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What we have here, based on fairly basic research, is an expensive new whole-body scanner technology being deployed nationwide by TSA over the howls of numerous privacy groups, without independent testing, using the manufacturers’ claims, all being lead by the former head of the Department of Homeland Security saying, basically, trust us.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is having its share of problems. Their intricate systems failed to uncover the Christmas panty bomber. Passengers are rebelling against being virtually stripped naked in order to get through security. GAO note they have not even tested these new strip-search machines to see if they can identify PETN (the explosive used in the Christmas bomb). And now the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight finds uncontrolled spending.
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Here is an interview with a pickpocket done in Pamplona, Spain, during the Running of the Bulls. Many of us have been pickpocketed, but few have had the opportunity to meet a pickpocket face to face and speak with the likable fellow. Watch and learn how easy it is to lose what you don’t take care of. The rest of these videos focus on Canada with the Winter Olympics coming up in Vancouver on the Pacific side of the country, and Quebec’s Winter Carnival and skiing going full blast on the other side of the country.
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After promising time after time that the Delta/Northwest merger would not result in the closure of any hubs, Delta take steps to close the Cincinnati Airport base.
One more example of where airlines speak with forked tongue.
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I just heard that the chances of being killed by a terrorist in the U.S. are less than the chances of being struck by lightning. Hummm. Probably about the same as the chances of surviving a free-fall from 35,000 feet.
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Priceline just came out with their list of the top 50 destinations for Valentine’s Day and President’s day. These results are compiled from actual bookings, so they are very accurate for priceline.com customers.
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This is a list fees charged by American Airlines for various “services.” It was included in a letter from the IRS clarifying what fees for services would be subject to the 7.5 percent Transportation Excise Tax. Which fees are subject to the transportation tax? Which are not? The sometimes surprising answers are noted after the list.
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Yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held hearings about airport screening research and development. Chaired by David Wu (D-OR), the subcommittee surprisingly focused on passenger acceptance of the of the new technology rather than on technologies themselves.
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It seems that merger talks are proceeding well between Iberia and British Airways. They are discussing February dates as possible days to sign a memorandum of merger. This merger will create a behemoth in the international airline industry.
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A few business magazines and some blogs have commented on this “non-taxable” ruling. But upon further examination, baggage fees are taxable, just not as transportation. It appears that taxes are eventually collected from the airlines for these fees as overall corporate profits and passengers may actually benefit from not having 7.5 percent transportation federal excise tax slapped on the baggage fees.
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