Latest news with #Snyder
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Want to fly in a fancy seat for less? Try this hack.
Want to fly in a fancy seat for less? Try this hack. | Cruising Altitude Show Caption Hide Caption A short flight just got more comfortable than you think Short flights could let you experience a bed in the sky for less. Passengers can experience international-style seating on short domestic flights when airlines use larger planes for these routes. Airlines utilize larger aircraft on shorter routes to maximize aircraft usage and meet high passenger demand, especially between hub cities. While these flights offer upgraded seating, the service is typically comparable to domestic first class, not the full international experience. If you want a glimpse of the sweet life at the pointy end of the plane, there's one way to do it that doesn't require a boatload of points or miles or cash. It's by taking a short domestic flight where an airline has routed one of its internationally configured planes. I'm not talking about premium transcontinental flights that are always set up for big spenders. I'm talking about one-off itineraries where airlines are trying to squeeze the most performance out of their planes, like the trip I have coming up to Atlanta later this summer, on which Delta currently has a flat-bed Boeing 767 scheduled for one of my flights. If I get an upgrade, I'll be cruising down to Georgia in style and maybe sneaking in a little nap in a fully flat bed. And even if I don't get the upgrade, I'll still benefit from a little more leg and elbow room. Why do airlines use big planes on short flights? An airplane is only making money when it's in the air, so airlines typically try to keep their planes flying as much as possible, so it doesn't become a drag on the bottom line. 'In general the reasons airlines do this is there's enough demand and they can put these airplanes, fill them up and do it, but that really only makes sense if they can pair it with the slack in the system that they have from international flying that gives them free time to play with,' Brett Snyder, author of the blog Cranky Flier and owner of the travel agency Cranky Concierge, told me. Airlines that fly only long-haul networks usually try to turn their planes around as quickly as possible, but those with more diverse routes may be trying to optimize their flight schedule more, and may find that it makes sense to fly an internationally configured jet on a short out-and-back itinerary between longer hops. In other cases, it's because a plane needs to get from its base airport to another location before its scheduled flight. 'Sometimes it's a matter of connecting the dots,' Snyder said. 'Sometimes ... it's because there's huge (passenger) demand and there's huge cargo demand and that's a great place to put that airplane.' How can I find a flight like this? In general, you're most likely to see these planes on routes between an airline's hub airports, or from one of its hubs to another location with high demand. 'In the winter you can look at Florida, Latin, Caribbean type of stuff,' Snyder said. 'Year-round, you can always look at hub-to-hub flying. That's usually where you'll find it is between an airline's hubs.' In the summer, when travel demand to Europe is higher, there are typically fewer short-haul widebody routes, because airlines surge capacity across the Atlantic. There are usually more quirky flight options like this in the winter, according to Snyder. 'More often than not they get decent usage flying it to Orlando or Cancun or someplace where there are a ton of people looking to fly,' he said. If you're not familiar with all the various airplane types, make sure to check the flight details and compare the aircraft against a site like aeroLOPA to make sure you know what you're getting. What is the service usually like? Even though you'll benefit from the nicer seat, flying a widebody on a short route won't be quite the same as it is on a longer flight. 'It can really depend on the airline and the route, but in general, you're getting a domestic first-class style service. You're not getting blankets and pajamas and multicourse meals and all of this,' Snyder said. 'They cater it to act more like a domestic first-class type of service, just with a much nicer seat.' But the service will still be a step up from what you get in regular economy. Last week's Cruising Altitude: Are US airlines becoming a 'homogenous blob of sameness?' Do widebody flights cost more? Airline pricing is famously opaque but in general, flights with better seats will usually cost the same or a little more than others on the schedule for the same day. 'If you're flying on a route with a flat bed versus a non-flat bed, there is a very good chance it will be priced higher,' Snyder said. 'They know they can get more money, it's not like the old days where they were bad at this.' For example, on the 767 flight I'm taking to Atlanta this summer, first class – which on this plane includes a flat bed – is priced at $519 one-way, while the two earlier flights are asking $444 for a standard domestic first class seat, and the next later flight, which also features a standard domestic first class seat, is going for $514. But that's not the only metric for pricing on these planes. On the 767, Delta also sells international premium economy as domestic Comfort, and it's priced the same $259 one-way as Comfort on all the nonstop flights that day. On the 767, though, Comfort passengers will get a seat more similar to the domestic first class recliner on other flights. 'There are some sweet spots on that airplane, depending on the airline,' Snyder said. Are there any drawbacks to booking widebodies on domestic flights? Mostly, it's all upside. You'll get a little more space in any cabin and will get to have a quirky experience of being on a big plane for a short flight. But there are some small snags that could be annoying, if not exactly devastating. For one, there's no guarantee the airline is going to keep your preferred aircraft on the flight. 'If you book these don't 100% count on it not changing, because there are always airline schedule changes. Depending on how far out you book, airlines may sub it out,' Snyder said. And while airlines do offer some flexibility to change your ticket if there's an equipment change, he added that those policies don't usually apply to these kinds of flights, because tickets are sold as domestic first, for example, not as business class, so you're still technically getting what you paid for. Snyder also said a bigger plane could make connections a little more annoying. 'Sometimes you will see these airplanes operating more out of the international gates if they're at terminals that segregate those because maybe they're coming in from somewhere internationally,' he said. 'For connections it can sometimes make it a little more challenging depending on where you are.' But all that is pretty minor. I say: give it a shot. What do you really have to lose? Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Snyder loyalists target new 'Superman' film
