The Hilton Austin’s President Was Appointed In A Corrupt Bargain

by Gary Leff

Mar 06 2021

The Hilton Austin is owned by the City of Austin. Or, technically, by a separate entity created by the city. The city appoints the company’s board, and can amend its bylaws. But because it is a ‘private’ entity owned by the city, it is able to apply for a federal Paycheck Protection Loan to cover payroll costs it is going to be incurring anyway. Cities themselves cannot apply for these forgivable loans.

When applying for the PPP loan was discussed at the City Council meeting, other dirty laundry about the Austin Hilton got aired.

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Japan Airlines’ Mysterious New Dallas – Nagoya Flight

by Gary Leff

japan airlines plane
Mar 06 2021

Dallas will actually have flights to more international destinations this month than it did two years ago (56 vs. 52), thanks to American Airlines destinations that have been added to Mexico and Central America offsetting losses in long haul.

But the flight that’s most striking to me is the addition of Dallas – Fort Worth to Nagoya, Japan. It’s striking to see a new destination in Asia, a previously unflown route, and while Japan is closed to most U.S. visitors. And it’s surprising to see the flight so full.

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Southwest Airlines Kicks UFC Star Off Flight When His 2 Year Old Wouldn’t Mask

by Gary Leff

Mar 06 2021

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was kicked off of a Southwest Airlines flight on Thursday along with his two year old son who wouldn’t wear a mask.

He wrote on Instagram, “F[…] @southwestair got kicked off because my 2 year old son wouldn’t put his mask over his face. This coward flight attendant hid his bitch a[..] in the bathroom.” He didn’t think it was fair to ask his two year old to mask when the two pilots weren’t wearing one.

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American Airlines ‘Vacation Day Plus $50’ Incentive For Employees To Vaccinate

by Gary Leff

Mar 05 2021

American Airlines is offering employees who get vaccinated an extra vacation day and $50 in rewards. Here’s the employee message from CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom about the incentive – something that will become increasingly important as supplies become more abundant and we need to convince vaccine hesitant people to help us stop the pandemic.

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Weeks After Flight, Mask Wearing Passengers Banned For Not Wearing Masks

by Gary Leff

spirit plane
Mar 05 2021

Usually it’s fairly cut-and-dried, people don’t dispute the facts or there is a contemporaneous incident with witnesses. Here there doesn’t appear to have been a social media maelstrom, and the family says this came out of the blue. There’s no due process involved. Someone could easily be banned by mistake, maybe a cabin crew member writes down the wrong row number by mistake or the wrong seats (right row, seats across the aisle).

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