best time to play super ace jili
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Purchases 7,585 Shares of eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)Stocks climbed on Monday as tech rallied and investors considered the path of interest rates next year after the Fed hinted they would stay higher for longer. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) gained 0.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) rose almost 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) erased earlier losses to edge almost 0.2% higher. Semiconductor stocks gained, as shares of chipmakers Nvidia ( NVDA ) and Broadcom ( AVGO ) rose more than 3% and 5%, respectively. Robust gains from social media platform Meta ( META ) and EV giant Tesla ( TSLA ) also helped lead the broader market higher. Wall Street is coming off an upbeat Friday but a downbeat — and volatile — week , with all three major averages up above 1% Friday but down around 2% for the week. The Fed played the part of the Grinch, signaling that it will step back its pace of cutting next year, leading stocks to one of the worst days of the year on Wednesday. On Friday, however, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, showed further cooling on the inflation front — if still some stickiness. Still, the lone dissenter of the Fed's move to cut last week said she voted against cutting rates because "there is more work to do on inflation." For now, according to the CME FedWatch tool, investors are betting on the Fed holding rates steady next month. For its subsequent meeting in March, bets are about 50-50 on a cut vs. a hold. In economic data, US consumer confidence in December tumbled in its largest month-over-month decline since November 2020 amid Americans' growing uncertainty over the economic outlook in the year ahead. But overall, this week's light schedule will provide a bit of a breather and a chance for Wall Street to digest and reflect heading into 2025. Markets will close at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, followed by Wednesday's Christmas holiday. The Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) led the market higher on Monday as tech stocks gained during a shortened trading week. The tech-heavy index climbed almost 1% while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.7%. Semiconductor stocks climbed, with shares of AI chip heavyweight Nvidia ( NVDA ) gain more than 3% while Broadcom ( AVGO ) and Taiwan Semiconductor ( TSM ) rallied. Gains in shares of social media platform Meta ( META ) and EV giant Tesla ( TSLA ) also helped lift the Nasdaq and S&P 500. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^ DJI ) spent most of the session in red territory but managed to close up nearly 0.2%. The 10-year Treasury (^ TNX ) climbed as much as 7 basis points to 4.6% during the session. In economic data, Consumer Confidence in December registered the biggest month-over-month decline since November of 2020. The stock market will close at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, followed by Wednesday's Christmas holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^ DJI ) struggled to lift above the flatline on Monday, weighed by shares of Walmart ( WMT ). The retail giant fell as much as 3% during the session after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued the company along with Branch Messenger, claiming they illegally forced "delivery drivers to use costly deposit accounts" to get paid. Other Dow laggards on Monday included software giant Microsoft ( MSFT ) and sport apparel maker Nike ( NKE ). Shares of video-sharing platform Rumble ( RUM ) extended session gains to as much as 100% Monday afternoon following a $775 million investment from crypto firm Tether ( USDT-USD ). "Tether's investment in Rumble reflects our shared values of decentralization, independence, transparency, and the fundamental right to free expression," Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said on Friday when the strategic partnership was announced. Rumble shares opened more than 40% higher on Monday. By afternoon trading the stock had soared to its highest level since 2022. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Elon Musk wants more Democrats involved in the nascent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Rep. Aaron Bean is charged with making that happen. The Florida Republican is a Trump/Musk ally and co-founder of the House’s DOGE caucus, which gathered for its first meeting last week to begin wooing curious Democrats as Congress wrapped up its business for the year. "They're still kind of fearful, they're feeling out DOGE," Bean said of the other side of the aisle in a recent interview. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Nordstrom ( JWN ) is returning to its private roots after years of earnings struggles and investor indifference. The founding Nordstrom family, who owned a roughly 33% stake, teamed up with retail investor El Puerto de Liverpool, owner of a 10% stake, to take the company private. El Puerto is a real estate and department store conglomerate that has boutiques with known names like Gap, Banana Republic, and Williams Sonoma, among others, in addition to department stores and other format retailers. Both will acquire all outstanding shares in an all-cash deal valued at about $6.25 billion. Read more here. Tech ( XLK ) and Communication ( XLC ) stocks rose modestly on Monday while the rest of the S&P 500 sectors struggled to gain much traction. Chip giant Nvidia ( NVDA ) increased 2%, while social media platform Meta ( META ) also gained more than 2%. