Ontario, California - After experiencing the very public humiliation of being turned down for a flight on the Russian space shuttle when he couldn't come up with the $20 million fare, Lance Bass, singer with the teeny-bopper boy band du jour Back Street Boys, was further embarrassed when he was denied a seat on a recent $19 Southwest Airlines Super Saver flight from Ontario, California to Portland, Oregon when First USA VISA denied the charge. Although First USA officials are not commenting publicly about the incident, this reporter has learned that Mr. Bass' VISA account had been temporarily suspended after he recently tried to increase his credit limit by $19,998,000.

After the VISA charge was denied, Mr. Bass was unable to pay the $19 Southwest fare because he never carries cash "just for the principle of it," according to Murray Blumenstein, Mr. Bass' manager and legal guardian. "Since The Back Street Boys represent the future of over-produced saccharine bubble gum music that is actually performed by studio musicians, Mr. Bass believes that carrying cash is just so N-Sync," continued Mr. Blumenstein.

In related news, Mel Sibodnik, Mr. Bass' accountant and first cousin, has announced that the singer has just applied for a Sunoco MasterCard in a special promotion that offers a 3% rebate on all purchases at participating Sunoco stations. "We're cautiously optimistic that Mr. Bass' application will be received favorably," Mr. Sibodnik said from his Las Vegas office. "If that doesn't work, I guess it's back to traveler's checks."