Innumerable things can and do go wrong at airports when all the equipment is in working order, so you can only imagine what a mess can occur when such a bustling commerce center suffers a power outage. Headaches abounded at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif. Sunday when a backup generator went kaput. [More]
air travel
American Airlines CEO Plays Coy On Merger Possibilities
By 3.16.12
Even though U.S. Airways has made it known to struggling American Airlines that it would like to go on a few dates — only coffee, maybe a drink or two; no heavy petting — its bankrupt object of affection may not be rushing to the altar. [More]
TSA's Expedited Precheck Program Doesn't Guarantee You'll Always Whisk Through Security
By 3.15.12
We’ve written before about the Transportation Security Administration’s Precheck program, which is intended to allow prescreened travelers to get through airport screening checkpoints in a flash without having to kick off their shoes or wait in the snaking lines of sighing passengers. But membership in the program doesn’t guarantee that you’ll always zip through with a high-five from a TSA agent. [More]
TSA To Take It Easy On Elderly Terrorists
By 3.14.12
The terror threat from septuagenarians is apparently not as high as those young whippersnappers who are merely of retirement age. At least according to the Transportation Security Administration, which next week will begin testing new, less-intrusive, screening procedures for travelers 75 years of age and older. [More]
Have New Domain Names Outed U.S. Airways & American Airlines' Merger Plans?
By 3.12.12
This is like finding out your friend is getting married because you inadvertently see them browsing for reception halls or wedding DJs. If a slew of recently registered website domain names are to be believed, the much-hinted merger between American Airlines and U.S. Airways might be closer to reality than merely mulling over a dream pre-nup. [More]
Spirit Airlines Sued Over $2 "Unintended Consequences Fee"
By 3.9.12
Back in February, a new regulation kicked in that allows fliers to change their flights without penalty within the first 24 hours after booking. The folks at Spirit Airlines responded by tacking on a $2 “Dept. of Transportation Unintended Consequences Fee,” which they said was to cover the added costs resulting from the new rule. But a woman in Illinois says it’s just plain fraud. [More]
Southwest Passenger: I Was Detained For 10 Hours Over Nail Polish Squabble
By 3.7.12
Painting your nails on a plane can cause problems. There are the obvious ones like annoying nearby passengers with the fumes, or the potential for spilling nail polish everywhere if you run into some turbulence. And if you get into an argument with the flight attendant, there’s apparently the chance you’ll be detained for 10 hours when you land. [More]
Man Claims You Can Beat TSA Scanners By Placing Contraband Along The Side Of Your Body
By 3.7.12
Since the TSA began rolling out its full-body scanners a few years ago, much has been made about possible safety and invasion of privacy concerns, but one blogger claims the devices are completely ineffective because all you need to do to sneak something past security is to place it along the side of your body. [More]
Southwest Confuses Rabbits With Rodents, Won't Let Passenger Board With Bunny
By 3.6.12
Southwest Airlines allows passengers to carry-on Emotional Support Animals, so long as the passenger provides the required documentation, the animal is trained to not freak out on a crowded plane and the passenger isn’t seated in an emergency exit seat. But at least one Southwest staffer not only decided this allowance does not extend to rodents — he also mistakenly believes that rabbits are rodents. [More]
United/Continental Merger Has Mysteriously Moved Cities Closer Together
By 3.6.12
There are a lot of things that happen when airlines merge — planes get repainted, airport gates get redecorated, frequent flier programs get combined. But there’s an interesting phenomenon occurring in the wake of the union between United and Continental — cities are suddenly no longer as far apart as they used to be. [More]
Frequent Flier Mile Auctions Look Like A Sucker Bet
By 3.6.12
If you’re a member of any of the major airlines’ frequent flier programs, you’ve probably received e-mails trying to get you to use those miles to bid on auctions for anything from resort getaways to Kentucky Derby passes. But the people who win these auctions may just be tossing away good miles. [More]
American Airlines Introducing Roomier, Pricier Class Of Coach Seats
By 3.1.12
More than a decade after offering — and subsequently scrapping — a better, more comfy class of economy seating, American Airlines announced today that it will begin rolling out something with the unfortunate name of Main Cabin Extra, which translates into extra legroom for extra money. [More]
Virgin America To Teach Upper Class Flight Attendants How To Whisper
By 2.29.12
When Virgin America airlines finally unveils its Upper Class Dream Suite later this year, passengers will be comforted to know that their flight attendants aren’t just talking quietly — they’ve actually been trained by a professional “whisper coach.” [More]
Airline Using Facebook To Turn Jet Cabin Into High School Cafeteria
By 2.24.12
As adults, most of us are perfectly okay with the notion that it doesn’t really matter who you sit next to on the plane. You take your seat, eat your free peanuts and sleep through Two & a Half Men reruns. But Dutch airline KLM is testing a new service that allows Facebook and LinkedIn users to try to find the cool kids’ section of the plane. [More]
35 Pets Died On Airplanes Last Year, Over Half On Delta
By 2.17.12
Animal lovers were justifiably critical of Delta Airlines after sixteen pets died in 2010 during or after flights in the cargo hold. But even after banning frequently-overheating short-muzzled breeds like bulldogs from the skies, nineteen pets passed away during or shortly after Delta flights in 2011. That’s out of a total of 35 pets that died on U.S. carriers last year. In addition, nine pets sustained major or minor injuries, and two were lost. [More]
Ryanair CEO Needs Police Escort After Gloating In Front Of Laid-Off Workers
By 2.8.12
Michael O’Leary, CEO of bargain-basement European airline Ryanair, is no stranger to stirring up controversy. But this is probably the first time one of his antics has resulted in him requiring police protection. [More]
Dirty Diaper Grounds Qantas Flight
By 2.3.12
A few years back, I had the unpleasant experience of sitting behind a baby that had vomited all over his row only an hour into a flight from San Francisco to New York. I remember wishing at the time that there would be some non-disastrous reason for the plane to have to make an early landing so I could get away from the smell. Little did I know it would only have taken a single dirty diaper. [More]
