When the flight attendants ask you to turn off all your electronic devices, that includes you, Mr. Cool iPad guy. [More]
faa
Flight Delays Cost Passengers $16.7 B Per Year
By 10.22.10
Delayed flights aren’t just annoying, they’re expensive. A new FAA-funded study finds that they cost passengers $16.7 billion per year. That’s a lot of bags of peanuts. [More]
DOT Updates 'Fly Rights' Airline Consumer Guide
By 9.7.10
The Department of Transportation has updated its consumer guide to air travel, which provides a quick summary of what to look for when buying a ticket, and what protections you have during travel. It’s also a good starting point when you have an airline-related problem and need more information before deciding what to do next. [More]
Strip Club Nearly Blinds Southwest Pilots At Love Field
By 9.6.10
Strip clubs and cockpits don’t mix, at least not when there’s a spinning search light involved, says the FAA. The agency has asked Bombshells, a club near Love Field Airport in Dallas, TX, to keep its newly installed rooftop light turned off after the pilot for a Southwest flight reported his cockpit was flooded with light while trying to land the plane. The pilot feared that it was a laser strike, which can cause temporary blindness. [More]
How Would You Penalize The Airlines For Safety Violations?
By 8.27.10
Yesterday, when we posted about the record-setting $24 million penalty the FAA gave to American Airlines over allegations the carrier flew thousands of flights in planes with potentially dangerous wiring, some Consumerist readers expressed the sentiment that the massive fine was either ineffective in properly punishing AA or that it did little to make air travel better for passengers. [More]
American Airlines Hit With Record-Setting $24 Million Fine
By 8.26.10
Back in February, we wrote that American Airlines could be on the hook for up to $20 million over allegations the airlines made thousands of flights in jets containing potentially dangerous wiring. But the FAA went even farther than that figure, announcing today that it plans to fine American $24.2 million, more than double the amount of the previous record fine. [More]
Should Kids Under 2 Be Required To Have Their Own Seats On A Plane?
By 8.12.10
Children under 2 years of age are currently allowed to travel in planes on the lap of an adult. However, it’s a practice the National Transportation Safety Board hopes the FAA will put an end to. [More]
The DOT Wants Your Opinion On Proposed In-Flight Peanut Ban
By 6.23.10
A couple weeks back we wrote about how the Dept. of Transportation was considering a possible ban on peanuts on airplanes and what resulted was easily one of the site’s more divisive debates. Now, as the DOT and FAA continue to mull over this plan — and consider other options — the regulators say they want to hear from you, the citizens of these United States of America. [More]
Structural Cracks Found On American Airlines Jets, One Could Have Lost Engine
By 6.22.10
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that structural cracks were discovered on at least two American Airlines Boeing 767s, and air-safety regulators believe that one of them “easily could have lost an engine.” [More]
Should Peanuts Be Banned From Airplanes?
By 6.8.10
Among the new regulations under consideration by the FAA, there’s one that hasn’t gotten much press, but which we have a feeling might be something that will get at least a few travelers’ blood up — banning peanuts from airplanes. [More]
U.S. Airways CEO On Tarmac Rule: "We Did This To Ourselves"
By 4.30.10
Speaking to the press earlier this week about the new FAA rule that fines airlines for every plane that stays on the tarmac for longer than three hours without returning to the gate to let the passengers off, U.S. Airways CEO Doug Parker expressed his disappointment with the regulation, but he also made it clear that the airline industry had no one to blame but itself. [More]
How Often Will The New Tarmac Delay Rule Come Into Play?
By 4.29.10
Today, the FAA’s new rule that will penalize airlines for planes stranded on the tarmac for three or more hours goes into effect. While the regulation has some up in arms, the big question is: How big of a hassle is this going to be for the airlines? [More]
FAA To Airlines: No More Minesweeper Or Solitaire In Cockpit
By 4.27.10
Tiring of pilots overshooting their destination by over 100 miles because they were busy fiddling with their laptop, the FAA has asked all airlines to create and enforce policies to minimize distractions in the cockpit. [More]
DOT: No Exemptions For New Tarmac Rules
By 4.22.10
Remember a few weeks back when a bunch of airlines asked the FAA for a temporary exemption to the new rules about how long planes can wait on a tarmac? Earlier today DOT secretary Ray LaHood told them to go take a flying leap. [More]
DOT Secretary: Spirit Airlines Doesn't Care About Their Customers
By 4.9.10
If you found yourself getting all riled up by Spirit Airlines’ announcement on Tuesday that they are now charging for carry-on bags, you were not alone. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has taken aim the move, calling it “outrageous” and “ridiculous.” [More]
U.S. Airways & Continental Get Head Start On Observing New Tarmac Delay Rules
By 4.6.10
Even though the new FAA rules regarding tarmac delays don’t kick in until April 29, both U.S. Airways and Continental say they have already begun observing the regulations. [More]
Miami-Bound American Airlines Flight Diverted To Phoenix Due To Generator Problem
By 3.24.10
Two days after an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Colorado had to make an emergency landing because of “pressurization problems,” the airline had to divert a Miami-bound plane to Phoenix because of a generator problem. [More]
American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due To "Pressurization Problem"
By 3.22.10
A rep for the Chicago Dept. of Aviation said a “pressurization problem” was to blame for the American Airlines flight that made an emergency landing at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday morning. [More]
