Department Of Justice Is Ramping Up Its Investigation Of The American Airlines – JetBlue Partnership

by Gary Leff

jfk art
Apr 14 2021

The Department of Transportation approved the American Airlines-JetBlue alliance in New York and Boston. Those airlines had to give up takeoff and landing slots in New York, and commit to increase their flying (or lose more slots).

However it’s a new administration and other airlines aren’t happy with the increased competition JetBlue and American will provide. So the Department of Justice is ramping up a probe of the deal, taking another bite at the apple for special interests.

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Australia Says They Might Not Open Borders Even After Vaccinating Everyone

by Gary Leff

syndey opera house
Apr 14 2021

Australia has jettisoned its vaccination goals, fearful of clotting risks of the AstraZeneca shot, and now says they could keep borders closed even after everyone in the country has eventually been vaccinated. Their risk-reward calculus is different than most of the world’s, and having kept Covid-19 largely under control they’re desperately afraid of any misstep no matter the cost.

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New CDC Study Promotes Blocked Middle Seats On Planes, But Doesn’t Say What Most Think It Says

by Gary Leff

airplane seats
Apr 14 2021

You’re going to see a lot about a new CDC-released study that suggests blocking middle seats is important protection for air travel during the pandemic. However the coverage is going to be very misleading.

All that the new research tells us is that being a bit farther away from someone infected with the virus is probably better than being right next to them, which we already know.

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No, Flying After Vaccination Isn’t Like “Walking Into A Fire”

by Gary Leff

Apr 13 2021

On Meet The Press an infectious diseases expert gave this scary – and completely misleading – take on flying after being vaccinated against Covid-19: “Let me just give an example on the airplane flight. When you get vaccinated, it’s like buying a fireproof suit that works 90 to 95 percent of the time. But it doesn’t work all the time. So why want to walk into a big fire if you don’t have to?”

This completely misrepresents the risk of Covid-19, and how vaccine effectiveness is reported.

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Canadians Are Exploiting The Taxicab Loophole To Avoid Covid Quarantine

by Gary Leff

Apr 13 2021

Canada’s hotel quarantine rules had a loophole. Passengers returning to Canada by air had to spend three nights at a government quarantine hotel waiting for Covid-19 test on arrival results, while those who crossed the border by land could quarantine at home.

This can be avoided by flying into a U.S. airport near the Canadian border and renting a car or taking a cab. That’s exactly what’s happening.

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After A Year, Earning Miles With Bask Bank Has Proven Out

by Gary Leff

airline cabin
Apr 13 2021

I first wrote about Bask Bank and the Bask Savings Account at the beginning of 2020. I’ve been saving and earning with them for a year and the mileage-earning strategy has proven-out.

That’s not really a surprise. I’ve been a customer of Bask Bank’s parent, Texas Capital Bank, since July 2003. But it’s great to see that the value proposition has remained constant throughout the past year’s turmoil, and even looks more attractive compared to today’s alternatives.

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