I stumbled across this clip of standup comedian Eugene Mirman describing how Delta Airlines became his enemy. It all started when they lost his bag and at the counter they looked at his ticket and asked him if his name was “Barbara Riddle.” He said no and then they proceeded to deliver Ms. Riddle’s bag to his house, twice, before finally giving up and telling him he’d have to file a claim for his luggage. Fast-forward to 5:57 to hear him tell the tale and read aloud the hate letter he wrote them as a result. [More]
airlines
TSA Wants To Increase Airport Fees Because You're Not Checking Your Bags
By 3.4.11
To avoid bag check fees, travelers are routinely opting to carry on their bags, but the TSA says that the cost is just getting shifted to tax payers, to the tune of $260 million a year. That’s because the more bags that don’t get checked, the more bags the TSA has to inspect by hand at security checkpoints. Now the TSA is looking to get a cut of some of the checked baggage fees the airlines collect. [More]
Submit Your Questions For Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood!
By 3.2.11
Hey, Consumerist readers, we got an opportunity to ask United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood 3-5 reader submitted questions in connection with “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives: Helping Parents and Educators Reach Teens,” a Consumers Union event taking place at our headquarters Monday, March 7, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET. Please ask about any transportation-related issue that interests you! [More]
New Airline Betting On High-Rollers Wanting The Deluxe Vegas Treatment
By 2.25.11
We’re surprised there isn’t already a secret underground tunnel with super cool racers between Sin City and the City That Never Sleeps, so the fact that a charter air carrier is launching to more easily shuttle gamblers from New York City to Las Vegas is not shocking. [More]
Kitten Freezes To Death After Delta Flight, Owner Offered Free Trip And $50
By 2.17.11
Snickers, an 11-week old kitten, is dead after taking a trip on Delta that went horribly awry. The owner said the airline initially offered over $3,000 in compensation. They have now revised that offer to free airfare plus $.50 for every pound the kitten weighed. There’s a $50 minimum payout on that policy, which is a good thing because the feline only weighed 3 pounds. [More]
Tarmac Regulations May Be Extended To Cover International Flights
By 2.14.11
Less than a year after the Dept. of Transportation introduced controversial regulations limiting the amount of time planes making domestic flights can sit on airport tarmacs, the agency is planning to expand those rules to cover overseas carriers that use American airports. [More]
No Electronic Cigarettes Allowed On Flights, Rules The DOT
By 2.14.11
Looks like cigarette smokers will have to keep furiously chewing nicotine gum on U.S. flights, as the Department of Transportation has said “nope, not gonna do it,” to allowing smokeless electronic cigarettes on airplanes. [More]
TSA Body Scanner Tracking Site Gets User-Friendly Makeover
By 2.9.11
The citizen-created site that keeps track of which airports have bodyscanner devices and what their status is just got a big interface makeover. [More]
Would You Pay Extra For An Adult-Only Flight?
By 2.7.11
In a recent survey of business class travelers, when asked what annoys them about first-class travel, 74% of them said “children.” The respondents are clamoring for airlines to start offering children-free or 18+ only flights. So here’s the question: would you pay extra for a seat on a kid-free flight? Take our poll and sound off! [More]
Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart Guys Say
By 2.1.11
The best day to buy airfare is often Tuesday, but Wednesday also offers good deals, which are sometimes even better. How come? [More]
Get Your Airline Ticket Changed For Free Because Of Massive Midwest Storm
By 1.31.11
The Superbowl of storms is headed for the Midwest with 20″ snow and 45 mph winds predicted for Chicago. Thankfully, a lot of airlines are waiving their usual ticket change fees for travelers who could be affected. 3,000 flights have already been canceled in advance of the potentially deadly weather. Don’t go to the airport to see if you can make your flight, don’t get stuck in an airport, stay home, stay over at your friend’s house an extra day or two, and take advantage of this leniency. Here are links to the various airlines and their waiver and winter update pages and policies: [More]
Airport Calls 3-Inch Plastic Toy Gun A "Firearm"
By 1.28.11
Overzealous airport security prevented a man and his wife from bringing onboard a 3-inch long plastic toy soldier’s gun. They said it was a “firearm” and forced the couple to mail it home before passing through security. [More]
The Woots And Groupons Of Travel Bargain Sites
By 1.18.11
A number of travel sites have cropped up offering “Woot-like” and “Grouponesque” deals for getaway bargains that are available only for a limited time before a new deal goes up, and/or gives you a price-break the more people who jump onboard. Here’s a few to peruse: [More]
Airline Attendants Share How To Fight The Funk On Long-Haul Flights
By 1.17.11
It’s easy to feel a bit funky after a long flight. All that recycled air, lack of legroom and those six glasses of wine you downed to fight fear of flying can really take its toll. So who better to hand out tips on staying fresh on a long-haul flight than Air New Zealand flight attendants? [More]
Jet Blue Pilot Misplaces His Bag With Handgun Before Flight
By 1.17.11
Isn’t it just sooo embarrassing when you lose your gun at the airport? It’s even more cringe-worthy when you’re an airline pilot. JetBlue pilot Michael Connery Jr., who is licensed by the Transportation Security Administration to tote guns on the plane, was in a bit of a jam when someone else picked up his carry-on at JFK. [More]
Man Arrested For Bringing Suspicious Bagel Onboard
By 1.11.11
Travelers onboard a US Airways flight from Boston to Washington DC reported hearing “strange noises” from the plastic bag a fellow passenger had stored in the overhead compartment. He was arrested and charged with interfering with the operation of an aircraft. Subsequent inspection revealed the plastic bag to contain a bagel with cream cream cheese and a hat. [More]
Arianna Huffington Escorted Off Plane For Crackberry Abuse
By 1.11.11
Arianna Huffington, who runs the news aggregation site bearing her last name, was hustled off a plane over the weekend after she continued to tap at her Blackberry after the flight was airborne. The New York Post, following up on a Valleywag story, reports that a guy from Long Island a few rows behind her got really huffy and started yelling at her and the flight attendants. [More]
Southwest's New Frequent Flier Program Rewards Biz Travelers Over Hoi Polloi
By 1.10.11
If air travel was a multi-player video-game, you would call Southwest’s new “Rapid Rewards” frequent flier program “adjusting the game balance.” In this case, the “Pinstripe” class is getting favorably tweaked at “Joe Sixpack” class’s expense. [More]
