News

This community has always been more than points, upgrades, and lounge access. Over the years, we’ve shared advice, opportunities, and sometimes even hard-earned lessons. But every once in a while, one of our own faces something that has nothing to do with travel and everything to do with real life. …

Ashley Barno started receiving text messages from a phone number she didn’t know commenting on many personal things about her–what flight she was on, how attractive she was, and the creepiest of all to me, a text describing her current outfit. The anonymous texter confessed he was an American Airlines …

On the Churning subreddit today, an active user who goes by REDACTED (Mr. X) explained how he was interviewed by the Secret Service over his MSing through money orders.  Since I’ve seen Mr. X posting there before (calling himself a “heavy MSer”), I believe the story.  Also, I’m quite aware …

Recently, Blitzchung became a Hearthstone Grandmaster.  Hearthstone is a “free-to-play online digital collectible card game” created by Blizzard.  Think of it as sort-of a digital Magic: the Gathering.  And it is based (marginally) off World of Warcraft. But the important context is that it is a very competitive and popular e-sports game.  …

A British citizen was arrested in Dubai for inadvertently touching another man’s hip in a bar.  He’s facing three years in jail. From the Guardian: The 27-year-old electrician is said to have been holding a drink, moving through a crowded bar, and held a hand in front of him to …

Ryanair has done something very Ryan-airy.  They canceled 18,000 flights.  Over 400,000 passengers were booked on these flights. According to the Independent: A total of 34 routes will be suspended over the winter, including London Stansted to Edinburgh, Newcastle to Faro, London Gatwick to Belfast and Glasgow to Las Palmas. …

Attendees to Comic-Con found they were not allowed to check their comic books in their baggage after Comic-Con this year.  United blamed TSA, though I noted it was strange that only United passengers were tweeting about this problem. TSA has finally commented on the issue to say, “it wasn’t us.” …

San Diego Comic-Con has become so much more than just a comic book convention. But comic books remain the heart and soul of Comic-Con. In addition to attendees being there to buy comic books, vendors flock to Comic-Con to sell their comic books as well. That’s why participants in Comic-Con …

The National Park Service offers a lifetime pass for Senior Citizens (defined as 62 and above) for $10 in-person or $20 online. There are reports that the NPS is going to increase the price of this lifetime pass by 700% to $80. From the NPS website, the benefits and terms …

A woman gave birth on a Spirit Airlines flight last week destined for Dallas-Fort Worth.  The flight, which departed from Fort Lauderdale, did not make it to DFW.  Instead, the flight made an emergency landing in New Orleans after a woman gave birth to a baby in the cabin. According …