Editor of @ThriftyTraveler, helping you see the world for cheap. Proud @AP, @inforum & @mndailynews alum. Bad jokes. No, like really bad. Opinions are my own.
Minnesota, USA
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NEW: It's not just Delta. All three of the nation's largest airlines are charging some solo passengers higher fares than groups of two or more - sometimes significantly higher.
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Want to know just how bad Delta's meltdown is?
The airline has now canceled 5,370 flights and counting since Friday.
That's more flights than Delta canceled in all of 2018 ... and all of 2019, too (5,343).
Two years worth of cancellations in less than five days.
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BREAKING: Delta has begun removing the fares that penalized solo travelers with higher prices, reversing course on a questionable new pricing tactic after a nationwide blowback
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When people rioted and looted in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd, President Trump said: "When the looting starts, the shooting starts."
When his supporters rioted and looted in the U.S. Capitol, President Trump said: "Go home. We love you, you're very special."
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The year is 2083.
All planes are electric and have been for years.
Penelope Buttigieg is entering her third term as Secretary of Transportation.
O'Hare is now a beautiful, functioning airport.
Real ID is set to take effect in two years, in 2085.
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We broke the news yesterday that Delta was charging as much as 70% more per ticket for one passenger instead of two - a new and unusual pricing tactic that penalizes solo & business travelers.
But United and American are doing the same, with some egregious examples.
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If Harris/Walz win, there's not gonna be a single dripping faucet or flickering lightbulb at the Naval Observatory
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UPDATE: United also rolled back its fare structure that levied higher prices on solo travelers Friday night, according to our airfare searches and a look at the airline's fare rules.
That just leaves American, which - as of this moment - remains untouched.
BREAKING: Delta has begun removing the fares that penalized solo travelers with higher prices, reversing course on a questionable new pricing tactic after a nationwide blowback
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How about flying American from Charlotte to Fort Myers, where booking for one passenger will set you back $422 this fall ...
... but search the exact same route for two, and the ticket price drops to $266 apiece - or even less for basic economy!
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This is the most common response to our story today ... I mean, aside from "WTF, airlines?"
Reality check: Airlines aren't offering groups of two or more a discount.
They are charging solo travelers more. There is a big difference.
So they are offering a discount to people purchasing multiple tickets…it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to me
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These United flights from Chicago to Asheville this summer are even worse.
$223 for one passenger ... or less than $207 TOTAL for two passengers.
That's right: It's cheaper to book a trip for two travelers than one. Wild.
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BREAKING: @Delta CEO Ed Bastian announces the airline will turn on free Wi-Fi for all starting Feb. 1. Story coming soon
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Bullying and threatening your highly trained, unpaid and borderline irreplaceable workforce when we could be right back here in three months is a choice, I guess.
Sean Duffy threatens "action" against air traffic controllers who didn't come to work during the shutdown: "I'm concerned about their patriotism."
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It's a major change in how airlines price flights. Typically, it's the opposite: More tickets = you may wind up with higher fares.
I'm unsure how long this has gone on. But whether it started days or months ago, it's irrelevant: Few know about it - or how much it's costing them.
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Gilbert, the golden retriever Rep. Melissa Hortman tried but failed to train into a service dog because he was “too friendly” was euthanized due to his injuries.
“When I heard that Gilbert had passed, too, I just knew it was because Melissa needed him.”
💔💔💔
via @StarTribune
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NEW: The 20-year-old Real ID requirement for domestic flights is getting delayed again - kind of.
With just 56% of IDs in circulation being Real ID compliant, the TSA is now pushing for a "phased in" approach ... which would push full enforcement all the way out to May 2027.
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Ending “Bags Fly Free” is huge - inarguably the biggest change in Southwest’s history.
But IMO, sacrificing the brilliant branding of “Wanna Get Away” fares to instead worship at the altar of basic economy (and please its activist investor) is just plain dumb and desperate.
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It's been six hours since we published this story and more than seven since I reached out to American and United for comment - or, for Delta, more than 30 hours.
Crickets. None of them has said a word.
NEW: It's not just Delta. All three of the nation's largest airlines are charging some solo passengers higher fares than groups of two or more - sometimes significantly higher.
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Our full story at @thriftytraveler thriftytraveler.com/news/air…
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Delta is doing its best to put this meltdown all on Friday’s CrowdStrike outage.
All other US airlines canceled 300 flights combined yesterday.
Delta canceled more than 1,000 for a fourth day in a row.
This stopped being a CrowdStrike problem days ago. It’s a Delta problem.
