Samsung Archives - TravelSkills

When the TSA PreCheck line at SFO looks like this on a Wednesday, I’m glad I renewed CLEAR- with the Delta discount! CLICK for details (Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Bad and good (ish): United devalues; Delta throws a bone, Chairman resigns (anyone know why?)

2 Cali is HOT! New California routes: Southwest, AA, Delta, JetSuiteX, Mokulele + more

3 An exotic new one: Love a lie-flat seat? You’ll love this…

4 Move in this week: SFO flips switch on shapely new control tower

5 Berlin from SFO! Routes: Airberlin to SFO, LAX; Emirates, Lufthansa, Etihad, Southwest

6 A new Jennifer Aniston ad from Emirates

7 Break out the khakis: What in the world does “business casual” really mean?

Don’t miss! Marriott’s new beta-test hotel in Charlotte

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Access to the great outdoors and Sydney's "rock pools" make Australians smile (Chris McGinnis)

Access to the great outdoors and Sydney’s “rock pools” make Australians smile- go for <$1000 (Chris McGinnis)

8 Deal: Australia on sale! $914 round trip (still in effect- ends next Sunday)

9 Confiscation possible: Really bad news for Samsung smartphone owners

10 Routes: LOT at LAX, AA seats, KLM popup, 2 new US cities for Icelandair

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis flew SFO-ATL-SFO this week. Paid $249 for an upgrade for the return leg. Worth it!

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

How to survive NY LaGuardia airport construction

Yet another simple way to earn 500 Virgin America Elevate points

Is Delta experimenting with SkyMiles partner award pricing?

Singapore Airlines picks up newest A350 in Toulouse

Work begins on Atlanta’s showy airport roadside canopies

Airbus to slow production of giant A380

As would be expected, flight attendants pass trays of Turkish delight candies during each flight (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Political strife takes toll on Turkish Airlines’ rapid expansion

Hong Kong bids farewell to the Queen of the Skies

Airlines deploy fire containment bags for overheated devices

Live a little: Report lists NYC’s 10 most expensive hotel suites

New Star Alliance carrier (Photo: Star Alliance)

New Star Alliance carrier Juneyao (Photo: Star Alliance)

Chinese carrier will become a Star Alliance partner next year

Major airlines try to tackle low-fare transatlantic competition

Luggage series was designed with input from 100,000 frequent flyers

Watch out for fake Uber scam at LaGuardia and JFK

Chase Sapphire Reserve sole sponsor of new online travel publication, Meridian

Emirates adds daily Ft Lauderdale nonstop to tie in w partner

Colorado’s Famed Ski Train Is Back For Winter Vacation Fun

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 is formally banned from U.S. aircraft. (Image: Samsung)

Are you still holding onto a Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone that you haven’t returned yet despite Samsung’s recent request that you do so?

If you plan to keep using it because you think the odds of it catching fire are too small to worry about, don’t plan on taking it on an airplane.

Earlier, the FAA had advised flyers not to put those phones into checked luggage, or to power them up or charge them during flight. But given the continuing problems with the device, the government has now issued an unprecedented, full-fledged ban– now you cannot even bring it on the plane.

The Transportation Department said Friday that effective at midday on Saturday (October 15), the Galaxy Note7 is banned from all U.S. aircraft, even if it is turned off. Anyone found with one could have it confiscated and could be fined, DOT said. If you try to hide it in checked luggage, you could face criminal prosecution, DOT noted.

If airline staff see a passenger carrying a Galaxy Note7 before boarding, they are required to keep that person off the plane.

“Passengers currently traveling with Samsung Galaxy Note7 phones should contact Samsung or their wireless carrier immediately to obtain information about how to return their phones and arrange for a refund or a replacement phone,” DOT said. “Samsung has provided guidance for customers about refund and replacement options, as well as how to contact wireless carriers, at http://www.samsung.com/us/note7recall. Samsung is also answering customers’ questions at 1-844-365-6197.”

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