Passengers Are Causing Chaos On Flights By Airdropping Bomb Threats And Porn

by Gary Leff

Jul 06 2023

A Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Maui diverted to Oakland on Monday when a passenger Airdropped a bomb threat. The plane was evacuated, passengers and luggage were searched, and no explosives were found. After five hours and forty minutes on the ground the flight was permitted to continue to Hawaii, where it arrived about eight hours late.

The pilot lied to passengers during this diversion, reporting a mechanical issue – presumably so as not to tip off an actual terrorist. However, crew knew and a passenger reports hearing a flight attendant break down, “Get me the f— off this plane.”

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Passenger Uses Toes To Control Entertainment Screen When Business Class Seat Doors Close

by Gary Leff

Jul 06 2023

One British Airways passenger says that when they set their business class seat up as a bed, and they’re lying down, they find it much more convenient to control their television with their feet. That way they don’t have to get back up. And they wonder if anyone else does this, and whether there are other embarrassing things that they do when the doors to their business class suite are closed?

Oh, and they “like to be barefoot anyway, so why not?”

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American Airlines Reduces The Cost To Make Same Day Confirmed Flight Changes

by Gary Leff

Jul 06 2023

American Airlines is making it cheaper in some cases for passengers to change their flight on the same day of travel, for instance to fly home earlier after meetings are over or move to a later flight if things come up.

They used to charge $75 to do this, waiving the fee for their top Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status members. Now they’ve introduced dynamic pricing, offering same day changes starting at $50.

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Cathay Pacific Announces They’re Devaluing The Asia Miles Program

by Gary Leff

first class
Jul 06 2023

Cathay Pacific has announced a devaluation which goes into effect October 1. Unlike U.S. carriers they still have a true award chart, which means that when raising award prices they have to tell you. And they’re giving three months’ advance notice.

Make no mistake, though: Asia Miles will be worth less. The FAQ for the changes even has a question “Are you devaluing Asia Miles?” And even they do not say no.

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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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