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And just like that, Ted (Rafael) Cruz seems to be on his way back to Texas.
"CRU, R." is on the upgrade list on this afternoon's flight from Cancun to Houston. He was on the list on yesterday afternoon's flight down to Cancun, too.
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Yes, but not all single passengers are on business.
They’re also solo travelers taking a special trip
They’re friends going on a group trip but booking flights separately
They’re family members rushing to respond to an emergency
This is a blunt instrument that will cost many.
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NEW: More than 24 hours after confirming they're charging solo travelers higher fares, the nation's three largest airlines remain radio silent.
American, Delta, and United all refuse to explain, defend, or even acknowledge their (relatively) new pricing tactics
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Neither Cruz nor his office has acknowledged this trip yet. If they claim he was simply flying with his family and planned to return immediately, please remember he was photographed with his own (massive) carry-on bag.
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A Minneapolis school put out a call for 80 bags of food to feed kids whose nearby grocery stores had closed or burnt down.
But this is Minnesota. So this is what they got instead.
Watch @MarielleMohs’ story via @WCCO minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/…
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Do not come to this liberal wasteland. No-go zone.
.@Tim_Walz is a left-wing radical who has turned Minnesota into a liberal wasteland.
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Uh oh: Delta is creeping into full-blown meltdown territory with 540+ flights canceled today - more than American, Southwest and United COMBINED - plus another 1,000+ delayed.
Brutal for Delta flyers & will likely have lingering effects through the week.
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I covered Rep. Melissa Hortman for years, including her rise to lead MN House Democrats that eventually made her House Speaker.
She was unfailingly kind & gracious with her time plus a wry sense of humor. She was respected by lawmakers in both parties and beloved by her staff.
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The people of Minnesota have delivered, God bless this state.
!!!!! NEW MN STATE FLAG DESIGN SUBMISSIONS LIVE ---> serc.mnhs.org/flags
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A Minneapolis police officer killed a black man in broad daylight by kneeling on his neck for 5 minutes. MPD said he died due to a "medical incident" until video came out.
This is the story.
Protests, riots, looting... they're stories, too. But not THE story. #GeorgeFloyd
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After being stranded for days by Delta’s cancellations, a follower sums up the airline’s awful response (so far) to this meltdown well:
“They’ll give you $2,000 to give up your seat on an oversold flight but only $100 (voucher) to abandon you for five days. This is criminal.”
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About 120 cancellations and 350 flights delayed at MSP today.
But with 14 inches of snow & counting, the fact flights are getting off the ground is a miracle. Other airports would shut down.
The @mspairport snow removal crews are second to none. Minnesotans, you are blessed.
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Delta just announced a systemwide free change policy for all flights July 1-4. No fees or even fare differences to change your flights to June 28-July 8.
Had not to see this as anything other than Delta throwing in the towel that this weekend is going to be a nightmare.
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PSA to media out there covering Delta's ongoing meltdown:
These disruptions are not due to Friday's CrowdStrike outage. Not anymore.
This is now a Delta problem, and a Delta problem alone. They need to own it.
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Should the chief law enforcement officer for Minnesota's largest county stay on the job after driving drunk at 120+ mph with alcohol and a firearm in the car, endangering the public, totaling a government vehicle, and lying about it?
This is not a difficult question.
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This is in Minneapolis.
Just a reminder to everyone that you have absolutely no obligation to listen to people who have no idea what they’re talking about - particularly when it’s about your community.
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The worst part about this pretty terrible story is that it shows absolutely no effort to contact the doctor.
#BREAKING David Dao, the Elizabethtown doctor yanked from the United flight, has a troubled past in Kentucky cjky.it/2p176Zy
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NEW: It’s barely midday and we’ve already surpassed Saturday’s total cancellations with 1,580 & counting, per FlightAware.
Delta leads the pack with 11% of flights canceled so far. More than 1,000 Southwest flights delayed.
The snowball effect is on. This could get nasty.
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He assassinated a state lawmaker and her husband. He shot another state lawmaker and his wife 17 times.
The many ghouls doing this for clout and cash from this godforsaken site are bad enough. From a US senator - with a $174k taxpayer-funded salary - this is rotten and soulless.
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Huge news, Minnesotans: Delta is adding a nonstop flight from Minneapolis (@mspairport) straight to Maui (OGG) this winter! thriftytraveler.com/news/air…
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Just a day after @thriftytraveler first reported that the 3 largest US airlines were quietly charging some solo travelers significantly higher prices, Delta excised those fares in a Friday afternoon update, according to a person with knowledge of that action.
