News and notes from around the interweb:

• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is again adding fuel surcharges to award tickets on Emirates but remember that not all destinations have fuel surcharges, and many destinations they’re quite modest, so fly to Hong Kong, Colombo, Tokyo, or Seoul.

  

• The American Express Plenti program appears to be imploding.

• 50% discount on British Airways economy awards between to or from London January 4 through June 30 if you book by December 17.

  British Airways economy redemptions are usually stupid because fuel surcharges often make up the bulk of the cost of a paid ticket. You’re spending miles and still paying almost as much as you would if you straight up bought the ticket without worrying about finding award space. The only reason to do this is the flexibility to cancel an award ticket for a fee. Avios are good for short haul awards without big fuel surcharges, or premium awards where the value substantially exceeds those charges.

  Head for Points says “you may find that there are good deals to be had” because “you are getting closer to 1p per Avios” during peak travel times. I call that the soft bigotry of low expectations.

• Former American Airlines CEO comes out against tax reform

• American is replacing its “unpopular breakfast sandwiches”

  

• Watch Gwen Stefani get a full body pat down from the TSA. Don’t think we should be watching this? It happens to everyone else, every day, the TSA is to blame not the paparazzi.