Trouble on the Airlines

Well, it’s been awhile since one of these little round-ups. Still, things seem to be getting worse rather than better. That is not a good trend.

General/Historical

Video of two parallel jumbo jets landing at exactly the same time (Boing Boing)

United offered men-only “executive” flights until 1970 (Boing Boing)

Airlines

Sikh Woman Forced To Show Breast Pump After Fellow Passenger Suspects She May Be A Terrorist (Counter Current News)

Lufthansa to suspend flights to Venezuela (BBC News)

Second airline suspends flights to Venezuela (BBC News)

Airline industry profits ‘to jump 12% in 2016’ (BBC News)

Flybe returns to profit on rising sales (BBC News)

China’s Nanshan buys 20% Virgin Australia stake (BBC News)

Air France: Pilots’ strike hits Euro 2016 (BBC News)

Passengers on plane grounded at airport were refused food for “legal reasons” (The Standard)

Malaysia’s Islamic airline Rayani Air barred from flying (BBC News)
Ryanair says fares to fall 7% amid price war (BBC News)

Airports

Airport security officer was alleged war criminal, arrested for lying about participation in “genocidal acts” (UPDATED) (Boing Boing) – Note this was a private security officer, not a TSA agent.

TSA

TSA’s Instagram features bizarre items found at checkpoints (Boing Boing)

Traveler sues TSA for missed flight (Boing BOing)

TSA head of security ‘removed from his position’ (Boing Boing)

Travel, TSA, and Airline Round up

I have lost the ability to come up with interesting headlines for these, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not still a lot of articles to look at. I made a decision that anything before February is out of the running for this post.

Airlines

Lufthansa chief denies errors over Germanwings crash (BBC)

Air France-KLM returns to profit on cheaper fuel prices (BBC)

American Airlines is suing Gogo over its crappy Wi-Fi (Boing Boing)

JetBlue attendant doesn’t like being stared at by Muslim women, calls police to take them off plane (Boing Boing) — Hello racism.

United Continental airline investors challenge leadership (BBC)

BA owner IAG reports big rise in profit (BBC)

Thai Airways returns to profit in fourth quarter (BBC)

Airports

Bangkok airport safety issues ‘must be addressed’

Heathrow third runway: Environmental concerns ‘should not stop expansion’ (BBC)

London City Airport bought for £2bn by Canadian-led group(BBC)

TSA

The TSA Releases Data on Air Marshal Misconduct, 7 Years After We Asked (Pro Publica)

Airplane Companies

Airbus has “solid” results with a record order book (BBC)

General

Republican Congressmen backed by airline money kill research on legroom and passenger safety (Boing Boing) — May they be cramped in the back of coach for all eternity.

Lithium batteries should be banned as cargo on passenger planes, says UN aviation watchdog (Boing Boing)

Up in the Sky with silver wings shining…

Is there a lot happening in the air travel world? Yup. Some of it’s been collected below.

General

China signs deal to buy 130 Airbus aircraft during Merkel visit (BBC)

Airbus to expand A320 production as sales rise (BBC)

China unveils passenger aircraft to challenge Boeing and Airbus (BBC)

Catching a lift on a private plane (BBC)

America’s airlines send planes to El Salvador, China for service by under-trained technicians (Boing Boing)

Airshow

Dubai Airshow: Crowded skies may limit airline growth (BBC)

Dubai Airshow: New Airbus A380 sales ‘unlikely’ at Airshow (BBC)

Dubai Airshow: Security fears ‘to boost arms sales’ (BBC)

Dubai Airshow: defence spending boosts order books (BBC)

TSA/Airport Security

Manila airport security blackmails travelers by planting bullets in their luggage (Boing Boing)

TSA screeners can’t detect weapons and they never could (Boing Boing)

Airlines

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa warn of more cost-cutting (BBC)

British Airways

BA owner IAG reports strong profits (BBC)

Easyjet

Easyjet chief warns global airport security must be tightened (BBC)

Lufthansa

Lufthansa strike hits ‘113,000 passengers’ (BBC)
Lufthansa strike costs company ‘at least €10m euros a day’ (BBC)
Lufthansa cabin crew strike hits 290 flights (BBC)

Qantas

Qantas crew don All Blacks jerseys after World Cup defeat(BBC)

Ryanair

Ryanair sets sights on rapid growth (BBC)

TSA, Airlines, and other Annoying BS

Please note, I am not planning to discuss or follow the Malaysian lost plane. I think it’s a tragedy in the making. I may, some time in the future actually post a summary article on the situation, but right now, there’s not enough information and too many traumatized family members. My thoughts are with them.

