Tourist Who Defaced Rome’s Colosseum Offers The George Costanza Defense

by Gary Leff

Jul 05 2023

A tourist carved “Ivan+Haley 23” into the Roman Colosseum, the elliptical amphitheatre at the center of the city just to the east of the Roman Forum. It was completed in 80 AD under the emporer Titus.

Facing five years in jail and a $16,000 fine, 27 year old fitness instructor and British resident Ivan Dimitrov was tracked down by Italian police in England after a five day search. He has apologized, saying he didn’t realize the Colosseum was so old. Presumably if it dated only to the twelfth century the carvings would have been alright?

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Father And Son Run Down Jetbridge And Chase Their Plane After Missing Flight

by Gary Leff

Jul 05 2023

A father and son from Israel turned up late for their flight to Tel Aviv on AnadoluJet. By the time they made it to the gate their flight was pushing back. The jetbridge had been detached from the Airbus A321 – but it hadn’t left the gate – so they made a run for it, presumably planning to leap from jetbridge to the aircraft like Fonzi jumping the shark. Need I mention that the plane’s door was closed?

When they made it out to the end of the jetbridge they climbed down onto the tarmac – and jumped onto the tug that was pushing back their flight.

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American-JetBlue Alliance Is Dead: JetBlue Won’t Appeal Government’s Anti-Trust Win

by Gary Leff

Jul 05 2023

JetBlue’s prize remains its acquisition of Spirit Airlines, which they’re still pursuing against government objections. If JetBlue were to walk away from the merger they’d owe American a breakup fee. This ruling takes them off the hook for that.

So not entirely unexpectedly JetBlue says they will not appeal, leaving the partnership dead.

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The Frequent Flyer Community Has Split Into Two Camps, And They’ve Confusingly Taken The Same Name

by Gary Leff

airport
Jul 05 2023

There have been a number of frequent flyer seminars, in-person gatherings to learn about strategy in miles and points. But the “OG” is probably the Chicago Seminar, held each October, at the Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village. It started back in 2010, and I helped out a lot in the beginning. I gave four talks the first year. I spoke multiple times the second year.

This year there are two events, marketing themselves as the Chicago Seminar, over the exact same dates. The Peoples Front of Judea has split with the Judean Peoples Front.

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Upscale U.S. Hotels Are Failing To Deliver Guest Satisfaction

by Gary Leff

Jul 04 2023

For two years hotels complained about lack of staffing and supply chain, offering up excuses for high rates and low service. But that lack of service has in some sense been baked into the equation, as hotel properties try to grow profit margins – focusing on short-term gains while taking on long-term risk to their business. And since guest experience isn’t the key focus, it suffers more than the cost cuts alone would require.

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3 Passengers Held In A Turkish Prison After Filming Flight Attendant Doing Safety Demo

by Gary Leff

Jul 04 2023

Nine Israeli citizens were arrested on arrival in Istanbul after a flight attendant on their Pegasus Airlines flight complained she had been sexually harassed.

The passengers say that the crewmember simply “didn’t like Israelis.” But one member of the group “took a video of her giving the safety instructions before takeoff” and she used that as a pretext for her complaint, though she’d asked the passenger to delete the video and he complied.

Three members of the group have reportedly been held in a Turkish prison on the Syrian border for a week.

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US Government Warns Against Travel To China

by Gary Leff

temple
Jul 04 2023

The U.S. government is warning Americans not to travel to China over laws and practice there allowing for arbitrary detention for political reasons, and for prosecution over the contents of private emails.

New legislation went into effect July 1 allowing the government to take even greater steps. But what about Hong Kong? And transit through the airport there?

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