Marriott Reveals They Had My Unencrypted Passport and Credit Card Information, and Now Hackers Have It

by Gary Leff

man in suit looking at computer screen
Feb 24 2019

Marriott let me know that the hack of their systems released my unencrypted passport number and unencrypted credit card number. Even this information isn’t helpful because they don’t let me know which number or whether or not it’s expired.

The data breach compromised 383 million records including 5.25 million unencrypted passport numbers and 8.6 million payment cards. Marriott claims most credit cards were expired which means they have that information, but even though they’re telling me my credit card number was compromised they aren’t telling me the expiration date of the card.

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Airlines Can’t Ban Carry On Bags on Flights to Europe

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Feb 24 2019

United proudly is the only major airline that has kept the ban on carry on bags for basic economy customers. In fact they’re more punitive than that, even. A basic economy customer who isn’t checking a bag isn’t allowed to check-in online or via app. They have to show up at the airport early in order to stand in line to check in, so an agent can personally verify they don’t have a carry on.

Airlines have rolled out basic economy fares between the US and Europe but the carry on bag restriction didn’t take hold for transatlantic travel. Now it seems like it might not be able to even if airlines tried.

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Southwest Mechanics are Hamstringing the Airline, and it’s the Culture that May Suffer

by Gary Leff

southwest plane
Feb 24 2019

The airline has been consistently down aircraft over the past couple of weeks and they haven’t been able to fly a portion of their schedule. The carrier has been down 60 planes a day because a group of mechanics are writing up everything they can find to write up.

The airline is almost certainly right that there’s a coordinated illegal job action on the part of mechanics, and it’s causing damage to the airline. However the carrier has maintained a strong culture of working with its employees. It didn’t engage in layoffs during economic downturns. It has managed to retain a culture where employees generally like their jobs. Southwest Airlines isn’t the same place it was under Herb Kelleher but these sorts of confrontations chip away at what’s left of the culture little by little.

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Leaked Details of New Southwest Airlines Snack Service for Hawaii Flights

by Gary Leff

hawaii
Feb 23 2019

After many years of speculation, sixteen months ago Southwest finally announced they would fly to Hawaii. How long have we been waiting? In December 2010 they advertised for an ETOPS manager suggesting they were planning long overwater flights.

They have yet to begin selling tickets but details of their plans have been trickling out ever since. Last year they confirmed several Hawaii routes: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, and Sacramento will see Hawaii service and they’ll fly to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Lihue.

And now we know what they will serve inflight, too.

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As Airlines Raise Drink Prices, Man Carries Giant Beer Through the Airport

by Gary Leff

Feb 23 2019

The price of inflight beer and wine – like all other airline fees – has gone up. You may now pay $9 for a drink. And just like the movie theater you aren’t supposed to bring your own snacks, but at those prices how can you not at least consider it?

That looks to be what happened at Washington Dulles airport as a man is seen carrying a giant beer on one of the airport’s mobile lounges between concourses.

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