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) crossed into green territory to rise 0.2% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) increased 0.5% by 12:30 p.m. ET. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) extended losses on Monday, dropping more than 2.5% over the past 24 hours to touch $93,000 per token. The world's largest cryptocurrency has been on a downward trend since last week when Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled central bank policymakers will likely scale back rate cuts next year. Bitcoin has fallen more than 10% from its all-time record highs north of $108,000 touched last Tuesday. The token is still up more than 35% since the presidential election on Nov. 5. Semiconductor stocks rose on Monday, with shares of AI chip heavyweight Nvidia ( NVDA ) gaining more than 1% while Broadcom ( AVGO ) and Taiwan Semiconductor ( TSM ) also edged higher. AMD ( AMD ) gained more than 5% after Rosenblatt Securities named the chipmaker a top pick for 2025. Meanwhile, Qualcomm ( QCOM ) shares gained after the company won a legal battle on Friday over a breach of contract dispute with Arm ( ARM ). Shares of the UK-based chip designer fell more than 5% during the session. Consumer Confidence fell short of expectations in December, largely due to how Americans are viewing the economic outlook in the year ahead. The Expectations Index, which includes the short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, sank 12.6 points to 81.1 in December, its largest month-over-month decline since November 2020. Overall, the Consumer Confidence index reading for December was 104.7, below the 113.2 expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. "Consumer views of current labor market conditions continued to improve, consistent with recent jobs and unemployment data, but their assessment of business conditions weakened," Conference Board chief economist Dana Peterson said in the release. "Compared to last month, consumers in December were substantially less optimistic about future business conditions and incomes. Moreover, pessimism about future employment prospects returned after cautious optimism prevailed in October and November." In December, 21.3% of respondents anticipated fewer jobs to be available in the next six months, up from 17.9% the month prior. Meanwhile, expectations for income decreases and worse business conditions in the next six months also moved higher. Markets, which have recently been in a slump amid rising concerns about the uncertainty surrounding policies from the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve in 2025, moved lower after the release. All three major indexes quickly hit their lows of the session before beginning to pare losses. Consumer Confidence expectations fell in December to 104.7, versus estimates for 113.2. The reading came in below all 47 estimates, which ranged from 109.3 to 116.00 across 47 estimates, according to Bloomberg data. Stocks opened mixed to kick off a short trading week as investors assess how the Federal Reserve will handle its interest rate policy next year. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose slightly, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) gained 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) fell about 0.4%. Consumer Discretionary stocks ( XLY ) gained, while Financials ( XLF ) and Real Estate ( XLRE ) lagged in early trading. Individual movers included AI heavyweight Nvidia ( NVDA ) and Tesla ( TSLA ), up more than 1% and 2%, respectively. Wall Street is coming off a volatile week after Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted the central bank will scale back its pace of interest rate cuts next year. Economic data : Conference Board Consumer Confidence (December) Earnings : No notable earnings Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed over the weekend and early this morning: Wall Street reevaluates 'higher for longer' rates: The week ahead Bitcoin posts first weekly decline since Trump's election win Honda stock rises as Nissan merger talks formalize Elon Musk makes 'overstaffed' Fed target in quest for efficiency Biden launches new US trade probe into legacy Chinese chips The Container Store files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Novo rises as 2025 obesity drug market set to captivate investors
Duterte calls for military action, but sidesteps coup talk
KANYE West's wife Bianca Censori flashed her bum in see-through catsuit as the couple enjoyed a shopping trip in Tokyo. The Australian model, 29, wore a skintight white catsuit for a day out with her man. She was snapped getting out of a car after driving the couple to venue as they explored the city's bustling nightlife. Bianca was seen strutting to the mall in a pair of white heels, as she put her toned figure on display in the figure-hugging one-piece. She was spotted chatting to Flashing Lights rapper Kanye while on an escalator. They appeared to be in good sprits as they were seen smiling. READ MORE ON KANYE WEST It comes just days after Bianca risked a major wardrobe malfunction once again. Enjoying an extended stay abroad with her husband of almost two years, Bianca , 29, was seen donning a risky outfit with Kanye West by her side. In a new snap circulating social media, Bianca and her husband, 47, can be seen looking more