It made an irresistable weekend news story: The passengers on an American Airlines flight became sick and had to leave the plane because of the overpowering flatulence of one person on the flight. American now says that isn’t true, but the story made it to news outlets around the world first. [More]
airlines
Laptop Ban On U.S.-Bound Flights On Royal Jordanian, Kuwait Airways Lifted
By 7.10.17
Two additional Middle East airlines are now exempt from the Department of Transportation’s ban on laptops and other personal electronics put in place in March: Royal Jordanian and Kuwait Airways became the latest carriers to have the in-cabin laptop ban lifted. [More]
No More Laptop Ban For U.S.-Bound Flights On Emirates, Turkish Airlines
By 7.5.17
Good news for travelers flying on certain airlines to the U.S.: The Department of Homeland Security has lifted the ban on laptops and other personal electronics put in place in March for anyone traveling on Emirates and Turkish Airlines. [More]
New Law That Would Set Minimum Sizes For Airplane Seats Inches Closer To Becoming Reality
By 6.28.17
For at least the third time in as many years, federal lawmakers are hoping to pass legislation that would set minimum standards for airline seating. That battle inched slightly closer to becoming a reality last night. [More]
Southwest Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Tries To Open Exit Door In Mid-Air
By 6.26.17
A Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Houston had to make an unscheduled landing in Corpus Christi, TX, after an unruly passenger tried to open the emergency exit door while the plane was in the air. [More]
Qatar Airways Wants To Buy 10% Stake In American Airlines
By 6.22.17
While it may be flattering to receive an unexpected romantic overture, such moves are not always greeted with excitement. That could be the case for American Airlines, which revealed that it has received an “unsolicited notice” from Qatar Airways indicating the carrier’s interest in buying a large slice of American. Considering American’s past criticisms of the Gulf airline’s rapid growth, this attention may not be welcome. [More]
Lack Of New Pilots Could Soon Leave Travelers With Fewer Options
By 6.20.17
Unless the aviation industry adds 255,000 more pilots in 10 years, airlines won’t be able to sustain their current growth rate or handle an expected increase in customer traffic. [More]
Southwest Remembers Jets Have Two Doors So People Exit Plane Faster
By 6.19.17
Have you ever been near the back of a plane, waiting for the line of exiting passengers to start moving when you remember, “Hey, there’s another door back here! Maybe we could use that and speed things up?” Looks like Southwest has had the same epiphany. [More]
Baby Born On Flight To India Will Fly Free For Life
By 6.19.17
If you were really proud of that “punk rock baby” onesie you gave to your friends to celebrate the birth of their new child, you’ve got nothing on one airline that has decided to give a lifetime free travel pass to a baby born mid-flight. [More]
How Does Trump Cuba Policy Change Affect Travelers & Airlines?
By 6.16.17
Just a month after lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would open up Cuba to tourist travel following the 2016 decision to end the all-out travel ban, the Trump administration has outlined a proposal that would restrict the small amount of tourist travel currently allowed, potentially throwing a wrench in airlines’ business in the country. [More]
American Airlines Passenger Claims Unsecured Beverage Cart Caused Brain Injury
By 6.16.17
An American Airlines passenger says that he suffered “chronic traumatic brain injury” after allegedly being struck in the head by a runaway beverage cart. Making matters worse, claims the traveler, the cabin crew was not prepared to deal with the situation. [More]
Airline Complaints Soar Following United’s Forced Removal Of Passenger
By 6.15.17
The Department of Transportation has released its latest report on consumer air travel complaints, and it looks like a number of high profile incidents — including the United passenger who was dragged from his seat to make room for an airline employee — may have inspired peeved travelers to speak up. [More]
United Airlines Flight Grounded After Passengers Watched Jet Fuel Pour Out Of Wing
By 6.15.17
Being a passenger on a plane generally requires a good deal of faith in the laws of physics and in the experts who build and operate these jets. But every once in a while, a lay person will see something — like, say, jet fuel leaking out of the wing and onto the tarmac — and that faith can be shaken. [More]
United Airlines Sorry About That Video Of Employee Shoving 71-Year-Old
By 6.14.17
As if United Airlines hasn’t had enough customer service issues to deal with this year, the carrier is once again apologizing to a passenger. This time, the company issued regrets for a nearly two-year-old incident that was thrust into the spotlight this week after a Texas man filed a lawsuit against the airline and two employees alleging he was injured when one of the workers pushed him to the ground during a confrontation that was caught on security camera. [More]
American Airlines Backtracks On Plan To Take Away Even More Legroom
By 6.13.17
American Airlines recently unveiled plans to give economy-class passengers even less legroom with its next wave of new planes. Following backlash to this news, the carrier has decided to scrap that idea. [More]
At Least 17 Lithium-Ion Batteries Have Exploded On Planes This Year
By 6.9.17
Many air travelers fly with multiple devices that use lithium-ion batteries: phones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, smartwatches, fitness band, and more. As these batteries have become so widely used, the number of incidents involving exploding lithium-ion batteries on planes also appears to be on the rise. [More]
Have Loyalty Programs Made Airlines Complacent About Customer Service?
By 6.9.17
If you show your loyalty to an airline by continually flying that carrier (and maybe using their co-branded credit card), you might expect that this would result in better customer service. However, one top airline executive thinks the industry’s reliance on loyalty rewards programs are actually making customer service more impersonal. [More]
United Facing $435K Fine For Allegedly Flying A Plane That Wasn’t In Airworthy Condition
By 6.1.17
United Airlines may have to fork over $435,000 to the Federal Aviation Administration after the agency accused it of flying an aircraft that wasn’t in airworthy condition almost two dozen times. [More]
