News and notes from around the interweb:
- Open bottles slowly to release pressure. This is usually done in the galley, not the passenger cabin. And you do know you aren’t allowed to consume alcohol you brought onboard yourself, unless served to you by a member of the crew right?
She popped a champagne bottle 30,000 feet in the air…. pic.twitter.com/QRmVjwU0Cg
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) March 17, 2025
- Despite management, the crew onboard are still good at least.
@SouthwestAir surely made our trip enjoyable!!! pic.twitter.com/Axrsf7Blt0
— JESUSlight (@TuanDuong44) March 17, 2025
comms 101: if you’re going to remove beloved features you should probably also scrap the marketing bragging about said beloved features @SouthwestAir pic.twitter.com/JVqAkxcHNO
— Ann Marie Guzzi (@amguzzi) March 17, 2025
- Such a bad customer experience. Passengers complain about it on American, Delta and United – so when American says adding 5 minutes to boarding time should reduce the frequency of gate checking bags when overhead bin space is freely available, do not believe it.
Please tell me @AmericanAir why I needed to check my carry on bag??
Honestly, this is an extreme pet peeve of mine, when I’m forced to check a carry on when there is plenty of space.
Maybe I just need to stick with @united #customerservicefail pic.twitter.com/IuqRNbnfPx
— Andrew Smith (@andrewpsmith11) March 17, 2025
- Aliens passing through airport security, and they’re detectable only to the TSA.
Have you ever screened a “nonhuman individual” as a TSO?
byu/decomposingcoffeemug intsa - No. No way. Absolutely not. High but not crazy for ConciergeKey maybe but for something below that? Just foolishness.
I finally got my status offer…
byu/4ureli inamericanairlines - There are several readers of this blog with nine figure net worth – put that in your pipe and smoke it..!
"Why bother with credit card and travel points when it's a relatively insignificant amount of $ to you?"
Honest answer: doing it for the love of the game. Feels fun to beat the system.
If it isn't fun for you, don't do it! pic.twitter.com/EQqslkdQM7
— Sheel Mohnot (@pitdesi) March 17, 2025
- Trump Justice Department finds Capital One acquisition of Discover would harm competition The current administration suggested they’d take a similar tact on antitrust as the last one, but the conclusion here just seems wrong. If anything, Capital One could breath life into a moribund competitor to Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
- United 1k members lose complimentary CLEAR benefit May 1. They’re offered a $129 price instead, though of course many will continue to get a credit from their Amex Platinum or Business Platinum cards.
- Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford, himself a pilot, has been named to head the FAA. Bedford has opposed the 1,500 hour rule for pilots.
Regarding being forced to check bags on American, in my experience they usually only require you to check your bag if you are in group 8 or group 9. I think everyone who joins the AADVANTAGE Program is no worse than group 6? If overhead bin space is important, shouldn’t everyone be an AA FF member?
Wow, this was an action-packed Roundup. Lotta good stuff here.
On SWA crews–Yes! They are great! Thank you, Gary, for making that distinction, between crews and management. Even if the leadership is off (or awful) that doesn’t diminish the workers, who are awesome.
On anti-trust enforcement (Capital One & Discover) — Hmm. Would have expected this. Maybe someone forgot to pay their ‘gratuities’ at Mar-A-Lago this time. Never forget!
On Bedford to lead FAA–If he handle the ATC shortage and upgrade the critical systems, then he will have earned his keep. Lot of work to be done at the agency. Wishing him and his team the best. Since Republic operates under American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, he probably has a unique perspective, having managed relationships with the big-three. Safety first.
What? A ten year TSO veteran and they only screened 2 non-human travelers?