When it comes to established superheroes, few things get fans more worked up than a new addition to a beloved franchise, and the upcoming Superman film is no exception. As per Variety, since the announcement of director James Gunn's DC Universe (DCU) replacing Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe (DCEU), a segment of devoted Snyder fans has launched a negative campaign against the new direction, including upcoming DCU projects. The latest backlash has targeted Superman, the first film in Gunn's DCU, set for release on July 11. A Snyder supporter took to Reddit to encourage users to spoil and review-bomb the film. However, director James Gunn remains unmoved by all the negativity. Responding directly to one of the posts, Gunn wrote, "I think we will survive. I'm not sure the eight people that listen to that guy (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's a guy) are going to impact the course of events." The comment quickly drew attention online, sparking a variety of fan reactions. Many supported Gunn's stance and condemned the negativity. One user noted, "Let's be honest. James and Zack are friends. I loved Zack's movies and I will probably love James Gunn's movies too." Another added, "As a Snyder fan, that's trash. Let people enjoy the movie — we had a good run with the DCEU." A third pointed out, "Funny thing is the majority of Snyder fanboys aren't even CBM fans. They just get annoyed when others like a movie." Despite isolated online campaigns, Superman — starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and others — is tracking to open strongly at the box office. It follows the DCU's animated debut Creature Commandos and precedes titles like Peacemaker season 2, Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Clayface. Gunn's confident response, paired with the supportive fan reaction, suggests that online trolling may not derail anticipation for the upcoming DCU reboot.
American Military News
4 days ago
- Business
- American Military News
Judge approves $69M class action settlement in UnitedHealth 401(k) litigation
A federal judge in Minneapolis said Thursday he would approve a $69 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging UnitedHealth Group depressed the retirement savings of workers for years by selecting poorly performing investment options in the company 401(k) plan. The litigation alleged 'the fix was in' to retain investment funds managed by California-based Wells Fargo, in order to protect UnitedHealth Group's significant business relationship with the big bank, which was buying employee health insurance from the company's UnitedHealthcare division. Last year, Judge John Tunheim of the U.S. District Court of Minnesota said the case could move forward after determining 'a reasonable trier of fact could easily find' that Kim Snyder, the lead plaintiff in the case, caught the Eden Prairie-based company 'with its hand in the cookie jar.' UnitedHealth Group issued a statement Thursday that while it denied any allegation the company failed to act in the best interest of plan participants, 'this settlement allows all parties to put this matter behind them and move on.' The litigation unearthed a 2018 email in which Chief Financial Officer John Rex complained Wells Fargo was shifting its insurance business away from UnitedHealthcare, even though Rex had 'stepped in front of a freight train' to maintain Wells Fargo as the default retirement investment fund despite recommendations from an internal committee. Snyder knew none of this when she first brought the case, she said in an interview following Thursday's court hearing for final settlement approval. After losing her job about four years ago with the company's Optum division, Snyder reviewed her retirement savings, she said, and started questioning why the investments hadn't grown more. A Detroit resident, Snyder, 64, is a nurse who worked remotely for Optum's pharmacy business. 'I think they took the employees' wealth,' Snyder said. 'They took advantage of that, when [workers] were giving them money to invest … and used it for their own purposes. That was the freight train that nobody knew about.' Wells Fargo sold off its asset management business years ago. As of Thursday afternoon, Tunheim had not yet issued final paperwork cementing the settlement, but he said from the bench he would sign proposed orders drafted by attorneys without major changes. The draft called for lawyers to receive one-third of the settlement fund, or $23 million, plus reimbursement of $735,162 in costs. The rest will be distributed among hundreds of thousands of retirement plan holders. Snyder, as the sole class representative, would also receive a service award of $50,000. The $69 million settlement represents between 20% and 25% of likely potential recovery had plaintiffs prevailed in court, said Leigh Anne St Charles, a plaintiff attorney in Nashville who represented the class. Only two out of more than 350,000 class members filed letters of objection to the settlement. Both asked the court to consider an alternate age-weighted distribution formula for payouts, St. Charles said, even though age and length of service already are implied factors in settlement distributions. Each class member's proportional share will be based in part on the balance they invested in certain Wells Fargo Target Date Funds at any time since April 23, 2015, according to a website with settlement details. A settlement notice issued in the spring said class members don't need to do anything to receive payment. Current plan participants will receive their share in the form of a deposit into their plan accounts. Payments to former plan participants will be made directly by check unless they elect to receive funds via rollover to a qualified retirement account. Snyder first filed her lawsuit in 2021. In March 2024, Tunheim denied United's push for summary judgment in the case, citing evidence that Rex requested 'balance of trade' ledgers be produced showing how much business UnitedHealth Group conducted with Wells Fargo. On one side of the ledger, UnitedHealth generated between $50 million and $60 million in revenue over four years as health insurance provider for Wells Fargo. On the other side, Wells provided substantial banking services to UnitedHealth, which was the bank's 'largest client and lifeline' in the market for target-date funds, the judge wrote. The comparisons showed that, among the firms, UnitedHealth's most profitable relationship was with Wells Fargo. ___ © 2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
