An excellent, amusing Jonathan Rauch article from National Journal. The goal of the piece was to illustrate the crazy inefficiencies of health care delivery. For me, it just managed to make air travel seem sane. (HT: Marginal Revolution)
Friday Open Thread
What’s on your mind? Please hit the comments!
Extra Surcharges for 3 Days of Upcoming Holiday Travel
Rick Seaney reprots that American and United have added $10 fuel surcharges for travel on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and January 2 and 3. A ‘busy holiday travel day surcharge’ to be sure. But why use the fuel surcharge mechanism, as opposed to raising fares for travel on those days or limiting availability in lower fare buckets? I’ve written in the past (e.g. here) that fuel surcharges aren’t any different from price increases, but they do serve specific functions — usually as a means of bumping price on existing discount contracts or publicly signaling price intentions to competitors Here I assume given the limited duration of these are in effect it was viewed as a quick and dirty way to accomplish the job, albeit with a fairly blunt instrument.
10% off American Airlines Flights
They’ll e-mail you a 10% off code for use at AA.com for playing the AA Soccer Challenge game. Once you register you’ll receive an e-mail (check your spam folder!) with the 10% off discount code valid on travel for domestic departing flights purchased by Oct. 31, 2009 and travel complete Nov. 27, 2009 excluding travel Nov. 20-25. I recently noted a 1000 mile signup bonus for the American AAdvantage frequent flyer program. This soccer game offer also comes with a 1,000 mile enrollment bonus if you aren’t already a member of their program.
A Sincere Defense of the TSA
A commenter who is of course exaclty who they say they are offers up the following arguments: The TSA doesn’t steal stuff. If you criticize the TSA, you favor no security. Since we don’t have hijackings, the TSA is doing a great job. Hoisted from the Comments: James, it’s hard to believe someone took your knife. TSA personnel are told there’s a zero tolerance to stealing at the checkpoint. In other words, you’ll be fired. Screeners have been fired for this very same thing. If you see someone stealing like this, as with your knife, go find a supervisor and let them know. Why didn’t you mail your knife back to yourself? Things that are thrown away in the trash i.e. liquids. They are thrown out through the normal trash disposal. Again, TSA personnel will…
Westin Charlotte Free Starwood Points Offer Dead But Will Be Honored
On Friday I posted that the Westin Charlotte was offering 500 Starwood points to anyone who became of fan of theirs on Facebook. Unsurprisingly they woke up Monday morning and pulled the offer. But they’re going to honor it. According to their current Facebook status: Thank you for becoming a fan of the Westin Charlotte! Our “Join Facebook- receive 500 SPG points” promotion has ended (as of Sept. 21 at 9:30 am EST) – but please check back frequently for more offers and promotions in the near future! Due to an enormous response we ask for your patience in receiving your points for those who have fanned before today. What was surprising to me is that only 1000 people took advantage of the offer (they only currently have about 1000 fans). So perhaps readers of…
What Happens to the 13 Million Items the TSA Confiscates Each Year?
Weapons would go to law enforcement, most items to government surplus agencies for auction. And liquids that don’t fit in your freedom baggie? The journey for shampoo and other liquids in containers larger than 3 ounces, which were banned on board in 2006 when terrorists attempted to use liquid explosives, is a short one. They are usually immediately disposed of through private waste contractors. After the TSA tosses them in a bin beside security, they throw them away via private garbage disposal. ‘Cause the liquids are dangerous. The War on Water continues, unabated, and without any sense of irony.
US to South Africa $675 including tax
Iberia has a fare, with decent availability on Orbitz and their own website from October through March, of $675 all-in from New York to Johannesburg via Madrid. From Los Angeles it prices out at $760. Should be available from Other Iberia destinations as well. Take, for instance, JFK-JNB from November 18 to 23 — $675 Or January 19 to 25 — $675. (Hat tip to Raffles longhaul.)
Priority Club 5000 Point New Member Referral Bonus
Priority Club is offering 5000 points after first stay for referring a new member, and that member will also receives 5000 bonus points once their stay posts. The stay must be completed within 90 days of enrollment. You have to be logged out of your account in order to see the offer on the Priority Club website.
Making International Cell Phone Calls from 8 Cents a Minute While Traveling
Using an unlocked GSM cell phone, a callback service, and a cheap SIM card, I make international calls from my cell phone from about 8 cents a minute while traveling abroad. AT&T gave me the unlock code for my cell phone just for asking. There are plenty of SIM cards issued by European providers that offer free incoming calls throughout much of the world. And using a callback service, you convert outgoing calls into incoming calls. When I call the U.S. from Spain with my cell phone, I pay about 8 cents a minute. Or at least I used to. My SIM card of choice was 09 Mobile from Iceland. But they became defunct. And I hadn’t been happy with the other SIM services out there. Yesterday I was offered the recommendation on Flyertalk for…
