U.S. Air Travel Melts Down On New Year’s As Employees Call In Sick

by Gary Leff

Jan 01 2022

Cancellations are abundant across airlines at this point, and are already spreading into Sunday and even Monday, despite incentives for employees to show up. Some may come into work sick, others may be calling in sick for the usual New Year’s reasons (with Covid meaning there aren’t the extra crew available to pick up those shifts). And schedule turmoil extends because planes and crew wind up out of position and airlines take time to recover from that. Meanwhile, while it’s possible that Omicron spreads so fast we’ll be peaking soon in parts of the country, the number of people unavailable to work appears to be growing.

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United Airlines Kicks Passenger Off A Flight For Wearing A Mask That’s Too Good

by Gary Leff

Dec 31 2021

United Airlines reportedly kicked off a passenger over mask compliance. That’s hardly anything new in 2021. In fact, the number of unruly passenger complaint reported to the FAA this year – by far – involves masks. What makes this situation unique, though, is that the passenger was kicked off over a mask that affords too much protection.

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My Million American AAdvantage Miles Are No Longer Missing

by Gary Leff

Dec 31 2021

It’s been drama on a lot of levels because the offer was – unsurprisingly – pulled early and it took some time to sort out getting Mastercard to pay more than budgeted on this bonus offer. And then miles per posting, but not properly for everyone, and then being taken away.

There’s still no miles earned reflected in my SimplyMiles account. However, miles are posting to AAdvantage accounts, which you can see at AA.com.

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“Spirit Airlines Karen” Misses Flight And Runs Out Onto Tarmac As Passengers Applaud Her Arrest

by Gary Leff

Dec 30 2021

Three days ago video was posted to TikTok of a woman – dubbed Karen – out on the tarmac after arriving late to the gate for her Spirit Airlines flight. We’ve all been there, running to make a connection or arriving to the airport late, and showing up at the gate with the boarding door just having closed. There’s no defeat quite like it.

This woman wasn’t going to take matters lying down. If the plane is leaving without you, just run after it.

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Passenger Spends 5 Hours In The Lavatory To Avoid Spreading Covid-19

by Gary Leff

Dec 30 2021

Flights have diverted when passengers spent too long in the lavatory, or left their electronic devices behind there. But passengers don’t usually spend the bulk of the flight inside except when airlines take off with more passegners than seats.

One woman though spent 5 hours in the lavatory of her Icelandair flight because she tested herself for Covid while in the air, found she was positive, and was determined not to expose other passengers to the virus.

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