The week of little children posing a threat to the travelers of the world concludes with this story about how officials evacuated and temporarily shut down an entire terminal at Newark International Airport because a baby didn’t receive a second screening. [More]
air travel
Delta Passengers Quarantined Following Medical Scare (Which Turned Out To Be Bug Bites)
By 4.26.12
Passengers on board a Delta flight from Detroit to Chicago were quarantined on the tarmac for several hours this afternoon over concerns about one traveler with what appeared to be a mysterious rash. [More]
TSA Allows Airports To Hire People Without Finishing Background Check
By 4.26.12
While the TSA dare not let a hug-friendly 4-year-old go by without a pat-down, the agency is apparently just fine with allowing airports to hire new employees who haven’t gone through a complete background check yet. [More]
TSA Agents Accused Of Taking Bribes To Let Drugs Through LAX Checkpoints
By 4.25.12
While the TSA blog loves to brag about all the weapons the agency’s screeners have taken off travelers, this news probably won’t be posted with pride on the kitchenette bulletin board at TSA HQ. [More]
Spirit Airlines, Where "Dying Of Cancer" Equals "Not Following The Rules"
By 4.25.12
Spirit Airlines once again proves that it was only pulling our legs when it called itself the “most consumer-friendly airline.” This time, the fee-happy carrier isn’t just telling a dying passenger he has to suck up the cost of his $197 ticket, but are somehow equating being near death as a form of rule-breaking. [More]
Report: TSA Has No Idea How To Screen A 7-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy
By 4.25.12
The tiny (potential) terrorists of the world continue to wreak havoc at airport security checkpoints. We already brought you the story of the 4-year-old who dared to hug her grandmother in view of TSA screeners, and now comes the tale of a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy whose crutches and leg braces reportedly confounded security personnel at JFK Airport. [More]
United Screws Up Couple's Reservation, Says It Still Might Be Travelers' Fault
By 4.24.12
When a couple en route to their wedding in Las Vegas arrived at the airport yesterday, they found that United had no record of their ticket, in spite of having paid for a ticket and receiving a confirmation number from the airline. [More]
4-Year-Old Gets TSA Pat-Down Following Hug From Grandma
By 4.23.12
Kids today. They say and do the darndest things, even under the watchful eye of the Transportation Security Administration. So who knows what happens when your 4-year-old daughter gives grandma a hug at the airport security checkpoint. In addition to that peck on the cheek, a deadly weapon may have been exchanged. [More]
Be Ready For A Hassle When Flying With Your Snub-Nosed Dog
By 4.20.12
A number of airlines already have bans on allowing snub-nosed dogs like pugs, bulldogs and boxers to be checked in their planes’ cargo holds. However, traveling with one of those dogs in a carry-on bag in the cabin should be just fine. The problem is, not everyone at the airlines is aware of this fact. [More]
Musicians: Ryanair Charges Unnecessary Fees For Stowing Instruments
By 4.18.12
For years, cheapo airlines like Ryanair have acted like flying tour buses for up-and-coming musicians in Europe. But some musically inclined travelers say the fee-happy carrier recently made it harder on them by tacking on unfair charges for passengers traveling with instruments of any size. [More]
Nudity Is Always A Fun Way To Protest The TSA
By 4.18.12 — Updated: 5.18.17
Perhaps the man who stripped naked at the Portland International Airport security checkpoint last night just figured he was saving the TSA the step of having to pat him down for concealed items? [More]
Don't Leave Your Phone In The Airplane Bathroom Or Someone Will Think It's A Bomb
By 4.16.12
There once was a time when the worst thing that could happen if you accidentally left your phone in an airplane bathroom was that it might be stolen by a sticky-fingered passenger or crew member. But now, a phone in the loo could be a bomb, which means your plane is making an emergency landing and everyone on board will arrive late to their destination. [More]
American Airlines Staffer Refuses To Let Me Fly Twice In One Day
By 4.5.12
We’ve posted numerous stories in recent years about airline staffers booting passengers from flights or having them detained after the plane lands for reasons that seem pretty petty. And here’s the story of a Consumerist reader who says he wasn’t even allowed on his plane because an American Airlines employee had issues with both of his passports, even though the TSA had no problems. [More]
U.S. Airways May Make You Check Your Bag Even If The Plane Isn't Full
By 4.4.12
Consumerist reader Andrew was recently boarding a U.S. Airways flight out of Newark when he noticed that airline staffers were forcing people to gate-check their bags even though fewer than 1/3 of the passengers had actually gotten on the plane. [More]
Would Undercover Agents Prevent Baggage Theft At The Airport?
By 3.28.12
After yesterday’s report that airport and airline staff are allegedly stealing more than 200 bags each day at JFK International, Senator Chuck Schumer has come up with a possible solution: Put undercover FAA agents in the bellies of those jets. [More]
Report: More Than 200 Items A Day Stolen From Passengers At JFK Airport
By 3.27.12
JFK International in NYC isn’t just one of the busier airports in the country, it’s also reportedly the place in the Big Apple for passengers to have stuff stolen out of their bags. [More]
NYC Airports To Penalize Passengers Who Cause Flight Delays
By 3.26.12
In an effort to recoup costs resulting from flights delayed by passengers — and to discourage certain behaviors that cause these delays — the operators of the three major NYC-area airports plan to begin fining travelers who cause planes to stack up on the tarmac. [More]
Worst Company In America Round One: Spirit Airlines Vs. Delta
By 3.19.12
The final day of Round One competition is waiting on the tarmac, ready to take off. Unfortunately, these two airlines would like to charge you for the privilege of voting on which one is worse. [More]
