes them to be selected for extra screening. Kennedy said that travelers have had to ask the TSA to clear their identities from watch lists by submitting a “Passenger Identity Verification Form” and three notarized copies of identification documents. On average, he said, it takes officials 45 to 60 days to evaluate the request and make any necessary changes. The government made a mistake. It’s up to affected people to file paperwork to get things straightened out. But even then the government still adds an extra hassle because there’s still someone else (not those affected) out there. After submitting their notarized forms and identifications, and waiting for evaluations, the vast majority of the people mistakenly matched to names on the watch list have…
Now I Know What I Want for Christmas
The Airport Security Screening Playset — unfortunately, it’s out of stock. They’re supposed to email me when it’s available again. Concurring Opinions already has one, and reports that it’s not very realistic: There was only one passenger to be screened. Where were the long lines? The passenger’s clothing wasn’t removable for strip searching. The passenger’s shoes couldn’t be removed either. Her luggage fit easily inside the X-ray machine. There were no silly warning signs not to carry guns or bombs onto the plane. And there was no No Fly List or Selectee List included in the playset. Another oddity was that the toy came with two guns, one for the police officer and one that either belonged to the X-ray screener or the passenger. The luggage actually opened up, and the gun…
