The Latest on Chase’s 5/24 Rules for Getting Rewards Credit Cards

by Gary Leff

credit card with chains wrapped around it
May 24 2020

May 4th is Star Wars Day (“May the Fourth Be With You”). It’s easy to forget in the middle of a global pandemic that today – May 24th – is Chase Day because of the importance of 5/24 in whether you’ll be approved for a rewards credit card. In most cases you can only get approved if you’ve had fewer than 5 new credit card accounts in the last 24 months.

I’ve talked about this guideline in the past. If you’re already an expert on this, stop here, but 5/24 is important enough in signing up for credit cards and there are enough new readers that it is worth going over.

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Coronavirus Testing Is Now A Hotel Marketing Tool, Not Just A Safety Precaution

by Gary Leff

May 23 2020

Some hotels are realizing that requiring COVID-19 tests can be a marketing tool. Just as seeing everyone else wear face masks on a plane makes many other passengers feel more at ease about their situation.

Right now it’s difficult to feel safe going out into the world. There’s a lot of fear, even beyond what’s warranted by the uncertain conditions of the world. So how can a resort convince you it’s safe to stay? By telling you everyone else there has been tested.

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Today I Learned: Colt Manufactured A Special Gun Just For Pilots To Use In The Cockpit

by Gary Leff

May 23 2020

While the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program has had its scrapes and embarrassments, its record remains better than that of the Federal Air Marshal Program. Indeed frustrations with the air marshals are the reason that these post-9/11 efforts to arm pilots were hardly the first time this was considered.

Eastern Airlines commissioned a Colt revolver in the 1970s to combat hijackings. The charge was to develop a special revolver that wouldn’t cause problems for the aircraft if they penetrated the plane’s skin or its windows.

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Airlines Can’t Make Money With Social Distancing, But They Can’t Make Money Without It

by Gary Leff

May 23 2020

Passengers keep complaining on social media that planes are too full. They aren’t subject to social distancing orders. They are, however, caught in a Catch 22. Blocking the middle seat makes people more comfortable, and people need to be more comfortable in order to return to travel. Air travel is a lot safer than people think but they need to feel safe and not all airlines are helping people do that.

Many people will stay away from flying precisely because there’s not going to be social distancing on planes, and they do not feel safe. Airlines can’t make money blocking all middle seats but they can’t make money until we decide we’re done with the need to block middle seats.

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