The Department of Transportation’s newest airline regulations — aiming to cut down even more on tarmac delays, curb passenger-bumping and make ticket fees more transparent — will kick in for air travelers tomorrow. [More]
Spirit Airlines To Charge $5 To Print Your Boarding Pass For You
By June 21, 2011
Bottom-dollar carrier Spirit Airlines is trying very hard to become the Ryanair of the U.S., announcing that it will soon begin charging travelers $5 to have a boarding pass printed by a Spirit staffer at the airport. [More]
Newlyweds: TSA Ruined Our Honeymoon Over Bottle Of Contact Lens Solution
By June 14, 2011
If the last decade has taught us two things it’s that Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio is a prime entry point for terrorists and that a bottle of saline merits a lengthy talking-to from the Transportation Security Administration. Oh, wait… scratch both of those. [More]
DOT Fines Continental For Not Disclosing Fuel Surcharge On Website
By June 6, 2011
Fuel surcharges can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a flight, a fact that travelers trying to buy tickets on Continental’s website weren’t finding out until after they had selected their itinerary. That’s why the Depart of Transportation has slapped the airline with a $120,000 fine. [More]
New Airport Scanner Could Have You Through Security In Only Seconds
By June 6, 2011
Air travel authorities have begun showing off a new type of airport security scanner that would allow travelers to walk through a tunnel-like device without having to remove coats, belts, shoes or even hand over their carry-ons for separate screening. [More]
Delta Discontinues Discount For Paying Bag Fees Online
By June 2, 2011
Since Delta began charging fees for checked bags — $25 for the initial piece on domestic flights; $35 for a second — the airline has been offering $2-3 discounts to travelers who prepaid those fees online instead of at the airport. Not anymore. [More]
When Is A Free Ticket Not Free? When There Is A $350 Fuel Surcharge
By May 31, 2011
Even though it’s become increasingly easy to amass rewards travel points on most major airlines, it’s not only gotten more difficult to cash in those points for free tickets, those “free” tickets could end up costing you hundreds in taxes and fuel surcharges. [More]
TSA Forgets To Tell Police It's Running A Bomb Test, Hilarity Ensues
By May 19, 2011
One of the keys to running a successful test of a TSA agent’s ability to detect a bomb in a traveler’s suitcase is to give the heads-up to the authorities that a drill is being run. That way, when — or rather if — the screener finds the device in question, their call to the police won’t have the cops drawing their guns in the middle of an airport. [More]
Texas House Passes Bill To Outlaw TSA Pat-Downs That Make Contact With Your Most Personal Parts
By May 13, 2011
As we reported in March, a handful of Texas politicians were fed up with being felt-up and were considering a way to ban the TSA’s invasive pat-down procedures. Last night, that ban got closer to reality — or at least closer to becoming a courtroom battle — when the Lone Star State’s House of Representatives voted to approve legislation that would keep hands off travelers’ most personal areas. [More]
TSA Considers Making Airport Screenings Less Annoying For "Trusted Travelers"
By May 6, 2011
You might have heard that some airline passengers haven’t exactly been overjoyed with the TSA’s recent rollouts of revealing full-body scanners and like-groping-teenagers-in-heat pat-down procedures. But now the agency is reportedly considering the idea of giving “trusted travelers” an express pass through airport security screenings. [More]
Delta Passengers Forced To Land & Ride Bus For 5 Hours. Is $100 Coupon Enough?
By May 5, 2011
Earlier this week, a Delta flight from Atlanta to West Palm Beach, FL, was forced to land in Tampa after the cabin filled with smoke. Passengers were taken off the plane and put on a bus for the 5-hour trip to their final destination. They were also each given a $100 coupon for use toward a future Delta flight. To some passengers, it’s not the size of the compensation that caused offense, but the apparent lack of give-a-damn demonstrated by Delta. [More]
Not Filling The Tank On Your Rental Car Could Cost You $9 A Gallon
By May 4, 2011
Next time you’re running close to the deadline for returning a rental car and have to choose between a late fee or being penalized for not having a full gas tank, be sure that you’re using the right per-gallon dollar amount when figuring out which will cost less. According to a new USA Today survey, the penalty for having to fill up a rental car’s tank can now set you back over $9 per gallon. [More]
Flight Attendants Stage Mini Mutiny, Give Away Free Booze On Flight
By May 3, 2011
No one — aside from airline shareholders — is a big fan of the numerous ancillary fees airlines continue to nickel-and-dime travelers with, not even the flight attendants. And at least on one recent flight, some attendants decided they were going to quietly flip the middle finger to their overlords by giving out a bunch of free stuff. [More]
Allegations Of Photography Cause Plane Evacuation, 2.5-Hour Delay On United Flight
By April 25, 2011
When did “taking photographs” become “suspicious behavior” on a plane? Because that’s exactly what caused an entire United flight to return to its gate, be evacuated and inspected, leave 2.5 hours late and forced to make an additional stop because of the delay. [More]
Delta Introduces Online Tracking For Baggage
By April 22, 2011
Next time you’re getting off a Delta flight, you should have a better idea of how long you’ll be waiting for your checked luggage at baggage claim. The airline has introduced a new tracking system that lets users plug in their luggage tag number for up-to-date tracking info. [More]
Airline Gives Kung Fu Training To New Cabin Crew Members
By April 19, 2011
While the TSA keeps rolling out ineffective new scanning and groping techniques to keep our airplanes safe from bottles of water and shampoo, the folks at Hong Kong Airlines have gone an extra step, requiring all new cabin crew members to undergo martial arts training. [More]
FAA Makes Changes To Keep Air Traffic Controllers From Falling Asleep On The Job
By April 18, 2011
Complaining About Airport Security Could Tag You As A Possible Threat
By April 15, 2011
Almost anyone who has been stuck in the airport security screening line has at least mumbled to themselves about the process, but a new report from CNN says that such behavior could lead to travelers being singled out for further screening. [More]
