The bad news hits hotel workers first. Front desk staff and reservations teams are getting blasted with phishing emails. Fake ones. They claim to be angry guests. Complaining about bedbugs. Horrible stays. The tricks are slick though. The emails bounce through real services like Calendly or Google redirects to look legit. They want you to click. Specifically, a “photo” inside a ZIP file. Open that image. Install malware. Attackers get the keys to the castle.
And nobody knows why. Not yet. They’re just setting up access. Waiting for later.
“whoever built this invested heavily on persistence and evasion for something they aren’t showing yet.”
Smart hackers. Patient ones.
United Airlines Preorder Mess
Meanwhile, travelers are tired of guessing games. Imagine United passengers complaining about their seat options on board. Specifically coach buyers. Meanwhile, Alaska flyers actually get treated well. Everyone else gets… whatever they get.
u/Admirable-Cut2115 put it best. Just clean the planes. That hill? They’ll die on it.
The real sin isn’t dirt, it’s lies in the booking flow. You think you’re getting a window? Maybe you aren’t. You’re paying extra for a fuselage spot. It makes customer experience terrible. Confiscating a carry-on stings. Realizing you didn’t need to check it anyway? That stings more.
Chocolates and Patriotic Noise
One flight offered a different vibe. About half an hour into LHR to PHX, the pilot got on the PA. America’s 250th anniversary celebration, they said. They handed out chocolate. Then sang the whole “God Bless America.” Ten hours later. Landing approach. “The Star-Spangled Banner” followed.
Whose idea was this?
Southwest’s Seat Pocket Fails
Finally, Southwest Airlines gets roasted for storage. Never put a laptop in the seat back pocket, the advice goes. Well, the image says otherwise.
“Heaven forbid you put a laptop.”
It looks cramped. Unsafe, even.
Gary Leff watches all this happen. He’s been tracking miles and points since 2002 inside Flyer. Co-founder. Emcee of the Freddie Awards. Conde Nast calls him a top expert. He sees the good stuff, the loyalty loops. Also sees the crap.
He’s watching the chaos unfold. Not quite sure where it lands. But it’s loud.
