THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 -- Nobody asked me, but ...

This is the only joke today, so enjoy it: A New York woman won $1 million when she picked the winning lottery numbers at a gasoline station. It was almost enough to cover the fill-up of her SUV.

Okay, just one more: On top of everything else, there's a weird Pinocchio thing going on at the Kremlin. The bigger the lie that Putin tells about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the longer his table gets.



Nobody asked me, but ...

Almost no one saw the 2003 remake of The Italian Job, the iconic 1969 film starring Michael Caine. I bet Putin wishes he'd seen it, though. One character, a literal big bad guy, offers a cogent observation: Here is what I know man, never mess with Mother Nature, mothers-in-law, or mother-freakin' Ukrainians!

Putin has instructed Russian media not to call his invasion a "war." It's a "special military operation," he says. And a lot of Western media are unintentionally using weasel words, too, like "conflict" or even "war in Ukraine." It's not a special military operation, or a conflict, or even a "war in Ukraine." It's an invasion. No more, no less. A vicious, one-sided invasion. Words really do matter.

Nobody asked me, but ...

I warned you last week that the Russians would try to upset the world aviation order by making sure Russian airlines don't give back their leased aircraft. This week Putin's done it. First he grounded most international flights operated by Russian airlines, which guarantees lessors can't get at the aircraft to repossess them. Today a draft law being circulated says any repossession claim must be referred to a special Russian court, which can rule the plane stays in Russia.

I don't know why this would surprise you. Do you think a guy who bombs maternity hospitals would stop at stealing someone else's property?

Nobody asked me, but ...

I'm not sweating this, you understand, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has destroyed the real progress Aeroflot had been making in recent years. The Wall Street Journal has a good story about how Aeroflot's revival is now in ruins.

Speaking of destroyed brands, I give you Hertz. We've talked for years about how the once-mighty rental firm has declined, become completely unreliable and, eventually, went bankrupt. We've only tangentially discussed how it loves to file stolen-car reports on innocent customers. USA Today has done a long, shocking report buttressed with interviews and court records.

Nobody asked me, but ...

A Delta Air Lines filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission reveals an interesting number about the carrier's rapacious SkyMiles program. Delta assumes it owes flyers $7.6 billion in deferred travel. Of course, one more devaluation and that'll barely cover a transatlantic flight. I notice Delta is charging 640,000 miles roundtrip for some off-peak business class flights to Europe.

But, truly, there is a sucker born every minute. In the same filing, Delta told the feds it sold $4.1 billion worth of miles to corporations that award miles to customers. We can assume the vast majority of the mileage sales were to American Express, its cuckolded credit card partner.

Nobody asked me, but ...

American Airlines implemented its Loyalty Points scheme last week, something we discussed when it was announced back in October. How's life as a skin sack with plastic, AAdvantage member?

Heads up! World of Hyatt's peak/off peak pricing is already in place, but the price of some of its best hotels increases by one category on March 22. If you want to claim awards at Park Hyatt properties in places like New York, Paris, Sydney or Milan, book right now to beat the increase. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy's "dynamic" award pricing kicks in March 29 and that's guaranteed to eliminate outsize value you can get in periods of peak demand and probably increase what you'll pay in times of weak demand.

Nobody asked me, but ...

I'm convinced Hong Kong's days as a dynamic, free entrepot on the edge of China are over. But I'm also increasingly convinced China is trying to destroy Cathay Pacific, too. After two plus years of pandemic, when it has been carrying 800 passengers a day, China decides the airline needs competition. A start-up called Greater Bay Airlines, with an owner closely aligned to the Chinese Communist Party, has been granted the right to compete with Cathay on long-haul routes. Guess how that's gonna go?

Speaking of unique aviation institutions, Shannon Airport was once the only place you could fly if you were headed to Ireland. The situation basically invented the concept of duty-free airport shops. If you just can't watch another minute of Ukraine coverage, give this fascinating backgrounder a read.

Nobody asked me, but ...

Where do business travelers spend their fast-food money? According to data scraped from expense reports and other sources, Starbucks is the biggest lure in 20 states. No other chain, not even Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A--dominated more than two states.

Inflation may suck, but the dollar is going gangbusters against other global currencies. As of today, the euro was down to $1.10 and one greenback bought 116 yen, the highest level in five years.

Nobody asked me, but ...

I've been so depressed by the Ukraine news that I've found myself turning to MeTv+ and watching 60+-year-old reruns of 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Then I really get depressed and turn back to the news.

As I said, not in a joking mood this week. Normally, I would make a crack about Sheraton--especially the dreary Sheraton New York, which opened several generations ago as the Americana--but I'll just leave you with the facts: The hotel sold this week for $356 million. The former owner purchased the property in 2006 for $738 million.