What Do We Know About The Mutated Covid-19 Strain That’s Shutting Down The U.K.?

by Gary Leff

Dec 20 2020

The Netherlands has banned passenger flights from the U.K. in response to reports of a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 that spreads more easily. Planes can bring passengers to the U.K. but must return without passengers. The virus mutation has been detected in Denmark and Australia, but has not been discovered in the U.S. (yet).

What we know so far is that U.K. scientists believe it is far more transmissible, but doesn’t seem to be more dangerous, and shouldn’t mitigate the effectiveness of vaccines.

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Google Offering Direct Booking Of Airfare, Could Change How Travel Is Sold

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2020

Google is a great source for finding flights and hotels as well as activities at your destination. Eight years ago Google was on the cusp of becoming your new travel agent and the online travel agencies (like Expedia) were trying to get the federal government to stop them.

Until now Google has largely sent travelers to other sites to make bookings.

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Televangelist Got PPP Money, Bought Private Jet

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2020

A televangelist bought a private jet two weeks after receiving PPP funds. The preacher says they got a good deal on the 14 passenger Gulfstream, and that they had their own money so didn’t need to use PPP funds for it.

The preacher’s wife posted to social media that they took the non-profit church’s jet on vacation.

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TSA Reports Man Concealed Box Cutters In A Shampoo Bottle. It Turned Out To Be Pot.

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2020

The TSA took to social media to congratulate themselves for stopping a bad actor. Box cutters raise huge alarms because they were used to take control of aircraft on 9/11. Someone bringing those through a security checkpoint – concealed – raises huge flags. And TSA stopped the plot!

The TSA was forced to clarify that these weren’t box cutters after all, it was marijuana, and nobody tried to take it through a checkpoint since it was, in fact, found in a checked bag.

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There’s No Federal Mask Mandate, But The FAA Is Fining Two Airline Passengers Anyway

by Gary Leff

Dec 19 2020

There’s no federal mask mandate. All U.S. airlines require passengers to wear masks. So most people assume that the only penalties for non-compliance are imposed by airlines. That’s not true.

Airlines only impose penalties, other than asking a passenger not to fly, when enforcing mask rules leads to an altercation. But when an altercation occurs, the FAA can impose penalties too. In other words, you don’t need a federal mask mandate to punish passengers for bad behavior.

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What United Airlines Is Telling Employees About The Passenger With Covid-19 Who Died Onboard Monday

by Gary Leff

united plane
Dec 18 2020

I believe I was the first to report on the passenger with Covid-19 who died on a United Airlines flight on Monday. Initially the airline tried to wave me off the story. Now they’re acknowledging it.

United Airlines flight 591 from Orlando to Los Angeles diverted to New Orleans Monday evening. Passenger aoverhead the man’s wife telling medical personnel about the man’s Covid-19 diagnosis. Here’s what they’re telling employees.

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