News and notes from around the interweb:
- Be careful using the Curb app paying for a taxi, there’s a known scam where the driver claims not to have been paid (‘problem with the app’) and insists you pay directly also. You may then be dealing with the relevant regulator. I’ve had an issue jumping through hoops and initial denials with a credit card dispute over a similar issue in the past.
Last year I took a taxi from SFO. During the ride I paid using the Curb app via PayPal. Then at the end the driver said the Curb app didn't work. So I paid again in cash.
Welp, it definitely did work. He double charged me. I contacted Curb. They said contact the cab company. I… https://t.co/1eNzrK9mXf pic.twitter.com/RpYBK96so5
— Chris Albon (@chrisalbon) April 9, 2026
- I’ve heard mixed things about the American Airlines 100th anniversary beef wellington, and haven’t tried it myself. Here is a very positive take:
You did it @AmericanAir 🙌
Centennial Beef 🥩 Wellington!@GordonRamsay will be proud.
Very well executed, and was quite impressed by the béarnaise sauce! No idea how they kept that “smooth” for inflight service. 😳✈️ AA2507 PBI-DFW-las ✈️
💺 2F pic.twitter.com/drDt1pt7g0— ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟᴢᴏʀᴋ (@TravelZork) April 10, 2026
- Amex loses Lufthansa lounge access
- Air Canada Cafes open in Montreal and Vancouver the food is a step above United’s Club Fly concept (which itself is a nicer space than American’s Provisions).
- JetBlue TrueBlue redemptions on United Airlines were already mediocre – the United partnership is off to an inauspicious start – and now things have gotten worse. They’re adding cash surcharges to international redemptions, something U.S. airlines rarely do (American has them on BA awards and very modest ones on Iberia, Delta has charged them on international-originating redemptions).
- Meanwhile Virgin Atlantic has hiked award surcharges for the second time in a year. Those Virgin miles were already among the least valuable overall (though there are uses). Now they’re worth less.
- ”
United Airlines has been accused of sacking a long-serving 76-year-old aircraft technician after he took a bottle of water from an airplane because he was suffering heart palpitations and lightheadedness to the point at which he thought he was about to pass out unless he took a sip of water.”
Yum! If they made it taste good, I applaud American for finding a way to serve Beef Wellingtons in the sky – although personally, I find a whole Wellington log being cut tableside as part of the traditional experience.
Very bad optics United when taking a bottle of water is grounds for dismissal.
Re:Taxi Scams… or, just $3 for the Subway, PATH, most buses, etc. And, if you’re grandfathered into the O.G. Lyft Pink/CSR, you get that free 45 minutes on non-e Citibike. Weather’s startin’ to get nice, too. (Also, why not put your Citi Strata Elite 6x Citi Nights to good use while you can!)
That alleged Beef Wellington looks like an empanada.
The worst I’ve ever been scammed by a taxi driver was in Kuala Lumpur, maybe 20 years ago. I took away several lessons from that, combined with today’s realities. I would impart the following advice:
– First, pay cash if you can help it. Apps are too easily manipulated;
– Second (especially if you are paying cash) always insist on knowing the total fare from the driver before you even get into the vehicle. Get it on camera, even if it’s just the driver’s voice. If the driver insists on the meter, watch it very closely and be prepared to terminate the ride;
– Third, follow the route on your phone, especially if a meter is being used in lieu of a fixed fare;
– Forth, act confident and authoritative, even if you’re not;
– Fifth, if something feels really off, pay and get out. Worst case you can walk or find other means of transportation.
