🧳 Global Entry is getting faster: New camera tech will soon let travelers breeze through passport control without stopping. Your face gets scanned on the move, so no kiosks or lines. It’s being tested at seven airports, including Miami, LAX, Chicago O’Hare and Toronto. Suddenly, that $120 five-year membership doesn’t sound so bad.
People are glued on YouTube, watching planes land at LAX
https://www.youtube.com/@AirlineVideos
Move over, cat videos and cooking hacks, there’s a new YouTube obsession, and it’s planes landing at LAX. No, really.
I thought you’d find it interesting that a channel called Airline Videos Live is racking up millions of views pointing a camera at the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.
It’s exactly what it sounds like: hours of live footage showing planes taking off, landing and taxiing.
This isn’t grainy security cam footage either. We’re talking HD video, a real-time radar display and a fabulous, engaging host who knows everything from aircraft models to what brand of shoes pilots wear (OK, maybe not that last part yet).
💡 Why are people so obsessed?
There’s something hypnotic about the precision, the power, and yes, the sheer size of these metal beasts touching down with ballet-like grace. But the real draw? The community.
The live chat is a global party. You’ll see aviation buffs from Tokyo, retirees from Kansas and night owls from Berlin all geeking out over a Qatar A350 floating in from the Pacific. People cheer when their favorite airline shows up. So fun!
The energy is part Twitch stream, part group therapy, part Sesame Street for adults obsessed with planes.
🌍 It’s more than just plane spotting
What started as a pandemic hobby has morphed into a worldwide phenomenon. The guy behind the camera, Kevin Ray, is a former TV news cameraman. He set up shop on a hotel rooftop near LAX and turned this into a full-blown business.
He’s now pulling in advertising revenue, getting free hotel stays and partnering with huge travel brands. Go take a peek, you might get hooked.
Hackers want you to make this mistake
ChatGPT
If you’re about to take a flight, pause for one hot second before you slide your phone into that shiny airport USB port. Both the FBI and FTC are waving red flags: Public charging stations can be straight-up hacker bait.
Around $500 a night
What some travelers are paying to stay at luxury hotels inside airports (paywall link). No Ubers needed here, just walk off the plane and into your room. Added perks? Fancy food, upscale bars, blackout curtains and spa-like bathrooms. Hey, jet lag with lobster sounds pretty nice.
Facial ID, no thanks: Airport scanners know your face before TSA even checks your ID. It’s now live at 84 airports, pitched as “frictionless.” Opting out is possible, but no one tells you how. Critics say it screams surveillance state. TSA says it’s just “enhanced security.” Next upgrade: retina scan in the TSA PreCheck mirror.
⚠️ Flying a drone? Be careful. They’re getting way too close to planes, especially around major U.S. airports. Some have come within 50 to 300 feet of passenger jets mid-flight. Most people don’t even realize they’re flying in restricted zones. The FAA is now testing jammers and lasers to stop it. Yep, it’s that serious.