A couple that recently flew from Los Angeles to Dhaka, Bangladesh was pretty peeved with their vacation. Not because they forgot to back sunscreen or had a bad flight — it’s just that they were actually trying to go to Dakar, Senegal. That’s what happens with a quick slip of the keyboard and an incorrect destination code, an apparent “oops” moment on the part of Turkish Airlines. [More]
The Funny Thing About Bangladesh Is That It’s Not Where Africa-Bound Couple Was Heading
By May 20, 2013
Sen. Schumer Would Really Appreciate It If Airlines Could Reverse Hike In Flight Change Fees
By May 20, 2013
Grumpy over those recently change fee hikes Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, U.S. Aiways and United Airlines instituted? You’re not the only one — New York Sen. Charles Schumer is in your corner. He’s asking, well, kind of demanding, that the airline industry take back those hikes so families can afford to travel together. [More]
American Airlines Now Allowing Travelers Without Carry-Ons To Board Earlier
By May 17, 2013
Anyone who’s ever been part of that tense time during the boarding process knows how it goes: Everyone with roller bags eyes each other, trying to get a glimpse of their rivals’ boarding passes to see who’s going to board first, and thus, easily score overhead bin space. Meanwhile the duffel bag people are like, “No worries, I can smush.” But now, those traveling extra light will get boarding preference on American Airlines. [More]
Airlines Raked In A Record $6 Billion In Baggage & Change Fees Last Year
By May 14, 2013
Feeling lighter in the wallet when you travel? It’s no wonder — in 2012, U.S. airlines raked in a record $6 billion in baggage and change fees from passengers. That’s higher than any other year since such fees became de rigueur five years ago. Oh, and it’s going to keep piling up, because airlines are having fun swimming around in the piles of money they’ve made off such fees. [More]
Woman Booted From Flight Because No One Asked For Her Best Whitney Houston Impression
By May 13, 2013
Just because the song “I Will Always Love” you (as written by Dolly Parton and sung by the late Whitney Houston) implies an unflagging dedication, belting it out on an airplane didn’t bring one passenger any love from an American Airlines flight crew. She was ejected from the plane for disrupting the flight, in part because she was warbling her karaoke-night best. [More]
When Billionaire Airline CEO Richard Branson Loses A Bet, People Pay To Shave His Legs
By May 13, 2013
Sir Richard Branson might be “sir” and founder of the Virgin Airlines empire, but he’s not one to rely on all those piles of money to save him when he loses a bet. After wagering against AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes and coming out a loser, he donned the garb of a female flight attendant and got to work. [More]
Chicago Airport Ditches Traditional, Boring Lawnmowers For A Herd Of Hungry Goats
By May 8, 2013
High on the hill there was a lonely goat herd — and then a plane whizzed by overhead and interrupted that solitary reverie with a roar of jet engines. That’ll be the scene at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, when the city brings in a herd of 25 goats onto the property to get their grub on, effectively acting as sustainable lawnmowers. [More]
Spirit Airlines Switches Customer Help Numbers From Toll-Free 800 To Not-Free 801 Area Code
By May 7, 2013
Need help from Spirit Airlines? It’ll cost you now: the company that brought us carry-on bag fees is cutting corners yet again, by switching its customer help numbers from the toll-free 800 area code to the not-so-free 801 area code. Of course, that change will likely only affect customers calling from a landline, at about $0.05 to $0.18 per minute. In any case, we’re not surprised. [More]
Man Accused Of Robbing Credit Union To Pay For Disney Cruise Didn’t Want To Ruin Family Trip
By May 3, 2013
Family vacation is a time-honored, lovely, downright stressful and sometimes harrowing tradition. We’ve all seen National Lampoon’s Vacation with the Griswold family (if you haven’t, step into the sunlight, introduce yourself to the world), so we know there’s pressure to make everything go well. But cops say one family man took that to the extreme, by robbing a credit union in order to make the final payment on a Disney cruise. [More]
We Are Shocked, Simply Shocked That Summer Airfares Have Dropped In Price This Year
By May 2, 2013
Usually the prospect of booking flights in the summer months means one thing: trying to finagle a not extremely expensive flight but ultimately giving up and just paying whatever high price you have to, because you need to get to the beach/wedding/vacation destination. But because so many fellow travelers booked early this year or decided to go abroad, domestic summer travel fares are actually down right now. Yep, down. [More]
Frontier Now Offering Confusing Range Of Carry-On Fees If You Don’t Book Through Its Site
By May 1, 2013
Frontier Airlines debuted a few changes to their policies today and guess what? They’re charging for more things, including carry-on bags and formerly complimentary in-air beverages. Here’s the deal, as we understand it: Travelers who book their reservations through the airline’s site won’t have to pay a dime for a carry-on bag, but those who use booking sites like Orbitz or Expedia will have to pay. As for exactly how much, that’s where it gets confusing. [More]
Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag; Better Than First Class
By April 26, 2013
Around these parts, we hear our share of the frustrating, the woeful and the all-out angry. But when we catch hold of an idea that brings out the happy and rewarding stories of customers, we like to celebrate it. This week in Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: Hey, that’s my bag!; Grandpa gets a really cool upgrade. [More]
Hawaiian Lawmakers Asking Airlines To Play Safety Video Warning Tourists About Drowning
By April 26, 2013
When you think of a vacation in Hawaii, you probably picture pristine waters filled with colorful marine life, days spent sunning on the beach and leisurely swims in the sunshine. But it’s not all sea turtles and gentle spray, say state lawmakers. In an effort to curb a spike in drowning deaths, the state Senate and the Kauai Visitors Bureau are asking airlines to show arriving tourists an ocean safety video. But not everybody thinks that’s a great idea. [More]
Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To End Air Traffic Controller Furloughs Causing Flight Delays
By April 26, 2013
UPDATE: And there we go, folks — as expected, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the furlough fix bill as well in a vote of 361 to 41. Next up, the bill will head to President Obama’s desk for a signature. [More]
Man Claims Southwest Humiliated Him By Pulling Him Off Flight Because He’s Overweight
By April 25, 2013
When we hear the words “too fat to fly,” the airline that immediately pops up is Southwest. Of course there was the famous incident with Clerks director Kevin Smith back in 2010, as well as another woman who said the airline allegedly booted her from a flight for being overweight and sued Southwest to clarify its somewhat fickle “customers of size” policy. Now another man is claiming that he was pulled off a flight for being overweight, even though he says he used to be even heavier and never had a problem with the airline before. [More]
United Quietly Hikes Flight Change Fee By $50, Hopes No One Notices
By April 24, 2013
UPDATE: Not one to be late to the party, U.S. Airways has proved it’s a joiner by also increasing its flight change fee to $200. The change appeared on the site just today. Oof. This doesn’t look good, folks. [More]
TSA Decides To Keep Ban Of Small Knives On Planes In Place For Now
By April 23, 2013
After a few weeks of backlash against the idea from the airline industry, flight attendants and air marshals, the Transportation Security Administration has decided to delay lifting the ban against small knives aboard airline flights. A few weeks ago the TSA said passengers would be allowed to carry knives that met certain descriptions, as well as some sporting equipment. [More]
Man Gets 15 Months In Jail For Plane Hoax, Has To Write 38 Apology Letters To Passengers
By April 22, 2013
Just in case you ever need a really good reason not to call in a fake bomb threat to an airplane, look no farther than the incident last year where armed agents swarmed a tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport, arrested one guy on the U.S. Airways flight and freaked out a whole bunch of travelers: Turns out the call was made by another man, jealous of a Facebook photo of his girlfriend that the other man had posted. He’s in big trouble now. [More]