We've confirmed it.
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WOW: Lake Street Council had raised $1.96 million (!!!) from more than 26,000 to help rebuild Lake Street businesses as of 8 p.m.
At this rate, they’ll easily cross the $2 million mark today. Simply amazing.
Still, they’ll need more. Donate at welovelakestreet.com
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PSA to anyone flying (or trying to) today:
Your check-in agent did not crash the software system.
Your gate agent did not crash the software system.
Your support rep did not crash the software system.
Your flight attendants did not crash the software system.
Please be kind.
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Southwest cancellations in four days from Sunday through Wednesday this week: 9,745
Delta AND United cancellations ... in the entire year of 2019: 7,226
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Cruz seems to be suggesting here he only accompanied his family to Cancun and intended to return today.
@ByERussell confirmed with a United staffer that Cruz was originally scheduled to fly back to Texas Saturday & changed his flights this morning
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After ending its ultra-popular free baggage policy, Southwest's CEO says:
"We're announcing changes to our business that will help us return to the levels of profitability we all expect ... Our DNA isn't open seating or even 'Bags Fly Free.'"
Not sure customers will agree there
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NEW: American Airlines is charging solo passengers higher fares on MORE THAN HALF of its domestic routes from major hubs, according to @thriftytraveler's searches through hundreds of fares.
That's far more widespread than anyone previously believed - including us.
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Buffalo police say an elderly man tripped & fell. Video shows a cop push him.
Minneapolis police said a black man had a “medical incident.” Video showed a cop with his knee in George Floyd’s neck.
It’s not that it’s happening more. It’s that more people have their phones out.
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NEW: Delta says it's finally ready to offer free Wi-Fi for all starting Feb. 1
"It's going to be free. It's going to be fast, and it's going to be available for everyone. It doesn't matter what price you paid for your seat," CEO Ed Bastian said at CES.
thriftytraveler.com/news/air…
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ChatGPT and @webster have given Minnesotans our new state seal, and for that we should be forever grateful.
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*record scratch*
@peggyflanagan: “Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got in the governor’s office.”
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Absolutely unreal that a Midwestern airport that got hammered by snow last winter (as usual) leads the world in on-time departures. A real testament to the @mspairport team and the reliability of its primary carrier, @Delta.
Minnesotans are truly blessed.
MSP is the most on-time global airport, Delta tops North America list startribune.com/msp-minneapo…
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3 days into FAA-mandated flight cuts, this is where things unravel.
In latest update, Delta says it may cancel flights Sunday "as required flight crew rest time and out-of-position aircraft impact our schedule."
1,400 cancels already - on track to surpass Saturday by midmorning
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A beautiful and funny tribute to Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman from @jpcoolican of @MNReformer
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Going on @CNN tonight to talk about our story on airlines charging solo travelers higher fares.
Tune in around 8:30pm CT
NEW: It's not just Delta. All three of the nation's largest airlines are charging some solo passengers higher fares than groups of two or more - sometimes significantly higher.
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What an original quip that you clearly came up with on your own and definitely didn’t crib from a conservative shitposter!!!
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DOT Secretary Duffy warns that air travel won't just snap back after the shutdown, noting that 15-20 controllers are exiting the workforce daily - up from ~4/day pre-shutdown.
"This is going to live on in air travel well beyond the time frame that this government opens back up."
"This will live on" -- Duffy explains that flying will remain a mess even after the shutdown because so many air traffic controllers are retiring
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Staggering statistic: Delta has canceled more twice as many mainline flights since Friday (4,500 and counting) as it did ... in the entire year of 2019 (~1,800).
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This is not some idea McSally pulled out of thin air. It’s straight from the U.S. Travel Association - thriftytraveler.com/explore-…
A day ahead of Trump’s visit to Arizona, GOP Senator Martha McSally proposes giving taxpayers *$4,000 each* to take a vacation.
Couples would get $8,000 in vacation tax credits, plus $500 per kid.
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Read up on why Delta is still melting down days after last week's CrowdStrike outage while other carriers are flying smoothly - and how much longer these disruptions may last thriftytraveler.com/news/air…
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Spoiler alert: There is no level of status that will get you first class upgrades with Delta anymore.
The airline said yesterday that it’s now selling 88% of first class seats - up from just 14% in 2011.
If you want it, pay for it.
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Southwest CEO Bob Jordan says the quiet part out loud: Axing free baggage "will drive new enrollments in our co-brand credit card program." SW Chase cardholders still get a free bag.
If an airline does something these days, you can pretty much bet there's a credit card angle.
