Kyle Potter
@kpottermn
Followers
14K
Following
8K
Media
2K
Statuses
23K
Editor of @ThriftyTraveler, helping you see the world for cheap. Proud @AP, @inforum & @mndailynews alum. Bad jokes. No, like really bad.
Minnesota, USA
Joined March 2010
Want to know just how bad Delta's meltdown is? . The airline has now canceled 5,370 flights and counting since Friday. That's more flights than Delta canceled in all of 2018 . and all of 2019, too (5,343). Two years worth of cancellations in less than five days.
181
2K
20K
When people rioted and looted in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd, President Trump said: "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." . When his supporters rioted and looted in the U.S. Capitol, President Trump said: "Go home. We love you, you're very special.".
64
5K
15K
The year is 2083. All planes are electric and have been for years. Penelope Buttigieg is entering her third term as Secretary of Transportation. O'Hare is now a beautiful, functioning airport. Real ID is set to take effect in two years, in 2085.
40
548
14K
If Harris/Walz win, there's not gonna be a single dripping faucet or flickering lightbulb at the Naval Observatory.
39
197
5K
Wait did no one tell Walz that the closest Menards is a 10 1/2 hour drive away????
If Harris/Walz win, there's not gonna be a single dripping faucet or flickering lightbulb at the Naval Observatory.
133
117
4K
BREAKING: @Delta CEO Ed Bastian announces the airline will turn on free Wi-Fi for all starting Feb. 1. Story coming soon.
59
178
4K
NEW: The 20-year-old Real ID requirement for domestic flights is getting delayed again - kind of. With just 56% of IDs in circulation being Real ID compliant, the TSA is now pushing for a "phased in" approach . which would push full enforcement all the way out to May 2027.
93
161
3K
Delta is doing its best to put this meltdown all on Friday’s CrowdStrike outage. All other US airlines canceled 300 flights combined yesterday. Delta canceled more than 1,000 for a fourth day in a row. This stopped being a CrowdStrike problem days ago. It’s a Delta problem.
46
271
3K
And just like that, Ted (Rafael) Cruz seems to be on his way back to Texas. "CRU, R." is on the upgrade list on this afternoon's flight from Cancun to Houston. He was on the list on yesterday afternoon's flight down to Cancun, too.
242
565
2K
The full list of stocks Robinhood is blocking users from buying: .American Airlines $AAL.AMC $AMC.Blackberry $BB.Best Buy $BBY.Castor Maritime $CTRM.Express $EXPR.Gamestop $GME.Koss $KOSS.Naked $NAKD.Nokia $NOK.Sundial $SNDL.Tootsie Roll $TR.Trivago $TRVG. Forcing them all down.
110
799
2K
Neither Cruz nor his office has acknowledged this trip yet. If they claim he was simply flying with his family and planned to return immediately, please remember he was photographed with his own (massive) carry-on bag.
42
285
1K
A Minneapolis school put out a call for 80 bags of food to feed kids whose nearby grocery stores had closed or burnt down. But this is Minnesota. So this is what they got instead. Watch @MarielleMohs’ story via @WCCO
15
441
1K
Do not come to this liberal wasteland. No-go zone.
75
59
1K
The people of Minnesota have delivered, God bless this state.
!!!!! NEW MN STATE FLAG DESIGN SUBMISSIONS LIVE --->
9
143
1K
A Minneapolis police officer killed a black man in broad daylight by kneeling on his neck for 5 minutes. MPD said he died due to a "medical incident" until video came out. This is the story. Protests, riots, looting. they're stories, too. But not THE story. #GeorgeFloyd.
18
445
1K
After being stranded for days by Delta’s cancellations, a follower sums up the airline’s awful response (so far) to this meltdown well:. “They’ll give you $2,000 to give up your seat on an oversold flight but only $100 (voucher) to abandon you for five days. This is criminal.”.
21
148
1K
About 120 cancellations and 350 flights delayed at MSP today. But with 14 inches of snow & counting, the fact flights are getting off the ground is a miracle. Other airports would shut down. The @mspairport snow removal crews are second to none. Minnesotans, you are blessed.