smitten than ever before. Looking all loved up while soaking up the sights in Tokyo , the happy couple gazed into each other's eyes while facing one another. Most read in Celebrity Bianca, who appears to be almost topless, can be seen with her arms wrapped around her man's neck as he looks down and gazes into her eyes. Both Bianca and Kanye can be seen grinning widely, with the married pair looking in love and content. "Kanye West & Bianca Censori in the city," one Ye fan penned on X . TENSE DINNER DATE This comes just days after Bianca was seen rocking a massive pink fur coat for a dinner date in the city with her husband. Dressed more modestly than usual, Bianca was seemingly staring at her phone for a lot of the night while showing little skin in a fluffy jacket. While Bianca scrolled on her phone, Kanye appeared to look rather tired. Looking down and not making eye contact with Bianca, Kanye looked at the menu and decided what he wanted to order. Bianca was bundled up for the outing, modestly dressed in a pink fluffy jacket. And while Bianca rocked a light ensemble, Ye stuck to his theme of dark clothes and rocked a black hoodie. The couple looked incredibly tense as they sat opposite each other at the venue, with them both keeping their heads down and not maintaining eye contact in the snaps. Bianca Censori was born on January 5, 1995, in Melbourne, Australia Before her current full-time job, the 29-year-old started a jewelry company called Nylons after leaving high school. After working as a student architect for three years, she completed a master's degree between 2019 and 2020 ahead of moving to Los Angeles. In a radio interview, a childhood friend of Bianca's claimed that Kanye slid into her DMs on Instagram. The rapper reportedly said, "Come and work for me." At which point she says the designer moved to LA to join his company Yeezy as the "head of architecture" - and has been since November 2020. WEDDING BELLS On Friday, October 6, 2023, The Daily Mail reported Kanye and Bianca wed on December 20, 2022. The couple tied the knot under a "confidential marriage license" in the state of California. The two wed in Palo Alto, California, according to the document. The wedding came just one month after Kanye and Kim Kardashian finalized their divorce . DITCHING HUBBY FOR DISNEYLAND Last week, Bianca enjoyed a trip to Disneyland without her husband by her side. The Australian beauty is often seen with Ye on her arm, so it was a rare occurrence that the pair were not together. Dressed in an all-white ensemble, Bianca looked as though she was content to spend some time apart from her man. Looking happy and grinning from ear to ear, she went to the theme park in California and was snapped with a trio of her male friends. It is thought Bianca and her pals enjoyed a $700 VIP tour of the theme park, which is usually attended by celebrities who want to avoid queuing. READ MORE SUN STORIES According to information online, a private tour guide at Disney can cost around $700 for six hours. VIP tours range from $450 to $900 per hour, with a minimum of seven hours and a maximum of 10 hours for the customer looking to enjoy the theme park and all it has to offer.The condemnation came as the House of Lords debated regulations paving the way for a scheme which would require animal lovers on the British mainland to have documentation in order to visit Northern Ireland. Critics view the move as further evidence of Northern Ireland still having to follow EU rules post-Brexit and being treated differently from the rest of the UK – a major source of contention to the unionist community. The paperwork, which will be free to apply for, includes a declaration that the owner will not travel onwards to Ireland or another EU country with their pet or assistance dog. Animals will have to be microchipped and have their own individual pet travel document, which will be valid for its lifetime. Northern Ireland residents returning after a stay in Great Britain with their pet or assistance dog will not need a travel document. The scheme is being introduced under the Windsor Framework, a revised deal for Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements aimed at tackling issues caused by the protocol. Raising her concerns in Parliament, Baroness Hoey, a Northern Irish Brexit supporter and former Labour MP, said: “These regulations are in effect about a new aspect of the Irish Sea border that has not had expression until this point because of the grace periods.” She added: “The experience of visiting Northern Ireland with your pet dog or cat, or even a ferret, will be made to feel like a visit to a foreign country. Lady Hoey went on: “This could spell the end of holiday trips for pet owners from GB to NI and then on to the Republic, when they want to explore both Northern Ireland and the Republic. “If they have a pet passport, they will have renounced their right to go to the Republic. That makes the border more of an obstruction than having border control posts on it, because at least in that eventuality, you could still cross over it.” Rejecting claims it was a result of the UK leaving the EU, she said: “The reality is that this is happening precisely because Northern Ireland has not got Brexit. “As we say repeatedly, it is still subject to EU rules and the EU could change the rules overnight.” Former DUP deputy leader Lord Dodds of Duncairn said: “Every one of the statutory instruments that come forward under the Windsor Framework must be properly