News and notes from around the interweb:
- RFK, Jr. and Cheryl Hines flying American Airlines coach. Not even Main Cabin Extra. He may need some Tylenol after this! (HT: @crucker)
American at the airport looks over and sees “Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines on my normal flight this morning”
He films RFK Jr taking his seat in a basic economy seat
Meanwhile Bernie Sanders and AOC fly on private jets pic.twitter.com/fK7Am7ikOd
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) October 19, 2025
- Indian court orders airline to compensate passenger who found hair in his food Air India argued it was the caterer’s fault, so they shouldn’t be held liable.
- 20% bonus converting Citi points to Qantas through November 8, 2025.
- SaaS contracts typically include clauses making the client cover taxes. The U.K. implemented a digital services tax. Sabre is suing British Airways because they won’t pay, arguing that the DST is not in fact a tax.
- Passengers on Amtrak are strange, too. (Even stranger still on overnight trains, but this was during the day.)
this was absolutely NUTS to watch for 3 straight hours https://t.co/yCD4M5lM2Z pic.twitter.com/b9qg8EgkEx
— Peter Twinklage (@PeterTwinklage) October 19, 2025
- Former backers of Australia’s Bonza Airlines have been charged in the US with alleged fraud involving around USD 500 million.
The co-founder and chief financial officer of former Bonza financier 777 Partners have been charged by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an alleged US$500 million fraud scheme…
“As alleged, the defendants, through 777 Partners, lied to lenders and investors, double-pledged collateral, and used restricted funds to bankroll risky acquisitions – putting nearly $500 million and the lifelines of structured-settlement beneficiaries at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ricky J. Patel.
“In actuality, the defendants put forth an illusion of stability that was a years-long house of cards. This alleged scheme was self-serving, siphoning funds meant for victims and leaving investors and lenders holding the bag.”
Politicians flying private saves money for everyone else who uses airports and commercial airlines. Every time a recognizable politician uses a commercial airport, there is a dedicated airport police detail following them from when they enter the airport until the aircraft leaves the gate, and waiting for the aircraft at the gate to follow them off airport property. We all pay for that. At IAD they get a private moon buggy if they do not walk down the steps to a waiting vehicle. At other airports with trains/monorails they get a private car which makes everyone else wait longer or pack in more.
And RFK Jr. flies barefoot! Yuck!
@JS — So, how much do you get paid to astroturf for politicans and the kleptocrats? ‘No, no… flying private actually saves money for the peasants…’ What an awful ‘hot take.’ As if they ‘buggy’ is the real cost of VIPs flying commercial… uh, the cost of operating private jets far exceeds anything in commercial aviation on a per-person basis. It’s undeniable. Your bogus plug is the equivalent of the oil and gas companies promoting individual ‘recycling’ (not inherently a bad idea), but as a way to deflect their responsibilities and obligations to not pollute onto us plebs.
Presumably he booked last minute and there were not two first class seats open so coach it was. Although not sure why he didn’t fly private. I would have.
@George Nathan Romey — Yes. Your presumptions are likely closest to the truth here.
If I read about the hair correctly, the plaintiff didn’t get anything as the reduced amount was split between court fees and counsel. And still Air India lied to shirk responsibility. I have had hairs in served food before. Unless there is a lot of them, no big problem. I really doubt that they would kill me. The caterer should start requiring workers to wear hairnets.
@jns — Even if the outcome was ‘breakeven,’ it’s still a good thing for plaintiffs to challenge airlines or anyone who is breaking promises, standards of care, etc., because in-the-aggregate, these negligent or bad actors will think twice before letting stuff slide, or, in Air India’s case, probably ignore it, which should be yet another warning to potential customers to avoid them. As I like to say, calm your Tatas!
@ jns — Only hire bald people. Problem solved.
Demos travel first class as evidenced by AOC and Bernie. Where are the climate change activists? What about Hamas supporter Rashida Tlaib? Evidently she likes riding around in limos. Hilarious.