Hours after announcing a $29 million settlement over its drink voucher program, Southwest Airlines revealed plans to add $300 million in new and increased fees, along with a policy change that will certainly irk some frequent Southwest travelers. [More]
air and travel
Southwest Owes Passengers $29 Million In Free Drinks
By 12.14.12 — Updated: 1.21.13
August 1, 2010 is a day that many Southwest Airlines Business Select fliers know well. It’s the day on which the carrier stopped allowing these passengers to carry over their unused free drink vouchers to future flights. More than two years and one class-action settlement later, Southwest is having to buy a lot of rounds. [More]
3-Day Delay For United Flight Results In Brawl With Airport Employees
By 7.16.12
When you’ve been stuck for days simply trying to board your flight back home, it’s understandable if things get a little tense. But you don’t necessarily expect it to degrade to the point where you are involved in fisticuffs with airport employees. [More]
You Can't Score A Free Plane Seat For Your Baby By Putting Him On Your 3-Year-Old's Lap
By 12.30.11
As any parents who have flown with little babies probably knows, many airlines will not require a ticket for children under two years of age, so long as the child is seated on an adult’s lap. But U.S. Airways had to give the boot to a family of six after the parents figured they could simply seat one of their under-2 children with their ticketed 3-year-old. [More]
Lawmakers Ask TSA To Place Passenger Advocates In Airports
By 12.12.11
Considering all the negative press the Transportation Security Administration has received in recent years over its invasive airport security screening procedures, it couldn’t hurt for the TSA to have staffers on hand whose job it is to consider the best interest of the passengers. [More]
It Could Now Cost You Over $400 To Check A Bag On Some Flights
By 9.20.11
Fees for checked bags vary wildly, from absolutely nothing to arm-and-a-leg-and-an-ear. And according to a new round-up of fees from the various carriers, you might need to throw another limb in there if you’re checking an oversize bag on your international flight. [More]
Consumer Groups Scold Airlines For Pocketing Tax Money During FAA Shutdown
By 9.14.11
Surely you remember the recent FAA shutdown, during which the government couldn’t collect taxes on airfares, leading the airlines to temporarily raise their base prices and pocket an estimated $70 million a day. Now a coalition of consumer groups, including our benevolent benefactors at Consumers Union, are voicing their displeasure for this and other anti-consumer behavior. [More]
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against TSA From Man Who Wrote 4th Amendment On Chest
By 9.13.11
Many of you will remember the story from earlier this year about the man with the Fourth Amendment written on his chest who filed a lawsuit against the TSA, alleging that he had been wrongfully detained after he stripped down to his running shorts at an airport security checkpoint. Now comes news that a federal judge has dismissed complaints against almost all defendants in the lawsuit. [More]
Airlines Waiving Re-Booking Fees With Hurricane Irene On The Way
By 8.25.11
A really nasty woman named Irene is about to swoop in from the tropics and potentially screw up air travel for everyone. So in advance of the hurricane, many airlines are playing nice with their re-booking fees and policies for flights to and from destinations affected by the storm. [More]
British Airways To Start Pumping Signature Scent Into Jet Cabins
By 8.25.11
How many times have you boarded a plane and thought, “You know what would make this flight even more fun? If there was a signature scent being pumped through the cabin!” Well then maybe you should start flying British Airways, which will reportedly be smelling up their jets in the near future. [More]
Hotel Gives Away My Room, Hotels.com Won't Give Me My Money Back
By 8.22.11
For all the confirmation e-mails and reservation numbers you receive when booking a room through Hotels.com — and most third-party discount reservation sites — there is still a slim chance that you’ll arrive at your destination only to find out your room has been sold off to someone willing to pay more. [More]
Annoyed Travel Agents To Obama: We're Not Obsolete
By 8.22.11
There are two reasons we probably don’t write very many stories about travel agencies: many of them do a better job of problem-resolution than the airlines, hotels and cruise lines they deal with; and common sense would tell you it’s likely that fewer people are using agents because it’s just as easy to book travel on your own. President Obama recently expressed a similar sentiment, and the travel agents of America want him to know they haven’t exactly gone the way of the dot matrix printer. [More]
Latest Round Of Pro-Consumer Airline Regulations To Start This Week
By 8.22.11
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 6.21.11
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 6.14.11
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 6.6.11
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 6.6.11
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 6.2.11
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]