debated, because these laws are being brought forward to implement what a foreign jurisdiction has decided should be the law of the United Kingdom. “In the 21st century, we should not accept colonial rule. We abolished it elsewhere. We believe it should not be tolerated for one second. People should have the democratic right to decide their laws for themselves, in their interests.” He added: “The ridiculous part about this debate is that we are having to debate European laws regulating the movement of pet animals owned by British citizens between one part of the United Kingdom and another. That is an outrage.” Lord Dodds went on: “As I said, there will be hundreds, thousands more of these regulations, in all areas, affecting the daily lives of people in Northern Ireland. They all add up to a grievous assault on Northern Ireland’s constitutional position.” But former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick said: “I support the Windsor Framework because it is a necessary legal device to deal with the complexities that were presented to us in Ireland, north and south, on the issue of Brexit. “We need a pragmatic solution rather than choosing to have political contests and duels simply for the sake of them.” Introducing the regulations, environment minister Baroness Hayman of Ulloch said: “This scheme will simplify the requirements associated with moving pet dogs, cats and ferrets from Great Britain to Northern Ireland significantly. “It replaces single-use animal health certificates with a free-of-charge lifelong travel document and removes the need for costly pet health treatments. “Pet owners who travel frequently with their pets, or those who rely on the services of an assistance dog to travel independently, will benefit substantially from this change in approach.” However, she acknowledged the concerns raised by peers and promised to continue engagement with them.
BALLOT boxes across the country were opened this morning as counting to see who will win seats in the next Dail took place - but it's taking some time. And a candidate in the election shared what she's doing to pass the time as the count continues. Laura O'Neill, General Election candidate for Aontu in Longford /Westmeath, shared her popular hobby of passing the time on X as she waits patiently for the reveal of the counts. She wrote: "We came prepared to pass the time at the count centre!" She shared a gif of herself and her friend who are following the instructions to assemble a blue Lego vehicle. Assembling Lego toys was one of the many things that were being done to pass the time in the count centre as many people were spotted knitting, reading and doing art and crafts. Laura's priority in the election is to raise more care and investment for the rural farming communities in Longford and Westmeath . She's also raising issues about mental health, youth emigration, the ongoing cost of living and the housing crisis. Elsewhere, a box in the Count John McCormack centre in Athlone , Co Westmeath was found to contain a very expensive addition. An unlucky voter managed to leave behind more than just his voting preferences yesterday as his wedding ring slipped into a ballot box at Gael Scoil an Choilin in Mullingar, One of the counters in the centre, Peter Creamer, discovered the wedding ring as he was rummaging through the voting papers this morning. The surprise find was shared on social media in a bid to alert the owner of the lost silver band. A picture of Peter holding the ring was posted online by the RTE Longford -Westmeath election coverage page. The snap was captioned: "We have a wedding ring! One of the counters Peter Creamer has found a wedding ring in a box from Gael Scoil an Choilin in Mullingar." The owner of the missing ring is being encouraged to head down to the count centre to claim it. Counting in the general election started this morning at 9am after a shock exit indicted that there would be a close contest between the three major parties. Figures from last night's exit poll showed Sinn Fein slightly ahead of Fine Gael in first preference votes, with Fianna Fail then narrowly trailing behind. A record number of 174 TDs are set to be elected, up from 160 in 2020, with a number of reps and voters involved in constituencies shake-up. The number of Dail constituencies increased to 43 from 39 in 2020, which will elect between three and five TDs each. The first seat has already been handed to Fianna Fail's Sean O Fearghail as he was the Ceann Comhairle of the previous Dail. More than 680 candidates are competing for the remaining 173 seats with the first results expected later this afternoon. A GENERAL election is held in Ireland at least every five years in order to vote for who will represent the Irish public in Dail Eireann. As Ireland is a parliamentary democracy, voting must be held in order for the public to collectively choose who will represent people in Government and what parties will form the Government. In a General Election, the public votes for members of Dail Eireann who go on to become Teachta Dala - TDs. According to the Irish Constitution - a General Election must be held every five years and cannot go on for longer than five years. However, the Dail can be 'dissolved' at any time to call an early or snap election. The President is responsible for dissolving the Dail and this process usually takes place on the advice of the Taoiseach. The President can only refuse to dissolve the Dail if the government does not have a majority of TDs in the Dail. A General Election can also be called if the Taoiseach or Government lose a vote of no confidence. Or in the instance where a coalition party - the smaller party that joins with larger parties to form a government - withdraws its support for those in government. This is called a dissolution and a general election must take place within 30 days of the dissolution of the Dail. Once the Dail is dissolved a polling day must be set by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government - the roll currently held by Fianna Fail TD Darragh O'Brien .
