You can spend months, and thousands of dollars, putting together a trip abroad, but no matter how much effort you take to avoid travel trouble, unforeseen circumstances can force you to change your plans. Thankfully, most airlines flying to and from the U.S. have a policy that lets passengers cancel tickets within 24 hours of booking. Note that we said “most airlines” — not all. [More]
airlines
Don’t Get Stuck Paying For A Flight You Can’t Take; Know Your Airline’s 24-Hour Cancellation Policy
By 2.4.16
24-Hour Cancellation And Hold Policies For Major U.S. & International Airlines
February 4, 2016
Update: In March 2016, American announced that it was phasing out the hold option and transitioning to the 24-hour cancellation window option. [More]
Unruly JetBlue Passenger Charged With Attacking Fellow Travelers, Flight Attendant
By 2.2.16
Another day, another unruly passenger allegedly stirring up trouble on an airplane: authorities say a man had four alcoholic drinks on a JetBlue flight on Sunday, and ended up being charged with assaulting crew members and a fellow passenger. [More]
JetBlue Will Also Refund Tickets For Travel To Areas Hit By Zika Virus
By 1.28.16
JetBlue is joining the list of airlines allowing refunds for customers who are traveling to certain regions hit by the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness that has been linked to birth defects in thousands of babies. Travelers can either get their tickets refunded or rebook flights for free, a spokesman said Thursday. [via Reuters] [More]
American Airlines Flight Bound For L.A. Turns Around After Mystery Illness Spreads Through Cabin
By 1.28.16
It sounds like something out of a movie: a plane full of people and a sudden, mysterious illness that spreads through the cabin, taking down flight attendants and passengers alike. Except there was a real, puzzling malady afflicting people on an American Airlines flight last night, one that forced the pilot to turn the plane around and is still stumping officials. [More]
JetBlue Cutting Legroom, Revamping Entertainment System By Adding Larger Seatback TVs
By 1.25.16
Following through on a nearly two-year old plan, JetBlue announced Monday that it will try to capitalize on the space inside some of its planes by stuffing more seats into the cabin, which in turn means less legroom for travelers. [More]
Study: American Travelers Are More Frugal On Short Flights
By 1.25.16
We all know what it’s like to get hungry on a trip or need a bit of extra space, but a new study says travelers are less likely to dip into their wallets on short flights, and would rather spend on airline food, drinks, and roomier seats if we’ll be in the air longer. [More]
Airline Lets Passengers Buy Child Tickets, Snacks For “Supernatural” Dolls
By 1.25.16
Do you feel compelled to travel with a supposedly supernatural-powered doll that not only gets its own seat, but a meal it can’t possibly eat? Then one airline is ready to cater to your very specific needs. [More]
Severe Turbulence During American Airlines Flight Sends 7 Passengers To The Hospital
By 1.25.16
Seven passengers on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Milan were injured Sunday night after the plane encountered severe turbulence, and had to make an emergency landing in Newfoundland. [More]
TSA: More Guns Seized In 2015 Than Ever Before, Most Were Loaded
By 1.21.16
News flash: you can’t carry guns — unloaded or loaded — onto airplanes. And yet last year, Americans packed more firearms in their carry-ons than ever before, the Transportation Safety Administration says, most of which were loaded. [More]
Flying On United Could Soon Mean More Legroom For Travelers With Airline’s New Plane Plans
By 1.21.16
If you’re sick of folding yourself into a seat on one of United Airline’s 50-seater planes, relief is in sight in the somewhat near future. The Chicago-based carrier says it’s going to ditch many of those smaller aircraft, while planning to buy a bunch of larger planes for its fleet. [More]
Traveling This Weekend? Airlines Offering Travel Waivers Ahead Of Winter Storm
By 1.21.16
Planning on traveling by plane in the next few days? The winter storm rolling across the country this weekend might have something to say about that. Ahead of the storm’s arrival, most U.S. airlines are issuing travel advisories and weather waivers for customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic who might find their plans ruined by snow, ice, sleet, wind, etc. [More]
Domestic Flights Are Late Less Often, Travelers Complaining More Anyway
By 1.15.16
Airline performance statistics are out for November 2015, and there’s some promising news: domestic flights arrived at their destinations on time 83.7% of the time. That’s down slightly from October, when the on-time rate reached 87%, but up from a year earlier, when 80.6% of domestic flights reached their destinations on time. [More]
JetBlue Site Experiencing “Intermittent System Outages” That’s Messing With Travel Plans
By 1.14.16
UPDATE: JetBlue says its online booking feature is now up and running again, and that crew members are communicating flight status to passengers in airport terminals. [More]
Delta Moves Past United To Snag No. 2 U.S. Airline Spot By Traffic
By 1.12.16
When you’re a major U.S. airline, there’s only one direction you want to go, and that’s up. Which is why Delta Air Lines is likely in a celebratory mood and United Airlines is perhaps a bit down in the dumps today, upon hearing the news that the former has passed the latter to become the No. 2 carrier based on traffic for 2015, behind American Airlines. [More]
American Airlines Should Not Have Told Family They Couldn’t Use FAA-Approved Safety Harness
By 1.11.16 — Updated: 5.23.17
Consumerist reader John and his wife were traveling with their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter on an American Airlines flight from New York to San Diego, and they’d brought along a special device to help keep their toddler safe, a CARES (Child Aviation Safety Restraint System) harness. Despite the fact that it’s approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, John says the flight’s pilot refused to take off while his daughter was using it in her seat. [More]
Shuttle America Flight Diverted After Passenger Allegedly Became Violent Toward Flight Attendants, Others
By 1.8.16
We get it, sometimes you want to shove your seatmate’s elbow off the armrest, or maybe wish evil upon the person taking up all the overhead space. But cooler heads should prevail, lest you find your flight making an unscheduled stop. A Shuttle America flight yesterday had to be diverted after a passenger allegedly attacked a flight attendant and her fellow travelers. [More]
Airlines Testing Auctions For Seat Upgrades At Gates
By 1.6.16
Until recently, the only thing that auctions and airlines had in common were crowds of on-edge people in confined spaces. Some carriers are testing out the idea of turning their airport gates into auction houses, selling off premium seat upgrades to the highest bidders. [More]
