Another victory for pressure on Mineta. The TSA will end “random” screenings at airplane gates. This means an end to the practice known as Gate Rape. These screenings were not random — frequent flyers learned just not to be first in line, and to walk onto the plane right after a screener had tagged someone else. These screenings were not effective, so this is good news. For some reason TSA thinks that dumping out our passengers’ underwear at the gate after it has already been dumped out at the security screening checkpoint makes TSA look like they are on top of things,” (Continental Airlines Chairman Gordon) Bethune said in a speech to the Wings club of New York in June. This good news comes after another idiotic measure was withdrawn — passengers may now carry…
Fun with google-surfing.
Fun with google-surfing. Search for “Go to hell” and check out the first result. (Link via Kasia.)
The computer smiley face
The computer smiley face turned twenty today. 🙂
Real-time access to the
Real-time access to the GALILEO Compter Reservation System online is available, thanks to a kind soul who translates German — > English. You can check fare class availability on any route, any day, any airline. Thanks, Ben!
The U.S. uses
The U.S. uses e-vite to organize the war on Iraq. (Just wish they had spelled Baghdad properly. Oh well, maybe Dan Quayle was recruited by the folks over in Foggy Bottom or at the Pentagon.)
The great interconnected economy. As
The great interconnected economy. As first class travel falls, so does demand for caviar.
This USA Today piece
This USA Today piece summarizes the changes in airfare rules over the past month. If you don’t already know what’s happened, you need to.
Mile High Club Forces Airplane
Mile High Club Forces Airplane Refit. Virgin Atlantic’s newest planes need to have their baby changing tables replaced as a result of attempts to join the Mile High Club.
I haven’t written anything yet
I haven’t written anything yet today. Likely cause? Blogstipation. (Link via The Volokh Conspiracy.)
National Airlines will emerge from
National Airlines will emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Las Vegas-based carrier has managed to find $112 million in new financing. Kudos to them! However, their CEO made a rather bizarre statement about the role of private dollars: “This financial package displays the support the private sector has shown for our business plan and their recognition of the evolution of the airline industry toward efficient, low-fare carriers. Unfortunately, the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) failed to recognize this dynamic change in the industry when they rejected National’s loan guarantee application.” Let’s see — they got the dollars they needed from the private sector — so why should the government have given them guaranteed loans? On the other hand, one statement from the National CEO does ring true: “The ATSB has sent a clear signal that…
