News and notes from around the interweb:
- Most likely, TSA caught this because they consider peanut butter to be a liquid.
Last week a traveler flying through Indianapolis International Airport attempted to take two live smoke grenades, one of which was concealed inside of a jar of peanut butter. TSA quickly detected and removed the smoke grenades from the traveler's checked bag. pic.twitter.com/3EwHEzpqgX
— TSA (@TSA) June 25, 2026
- Are we tipping Airbnb owners now?
American tipping culture is utterly disgusting
by
u/Gurugod123 in
SipsTea - Marriott brands will no longer be allowed to stock “creamer packets, ketchup, hot sauce, salt and pepper” that guests can take up to their room to accompany their DoorDash and Uber Eats ‘for the environment’. As one employee puts it,
we have many microwaveable meals in the market and people need these things for that. same goes for creamer and our guests who drinks coffee throughout the day. i also think it’s unsanitary and we’re going to have a lot of issues with people taking the large containers. i don’t understand why this is a policy. i feel like access to these complimentary packets are one of the few perks of staying at our hotel and now this is just gonna piss off customers and inconvenience staff.
This has apparently been policy for the last four years, but Marriott is enforcing it in audits. Another employee adds,
I’m at a different brand, same breakfast program. We got dinged on our BSA because we had individual hot sauce packets.
We get guests who want to take entire bottles of condiments from our kitchen to their rooms to use them, and either we say no or we have to basically trash the bottle afterwards for food safety, it makes no sense to me why Marriott is against the individual packets if it’s something you squeeze out (spreadables are expected to still be individual packets).
- Bozeman airport will get an 8,000 square foot ‘common use’ (e.g. Priority Pass-accessible style) lounge with RFP selection targeted for July 19.
- You’re flying coach to Keflavik, and critiquing the food. Alaska Airlines sells hot meals, though!
- Sheraton Anchorage is being reflagged as a Hyatt Regency
I’d make sure to leave a “1” review score if an airbnb host ever sent me a message as obnoxious as that one.
We have reached the “tipping” point in society.
Marriott (WLOG to other hotels and travel companies to some extent) is abusing “the environment” to such an extent that I’m ready to dunk on the environment out of spite. I’d rather stay at a hotel run by Hexxus than deal with this preening.
(This was like a hotel down in Louisiana saying “We’re still social distancing!” as their excuse for only doing weekly housekeeping in ’22. No separation in the lobby, no masks, and nobody else down there was still doing that. Seriously, just say you’re having trouble keeping staff…)
Marriott fallen so far from the excellence of the Starwood program. It’s so frustrating because of how good that previous program was
Room service, including breakfast; robes; slippers; letterhead; mouthwash; individual toiletries; bars of soap; alarm clocks; daily housekeeping; club lounges; and now condiments. Pretty soon, they’ll eliminate TVs “because everyone is streaming.” This is getting absurd.
Does anyone really want to use communal condiment dispensers or bottles? Does anyone think they ever get cleaned or sanitized, let alone kept in the right storage conditions? Like food safety is one area where cost-cutting should not be a priority.
Another great Bonvoid enhancement
LIKE I need even more reasons to avoid there hotels?
@Alan — *ba dum tss*
@Easy Victor – 100% correct.
If I owned a Marriott, I would pass out cards to everyone who requested condiments explaining why they are no longer available along with the email address and phone number of the CEO.
@Gary – Would you say that this is an absolutely clear example of someone who should not be permitted to fly to or from any U.S. airport? There’s not even a possibility of misunderstanding a smoke bomb concealed that way as being either innocent or a mistake.
@Christian: I’d be interested to see if a ban on flying commercial could be put into a plea bargain
“Single-use sachets for condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise and soy sauce will no longer be allowed for dine-in customers at restaurants across the EU from Aug. 12 under new packaging waste rules aimed at reducing plastic pollution.”
“Under the regulation, restaurants serving customers on-site will be required to replace disposable condiment packets with alternatives such as refillable dispensers, reusable containers or table-service bottles.”
With 45 days until implementation, there is no sign that the fast-food players are preparing to comply. The only condiments you can get are in single-use packets for dine in. No McD, Quick, BK, Popeyes, KFC, or the local equivalents have made any moves in this part of France. Five Guys has always had (if my memory is correct) the common American fast food ketchup pumping station. Kebab places have long been in compliance, as their owners find it cheaper to use a refillable squeeze bottle (that they squeeze for you) as a cost-control measure.
Good news is that you can place as many packets of condiments you want that will fit in your one-quart bag, since each is under 100 ml.
BTW, did you notice that ranch dressing is such a big hit with World Cup visitors that Kraft is offering a one-quart bag filled with packets equalling one regular bottle, so they can take it home in carry on luggage? It’s not really the American food product I’m proud they’ve discovered. Did you know people dip pizza in ranch? Ugh.
Wait, Marriott is using the environmental excuse to limit packets? The same Marriott where I check into my room and 2 TV’s are on the room is chilled to 62°?
What a maroon is the would be terrorist who hides his explosives in peanut butter.
In re European regulations, yes, this is the way:: pass a reg, take a bow, send out a press release, ignore it.