I Don’t See How This Outfit Is Inappropriate For Travel. Do You?

by Gary Leff

May 24 2022

According to Alaska Airlines employees determine subjectively what they consider appropriate given their own biases, prejudices, and beliefs. And I can actually accept that because Alaska underscores that “bare feet are never acceptable” and no statement has ever been more true in the history of aviation.

Alaska finally confirms “Alaska does not have a dress code policy that would prohibit this guest’s attire.” So they agree with me – nothing wrong with how this passenger was dressed, which means their non-policy policy is to blame.

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The United Employee Who Fought An Ex-NFL Player Has Been Fired

by Gary Leff

May 24 2022

We know know that the passenger was former NFL player Brendan Langley (who was a third round draft pick as a cornerback by the Denver Broncos in 2017). He currently plays for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. Langley was arrested and charged with assault. He appears to have swung first, at least based on available footage.

The employee should have de-escalated, not exacerbated the incident, and shouldn’t have engaged in the brawl beyond defending himself. He was employed by United Airlines subsidiary United Ground Express and has been terminated.

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Austin Airport Plans To Use Eminent Domain To Seize Their Own Property

by Gary Leff

May 23 2022

This is a little bit insane. In 2015 Austin entered into a 30 year lease so that a private company could build a second airport terminal. The ‘South Terminal’ also has two 5 year extension options built into the lease. But the city wants to use eminent domain to terminate the lease, because it now prefers to expand the main terminal.

They’ve offered to compensate the builders less than $2 million for a project that cost as much as $20 million, while the city teaches every business it would be dumb to enter into a lease on city property because no deal with Austin is guaranteed.

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American Airlines Wants Flight Attendants To Rearrange Beverage Carts Two Per Flight

by Gary Leff

May 23 2022

Flight attendants rearrange the beverage carts they’re given in order to serve customers efficiently as they move down the aisle. That’s almost a requirement to provide beverage service. American Airlines is now telling flight attendants that when they do this, they must also restore beverage carts to their original organization prior to the end of the flight.

The airline says that if they do not do this, caterers won’t “salvage and recycle products for future flights.” They want flight attendants, pressed for time and who are supposed to be providing service to customers, organizing things for the benefit of caterers who are on the ground.

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Amazing Yoga Feat: Flight Attendant Shuts Overhead Bins With Her Feet

by Gary Leff

May 23 2022

Flight attendants sometimes engage in hijinks when there aren’t any passengers around. Sometimes that gets them in trouble, like when an airline decides that viral videos of crew inside of overhead bins shouldn’t circulate or when the photos are too provocative.

And other times the stunts they pull become instant sensations because of the skill and daring they display, like this Virgin Australia crewmember whose gymnastics and yoga gets put to use closing overhead bins. Upside down. With her feet. While maintaining perfect style and grace – and her uniform.

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Which Hotel Program Is Really The Best?

by Gary Leff

May 22 2022

We’ve seen re-launches of several hotel programs during the pandemic. Smaller programs like GHA Discovery and Shangri-La Circle are brand new. GHA, which has around 500 hotels but is adding several hundred more, was just a benefits program – but now offers cash rebates to spend at their properties (‘Discovery Dollars’). I really wish I had more opportunities to stay with both chains.

IHG Rewards has branded as IHG One Rewards – the one meant to signal that they’ve now ‘unified’ their brands, with all new elite benefits that even apply at Kimpton and Intercontinental hotel properties. With all these changes, which program is best?

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