by Anna Breuer

So-called vaccine passports are intended to verify an individual’s Covid-19 immunization status. By virtue of this, they would allow vaccinated people to participate in everyday activities including dining in restaurants, attending theater performances, going to the cinema, working out at the fitness center, and traveling, among other pre-pandemic activities.
Vaccine passports document an individual’s vaccination status or, in some cases during the coronavirus pandemic, proof of a negative Covid test.
While they …

Lucid Air Gets 520 Miles on a Charge, Beating Tesla in EPA Rating

by Paul Riegler

Lucid Motors, a start-up in EVs compared to Tesla, has beaten its competitor at its own game, namely extending the distance an electric vehicle can travel on a single charge.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that the Lucid Air Dream Edition Range can go 520 miles (837 kilometers) on a single charge.  The Tesla Model S Long Range, which previously was the record holder, has a range of 402 miles …

Delta Returns to Pre-Pandemic Boarding Process

by Kurt Stolz
Delta Returns to Pre-Pandemic Boarding Process

Delta Air Lines said it had returned to boarding its planes by zones, eliminating one of its last remaining pandemic-era practices, namely front-to-back boarding.
The new – and old – process – allows travelers to board based on elite status with the airline or a partner as well as seat location.
“This update drives efficiency in the boarding process, making it faster and easier for both customers and employees as we continue …

Alaska to Introduce New Top Elite Tier, MVP Gold 100K

by Kurt Stolz
Alaska to Introduce New Top Elite Tier, MVP Gold 100K

Alaska Airlines announced plans for the introduction of a new elite tier in its Mileage Plan frequent-flyer program, MVP Gold 100K.
MVP Gold 100K would require a Mileage Plan member to reach 100,000 qualifying miles with Alaska, a oneworld airline, or a global airline partner of Alaska, or 140 eligible segments.
The new tier will be introduced in January 2022.
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K members will receive the same oneworld status as …

Apple Unveils New iPhone 13, Smartwatch, and Tablets

by Kurt Stolz

At what’s become the company’s annual virtual product launch, Apple introduced several new iPhones and a new Apple Watch.
While Apple CEO Tim Cook last year was able to welcome the line of high-speed, 5G-capable iPhones and a new design, this year’s batch of iPhones has a more vibrant screen, improved cameras, faster microprocessors, and a larger, longer-lasting battery as well as the new A15 Bionic microprocessor.
The Apple Watch 7 has …

Remembering 9/11: The Day the Townsfolk Of Gander Opened Their Doors and Their Hearts To the Plane People

by Paul Riegler

For the better part of a week, the people of Gander opened their doors and their hearts to the Plane People, as the unexpected guests were called, after airspace over North America was shut down following the terror attacks on September 11, 2001.   Thirty-eight wide-body planes carrying approximately 7,000 passengers and crew members almost doubled Gander’s population overnight.
The Tony Award-winning musical “Come From Away” tells the remarkable story of the …

The 2021 Frankfurt Auto Show? It’s Now in Munich

by Paul Riegler

Things were different at the biennial Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, aka the Frankfurt Auto Show, this year.  For one thing, the IAA is now known as IAA Mobility.  It’s also not just about cars anymore, but covers everything from bikes to e-scooters to automobiles.  Oh, and it’s no longer in Frankfurt but rather in Munich.
In short, this is not your father’s IAA.
The show is the automotive industry’s first international event since the …

Amidst Chip Shortage, Car Dealers Skip Labor Day Blowout Sales For a Second Year in a Row

by Paul Riegler

A classic Labor Day tradition is slowly disappearing.  Last year, car dealers and appliance stores eschewed the loud, boisterous commercials touting never-before-seen savings.  That’s because there would be no Labor Day sales events.
Car dealers last year didn’t need to clear out the previous year’s models because the industry was recovering from the early pandemic-related shutdowns in the spring, leaving little on the lot.  Meanwhile, major appliance buyers were waiting up …