8 New Controversial Claims By Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary

by Gary Leff

ryan air plane landing
Feb 22 2020

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary believes a lot of controversial things and says them. I’ve often been skeptical that he even believes what he says – whenever he’s been out of the news for awhile he’ll talk about making customers of the European low cost carrier pay to use the lavatory, which I guess he believes entrenches the belief in customers’ minds that his airline is cheap.

However in a new interview he made made several claims only a couple of which are clearly self-serving.

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Airport Security Director Fired After Falling For A Scammer’s Trick, Buying Him Gift Cards

by Gary Leff

Feb 22 2020

Milwaukee airport’s security manager has been fired after falling for a scam, buying gift cards and sending them to someone in Saudi Arabia posing as her boss.

She’s the security director and she’s not careful dealing with online scammers. That’s not a good look, and she was let go for “substandard or careless job performance.” However what she ran into is very common and part of a multi-billion dollar scam that I’ve run into many times over the past three years.

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Fare Alert: Business Class Roundtrip To Russia From $1622

by Gary Leff

st. basils cathedral
Feb 21 2020

There’s currently business class tickets between New York and Russia – either Moscow or St. Petersburg – from just $1622 roundtrip with the transatlantic portion of the journey on oneworld member Finnair. That’s an amazing fare, and it’s available exactly when you’d want to make the trip whether you want the best weather or to steal an election.

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Marriott Extending Status, Waiving Cancel Fees and Points Expiration For Chinese Members

by Gary Leff

chinese temple
Feb 21 2020

Following a similar move already announced by Hyatt, Marriott is extending elite status by a year for residents of China and its Special Administrative Regions (as well as Taiwan so as not to get in trouble by differentiating it) due to the coronavirus outbreak and concomitant drop in travel to and from the region. This is based on account address date as of February 1, 2020.

Marriott is also extending Suite Night Awards and Free Night awards for these customers won’t expire points in these members’ accounts until February 2021.

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United Pilot Saves The Day For Four Passengers Stranded At Chicago O’Hare

by Gary Leff

airport
Feb 21 2020

Washington Post national political correspondent Jenna Johnson tried to make a quick trip home to D.C. on United after the Nevada caucuses, a surprise for her husband who wasn’t expecting to see her until after Super Tuesday.

She didn’t make her Las Vegas – Washington Dulles flight, while roads into the airport were closed off while the President left town, but United rebooked her onto a connecting flight through Chicago. It went mechanical, jeopardizing her O’Hare connection.

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