1719299420-0%2FUntitled-design-(21)1719299420-0.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
James Gunn responds to Snyder fan urging spoilers and review bombing of Superman
Since the announcement of James Gunn's DC Universe (DCU) replacing Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe (DCEU), a segment of devoted Snyder fans has launched a negative campaign against the new direction, including upcoming DCU projects. James Gunn responds to a Snyder fan urging people to spoil and review bomb #Superman "I think we will survive. I'm not sure the eight people that listen to that guy are going to impact the course of events" — Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) June 16, 2025 The latest backlash targeted Superman, the first film in Gunn's DCU, set for release on July 11, 2025. A Snyder supporter took to Reddit to encourage users to spoil and review bomb the film. A screenshot of the post caught the attention of James Gunn, who responded directly, writing, 'Lol I think we will survive. I'm not sure the eight people that listen to that guy (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's a guy) are going to impact the course of events.' Let's be honest. James and Zack are friends. I loved Zack's movies and I will probably love James Gunn movies! I love both James and Zack. — Alaska (@Alaska0420) June 16, 2025 The comment quickly drew attention online, sparking a variety of fan reactions. Many supported Gunn's stance and condemned the negativity. One user noted, 'Let's be honest. James and Zack are friends. I loved Zack's movies and I will probably love James Gunn's movies too.' Another added, 'As a Snyder fan, that's trash. Let people enjoy the movie… we had a good run with the DCEU.' A third pointed out, 'Funny thing is the majority of Snyder fanboys aren't even CBM fans. They just get annoyed when others like a movie.' James Gunn responds to a Snyder fan urging people to spoil and review bomb #Superman "I think we will survive. I'm not sure the eight people that listen to that guy are going to impact the course of events" — Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) June 16, 2025 Despite isolated online campaigns, Superman — starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, and others — is tracking to open strongly at the box office. It follows the DCU's animated debut Creature Commandos and precedes titles like Peacemaker season 2, Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Clayface. As a Snyder fan, that's trash. Let people enjoy the movie. Absolutely wishing no malice, we had a good run with DCEU — Maxon Unlimited (@MaxonUnlimited) June 16, 2025 Gunn's confident response, paired with the supportive fan reaction, suggests that online trolling may not derail anticipation for the upcoming DCU reboot.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce laps up pregame attention, makes MLB debut: ‘Look at this dog and try not to smile'
The dog days of summer arrived Saturday at Nationals Park. Bruce, a 21-month-old Golden Retriever, fetched a bat during a ceremony before the Washington Nationals' game against the Miami Marlins as part of a Pups in the Park promotion. He retrieved bats the last two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, Washington's Triple-A affiliate. Advertisement 5 Washington Nationals' bat dog, Bruce, retrieves a bat before a game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on June 14, 2025. AP Bruce, wearing a bandana with an 'MLB debut' patch he received when he arrived at the stadium, was presented a commemorative bat. He then took a circuitous route from the dugout toward first base after Nationals reliever Zach Brzykcy dropped the bat in foul territory before the bat dog collected his quarry to the delight of a crowd wowed by his work and enthusiasm. Advertisement 'Look at this dog and try not to smile,' said Josh Snyder, Bruce's owner. 'He's great. He's goofy. I think he's the perfect candidate for Rochester, the Red Wings and now the Nationals.' Snyder, who wore a No. 25 Nationals jersey with 'Bruce' on the nameplate, said he drove through the night with Bruce and arrived in Washington around 3 a.m. Saturday. But it was anything but a rough morning and early afternoon for Bruce, who casually lapped up attention as he walked through the tunnel in the stadium. 5 Bruce retrieved bats the last two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, Washington's Triple-A affiliate. AP Advertisement 5 Nationals relief pitcher Cole Henry pets Bruce in front of the dugout before the game. AP Bruce spent about 50 minutes on the field before the ceremony, where he was hounded by well-wishers. He also did a couple practice bat retrievals with Snyder's assistance before Nationals catcher Riley Adams stopped to pet him on his way out for pregame work. He won't work during the actual game, however, and will return to Triple-A duties afterward. Advertisement Bruce is Snyder's second dog work to with the Red Wings, following the late Milo, and both participated in campaigns to raise money for Rochester's Veterans Outreach Center and Honor Flight of Rochester. 5 Bruce runs around the foul territory grass with a bat in his mouth. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 5 Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers greets Bruce on the field during batting practice. AP This week — which included an announcement from the Nationals on Tuesday that Bruce had worked his tail off to earn a promotion — generated plenty of buzz even before Saturday's debut. 'Social media, everything like that seems like it's seriously blown up, and we love it,' Snyder said. 'Really good publicity with our goal and our mission of bringing people together. It shows it's just doing that.'