16
83
1K
Delta just announced a systemwide free change policy for all flights July 1-4. No fees or even fare differences to change your flights to June 28-July 8. Had not to see this as anything other than Delta throwing in the towel that this weekend is going to be a nightmare.
23
376
1K
PSA to media out there covering Delta's ongoing meltdown:. These disruptions are not due to Friday's CrowdStrike outage. Not anymore. This is now a Delta problem, and a Delta problem alone. They need to own it.
36
135
1K
Should the chief law enforcement officer for Minnesota's largest county stay on the job after driving drunk at 120+ mph with alcohol and a firearm in the car, endangering the public, totaling a government vehicle, and lying about it? . This is not a difficult question.
38
128
1K
This is in Minneapolis. Just a reminder to everyone that you have absolutely no obligation to listen to people who have no idea what they’re talking about - particularly when it’s about your community.
158
71
1K
The worst part about this pretty terrible story is that it shows absolutely no effort to contact the doctor.
#BREAKING David Dao, the Elizabethtown doctor yanked from the United flight, has a troubled past in Kentucky
11
217
1K
Huge news, Minnesotans: Delta is adding a nonstop flight from Minneapolis (@mspairport) straight to Maui (OGG) this winter!
20
53
1K
WOW: Lake Street Council had raised $1.96 million (!!!) from more than 26,000 to help rebuild Lake Street businesses as of 8 p.m. At this rate, they’ll easily cross the $2 million mark today. Simply amazing. Still, they’ll need more. Donate at
17
391
1K
PUPDATE: It’s official. Minneapolis has been hit with a corgi’s worth of snow.
15
233
1K
It's their right as Americans to protest. It's my right as an American to call them fucking morons.
Pandemonium outside the Minnesota Governor’s Residence. Horns are blaring. A few hundred people are here. Many chant “Open Up!”
53
83
1K
If you look carefully you can see the Antifa fires are still burning, four years later. RIP Minneapolis.
Trump on Tim Walz: “His state is in a state of shock from his governorship … Minneapolis is burned down, they never built it back.”
57
47
912
PSA to anyone flying (or trying to) today:. Your check-in agent did not crash the software system. Your gate agent did not crash the software system. Your support rep did not crash the software system. Your flight attendants did not crash the software system. Please be kind.
12
123
934
Southwest cancellations in four days from Sunday through Wednesday this week: 9,745. Delta AND United cancellations . in the entire year of 2019: 7,226.
23
175
931
Cruz seems to be suggesting here he only accompanied his family to Cancun and intended to return today. @ByERussell confirmed with a United staffer that Cruz was originally scheduled to fly back to Texas Saturday & changed his flights this morning
50
284
837
Buffalo police say an elderly man tripped & fell. Video shows a cop push him. Minneapolis police said a black man had a “medical incident.” Video showed a cop with his knee in George Floyd’s neck. It’s not that it’s happening more. It’s that more people have their phones out.
9
255
847
ChatGPT and @webster have given Minnesotans our new state seal, and for that we should be forever grateful.
21
94
869
NEW: Delta says it's finally ready to offer free Wi-Fi for all starting Feb. 1. "It's going to be free. It's going to be fast, and it's going to be available for everyone. It doesn't matter what price you paid for your seat," CEO Ed Bastian said at CES.
10
67
923
*record scratch*.@peggyflanagan: “Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got in the governor’s office.”.
10
46
806
Never forget what they took from you
Here's the leader board for state flag submissions, as voted on by commission members. They are going to do another round of voting to get to five.
3
57
902
Absolutely unreal that a Midwestern airport that got hammered by snow last winter (as usual) leads the world in on-time departures. A real testament to the @mspairport team and the reliability of its primary carrier, @Delta. Minnesotans are truly blessed.
MSP is the most on-time global airport, Delta tops North America list
4
56
826
Staggering statistic: Delta has canceled more twice as many mainline flights since Friday (4,500 and counting) as it did . in the entire year of 2019 (~1,800).