TfW's new pay as you go system available in the Vale
Duterte calls for military action, but sidesteps coup talkThere’s a concept doing the rounds–just now in the west–that will render trading hours redundant. It’s called the 24X National Exchange.The 24X National Exchange, which counts Steve Cohen’s Point72 ventures fund as a backer, has secured permission to start offering sessions that span the US daytime and later add overnight trading. The plan would preserve one-hour breaks starting at 7 p.m. Opponents have been quick to warn that the quality of trading would suffer from lower volume, which can make pricing less precise. A lower volume is an obvious outcome when hours are relaxed and investors do not need to plane their play within restricted hours. Generations have gone by and stock traders across the globe have worked their schedules and businesses around what are popularly known as ‘trading hours’. The hours between the opening and the closing bells. In India that happens to be between 9.15am and 3.30pm. Settlements happen at the end of the day. During the day seasoned traders have figured out strategies based on statistics on the most and least profitable trading periods. There’s the 10 am rule that refers to the idea that the traders should not make any big moves before 10 am in a trading day. This is because investors believe that the time between ‘Opening Bell’ and 10.00 am is meant for the market to stabilise. Then there’s the “11 am rule” which refers to a guideline suggesting that it’s prudent for traders to wait until 11 am before making any significant trading calls. Traders aim to gain better clarity on market trends and reduce the risk of making impulsive or emotionally-driven trades. This approach can help traders make more informed decisions based on more stable market conditions later in the morning. Here’s a breakdown of the rationale behind the rule: · Market Activity: By 11 am EST, the market has already been in session for a few hours, with a significant portion of trading activity having occurred. · Trend Confirmation: A new high or low established during this time frame, especially with good volume, might be seen as a confirmation of the existing trend. · Institutional Investors: Some believe larger institutional investors may be placing larger orders around this time, influencing the direction of the stock price. In the Indian stock markets–BSE and NSE–trading hours become important for short sellers as well, as settlements happen at the end of the closing bell. Why am I going through this information? There’s a concept doing the rounds–just now in the west–that will render trading hours redundant. It’s called the 24X National Exchange. The 24X National Exchange, which counts Steve Cohen’s Point72 ventures fund as a backer, has secured permission to start offering sessions that span the US daytime and later add overnight trading. The plan would preserve one-hour breaks starting at 7 p.m. Who’s Steve Cohen? He’s an American hedge-fund manager and presently the owner of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Cohen bought the New York Mets in 2020 for a colossal $2.4 billion, the highest sale price ever for any Major League Baseball team. Why am I tell you this? Simply to emphasize that the man means business. What’s Point72? Point72 Asset Management, is a $35 billion (assets under management) hedge fund firm that was established in 2014 and started managing outside capital in the year 2018. As with everything out of the ordinary, there has be an instant resistance. The proposal to allow nonstop stock trading has split Wall Street. Opponents have been quick to warn that the quality of trading would suffer from lower volume, which can make pricing less precise. A lower volume is an obvious outcome when hours are relaxed and investors do not need to plane their play within restricted hours. Supporters have pointed to the fact that stock traders are most at-risk when the market is closed in their geographic location, a problem that this concept will be seeking to alleviate. How would 24X really function? 24X would offer three sessions that start at 4 a.m. in New York and extend to 7 p.m. Once it’s able to meet certain data requirements, it is likely to add an overnight session from 8 p.m. right up until 4 a.m., according to SEC’s order. The schedule would run from Sunday evening through Friday evening. That traders and investors will take time to learns the ropes of playing in a round-the-clock market goes with out question. It remains to be seen the new opportunites this system would have the potential of offering to maverick hyper-innovative speculators. Click for more latest Markets news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Amit Ranjan Kumar is an Executive Editor with NEWS9 Plus. He is a producer and director with 25 years of experience in the creative space in India and the APAC markets.
