Consumerist
complaints
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shopping
Are You Ready To Go Shopping On Your Next Flight?
American Airlines is beginning to experiment with turning flights into shopping opportunities, reports the New York Times. We're not just talking about in-flight purchases of Sky Mall schwag, either: the paper reports that limousine services, tickets to theme parks and Broadway shows, and train tickets are some of the offerings being considered or currently being tested. More » -
american airlines
American Airlines Fires Web Designer For Helping Customer
Dustin Curtis complained to American Airlines about its poor website user interface. A designer within the company reached out to him to apologize, say how it was hard sometime to design well at a large company, but that better designs were coming down the pike. American Airlines then fired the designer. Authenticity can be a hazard to your job health. More » -
air travel
When Traveling, Beware The Snow Globe Terrorist Menace
Beware the snow globe menace! The TSA has decreed that since they can't determine how much liquid is in a snow globe, passengers are not allowed to bring them in their carry-on luggage on planes. More » -
airlines
Congress Investigates Airline Fees In Search Of Tax Revenue
Congress is concerned about the new fees that airlines seem to enjoy piling on their passengers. But not out of any sense of concern for consumers' wallets. The problem is the lost tax revenue that airports are missing out on when airlines increase their prices through the use of fees instead of by raising fares. More » -
travel
Family Kicked Off Flight For Misbehaving Kids, No Refund
An Arizona mom says she was flying to Billings, Montana for her birthday — but never got off the ground because the airline kicked her — and her unruly kids off the flight. They were told they could take another flight — if they paid for it. The airline says it's their policy not to offer refunds. More » -
overcharges
Virgin Atlantic Overcharged Me, Says They Sent Refund, Didn't
Priya says Virgin Atlantic sprung a hidden $220 fee on her for a flight to India late last year. She paid the fee but started fighting for a refund immediately. More » -
fees
Airlines Could Start Charging Extra For Credit Cards
Could extra fees for using a credit card to pay become the airline industry's hot new trend? More » -
brats on a plane
Mother And Child Kicked Off Southwest Flight Receive Apology, Free Travel
Earlier this week, a 2-year-old boy drowned out preflight announcements on a Southwest Airlines flight with his screams of "I want Daddy!" and "Go, plane, go!" So the airline kicked the child and his mother off the plane.
Southwest has since apologized to the child's mother, and offered a refund and travel voucher.
Southwest apologizes to mom on Calif. flight [AP]
(Photo: woodleywonderworks)
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revenge
United Airlines Loses "United Breaks Guitars" Singer's Luggage
Dave Carroll, the musician who recently wrote a catchy new jingle for United Airlines, told the New York Times that on a flight with United this past Sunday they lost his bag. What's worse, United employees wouldn't let him leave the baggage area for more than an hour because they said the bag was just delayed. United told the paper, "We will fully investigate what regretfully happened."
"With Video, a Traveler Fights Back" [New York Times] (Thanks to Alan and Ray!)
(Photo: Doug Letterman) -
airlines
US Airways Shrinks
US Airways has announced it plans to lay off a thousand employees, about 3% of its workforce, and will cut flights and focus mostly on four hubs: Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, DC. More » -
airlines
4 Questions That Will Fix The Travel Industry
When will we see an airline passenger bill of rights? Why aren't there 5-star and 2-star airlines? How do you deal with hotels filling review sites with fake testimonials? These questions came up in a conversation about the travel industry I had the other night. Here's some possible answers: More » -
above and beyond
You Accidentally Forget You Don't Live In Baltimore, And AirTran Fixes It
Here's a heartwarming email from reader Joy. She accidentally booked tickets from Baltimore instead of Philly and AirTran not only fixed this mistake — they didn't charge her extra. More » -
travel
Expect Airlines To Keep Hiking Ticket Prices As Holidays Approach
This year it's a seller's market when it comes to buying airline tickets, reports the New York Times, so if you must travel via plane, buy early and try to be as flexible as possible. More » -
security theater of the absurd
TSA Takes Baby Away From Mother?
UPDATE: The TSA has posted their CCTV video of the incident from 9 different angles. In the video, the child is never picked up by TSA agents or removed from the mother's sight.
UPDATE 2: Nic responds to the video by saying, "in the video, it looks as though my son is playing happily in his stroller while i am being searched with a wand. obviously this is the big discrepancy with my story, since he was not in my sight at that time, and one that i too am thoroughly looking into. neither of the two phone calls i placed while seated in security are in the video either. what is shown in the video is incomplete as it leaves out when the security agent took my son to a separate area and out of my sight. this matter is one that is being handled between my family and the TSA."
Mommyblogger Nic tells the horrifying story of how TSA agents took away her child because the clip on his pacifier set off the metal detector yesterday. More »
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lost luggage
DOT To Airlines: Sorry, But People Like To Change Their Underwear
The United States Department of Transportation has finally warned airlines: Most people don't like to go for more than 24 hours without brushing their teeth and changing their underwear. More » -
delays
Founder Of FlyersRights Says Delta Hacked Her Email Account
Kate Hanni, the founder of the passenger advocacy group FlyersRights.org, has filed a lawsuit against Delta Airlines in which she claims they hacked her email account and acquired personal email messages sent between her, some journalists, and a guy who was at the time working for Metron, a company hired by the FAA to investigate Delta. More » -
airlines
Your Plane Is Probably On Time, Thanks To The Recession
The good news, according to a recent report by the Brookings Institution? For the last few years, air travel delays have decreased and travel has become almost bearable. The bad news? That's because of the decrease in travel due to the recession, and economic recovery will mean more delays. Yay. More »
