Outside the Beltway

A scandal erupted when the Chinese people learned their leaders were flying first class and staying in five-star hotels. Problem solved!

End game? Or the potential spark of a wider war?

The U.S. and Europe have announced a new round of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but it’s not clear that the Russians will be motivated to change course.

Fairly or not, the President has created the impression that he is not a good leader, and there’s not much he can do about it at this point.

What the West does in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine is largely up to Europe, not the United States.

No surprises so far.

Things are getting serious in eastern Ukraine.

Ticket collectors at Southwest Airlines are our first line of defense.

If you live in Russia, you’re getting a different version of the story of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Crisis seems to be brewing all over the world, but the American people aren’t persuaded that it’s necessary for the United States to act.

Yesterday’s events are likely to be a game changer, but how the game plays out depends largely on how Europe reacts.

The Texas Senator is threatening to block any bill dealing with the border crisis that doesn’t defund the relief President Obama granted to children of illegal immigrants last year.

Basically, the answer is that nobody really thought there was much of a risk that a plane could be shot down.

Someone took down a Boeing 777 over Ukraine today.

Another incident involving a Malaysia Airlines 777, but this one could be far more serious.

The saga of Malaysian Air Flight 370 continues to be just weird.

Interactions between consumers and businesses online are starting to have an impact on the legal system.

We should expect to pay more for the least undesirable seats.

There may be no resolution to what has become the most expensive search in history.

Just when it became safe to keep your shoes and tablets on, a new threat to the friendly skies has emerged: toothpaste.

Airlines are squeezing ever-larger passengers into ever-smaller spaces. Naturally, the passengers are taking it out on the other passengers.

A bunch of people talking on cellphones during a plane flight would annoy the heck out of me, but the government shouldn’t be involved in deciding if it should be allowed.

Even as it defies China’s illegal territorial claims with military flights, the Obama administration is urging US airlines to comply.

Imagine all these people talking on the cellphones during a long flight, or even a short one.

A 500 pound French man was denied a return flight by British Airways.

Finally, the FAA acts to end a pretty dumb rule.

The government shutdown is starting to have effects in the “real world.”

The Purple Gang Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Despite yesterday’s tragic events in San Francisco, flying by plane remains the safest way to travel.

The Senate moved last night to end the airport delays caused by furloughing air traffic controllers.

The artist known as Kid Rock endorsed Mitt Romney but now says he’s “embarrassed to be a Republican.” Because of their stance on paperless tickets, naturally.

The Obama administration is promising massive cuts in public-facing services in the face of minuscule “cuts” to the budget.

Reclining your seat comes at the expense of your fellow traveler’s knees. Why is it an option?

A passenger praying in the aisles will apparently get your plane priority landing privileges.

Since most pedophiles are men, Virgin airlines naturally treats all men as potential pedophiles.