Instead, I’m going to pick on the TSA. Again.
And a few idiotic airlines.

General

Govt fought for years to hide mistake that put student on no-fly list – Calling BS on this sort of stupidity. Like putting 5 year olds on the list. Idiots.

Airlines

Brutal working conditions for Qatar Airlines’s flight attendants – This just disgusts me. This sort of treatment is degrading and wrong.

Airports

London Heathrow customs agent interrogates Edward Snowden’s attorney Jesselyn Radack (Boing Boing)

Flying in Mexico is Still Like the Old Days, Thank God (Taking Sense Away) – Ah, for the days when you were treated like an actual human being.

TSA

The TSA is looking for Bitcoin (Daily Anarchist)

“I Don’t Think We Accept These,” Says TSA Agent, Peering at D.C. License (Lowering the Bar) – I really, really wish this were a joke.

Tales from the TSA: Confiscating Aluminum Foil and Watching Out for Solar Powered Bombs (Time Magazine)

San Diego TSA Director Retires Amid Rumors of Misconduct (NBC San Diego)

Letter from a Passenger: I Made a Bagful of Peanut Butter Crackers and Was No Longer Considered a Terrorist Threat (Taking Sense Away)

TSA clerks think Bitcoin is metal (TSA News) – Oh, oh, dear. No, luvs, the virtual coins aren’t made of metal.

Airline Boondoggles and the TSA that loves them.

I don’t know that that sentence even makes sense, but the TSA is definitely a boondoggle. The airlines? I’m still torn. I don’t want the airlines to go away, but I *do* want them to be a little more responsible, reasonable and less evil.

General

Anti-forced-marriage charity advises women to put spoons in their underwear to trigger private airport search (Boing Boing)

TSA

The TSA Cover Up Scandal, Part II (Taking Sense Away)

TSA Agent Caught Smuggling Illegal Immigrants Into the U.S. (Taking Sense Away)- D’oh!

TSA is officially allowed to lie to you in order to cover its ass (Boing Boing)

Keep your shoes, jackets on: TSA to expand pre-screening program (CNN)

Airlines

Easyjet tells law professor he can’t fly because he tweeted critical remarks about airline (Boing Boing)

Ryanair vows to reduce fewer customers to tears (Boing BOing)

Troubling TSA and Airport News

When will I get to post happy news about the airlines? When they do something *good* I suppose. But today is not that day. Oh, wait? What’s this? There’s one positive story? How did that happen? (It’s hiding under TSA.)

General

Federal Judge None Too Impressed With Government’s Defense Of Its ‘No Fly’ List (TechDirt)

TSA

TSA tests expedited screening using dogs (Security Director News)

TSA’s new Instagram shows all the dangerous items that presented no danger (Boing Boing)

TSA expedites screening for ‘wounded warriors’ (Security Director News)

A Black Woman’s Hair Becomes Target in TSA’s Security Theater (Taking Sense Away)

The TSA Cover Up Scandal (Taking Sense Away)

TSA Agent Helped Pilot Cheat During Test of Heroism (Taking Sense Away)

Airlines

Dear airline execs: crowing about new fees and price hikes before your merger makes the DoJ mad (Boing Boing)

United Airlines Makes Your Worst Nightmare Come True (Gawker)

Airports

Don’t fly while brown during Ramadan, even if you’re Hindu (Boing Boing)

TSA Terrowists

Please read the above as an Elmer Fudd voice.

Germany rejects full-body scanners at airports (NBC News) — Having had several “false positives” on this machine, I’m not shocked.

