New TSA Program Assigns Americans Personal Air Marshals Who Report Back if They Board Last or Sleep

by Gary Leff

liam neeson on a plane
Jul 29 2018

The Federal Air Marshal Service is arguably the least competent law enforcement agency in the country. Naturally they are part of the TSA, which reportedly has a program to make sure air marshals don’t show up tot he airport drunk.

No air marshal has ever stopped a terrorist or hijacker since the service was founded in 1962. Although an air marshal did shoot and kill a US citizen in 2005. If something really bad did happen on a flight and an air marshal was onboard they lack the training to do anything about it.

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Airlines May Sacrifice Aircraft Interior Maintenance But That Doesn’t Make Them Unsafe

by Gary Leff

airline seats
Jul 28 2018

Most of the things that raise concerns for airline passengers aren’t safety issues.

It’s natural for passengers to wonder if seeing broken items in the cabin means that’s also how important maintenance are being neglected. Is the aircraft safe? Except U.S. airlines really haven’t sacrificed safety even during the toughest times.

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Deal of the Year 90,000 Iberia Points Now Transferrable to British Airways – With a Catch

by Gary Leff

stock airline bed
Jul 28 2018

Oh the drama! First Iberia offered up to 90,000 points at a cost of around $300 for booking flights you never even need to take. That’s because the points were supposed to post right away, and expire if unused December 1, while flights could even be for next year.

Iberia started freezing accounts that took advantage of the promotion and coming up with reasons not to honor the deal for some members. However they honored the deal for most people and even have been unlocking some accounts and continuing to post bonus points.

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Delta Names Raleigh-Durham Their Next Focus City (Mini-Hub)

by Gary Leff

to all gates sign
Jul 28 2018

Austin’s airport is adding 37% more gates next year, and Delta is preparing to make it a focus city complete with SkyClub with outdoor deck.

Focus city status isn’t official for Austin yet, but as of Friday it is for Raleigh-Durham which serves the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, where Delta is already the largest airline (carrying one-third of passengers, with 10% connecting connecting traffic). Delta’s other focus cities are Cincinnati and Boston (of course Cincinnati used to be a hub).

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Robert Mueller and Donald Trump, Jr Spotted Together – at Washington National Gate 35X

by Gary Leff

airport escalators going down
Jul 27 2018

They were both on American Airlines regional flights. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the son of the President, or if you have an unlimited scope and the full resources of the federal government at your disposal to investigate that President. Everyone is brought down to size at Gate 35X. Truly, it is the most humbling aviation experience in the country.

I’ve written before that the previous administration could have closed the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and just moved terrorism suspects to this gate.

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