– Sixth, carry a loaded Glock 19 (but only if you can get away with it, and are trained to do so);
– Seventh, sit directly behind the driver so you can more easily achieve a head shot if needed;
– Eighth, if unarmed. be prepared to digitally induce projectile vomiting directly onto the taxi driver in the event of a kidnapping. This is far more effective than most people would realize, especially after a large meal, and the driver will almost always pull over and ignore attempts to unlock the doors;
– Ninth, before you even get in, take a quick photo of the license plate and make it obvious you’re doing it. You’re not actually documenting anything, you’re just letting him know that you could;
– Tenth, never be the guy who just “trusts the driver knows a better way.” That sentence has funded half the world’s taxi scams since 1987;
– Eleventh, small bills only. The “I don’t have change” routine is the oldest play in the book and somehow still undefeated;
– Twelfth, don’t fall asleep. Ever. You are not at home, you are in a moving negotiation;
– Thirteenth, if the driver suddenly develops a “broken meter” after you’ve already started moving, congratulations, you are now in a live pricing experiment. End it quickly;
– Fourteenth, headphones in but nothing playing. You look relaxed, he thinks you’re distracted, but you’re actually tracking every turn like it’s the Zapruder film;
– Fifteenth, if he starts the “my cousin owns a better hotel / shop / nightclub” speech, understand you’ve just become a commission opportunity. Decline like you’ve heard it 500 times before;
– Sixteenth, always have a mental “abort point” every few minutes. If you wouldn’t want to get out right here, you probably shouldn’t have gotten in to begin with;
– Seventeenth, when you arrive, exit efficiently. The longer you linger, the more creative the math can become;
– Eighteenth, tip fairly only if everything was clean. You’re rewarding professionalism, nothing else.
You’re welcome.
@Mike Hunt — Fantastic list! All 18. “Forth, act confident and authoritative, even if you’re not…” hmm, isn’t that a little on-the-nose?
Using a ride hailing service like Uber has it’s advantages. One of them is that they won’t show up unless the ride is paid for. A regular taxi should be paid in cash and all of the standard precautions should be taken such as knowing the route and agreeing on the fair or use of meter. With meters you have to be alert for ones that are running much faster than they should be. Actually it has been years since I was truly scammed on a fair for a taxi or a hailed ride.
@mike: I’d also add that if for whatever reason you must put luggage in the trunk (first, it’s not a good idea but assuming you absolutely have to), don’t close your passenger door until you’ve retrieved your luggage. Open door -> open trunk -> get luggage -> close trunk-> close door. Hostage luggage for more payment is a common scam.
I’ve had that taxi scam attempted on me. The driver said the charge never went through. He asked me to pay with cash. His problem is that every time a charge is made on any of my accounts I am alerted both on my iPhone and Apple Watch.
I showed him the face of my Apple Watch which clearly showed the charge went through. I grabbed my bag and got out of the cab quickly telling him to contact tech support. I knew he wouldn’t get out and get after me because I was at the front entrance of the hotel. He drove off.
I’ll bet he was made as hell that he didn’t get away with it. I had a smug smile on my face.
I highly recommend to everyone that while it’s sometimes a pain to have every charge on every account trigger a notification and/or text message to my cellphone and for me it’s repeated on my watch. That way you’ll know if your charge went through and more important, if an unauthorized charge was made.
@Mike I’d add the following. Announce the denomination of the bills you hand over. If the fare is $25 and you’re giving them a 20 and 10, say “here’s a twenty and a ten, keep the change.” A possible scam is you hand them a twenty, they palm it, showing you a five they had been holding.
“I highly recommend to everyone that while it’s sometimes a pain to have every charge on every account trigger a notification and/or text message to my cellphone and for me it’s repeated on my watch. That way you’ll know if your charge went through and more important, if an unauthorized charge was made.” Agreed. And if they told me it didn’t go through, I’d immediately check that cards app. Would be obvious if it went through.
Had the AA Beef Wellington this week on DFW-FLL. It seems to only be available as a pre-order meal. The veggies and potato were perfectly cooked. The Beef Wellington crust was perfect. The meat itself was a tad overcooked and tough but it was a generous portion. Mine came with a Waldorf Salad and Pecan Pie, which makes more sense for a 100 year tribute, as opposed to the fruit and cheesecake in the picture posted. The Pecan Pie was too dry and overly sweet but the salad was good. It was also served with a bread plate and butter but apparently they didn’t have the bread to go with it. Overall, a decent domestic first class meal compared to the other choices.