Evaluating the TSA’s SPOT program (GPO – Government Printing Office) – be warned: this is long and boring, except for the “holy crap!” and “seriously? DUH!” moments

NSA leaker Snowden not welcome in U.K.- Airports asked to refuse him flights to the UK (USA Today)

TSA chickens out, won’t allow items that don’t threaten airplanes back on-board (Boing Boing)

Let’s Fly A…

You know what? I think that flying a nice big kite, or maybe a hot air balloon would be a great choice. I mean, there’s a whole bunch of reasons not to fly:

Airports

Police want more officers at Charlotte airport (Security Director News)

Dried caterpillars found in luggage at Gatwick Airport (BBC)

Brunt of federal cuts to hit N.J. with furloughs, airport slowdowns and court closures (NJ.com)

DIA Parking Lots Consider Measures To Stop Bunnies From Attacking Cars (CBS Denver) — I would like you to step back and just admire the beauty of this sentence before you go look at the article.

Airlines

United Airlines sucks (Boing Boing)

Sources: American, US Airways boards approve merger (Chicago Tribune) — No good can come of this.

Kicked off a United flight for taking pictures of the new first class seats (Boing Boing) — I am failing to understand the logic in this action.

General

FAA investigating “Harlem Shake” on plane (Boing Boing)

Rape suspect carries stun-gun past TSA checkpoint at JFK airport (Boing Boing)

Video: Ukrainian Lawmaker Flouts Law, Berates Airport Employee (Global Voices)

Shipment of 18 human heads found at Chicago’s O’Hare airport (Reuters)

TSA

TSA will allow small knives, golf clubs onto airplanes (Boing Boing)

On the TSA Allowing Teeny Tiny Fucking Pocket Knives Back On Planes. (Taking Sense Away)

On the TSA Allowing Teeny Tiny Knives Aboard Planes, Part II. (Taking Sense Away) — Finally. I can carry my Swiss Army Knife Again… eventually.

TSA agent with fake bomb gets past security at Newark Airport

Video: TSA traumatizes child in wheelchair (Boing Boing)

Other Transportation News

City buses across America now covertly recording passengers’ conversations (Boing Boing) — Arguments for texting each other.

Taunting the TSA

“Your father was a hamster and your mother smelt of elderberries!” 😛

That’s better’n the TSA deserves most of the time. Here’s a few links. Some of them are a little old, simply because I got lazy during the last couple months. However, the incidents are still something that need to be looked at.

General Transportation Security

Judge rejects secret “no-fly” evidence barring ex-Stanford student from returning to US (Boing Boing)

Cops in USA to drive around in pornoscannerwagons, covertly irradiating people and looking through their cars and clothes (Boing Boing) — This is here basically because of the technology they’ve chosen to use.

TSA

Letter from a Passenger: A Change.org Petition for the TSA to be More Understanding with Cats. (Taking Sense Away) — Seriously people. A separate room should be used for *all* pet inspections. It’s just common sen… oh, I see.

TSA again weighs possibility of using commercial data to profile air travelers (Boing Boing) — Why do I need a clearance to ride an airplane?

Letter from a Protester: “TSA, Stop Warrantless Searches on the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.” (Taking Sense Away)

On Shaming the TSA (Taking Sense Away)

An Open Letter to Congressman Michael T. McCaul (Taking Sense Away) — This one is a must read.

TSA terminates its contract with Rapiscan, maker of pornoscanners (Boing Boing) — Happy dance! No more excessive radiation from machines that don’t work!

Airlines

T-Shirt Leads To Airplane Controversy (Moderate Voice) — Serious people? A tee-shirt? Again? Idjits.

Is This Any Way to Treat a Marine Double-Amputee Afghanistan War Veteran? (Updated) (Moderate Voice) — You made an MoFo Marine cry. What sort of psychopaths are you?

Airports

Fly Away, Fly Away, Fly Away All

So, I love flying. And I love traveling.

I hate the BS that is security theatre.

And I think that there are airlines who do really stupid stuff. I mean, REALLY stupid. As in aspiring to kill their own businesses stupid. (*cough* bag charge *cough*)

TSA General

TSA to Commission Independent Study of X-Ray Body Scanners (Pro Publica)

TSA Behaving Badly

TSA Detains Young Girl in Wheelchair With No Explanation (Fox News) — Fox News. Really TSA. Look at what you’ve made me do! I visited and read something on Fox News. I blame you completely. Not only that, um, HELLO? SCARING and HUMILATING children who are SICK is WRONG.

Airlines General

Airlines Behaving Badly