ESPN Host Elle Duncan Taking Heat On Social Media For 'Classless' Rant
The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you . In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. The initial response from customers and American employees “has exceeded our expectations,” Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a statement. She added that the airline is “thrilled” to have the technology up and running ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday . American got lots of attention when it unveiled its gate-control testing last month. Analysts say that isn’t surprising. It’s no secret that line cutting in airports hits a nerve. Whether intentional or not, just about every air traveler has witnessed it, noted Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. It can add to frustrations in what can already be a tense environment, with particular anxiety around passengers wanting to sit together or rushing for some overhead bin space. Harteveldt doesn’t see American’s recent move as “shaming” customers who cut the line. “What it is intended to do is bring order out of chaos,” he said. “And I hope it will defuse any potential flare ups of anger (from) people who simply think they’re entitled to board out of turn .... It’s just not fair.” Harteveldt added that he thinks this change will enhance the experiences of both customers and gate agents. Others say more time will tell. Seth Miller, editor and founder of air travel experience analysis site PaxEx.aero, said he can see the benefits of more orderly and universal gate-control enforcement, particularly for airlines. But he said he isn’t “100% convinced this is perfect for passengers” just yet. Families, for example, might be booked on several different reservations across more than one group, he said. Airlines typically have workarounds for that, and American noted Wednesday that customers traveling with a companion in an earlier group can simply have a gate agent “override the alert” to continue boarding. Still, Miller said, “you have to go through the extra hoops.” And a difficult customer still might choose to hold up the line and argue when they’re not allowed to board, he added. Related Articles Nation | CT prison guard charged with assault on elderly inmate over cookies Nation | Putin responds to Ukraine’s use of U.S. arms with ballistic missile strike Nation | A Mexican cartel leader arrested in the US faked his death and assumed a phony name, prosecutors say Nation | Major storm drops record rain, downs trees in Northern California after devastation further north Nation | SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Another question is whether customers who encounter a beep will walk away feeling embarrassed. But Harteveldt said he was happy to learn that American’s alert is “not a bellowing sound that can be heard throughout the terminal,” or accompanied by your name read over a loudspeaker, noting that this is important to avoid feelings of shame. Expanding this technology just a week before peak Thanksgiving travel could be “both good and bad,” Harteveldt adds. On one hand, the tech could help significantly improve the boarding process during such a busy time, he said, but airport employees might also have appreciated more time to prepare. Both Miller and Harteveldt said they wouldn’t be surprised if other carriers soon follow American’s lead. Headaches over airport line cutting are far from new. While maybe not to the extent of American’s new tech, Miller noted he’s seen gate agents from other airlines ask people to leave a line and wait for their group. Harteveldt added that he’s been to some airports in Asia and Europe with “sliding doors” that ensure passengers are in the right group before boarding a plane. The more than 100 airports that American is now using its gate-control technology in are all spoke, or non-hub, locations — including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airline says it expects to further expand to its hubs and other airports in the coming months.None
