The good news is that the Department of Transportation says airlines are mishandling fewer bags than before, with a nice little 8% drop in the amount of “lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered” pieces of luggage from 2011 to 2012. But before we go slapping airlines on the back with a hearty “good job!” pat, perhaps it’s just because passengers are keeping their personal effects out of the hands of baggage handlers. [More]
Airlines Mishandled Fewer Bags Last Year Maybe Because We Hate Paying To Check Them
By February 12, 2013
Airline Launches Its New “Quiet Zone,” Banishing Kids To The Back Of The Plane
By February 4, 2013
If you’ve ever flown on a plane, it’s probably happened to you: The cabin is packed, there’s no hope of having the seats next to you remain empty and then, of course, a couple with a little baby sits down in your row. The baby is cute! Until he or she inevitably starts bawling. It can’t be helped — children cry — but Air Asia X thinks the problem can be alleviated with its new “quiet zones.” [More]
Other Airlines Apparently Uninterested In Joining Any Of United’s Fare-Hiking Games
By January 17, 2013
Every year the airlines seem to go through the same little fare-hiking dance, multiple times and with varying results. This time it’s United Airlines, which is trying to raise prices on domestic routes ranging from $4 to $20 roundtrip. The only fly in its pricing ointment is that it doesn’t look like the other airlines are going to follow suit. [More]
Allegedly Drunk Man Allegedly Lighting Up In Plane Bathroom Prompts Emergency Landing
By December 19, 2012
There’s the guy sitting next to you who allegedly has such bad breath you allegedly can’t breathe out of your nose, and then there are the more serious kind of claims. Allegations are flying over in Australia, after Qantas airlines says a(n allegedly) drunk passenger (allegedly) lit up a cigarette in an airplane bathroom on a flight from Sydney to Japan, prompting an emergency landing that cost the airline $120,000. [More]
Plan Ahead If You Want To Snag Seats Together On The Plane For Holiday Flights
By November 13, 2012
Times used to be, you’d show up at the check-in desk with carry-on bags full of liquids, check your heavy suitcases for free and politely ask if you could sit next to your husband/girlfriend/son/best pal Liz. But with window and aisle seats now selling for an extra fee, how’s a family supposed to make sure they can stick together up in the air this Thanksgiving? There are a few things you can do to tip the seating odds in your favor. [More]
Airlines Take A Dip In Consumers’ Eyes, Car Rental Companies Make Customers Happy
By November 12, 2012
It’s been a rough couple of months for airlines in this country, what with seats coming loose during flights and the rash of cancellations due to Mother Nature and things like contract disputes. All of that is likely part of the reason new numbers measuring the travel industry show that American travelers are feeling pretty fed up with airlines, while car rental companies are appearing a bit shinier in our eyes. [More]
Relief In Sight For Sandy’s Stranded Passengers As JFK & Newark Reopen For Some Flights
By October 31, 2012
Call her a hurricane or call her a superstorm, but weather phenomenon Sandy is responsible for either stranding a lot of passengers away from home or keeping them from their destinations elsewhere. There’s some relief in sight after three days of flight cancellations, as two New York-area airports, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty, have reopened for some flights. [More]
My Flight Was Canceled Due To Sandy, Frontier Airlines Doesn’t Bother To Tell Me
By October 30, 2012
If your flight gets canceled, how are you supposed to find out? Melinda was scheduled to fly on Frontier Airlines, and figured that her flight would get canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. She at least expected a robocall from the airline once the cancellation happened. Or for her flight info to no longer be in the “flight checker.” [More]
It’s The 21st Century, But I Can’t Pick My Seat When Booking A Flight Over The Phone
By October 12, 2012
Adam had to reserve his flight to Spain over the phone with American Airlines because he was using credit on his account. That wouldn’t be a problem, except for how the airline told im that he wouldn’t be allowed to choose his seat, because the flight was actually on Iberia Airlines, and he was making the booking via codeshare. And yet, in 2012, the two airlines’ computers won’t talk to each other, and he can’t pick his seat even though he’s paying a pile of money to make this reservation. Update: A reader wrote in to point out that Iberia actually doesn’t let passengers in coach pick their seats until 24 hours before their flights. If Adam’s flight is actually business class or fancier, he can call up Iberia to choose his seat. [More]
