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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a proposal to eliminate the longstanding regulation requiring no-smoking signs that can be turned on and off by flight crews. This regulation, codified as 14 CFR § 25.791(a), has been in place for nearly three decades despite significant changes in airline smoking policies.
Bangkok airport has announced the removal of fast track immigration for arriving premium cabin passengers. This change affects travelers who previously enjoyed expedited processing upon arrival.
Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, handed out snacks on a Southwest Airlines flight. He mentioned that he encountered some flight attendants in Paris during the Olympics, who invited him to participate in the snack distribution and make the landing announcement on his next flight. Coincidentally, they were crew members on a trip he was taking.
At the beginning of the week, it appeared that Alaska Airlines' acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines had been cleared by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over antitrust concerns. All that remained was the Department of Transportation's signoff, which seemed likely to come quickly.
The Department of Justice's statutory review period for the Alaska Airlines acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines lapsed on Monday without an antitrust suit. This development was unexpected, as many anticipated a deal where Alaska would guarantee minimum service between the islands of Hawaii.
American Airlines is set to introduce business class suites with doors on its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and retrofit its Boeing 777-300ERs, removing first class in favor of these new suites. This initiative, named Project Olympus, will see bulkhead business class passengers enjoying extra space and enhanced amenities.
Florida resident Liliana Goodson, whose pronouns are they/them, was headed to clown school in Sydney. Upon arrival at the airport, they were stopped with a Colt 45 pistol and ammunition in their luggage. They were also carrying squirrel feet, rabbit urine, and a cat spine. The gun was 24-karat gold-plated.
Southwest Airlines is initiating redeye flights and exploring premium seating and assigned seats. The airline, known for its gradual approach to changes, faces increased pressure from an activist investor pushing for faster reforms. Among the potential changes being considered is the elimination of free checked bags for all passengers, a core element of Southwest's value proposition.
Chase is considering significant changes to its Southwest Airlines credit card portfolio, influenced by Southwest's planned move to assigned seating. These potential modifications include raising annual fees, eliminating anniversary points, and introducing a percentage discount on redemptions. Additionally, there may be new benefits related to early boarding or seat upgrades replacing the current Early Bird and Upgraded Boarding credits.
The FAA reported Wednesday that it had sent 43 cases of passenger incidents to the FBI over the past year. This is out of 1,240 cases airlines reported to the FAA, which may seem significant but is relatively minor considering approximately 820 million domestic passengers were carried in the U.S. last year. Notably, the number of incidents has decreased by 80% compared to 2021 when there were fewer passengers.
Between customers getting fined before even picking up their vehicles, charging customers who rent Teslas for failing to refill the gas, and sending innocent customers to jail, it is surprising that Hertz remains operational. Some customers consider themselves fortunate if they only receive a $500 bill from the company's toll-tracking system.
Chase has announced that its largest-ever offer for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card will end on September 5, 2024, at 9 a.m. Eastern. The card now offers 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Newly released documents reveal that the government has been conducting experiments related to UFOs and invisibility cloaks. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) has made 1,500 pages of UFO-related documents available through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. These documents include reports on the biological effects of UFO sightings on humans, studies on advanced technologies such as invisibility cloaks, and plans for deep space exploration and colonization.
A New York politician was denied boarding on an American Airlines flight after leaving the gate area to purchase a Chick-fil-A sandwich, resulting in a missed opportunity to attend the Democratic National Convention.
Last fall, Hyatt launched a short-term rental booking platform called Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt, similar to Marriott Homes & Villas. Unlike Airbnb, Hyatt sources short-term rentals and markets them for a commission, rebating some of that revenue to customers in the form of points and stay credit. Points can also be redeemed at modest-low value against these stays.
Charlotte Airport's B concourse experienced flooding this morning, primarily affecting Gates B1 through B4. The airport attributed the incident to "a construction project incident," although passengers reported toilet water as the cause.
Virgin Australia has been ordered to reinstate flight attendant Dylan Macnish after an Australian employment tribunal ruled his February 2024 dismissal was unfair. Macnish had violated the airline's policy requiring abstinence from alcohol within eight hours of duty by drinking at a Christmas party. He claimed to have checked a breathalyzer before reporting for work.
Bally Sports reporter Michaela Bennett has expressed frustration with United Airlines after discovering her jewelry was missing from her checked baggage. This incident marks the second consecutive problematic trip she has experienced with the airline.
Hip Hop star Juvenile (Terius Gray) was removed from American Airlines' first class on an overbooked flight, while his wife was allowed to stay. Rather than accept a seat in the main cabin, he chose to leave the aircraft, asserting his celebrity status and claiming the airline made a mistake.
United Airlines is evaluating potential changes to their United Club offerings, including increased membership costs and restricted benefits. The airline is also considering providing some customers with priority access to lounges, assistance with bookings, and seat availability, inspired by Delta Air Lines' Sky Clubs.