17
110
725
This is not some idea McSally pulled out of thin air. It’s straight from the U.S. Travel Association -
A day ahead of Trump’s visit to Arizona, GOP Senator Martha McSally proposes giving taxpayers *$4,000 each* to take a vacation. Couples would get $8,000 in vacation tax credits, plus $500 per kid.
79
271
599
Read up on why Delta is still melting down days after last week's CrowdStrike outage while other carriers are flying smoothly - and how much longer these disruptions may last
15
138
679
Spoiler alert: There is no level of status that will get you first class upgrades with Delta anymore. The airline said yesterday that it’s now selling 88% of first class seats - up from just 14% in 2011. If you want it, pay for it.
55
33
729
The story about the Minneapolis kid with a hot dog stand who got a permit - rather than shut down - when someone called the police just keeps getting better.
Yesterday the MPD Bike Cops for Kids, CET and CSO delivered a brand new hot dog stand to 13-year-old Jaequan Faulkner! Jaequan’s stand at 1510 Penn Ave N was permitted by the City last Wednesday. You can find him selling hot dogs at the 4th Precinct from July 30th - August 4th.
10
194
585
$425,000 can get you a 5 bedroom house in Minneapolis and a 20-foot plastic shark!!! .
43
34
625
It’s -8 degrees outside. It’s so cold they have to heat the ice. One of the goalies has a water bottle full of chicken broth. And the stands at Target Field are full. I just effing love Minnesota. #WinterClassic.
8
49
581
Huge breaking news first on @thriftytraveler: Southwest Airlines fares are now appearing on Google Flights!. This is a seismic change for Southwest, whose business model is built around not listing its fares through other sites.
5
62
629
I feel so bad for aviation vloggers who only have HORRIBLE experiences flying in lie-flat business class seats. What terrible luck, someone should look into this.
37
14
586
After a decade of positioning itself as the most reliable carrier, Delta has canceled more Sunday flights than American, Southwest & United combined, per FlightAware data. And this isn’t the first time. All airlines are struggling, but Delta’s whole brand may be at stake now.
38
133
501
Official snow downfall measurements show we’ve received nearly one corgi of snow. @NWSTwinCities
7
61
493
Hey @SouthwestAir, asking for a friend:. Is an $1,800 one-way ticket to Denver for tomorrow because all of your flights have been canceled considered a "reasonable request" that you will reimburse?
42
29
482
People who aren’t watching.
Who is winning the GOP debate so far?.
10
19
462
I’ve seen a lot at @mspairport in 6 years of covering airlines. Blizzards, meltdowns, security breakdowns. This line of passengers trying to rebook - stretching down the corridor to the G concourse - is the worst I’ve seen from Delta. By far. (Photo from @AngieHufford)
25
70
502
Please induct Daisy from Delta into the Customer Service Hall of Fame ASAP
7
29
469
Sorry but there is only one true GOAT. And it is the Pilot G-2 Pen in black ink.
36
26
474
The main thing the Great Minnesota Flag Redesign of 2023 has shown us is that some of you people need a fucking hobby.
17
35
455
There are failures on so many levels tonight and in the last few months (and years & generations), but MPD only has itself to blame for a distrust so deep it felt it had to tweet video of a man taking his life. And it’s absolutely unconscionable they actually took that step.
5
129
415
Continuing to point the finger solely at CrowdStrike - when they melted down as other carriers recovered - is an insult to all Delta flyers and customers.
.@Delta CEO Ed Bastian shared the following message Wednesday morning as the airline continues to recover from the impact of last week's CrowdStrike outage.
12
55
443
Update: For a fourth consecutive day, Delta has canceled 1,000+ flights on Monday. No other major U.S. airline has scrapped more than 80 flights today - even those initially affected by Friday’s outage. This goes far beyond that. Expect more massive disruptions for days.
12
82
466
This TripAdvisor review is an absolute journey. “But just know that this is the thing that can happen at this resort.”
21
54
449
I try not to complain about petty stuff on planes. It’s a stressful, miserable experience for many. But eating sunflower seeds … and dumping shells on the floor? C’mon, people. This isn’t a dive bar.
51
10
439
Tonight, and every night, please remember: Misinformation doesn’t only come from the people you disagree with.
