How Many People Fly Every Day In The U.S. Without Valid ID

by Gary Leff

Mar 19 2022

For years TSA has been warning that if you don’t get a ‘REAL ID’-compliant drivers license you won’t be able to fly and I’ve explained that isn’t true because you can fly without ID, in fact people do it all the time.

The requirement of an ID to fly began as a ‘do something’ policy after the explosion of TWA flight 800. President Clinton demanded to be able to immediately announce new airline security measures, and told his National Security Council team to come up with some. Yet to this day around 700,000 people per year fly without showing valid ID.

Continue Reading »

Wide Open Europe Business Class For 90,000 Miles Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

Mar 18 2022

“Fifth freedom” routes are sometimes the easiest to book on miles, and the most fun to fly. Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, actually operates two flights between the U.S. and Europe – New York JFK to Milan and Newark to Athens. And the Newark – Athens flight is wide open for awards in business class.

Moreover, while Emirates’ program often charges quite a lot of miles for first class, relatively short distances like U.S. – Europe in business class are quite reasonable. In fact this one is a steal at just 90,000 miles roundtrip and $220.

Continue Reading »

Delta On Verge Of Buying 100 Boeing 737 MAXs

by Gary Leff

Mar 18 2022

Delta is known for buying only planes from foreign manufacturers. If they buy Boeing, it’s used. But proving that Boeing will sell to anyone, and Delta will buy anything if it’s cheap enough, Delta Air Lines is reportedly in talks for 100 Boeing 737-10 MAX jets in a deal that could be announced in the coming weeks.

Continue Reading »

The One Thing That Could Extend The Air Travel Mask Mandate Past April 18

by Gary Leff

Mar 17 2022

The federal transportation mask mandate should have been lifted, or allowed to expire March 18. However it was extended – for just one month. And the broad expectation is that it will end in mid-April, as part of the administration declaring victory on Covid-19. There’s a strong political reason to do so before the mid-term elections. And it makes good sense, too.

But one thing could still change this.

Continue Reading »

It’s Time To End The Covid Testing Requirement For Travel To The U.S.

by Gary Leff

Mar 17 2022

Any advocate for testing travelers entering the United States needs to articulate what benefit the testing provides now, why it’s enough of a benefit to justify the restriction, and what condition needs to exist to remove the rule. No one has even tried to do that, because the testing rule isn’t about protecting the country from Covid-19 (it cannot do that) it’s about optics.

Continue Reading »