Fly United to Mongolia, say goodbye to bought citizenship in Malta, Lyft for older riders, and dauchshunds for the win (Saturday Selection)

This Saturday we look at how you can now fly United to Mongolia, we say goodbye to the “Golden Passport” which allowed folks to essentially buy citizenship in Malta, we see what Lyft is doing for older riders, and more.

United just flew where no US airline has gone: On board the historic inaugural flight to Mongolia

One Mile at a Time mentioned back in October that some very unique flights were coming to United’s route map this year (including Greenland and Mongolia, and expanded service to Palau for example). As of May 1st, you can now fly United’s “fifth-freedom route” from Tokyo Narita to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This will be a seasonal, summer route operated three times a week. Have any of you booked this flight (and did anyone happen to fly the inaugural flight on Thursday?)

An EU Court Just Ruled the ‘Golden Passport’ Scheme Is Illegal—What to Know

This week the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Malta’s “golden passport” program is illegal, and that “selling” citizenship in that way violates EU law. If unfamiliar, the “golden passport” allowed people to gain Maltese (and therefore EU) citizenship through investments of more than €600,000. So it’s not that you could directly buy citizenship…but indirectly you could. Malta has responded that they’ll work to comply moving forward, but that anyone who’s already been granted citizenship through this program shouldn’t be affected. This ruling has greater implications than just within Malta, of course. Many EU countries with similar programs had already been revising them in the last few years, and some have committed to revise them moving forward. Portugal for example had already removed the real estate investment piece of their citizenship program, and Spain intends to do the same.

Lyft launches ‘Lyft Silver’ for older riders, with simpler app and more accessible vehicles

On May 5th, Lyft is launching a new version of its app specifically targeting senior-citizens. For starters, the launch will hit Miami, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, DC, and Boston, and will give riders a simpler app. Lyft Silver will have larger font, a simpler navigation, and…get this…access to real humans for support. Lyft Silver users will have access to a US-based customer support line from 8AM-9PM ET. They’ll also be matched with vehicles that are easy to get in and out of. If you find yourself in one of these cities and want to try it out for yourself, click the “You” option in the bottom right corner of your app, then click “Lyft Silver” in the main menu.

Hundreds of dachshunds chase record for Hungary’s biggest single-breed dog walk

This week hundreds of dachshunds (and dachshund owners) took to Budapest’s City Park in attempt to break a World record. Last year in the German town of Regensburg, at least 897 dachshunds attended a group dog walk – (over 1,000 if you ask attendees, but only 897 were able to be verified by Guinness) – setting the Guinness World Record for “biggest ever single-breed dog walk”. I’m sad that I missed this adorable wiener dog gathering in one of my favorite European cities. But lucky for me, the gathering in Budapest only had about 500 wiener dogs in attendance, so they’ll try again next year! Maybe next year’s annual team challenge can include a visit to the wiener dog walk in Budapest? (A girl can dream.)

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