6
100
429
Just how bad is the lost baggage situation in Europe? Delta CEO Ed Bastian just told reporters that the airline recently chartered a jet just to get stranded long-lost bags back to customers in the states.
27
94
442
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) officially joined the SkyTeam alliance today. On Instagram, CEO Anko van der Werff says they’ll announce a new long-haul destination this month. Assuming it’s a Delta hub in the U.S., Detroit & Minneapolis would seem to be strong possibilities… 👀👀.
15
20
403
A month ago, we lost yet another bidding war to buy a house we loved. Just one more gut punch in this brutal market. This week, we closed on that same house. Here’s how we got our new home … thanks to our 8-year-old corgi & (I’m not joking here) free Wi-Fi on Delta. 🧵👇🏼
35
6
396
Delta has said they're doling out SkyMiles or vouchers as an apology to customers. Their generosity is . mixed. Heard from one who's gotten 55,000 SkyMiles for getting stuck overnight in Detroit en route to Florida. Another, stranded for days, got 4,000 SkyMiles.
46
37
421
Trying to buy a house in Minneapolis, April edition:. -Showing scheduled for hours after house hit the market gets canceled 5 minutes prior … because it has already sold. -Offer $50K over list w/ preferred close date & other terms, get beat by bigger offer w/ no inspection. 🫠.
75
17
406
If you told me this is where COVID originated I would believe you
9
15
398
Just to remind you all: Delta canceled more than twice as many flights during last week's meltdown as United and American combined. This was not just a CrowdStrike problem. It was a Delta problem. That Delta continues to insist otherwise is an insult to customers' intelligence.
NEW: In his first public comments, Delta CEO Ed Bastian says its meltdown will cost the airline $500 million - but places the blame squarely on CrowdStrike. Delta is preparing to sue for damages. (Interview was in Paris, where he flew last Tuesday).
13
50
396
Delta & Sun Country's battle at @mspairport is heating up in unusual way - and it's part of the reason why loyal Delta flyers are balking at their flight prices lately. Why? Delta is wielding basic economy as a weapon. Follow along for a quick explainer. 🧵👇🏼.
36
17
407
NEW: A Delta flight arriving at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) from San Jose Del Cabo (SJD) slid off the runway about an hour ago. Sounds like everyone onboard is safe, thankfully. But traffic halted until at least 8:30pm CT due to a ground stop.
11
53
400
TSA says they stopped 3,251 guns at airport security checkpoints in the first half of 2023 - up from a year ago. 92% of them were loaded. Again I ask: How on earth are so many people putting LOADED GUNS in their carry-ons and here I am worried about bringing a toenail clipper?.
17
38
364
BREAKING: House Speaker @kdaudt tells me he called DFL's @melissahortman to congratulate her on winning the House majority. #mnleg.
4
146
352
Scolding an overworked, underpaid flight attendant for showing a smidge of personality at the end of a long day is a choice, I guess.
17
11
389
Just a casual photo of the 🐐 Lionel Messi flying @SunCountryAir (which operates Inter Miami and all MLS team charters). Wonder if he bought any Dot's Pretzels onboard.
8
19
385
Dry January officially runs from Jan. 1 through Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. Congrats to everyone who did it!.
8
22
347
BREAKING: Lake Street Council has raised more than $2 MILLION to help rebuild businesses on Lake Street - many of which are black- or minority-owned. Absolutely amazing. But they will likely need millions more to rebuild it all. Keep donating:
1
123
343
Candidly, what the fuck is wrong with you people?.
Some of the worst political vitriol of 2021 happened not in Washington DC, but connected to a school board election in Hastings, Minnesota, where opponents outed an eight-year-old transgender child.
2
19
345
Southwest has now canceled nearly 2,700 flights today: TWO-THIRDS of its Monday schedule. And as delays turn to cancellations, that figure will grow. Might be the worst airline meltdown in a decade - and given how many passengers Southwest carries & the timing, maybe ever?.
An hour later, Southwest has canceled 2,200 flights for the day - 53% of its operation. What to do if you’re flying Southwest:.-Book a flight w/ another airline ASAP.-Wait to see if Southwest cancels your flight.-If they do, scrap your reservation for a refund - not a credit.
