A flight attendant who reported a suspicious package on a Delta Air Lines flight, prompting the plane to make an emergency landing last week in North Dakota, made the whole thing up, the FBI says, and has been charged with interfering with the operation of an aircraft and communicating false information. [More]
airlines
FBI: Flight Attendant’s Story About Suspicious Package That Forced Emergency Landing Was A Hoax
By 9.15.15
American Airlines Flight Diverted After Unruly Passenger Allegedly Kissed, Then Punched Attendant
By 9.15.15
An American Airlines flight heading to Chicago from Miami had to make an unscheduled stop in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon, after a disoriented passenger became disruptive, reportedly kissing and then punching a flight attendant in the face. [More]
FAA Investigating Report Of Drone Flying Near Approach Path Of JetBlue Flight In The Process Of Landing
By 9.14.15
In another incident causing an anti-drone ripple in the airline industry, a JetBlue flight in the midst of landing in Fort Lauderdale this morning reported seeing an unmanned aircraft flying near its flight path. [More]
Driver’s Licenses From 4 States Could Soon Be Useless For Getting Through Airport Security
By 9.14.15
At some point in the next year, millions of Americans may need to start carrying a second form of ID with them when they go to the airport, as driver’s licenses from four states and one U.S. territory are not currently compliant with federal security standards. [More]
American Airlines Accidentally Sent A Plane To Hawaii That Wasn’t Certified For Long Flights Over Water
By 9.14.15
As anyone who’s ever looked at a plane surely knows, not all aircraft are the same. There are some that are designed for short hops or longer trips, and others that are made for long haul flights over water. American Airlines has admitted it got its aircraft a bit mixed up last month, sending a plane on a flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii that wasn’t cleared to make that kind of trip. [More]
Lufthansa’s Pilots Ordered To End Strike, Wednesday Flights Remain Canceled
By 9.9.15
The Lufthansa pilot strike that led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday has ended after a German court ordered the pilots to return to work. [More]
British Airways Flight Catches Fire On Las Vegas Runway, 14 Passengers Injured
By 9.9.15
Fourteen people were injured Tuesday when a British Airways plane preparing for takeoff from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport suddenly experienced engine failure that resulted in an intense fire. [More]
Lufthansa Canceling 1,000 Flights On Wednesday Amid Pilot Strike
By 9.8.15
If you’re heading to Europe tomorrow, or if you’re there already reading this and you’ve got a Wednesday flight with Lufthansa, you’ll want to check in with the airline right about now: the German carrier announced it’s grounding 1,000 flights tomorrow — affecting 140,000 travelers — amid a pilot strike. [More]
Lawsuit: American Airlines Failed To Protect Girl From Passenger Accused Of Touching Her Inappropriately
By 9.8.15
The parents of a girl who said she was touched inappropriately while she was flying alone on an American Airlines flight to New York from Iowa in July have sued the airline, claiming it failed to protect her. [More]
Pilot Flying As An American Airlines Passenger Caught On Video Texting During Takeoff
By 9.4.15
Where there are rules, there will inevitably be people who break them. But it’s still surprising when someone who’s tasked with enforcing those rules is instead doing exactly what they usually tell others not to do. That was the case for a man flying on American Airlines recently, who filmed an airline pilot traveling as a passenger on a flight from Charlotte to Tampa texting on his cellphone during takeoff. [More]
United Airlines Passenger Tied To Seat After Becoming Aggressive On Transatlantic Flight
By 9.3.15
The long trip across the Atlantic got a bit longer for passengers on a United Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Newark after one passenger reportedly became aggressive and had to be restrained for much of the 11-hour journey. [More]
Delta Will Give Business Customers Travel Credits If Its On-Time Rate Dips Below Both United & American
By 9.1.15
In a move that seems meant to reassure business customers while simultaneously patting itself on the back for a job well-done, Delta Air Lines is talking up its current lead over United Airlines and American Airlines in the area of on-time flights by promising to pay travel credits into corporate accounts if it falls behind its rivals. [More]
Federal Advisory Panel Recommends Clearer Disclosure Of Airline, Hotel Resort Fees
By 9.1.15
It’s no secret that airlines have increased their fees and shrunk the size of their seats over the years in an attempt to maximize revenue. While those extra costs and seat sizes are generally available through the carrier’s website, a federal panel thinks that information would better serve passengers if it were readily available during the ticket purchasing process. [More]
Southwest Flight Diverted After Fight Breaks Out Between “Disorderly” Group Of Passengers
By 9.1.15
A Southwest Airlines flight from San Diego heading to Chicago last night had to make an unplanned stop in Amarillo, TX, after police said a fight broke out on board among a group of passengers who were traveling together. [More]
American Airlines Will Honor Super Low “Mistake Fares” That Discounted Flights Up To 90% (UPDATE)
By 8.28.15
UPDATE: After hearing from some Consumerist readers that American Airlines was canceling those tickets bought on the cheap due to a website error, the airline confirmed that while it it’s still going to honor some “mistake fares,” other folks won’t be so lucky. [More]
Allegiant Airlines Plans To Inspect All Planes After Yet Another Flight Disturbance
By 8.27.15
Last month, federal regulators announced they had stepped up scrutiny of budget carrier Allegiant Airlines after a string of in-flight disturbances and accusations from a pilot’s union of poor safety standards. Now, after yet another issue, the airline says it plans to inspect its entire fleet. [More]
Two Passengers Arrested After Pepper Spray, Razor Come Out During Fight On JetBlue Flight
By 8.27.15
You’ve probably had that feeling: the one where the plane has landed, and it’s only a matter of minutes before you’re standing up, walking down that aisle and finally getting off. But police say that moment got a bit too testy after a JetBlue flight coming from Jamaica landed at John F. Kennedy Airport yesterday morning in New York, when two female passengers got in a brawl. [More]
Airfare Deals Popping Up In Some Cities As Airlines Try To Fill More Seats
By 8.26.15
The bad news: No, you’re not going to score a sweet deal on a holiday flight or a weekend trip to a popular vacation destination. But there is good news: if you’re going to certain cities during off-peak travel times like the middle of the week, there could be a ridiculously low airfare out there just for you. [More]
