FlyerTalk member weekilter is in a lather over a question asked of him at an airport security checkpoint in Phoenix by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA: Why do you have so much soap?

Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but apparently when soap is mixed with water, it could be a liquid, which is allegedly the reason why weekilter was questioned. That renders this incident — which some may consider as a continuation of the airport security checkpoint soap opera — as a complete wash.

Among the Announcements you never expect to hear in Honolulu is an apology for a delay due to switching aircraft to one that has de-icing capabilities for the delayed Hawaiian Airlines flight 262 that was scheduled to fly through the winter storm system which has dumped snow on Mauna Kea.

Passengers on that flight probably wish they could escape the winter weather of Hawai’i and vacation in sunny tropical Alaska…

“‘Mega-threads’ are out of control. What can the TB do to fix it?”

Before asking the question of whether or not the TalkBoard should address this issue, the first question should probably be whether or not particularly lengthy threads are even an issue at all.

FlyerTalk members are divided regarding this topic. Some feel that information about a particular topic should be consolidated into one thread and one should therefore search within that thread to find information, while others feel that there should be separate threads that are shorter in length that are more specific, concise and detailed regarding the topic.

Who is right? Which method is best? What is the most efficient solution to this issue? Will one solution successfully address this problem in all FlyerTalk forums, or should more than a single solution be considered?

What are the Available Boeing number ranges used for its aircraft?

Models of Boeing aircraft for commercial use have used every number in the 7X7 series except 797, so what would be the logical next step?

FlyerTalk members speculate that Boeing will start using four digits, such as 7107, or perhaps insert a letter in the middle, such as the 7E7, or maybe even add letters at the end, such as the 747SP.

What is interesting information which not many people may know is for what the other number series are used, such as the Boeing 464, 929, 247 and 377…

On a recent Delta Air Lines flight, there was allegedly a Blonde up from Y offering “special” services to F passengers!

Her actions not only diverted the attention of the passengers and flight attendants, but almost caused the flight to be diverted as well. She was eventually escorted back to her seat in the economy class cabin.

If she had succeeded in fulfilling her intended propositions, it would most likely have dealt a blow to some of the passengers seated in the first class cabin — and we will comment no further on what is quickly coming to be a classic FlyerTalk thread whose stamina seems to be growing as time continues to pass…

Purchase FareLock to hold your itinerary and fare for 72 hours or 7 days on Continental Airlines for a fee, but it is only available on flights operated by Continental Airlines. FareLock will guarantee an available seat when one books a flight while completing and confirming one’s travel plans at the fare quoted at the time the reservations were booked. The FareLock may be allowed to expire or automatically complete the purchase of the airfare at the end of the FareLock period. Either way, the FareLock fees, beginning at $5 for a 72-hour hold and $9 for a seven-day hold, are not refundable.

While additional fees are usually not welcome, this may actually be a beneficial fee, if booked properly. For example, if one finds a low airfare but is still not sure about booking it definitively, one can use FareLock to reserve that airfare for as low as $5.00 for a 72-hour hold. If the fare is not booked after all, the FareLock fee is lost. Compared to a $150.00 cancellation fee, this new fee can be a bargain.

It can also be a gamble: let us say that FareLock guarantees an airfare, but the airfare drops in price afterwards. One can book another reservation with or without using FareLock, but then must forfeit the FareLock fee on the original reservation. However, if the airfare decreases enough, one can still save money on the true price of the airfare while Continental Airlines profits on the FareLock fee it would otherwise not have obtained.

The bottom line is that although additional airline fees are usually not welcomed, FareLock could be advantageous to passengers if used wisely by saving passengers money and allowing more flexibility when booking a reservation.

Some people may say that Chernobyl is a radiating place to visit, and you can soon find out for yourself as Ukraine to open Chernobyl area to tourists in 2011.

While it is possible to visit Chernobyl now — in fact, a FlyerTalk member gathering was planned to visit Chernobyl in 2009 but was postponed — one will now get to see more of Chernobyl than ever permitted since the worst nuclear power plant disaster in the history of the world that occurred nearly 25 years ago…

FlyerTalk member Sandra_D wonders if the post office charges the same price for 8-mile and 8000-mile trips, why can’t airlines do the same?

With that logic, should it cost the same airfare to travel from New York to Philadelphia as it does from New York to Sydney, for example?

While airfares can indeed be wacky — it once cost three times as much to travel by air from Atlanta to Nashville as it did to fly from Atlanta to Los Angeles — could this be a potential pricing model that airlines might consider, or is the pricing model currently used by the post office simply impractical?

The announcement of changes to the Air Canada Aeroplan frequent flyer programme have been posted in the 2011 Air Canada Top Tier Program Changes – General Discussion thread, which include:

• Electronic upgrades instead of paper upgrade currency
• A choice of Maple Leaf Club admission for a friend in addition to bonus miles and electronic upgrade credits for Super Elite members
• A new Prestige Select Privilege of 35% discount on admission into a Maple Leaf Club
• A minimum flight requirement of 10,000 status miles or 5 status flight segments on eligible flights operated by Air Canada or on behalf of Air Canada by Jazz, Air Georgian Limited (doing business as Air Alliance), Exploits Valley Air Services LTD, Central Mountain Air and Sky Regional Airlines.

So why are some FlyerTalk members so upset with the changes that they are considering switching from the Air Canada Aeroplan frequent flier programme to one of a different airline?

At first glance at the American AAdvantage forum on FlyerTalk at the time this was posted, FlyerTalk member Max M witnessed a Wedding in a Conference Room @ DFW Admirals Club Today, while FlyerTalk member zerosen claims that “AA ruined my honeymoon.”

Although one should read the threads linked above for additional details and information to each story, the lesson to be learned here is that one never knows whether American Airlines being involved with one’s marriage will result positively or negatively…