United Airlines Karen Freaks Out When She Can’t Drink Her Own Wine On Board

by Gary Leff

Jul 29 2023

Wednesday’s United Airlines flight 1813 from Houston to Los Angeles diverted to Phoenix when a woman went berserk over being unable to drink wine. It appears that she wanted to drink her own wine she’d brought on board with her.

She argues with a flight attendant. She argues with other passengers. And all she wanted was to drink wine. But instead of wine she whines, gets told to sit down – or get arrested. Never a good idea, she challenges: “Let’s do it.” But the United crew wasn’t playing.

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Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge Boston

by Gary Leff

Jul 29 2023

The new Chase Sapphire Lounge Boston Logan airport is better than expected. I visited just before noon on a Friday and it was busy but not overcrowded. The food and drink options were good. There was too long of a wait for a shower and a ‘wellness room’ but otherwise the first U.S. Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is an absolutely great addition to the pantheon.

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Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Competition Act Fails

by Gary Leff

credit cards
Jul 29 2023

The Senate passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act without the Credit Card Competition Act from Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) included, pushing off risk of new rules driving down interchange rates in the near-term. To placate the Senators, Senate leadership promised a future vote on their long-running quest to deliver a gift to retailers at the expense of card issuers.

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Advice From The CEO Of Loyalty Startup Bilt, Fastest Company Ever To A $1.5 Billion Valuation

by Gary Leff

Jul 27 2023

I recently had the chance to catch up with Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards. He’s a serial entrepreneur, having sold connections tool Humin to Tinder; became their Vice President of Product (he’s rumored to have created the separate celebrity version of Tinder); and helped launch a company that solves the cashflow problems renters face from security deposits.

And he’s created the first loyalty program for renters which underscores that the single largest expense for most people wasn’t covered by loyalty marketing before. It’s such a no-brainer that Bilt became the fastest company to hit a $1.5 billion valuation, just over a little more than a year after public launch.

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