Male Model Has $646,000 Confiscated at Airport

by Gary Leff

Sep 13 2015

In June I wrote about a man who had his life savings confiscated because his luggage smelled of pot. It was one of over 90 such seizures in a year at the Cincinnati airport alone.

In July I wrote about a man who had $44,000 seized at New York JFK even though he was never charged with a crime. He couldn’t get his money back because it took him 90 days to get assistance jumping through all of the required hoops to file a petition for the funds to be returned — and the government only gives you 35 days to file in federal court.

Of course famous people who actually become abusive inflight don’t suffer such punishments.

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Business Class to Asia With American Miles Wide Open, No Fuel Surcharges

by Gary Leff

Sep 12 2015

Japan Airlines is launching 4 times weekly service (Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Friday in both directions) between Dallas and Tokyo on November 30.

I was not aware that there was business class space available. I usually use the British Airways website for searching Japan Airlines award space, and that space is not showing up on BA.com. (The American and Qantas websites do not show JAL space at all.)

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One-Way United Awards for $104 or 7500 Miles, and Other Great Redemption Values If You Act Fast

by Gary Leff

Sep 12 2015

Usually when airlines run award redemption sales, you’re limited to their own flights. But through Tuesday September 15, Star Alliance program Avianca LifeMile is offering redemption discounts on partner flights!

And usually when airlines run award redemption sales, you’re limited to economy flights. This LifeMiles sale even includes business and international first class.

It pairs with a big discount on purchased miles at just 1.4 cents apiece.

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Why Delta Thinks They’re Too Good to Have an Interline Agreement With American

by Gary Leff

Sep 12 2015

Seventeen years ago I used to credit Delta flights to United Mileage Plus. You could do that back then, although it was a pain because the miles almost never automatically posted. Partnerships change.

But it’s striking that even the most basic level of partnership — the interline agreement, that nearly all major airlines have with each other — is ending for American and Delta. And now we know why.

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