Interesting Links for 08-12-2016

[andrewducker]

Göbekli Tepe (an archeological find dating further back than was believed possible)

(tags: archeology prehistory turkey )

"Burned house horizon" (more things about prehistory that I didn't know)

(tags: prehistory )

Why the appointment of Ian Cathro at Hearts has inadvertently condemned all humans to extinction

(Hilarious even if you don't care about football even slightly)
(tags: football satire funny )

US airline to charge passengers extra to use overhead lockers

(tags: usa airplanes )

A Brexiter points out how hard Brexit is going to be.

(tags: uk europe )

Pebble folds, alas

(tags: watches Technology fail )

More on "Are C-Sections Really Altering the Course of Evolution?"

(tags: evolution caesarians research )

How to not get project maintainers to make the software you want

(tags: software advice community criticism )

What it's like working behind the scenes at an anatomy museum

(tags: history edinburgh bodies museums )

Under Trump, red states are finally going to be able to turn themselves into poor, unhealthy paradises

(tags: economics politics usa )

Brains of people with autism spectrum disorder share similar molecular abnormalities

(tags: brain autism )

MPs back government's Brexit timetable

(tags: europe uk politics )

Labour: Dugdale calls for 'federal' UK and abolition of House of Lords

(tags: uk scotland houseoflords labour )

Comments

[misbegotten]

According to Snopes, United is actually introducing a new, cheaper fare in which passengers would be limited to a single bag rather than the more common bag + personal item. "Standard Economy" will still allow this.

That anatomy museum link is ace.

[andrewducker]

Which doesn't explain this bit of the article:
But those who choose the cheapest fare are unlikely to be making any savings. According to Reuters, basic economy fares “will be comparable to low fares it now charges for the economy cabin, but with more restrictions”.

United expects the changes to raise around $1bn by 2020. Those choosing a standard economy fare, it is therefore reasonable to assume, will be expected to pay significantly more than they do now.

[misbegotten]

Good catch. I think that airline prices are going to continue to go up, in one or another.

[andrewducker]

Of course, it may be that they don't go up to start with, or not by much, but airline pricing is so opaque it's hard to tell!

[adrian_turtle]

Spirit Airlines has had a similar policy for some time--at least 6 months, probably much longer. They're just a lot smaller than United. Their basic fare allows only a "small personal item" that fits under the seat, and you have to pay extra for a "carry on" that goes in the overhead locker. Their basic fares are slightly lower than Jetblue's cheapest buy-at-the-last-minute deals for specific routes.

Tricky bits about the Spirit arrangement:

1) Their standard for "small personal item" that fits under the seat is several inches smaller than other airlines. I had to borrow one.

2) If you check a bag in the cargo hold, it's $20. If you buy permission for a carry-on bag when you first buy your ticket, it's $25. If you can't borrow a small enough bag, and have to pay the carry-on bag fee later (between ticket purchase and check-in), it's $35. And if you get to the airport and discover your under-seat bag is an inch too big, the last-minute fee for a full-sized carry-on bag is $100.