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The story about the Minneapolis kid with a hot dog stand who got a permit - rather than shut down - when someone called the police just keeps getting better.
Yesterday the MPD Bike Cops for Kids, CET and CSO delivered a brand new hot dog stand to 13-year-old Jaequan Faulkner! Jaequan’s stand at 1510 Penn Ave N was permitted by the City last Wednesday. You can find him selling hot dogs at the 4th Precinct from July 30th - August 4th.
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$425,000 can get you a 5 bedroom house in Minneapolis and a 20-foot plastic shark!!!
zillow.com/homedetails/3324-…
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Thus far, American and United's higher fares for single passengers - some of them egregious - are still in place.
But airlines update their fares a few times each weekday. It's very possible they both follow suit by end of day.
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It’s -8 degrees outside. It’s so cold they have to heat the ice. One of the goalies has a water bottle full of chicken broth.
And the stands at Target Field are full. I just effing love Minnesota. #WinterClassic
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Cutting 10% of flights from the nation’s largest markets with a 48-hour warning will be debilitating for flights nationwide.
If you’re flying this weekend, research your travel insurance, start making backup plans, and remember: If your flight is canceled, you can get a refund.
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Huge breaking news first on @thriftytraveler: Southwest Airlines fares are now appearing on Google Flights!
This is a seismic change for Southwest, whose business model is built around not listing its fares through other sites. thriftytraveler.com/news/air…
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The other most common response is…
“Yeah this is bulk pricing, everyone does it?”
Which … is two “bulk”? Are airlines Costco??
GTFOH.
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I feel so bad for aviation vloggers who only have HORRIBLE experiences flying in lie-flat business class seats.
What terrible luck, someone should look into this.
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Thank you law enforcement for your quick thinking that undoubtedly saved lives on Saturday.
Thank you Minneapolis journalists for sacrificing your weekends to give us answers.
Thank you medical professionals for saving John & Yvette Hoffman.
Thank you Melissa & Mark Hortman.
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After a decade of positioning itself as the most reliable carrier, Delta has canceled more Sunday flights than American, Southwest & United combined, per FlightAware data.
And this isn’t the first time. All airlines are struggling, but Delta’s whole brand may be at stake now.
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UPDATE: Not even two hours later, United has pulled the fares that were pushing solo travelers into a pricier ticket than couples and groups.
🤷♂️
NEW: After a brief pause amid last week's backlash, United has resumed charging some solo flyers significantly higher fares. American, meanwhile, never stopped.
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I’m all for tongue-in-cheek socials, but this post from Southwest two days after nuking their brand identity by axing free baggage is absolutely insane.
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Official snow downfall measurements show we’ve received nearly one corgi of snow. @NWSTwinCities
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Hey @SouthwestAir, asking for a friend:
Is an $1,800 one-way ticket to Denver for tomorrow because all of your flights have been canceled considered a "reasonable request" that you will reimburse?
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Summer in Minnesota began with the assassination of a widely beloved Democratic lawmaker, her husband, and dog.
It ends with another mass shooting at a school, killing an 8- and 10-year old and injuring more than a dozen others.
Devastating.
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… because the people in first class are being paid to be on that plane at that time by an employer who also paid for the ticket.
Hope this helps!
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I’ve seen a lot at @mspairport in 6 years of covering airlines. Blizzards, meltdowns, security breakdowns.
This line of passengers trying to rebook - stretching down the corridor to the G concourse - is the worst I’ve seen from Delta. By far.
(Photo from @AngieHufford)
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“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little bit better for someone else.”
Imagine writing that days after losing your whole world. This is going to stick with me for a long time.
Thank you, Hortmans ❤️
Statement from Sophie and Colin Hortman, children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark:
"The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”
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All signs point toward air travel getting worse - perhaps significantly worse - this week as both FAA-mandated flight reductions and air traffic control shortages escalate.
Here are a few actionable things you can do if you're getting on a plane in the coming days. 👇👇👇
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The main thing the Great Minnesota Flag Redesign of 2023 has shown us is that some of you people need a fucking hobby.
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There are failures on so many levels tonight and in the last few months (and years & generations), but MPD only has itself to blame for a distrust so deep it felt it had to tweet video of a man taking his life.
And it’s absolutely unconscionable they actually took that step.
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Continuing to point the finger solely at CrowdStrike - when they melted down as other carriers recovered - is an insult to all Delta flyers and customers.
.@Delta CEO Ed Bastian shared the following message Wednesday morning as the airline continues to recover from the impact of last week's CrowdStrike outage. news.delta.com/update-delta-…
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