See, this is why smugglers duct tape their contraband to their chest and groin — so that a rogue TSA agent doesn’t simply swipe it from their coat as it goes through the security checkpoint. [More]
air travel
Spirit Adds $2 "Dept. Of Transportation Unintended Consequences Fee"
By 2.1.12
Fresh off fighting laws that require truth in advertising, Spirit Airlines, which hilariously dubbed itself the “most consumer-friendly airline,” is now taking a stand against another government regulation — one that requires airlines to allow passengers to change flights within 24 hours of booking without paying a penalty — by adding two dollars to everyone’s ticket. [More]
Do Your Homework Before Comparing Flight Prices
By 1.30.12
New regulations require airlines to post the full price of airfare, taxes included. The changes are meant to give consumers a more accurate idea of what the full costs of their flights will be, but they don’t always tell the whole story. [More]
TSA Can't Tell The Difference Between A Gun & An Insulin Pump
By 1.27.12
Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport this morning were held back from boarding this morning after the brain trust at the TSA security checkpoint not only managed to mistake a passenger’s insulin pump for a gun, but also waited until after she’d passed through the checkpoint to think it might be a good idea to check out the mysterious item. [More]
Senator Calls Out Spirit Airlines For Trying To Mislead Public About Airfares
By 1.26.12
You may recall that earlier this week, bottom-dollar carrier Spirit Airlines launched an e-mail campaign to convince customers that the new FAA regulations requiring truth in airfare advertising was really just a ruse by the federal government to hide taxes and tax hikes in airfares. Well, that didn’t go over well with Senator Barbara Boxer of California, who threw off the gloves and sent a bare-knuckles letter to Spirit in response. [More]
U.S. Airways Confirms It's Out To Woo American Airlines
By 1.25.12
Late last week, it was revealed that U.S. Airways was checking out American Airlines’ OKcupid profile in the hope the two could go on a nice coffee date and maybe get married and have a bunch of kids and a huge house in the suburbs. At the time U.S. Airways, who got burned a couple years back after getting hot-and-heavy with United, played coy about its intentions. But today the carrier is being more open about its amorous intentions. [More]
San Francisco Airport Opens Free Yoga Room For Tense Travelers
By 1.25.12
For many travelers, the idea of just going to the airport — and finding a place to park, checking your bags, picking up your ticket, waiting at security, hoping you don’t get the extra-special touchy-feely pat-down, putting all your stuff back together after going through the checkpoint, finding your gate, paying $5 for a bottle of water — is a bit of a stressful situation. So the folks at San Francisco International are opening a yoga room for you to work out all that tension while waiting for your connecting flight. [More]
Spirit Airlines Says Posting Full Airfares Is Government's Way Of Hiding Taxes
By 1.24.12
In recent years, the Dept. of Transportation has been cracking down on airlines, especially discount carriers, for advertising airfares that don’t actually represent what consumers will end up paying. With the latest round of rule changes having just kicked in, low-budget airline Spirit is fighting back, telling its customers that this is all about the government trying to hide higher taxes in airfares. [More]
Ron Paul Says Senator Son Detained By TSA For Refusing Pat-Down
By 1.23.12
Presidential candidate Ron Paul and his son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, have been very vocal critics of the Transportation Security Administration. And it doesn’t look like the two will be thinking any more highly of the TSA as, according to the elder Paul pol, Rand was detained by the TSA this morning after refusing to submit to a pat-down. [More]
Report: U.S. Airways Once Again Considering A Merger Marriage, This Time With American
By 1.23.12
It hasn’t even been two years since U.S. Airways called off its pre-nuptial pillow talk with United Airlines, opting instead to remain single. And while it hasn’t rebounded as quickly as its spurned beau, who ran off with that Continental cad only a few shot months later, a new report says that U.S. Airlines is considering the possibility of a happily ever after ending with American Airlines. [More]
Arrested Traveler Says She Shouldn't Be Held Responsible Because TSA Didn't Spot Her Handgun
By 1.20.12
Over the years, a number of people have been stopped at airport security checkpoints for carrying weapons — guns, knives, box cutters, the occasional M-622 Avalanche — that the passenger claimed they had accidentally stowed in their carry-on bag. But who is responsible once that traveler gets through the checkpoint? [More]
A Trio Of Tips To Make Your Frequent Flyer Miles Take Flight
By 1.13.12
If you gaze in admiration upon George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air, hoping that you too can reap enough frequent flyer miles like a pro, you may need to start over from scratch, ditching ineffective habits and replacing them with more efficient practices. [More]
This Year Was A Statistically Fantastic One In Terms Of Staying Alive On Airplanes
By 12.30.11
The bodily terror some might feel upon having to embark on a journey through the air might be eased a bit by knowing that 2011 was a very good year so far as personal safety. Experts say the number of passengers killed in air accidents this year is down an encouraging amount from last year. [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]
Virgin America's New Reservation System Still A Complete Disaster
By 12.21.11
It’s been a month since we reported on the study that found Virgin America’s new reservation system was keeping customers on hold for an average of 24 minutes — four times as long as the next-worse airline. And according to a new report, things have not improved as travelers head into the crowded holiday travel period. [More]
TSA Agent Finds Pot In Rapper's Bag, Leaves Note Rather Than Confiscating It
By 12.16.11
Remember that TSA agent who left a “get your freak on” note inside the bag of a woman who packed a vibrator — and was subsequently fired for doing so? Well it looks like that agent was not the only wannabe quipster among his security-screening kin. [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]
Baggage Handler Fired For Helping Sick Dog Can Have Her Job Back
By 12.7.11
Last week, a baggage handler at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport made headlines when she said she was fired for refusing to stow a visibly ailing dog onto a plane. As sometimes happens when these stories get pushed into the spotlight, the handler has now been offered her old gig back. [More]