Expedia Can Give Me A Refund If I Build A Time Machine
By October 10, 2012
Maybe Expedia isn’t the best choice if you want to make a same-day travel booking. Eric was going to get stuck on a layover in Atlanta, so he booked a hotel before arriving. Less than hour later, he missed a connecting flight and would be traveling through a different city. Oh, well, it shouldn’t be all that hard to cancel a hotel reservation that’s only an hour old. Right? He could try to cancel the reservation all he liked, but he’d still have to pay 100% of the booking price. [More]
Even If You’re In A Hurry At The Airport It’s Still Not Cool To Fake The Need For A Wheelchair
By October 5, 2012
Just the other day I crankily asked a friend why there aren’t strollers for adults (it had been a long day and I just wanted someone to push me around, darn it). Apparently some travelers are all about making that an actual thing, as airport employees say some passengers who don’t need wheelchairs ask for them anyway in order to get through the whole security process faster. Fakers! We call shenanigans. [More]
American Airlines Employees Scoop Up My Wallet, Save The Day
By September 26, 2012
Reader HogwartsProfessor has one of the rarest of all consumer stories to share: a positive story about an item left behind on a plane and airline employees. Yes, the problem was entirely her fault, but their staff on the ground were kind and helpful, creating a chain of kindness that reunited H.P. with her wallet and got her on the next plane with no extra fees. [More]
AirAsia Fulfills A Dream Come True For Many Travelers With “Baby-Free” Quiet Zones
By September 26, 2012
You know how it goes: You see someone with a baby boarding your flight and you think, “I hope that baby is a happy, quiet one.” But sometimes babies cry, and even the most patient traveler can get cranky when a pair of lusty lungs are involved. That’s why AirAsia is trying out a “baby-free” quiet zone on long haul flights starting in February. [More]
You Weren't Alone: July Was A No Good Very Bad Awful Month For Long Flight Delays
By September 18, 2012
That time you were sitting on the tarmac for hours upon hours, hating life and cursing the sky gods for keeping you earthbound? You weren’t alone in July, as the government said it was worse than the previous eight months combined for planes stuck on the ground. [More]
Flight Somehow Booked For The Wrong Day? Call To Fix It Right Now
By August 13, 2012
Sean booked a flight on United Airlines, US Airways, but had found the flight through travel übersearch site Kayak. He learned the hard way that there may be an occasional bug in the system: he says that even though he did everything correctly, his flight was booked on the wrong day. He learned the hard way that when this happens, you’d better notice quickly: there’s only a 24-hour window to call about the error before the airline will just keep your money forever. They’re called “non-refundable” tickets for a reason, after all. [More]
If We Have To Deal With Increased Airline Fees At Least Planes Are Arriving On Time
By August 9, 2012
It might seem too good to be true, but it isn’t: The airline industry is in the midst of its best performance in regards to on-time flight arrivals since 1988. Cold comfort for the next time you’re watching the clock tick your life away waiting to take off on a congested runway during the holidays, sure, but a good sign nevertheless. [More]
Stressed-Out Gate Agent Will Not Tolerate Tiny Purses On United Airlines Flights
By August 8, 2012
Jarrod and his wife were returning from their vacation, flying United. Their flight was delayed, and they encountered a gate at 3 A.M. with a single employee working. They went to board their flight, and Mrs. Jarrod had a camera bag, a large shoulder bag, and a tiny travel pouch over her arm. Other airline personnel overlooked the tiny pouch, not even counting it as a “bag” for carry-on luggage purposes. Instead, the agent became just a little unhinged, not allowing Mrs. Jarrod on the flight until she nestled the little bag inside one of her other bags. [More]
Virgin American Refunds Non-Refundable Tickets For Expectant Parents
By July 31, 2012
Brian and his wife do know the meaning of the word “non-refundable.” Really, they do. But they booked their trip to Mexico without knowing that his wife, Brooke, would get pregnant. Brian Jr. or Brooke Jr. is due right around the time the trip is scheduled, making it a very poor idea. They figured out that they could return the tickets, minus some fees, for Virgin America credit, but that would have to be used within a year. As considerate Consumerist readers, they don’t want to fly for fun with a [potentially screaming] baby. So they checked with Virgin to see whether an exception could be made. [More]