14
58
369
To put a finer point on this: Cruz's statement is very ambiguous (and possibly very purposely ambiguous) about what he booked and when he planned to return from Cancun after flying there yesterday.
7
27
330
Final update for today: Delta has canceled nearly 1,100 flights & delayed 1,400 more today. That’s 75% of their schedule disrupted. Brutal. Barring a miracle, Sunday will be ugly. Monday, Tuesday and beyond are an open question. Hope for the best … but prepare for the worst.
Update: With 850 cancellations & nearly 1,300 delays, almost two-thirds of Delta’s flights scheduled for Saturday have been disrupted. Ugly. The airline is clearly struggling with staffing to recover from yesterday. At this rate, seems unlikely they can right the ship on Sunday.
18
78
367
“I couldn’t help but wonder … had it been the Republicans in disarray all along?”
3
38
344
The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching an investigation of Delta due to its ongoing meltdown. More than 5,300 cancellations and counting just since Friday. Tens of thousands of delays. Millions of Americans stranded. Bags lost. And on and on.
.@USDOT has opened an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions. All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.
11
52
354
After canceling more flights in the last five days than they did in all of 2018 & 2019 combined, @_ZachGriff confirms that Delta CEO Ed Bastian has flown to Paris for the Summer Olympics.
Woah: @Delta CEO Ed Bastian just landed in Paris for the Olympics, an airline spokesperson confirms to me. He arrived there this morning on a scheduled (albeit delayed) Delta flight. What do you think? Personally, I'm not sure that's the best look for the embattled airline.
16
57
360
However stupid you may think they look, I assure you the Cybertruck looks 10x stupider in the flesh.
28
9
319
NEW: Delta is retouching its cabins with a new color palette coming across its fleet. Bright blues are out, dark navy with red stitching is in. New lighting & lavatories, too. Starting later this year, but will take years to spread to every plane. Sleek? Or bland?
46
16
370
It's really happening: Delta will fly nonstop from @mspairport to Rome next year!🍕🍝🍷. Four flights a week starting in May, resuming a route it last flew nearly a decade ago. That's just one of several nonstops Delta is adding to Italy next summer
13
24
348
WOW. The exact same day that Aer Lingus finally confirms it's resuming flights to @mspairport. @Delta announces it will also fly Minneapolis to Dublin next year! Five flights a week, starting May 9. Prepare for fare wars to Ireland, folks! Story coming
11
20
333
A @Delta spokesman tells me that the airline chartered one of its Airbus A330-200s from London-Heathrow (LHR) to Detroit (DTW) on Monday. with no passengers but 1,000 lost checked bags inside!.
Just how bad is the lost baggage situation in Europe? Delta CEO Ed Bastian just told reporters that the airline recently chartered a jet just to get stranded long-lost bags back to customers in the states.
14
120
330
This site is about to get real ugly. Before you read anything here tonight (tomorrow, this week), stop and ask yourself:. Is this person in a position to know?. Have they provided any evidence?. What do they gain from sharing it?. Do they really care if it’s true or false?.
11
64
348
Sen. Franken still has not set a final date for his official resignation, per his office. #mnsen.
132
157
289
It ain’t perfect. No place is. But dammit, there’s something special about Minneapolis.
8
13
315
It’s Day 6 of Delta’s meltdown. It’s getting better. Just 50ish flights canceled so far Wednesday. Now it’s Delta’s turn to make it right. Will they refund for canceled flights promptly? Reimburse tickets on other carriers? Cover all expenses?. Share your story - reply or DM 📩.
43
30
322
Counterpoint: Up north is as much cultural as geographic and thus cannot be divided in a straight line. -"North" along 35 occurs somewhere around Moose Lake. I know it in my heart.-Mille Lacs & Brainerd lakes aren't north . but Crosby & Aitkin are.-Moorhead & DL aren't north
Brainerd is not "up north". I've amended my up north boundaries. Hibbing is up north. Ely is up north. Grand Rapids is up north. Tofte is up north. Leech Lake is up north. Brainerd is cosplaying as up north. I will not be taking questions
97
5
321