News and notes from around the interweb:

• Virgin Atlantic is eliminating its Austin flight, with last service January 7. They just couldn’t compete with British Airways which has connecting feed and American’s customer base in the city. At one point ,the flight’s loads had been in the 20s. A blow by the Delta-controlled carrier to the Austin focus city strategy, which still includes three-times weekly KLM to Amsterdam. (I had award travel booked on this flight, sigh.)

• TSA tweaks banned items list

• In fairness, American doesn’t repeat the word ‘premium’ like a mantra in its earnings call the way that Delta does.

  Great “first class” experience on @AmericanAir . Greeted with a busted seat and outlet receptacle that looked like it had been ripped apart. pic.twitter.com/KPy3hScyoH

  — Frank Ambrose (@Siena85) October 25, 2023

• American is done with corporate business. They don’t want to discount, and they don’t want the high-touch service. They’ve already laid off sales staff, restricted sales of their cheapest fares in some cases, announced a business rewards program that exclude bookings made through corporate channels. And now:

  American continues its efforts to ensure a travel agent never books the airline again. Sales support staff notified their jobs are gone after Nov. Calls to sales support will be routed to reservations where agents are supposedly being trained.

  Word salad statement from AA: pic.twitter.com/ZVYDRDh1V5

  — Brett Snyder (@crankyflier) October 26, 2023

• United reminds flight attendants that loyalty is a lifetime endeavor. The airline has gotten really good at celebrating customer milestones inflight

• Payment uncertainty is another reason not to wait in line for an airline’s hotel voucher to a property you wouldn’t want to sleep in