The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed to Consumerist that it will not be expanding a ban on laptops in the cabins of U.S.-bound aircraft to cover flights coming from Europe. At the same time, DHS cautions that this restriction still remains a possibility in the future. [More]
airlines
Delta Passenger Claims He Was Interrogated After Falling Asleep On Flight
By 5.30.17
A Delta Air Lines passenger claims he was yelled at by a flight attendant and grilled by law enforcement after he fell asleep on a recent flight. [More]
DHS Hasn’t Decided Whether To Expand Laptop Ban To U.S-Bound Flights From Europe
By 5.25.17
After rumors started circulating that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would maybe, possibly expand its limited in-flight electronics ban to include U.S.-bound planes from Europe, or even put domestic flights under that umbrella, some in the airline industry started to get worried. They’ll have to fret a bit longer, however, as the agency hasn’t made up its mind on that front yet. [More]
You Could Soon Be Unloading A Lot More From Your Bag At Airport Security
By 5.24.17 — Updated: 5.25.17
The Transportation Security Administration and airlines, alike, have implemented processes at airports designed to take some of the burden out of the security line — from fully automated checkpoints to hiring more screeners. Now, the TSA is working on more changes intended to make the security process more efficient — like removing food from carry-ons and using digital ID scanners. But before we can speed through the checkpoints, some unsuspecting passengers will have serve as guinea pigs. [More]
Same-Sex Couple With 3 Kids Claims Southwest Denied Them Family Boarding Privileges
By 5.22.17
Two Florida dads traveling with their three children say that Southwest Airlines staff would not allow their group to pre-board a flight with other families traveling on the same plane. [More]
Dutch King Has Secretly Been Co-Piloting KLM Flights For 21 Years
By 5.19.17
Sure, they call it KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, but who knew royalty was actually flying the planes? [More]
You Can Now Earn Delta Miles During Lyft Rides
By 5.18.17 — Updated: 5.25.17
After teaming up with JetBlue last year to allow Lyft passengers to earn airline miles on their way to the airport, the ride-hailing service is jumping into a new partnership with Delta Air Lines that will give riders airline miles whenever they take a trip. [More]
Airline Bumpings Were Up, But Complaints Went Down In First Months Of 2017
By 5.17.17 — Updated: 5.25.17
The first few months of 2017 haven’t exactly been great for airlines, what with system outages, bumped passengers being dragged off planes, and other customer service fiascos. In fact, new federal data shows that bumpings were slightly up during the first quarter of 2017, while complaints filed against airlines actually dropped 19%. [More]
Delta Wants To Expedite Self-Service Bag Drops With Facial Recognition Tech
By 5.15.17
As businesses continue to turn to facial recognition technology to do everything from verifying your identity to make a credit card purchase to preventing toilet paper thieves, Delta Air Lines is hoping that it can use biometrics to help streamline its self-service bag drops. [More]
Family Claims They Were Kicked Off JetBlue Flight Over A Birthday Cake
By 5.15.17
Another day, and yet another story of airline customers claiming they were treated poorly while traveling: This time it’s a New Jersey family who says they were kicked off a recent JetBlue flight after a mixup about where to stow a birthday cake. [More]
Virgin Atlantic Apologizes To Woman Kicked Out Of Lounge Because Of Her Service Dog
By 5.12.17
The seemingly endless parade of airline apologies continues apace today, with Virgin Atlantic admitting one of its employees shouldn’t have told a disabled woman she couldn’t enter the airline’s airport lounge with her service dog. [More]
Southwest Passengers Get Into Fistfight As Plane Taxis To Gate
By 5.10.17
If it’s a day of the week ending in “y,” odds are something disruptive has happened on a U.S. airline (or in the airport, as the case may be). Case in point, the recent fistfight that broke out between two passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight. And because we know you’re asking: Yes, someone did catch it on camera. [More]
In-Flight Electronics Ban Could Be Expanded To Include Flights From Europe
By 5.9.17
Transatlantic travel may soon require you to pack a few good books. The federal government may expand its limited ban on carry-on electronics to include some flights coming from airports in Europe. [More]
Fights Erupt At Airport After Spirit Airlines Cancels 9 Flights
By 5.9.17
There are heated situations, and then there’s the kind of chaos that has the police stepping in to break things up. Sheriff’s deputies had their hands full at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last night, where a slew of canceled Spirit Airlines flights had frustrated passengers ready to rumble with the airline. [More]
American Airlines Passenger Suing Over 14-Hour Flight With Obese Seatmates
By 5.5.17 — Updated: 5.8.17
No one likes to be scrunched while flying, but as airlines continue to cram as many seats on planes as they can, things can definitely get tight. An Australian man is suing over the close quarters on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, claiming he was forced into uncomfortable positions during the 14-hour flight. [More]
United Airlines Accidentally Sends Passenger To San Francisco Instead Of Paris
By 5.4.17
What was supposed to be a seven-hour flight turned into a 28-hour ordeal for a United Airlines passenger recently, after a passenger was able to board a plane to San Francisco instead of her intended destination, Paris. [More]
Family Says They Were Kicked Off Overbooked Delta Flight After Dispute Over Toddler’s Seat
By 5.4.17
A family of four flying from Hawaii to Los Angeles last week say they were forced to leave an overbooked Delta Air Lines flight after they refused to give up the seat their toddler son was sitting in — a seat his father had paid for — and put him on their laps instead. [More]
Reality Check: Airlines Won’t Stop Overbooking (And You Won’t Get Rich Being Bumped)
By 4.28.17
Despite promises from United Airlines and Delta Air Lines to boost compensation for bumped passengers and Southwest Airline’s vow to do away with the practice altogether, you probably aren’t going to score $10,000 the next time you fly — and there’s still a chance your flight will be overbooked in the future. [More]
