Browsing: Travel Insight

The U.S. government officially shut down on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass new funding. That means many federal agencies have paused “nonessential” operations. But essential services — especially the ones tied to travel — are still operating, though under strain. So, flights haven’t been grounded wholesale — but the hiccups are stacking up. Here’s what travelers are already facing: 1. Flight Delays & Air Traffic Control Stress Air traffic controllers are still on the job, but without pay. As fatigue and stress rise, more workers are calling out, leading to increased flight delays — especially at major…

Las Vegas, long a magnet for international tourists, is facing a slowdown in visitor numbers, and some industry leaders are pointing to U.S. trade and immigration policies under former President Donald Trump as contributing factors. Tourism Decline Recent figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority show that international visitation has dipped compared with pre-pandemic levels, even as domestic travel has largely recovered. Hotel occupancy on the Strip remains below peak years, and major conventions have reported fewer attendees from abroad. Policy Impacts Economists and tourism officials cite multiple reasons for the slump, but Trump-era policies are frequently mentioned.…

The upcoming holiday travel season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years as U.S. airlines brace for a surge of last-minute bookings. Analysts say shifting consumer behavior, combined with volatile fuel prices and tight staffing, could turn Thanksgiving and Christmas travel into a “nail biter” for carriers. Passengers Waiting Longer to Book Industry data shows a significant uptick in travelers waiting until just weeks—or even days—before departure to purchase tickets. In previous years, holiday bookings often peaked months in advance. But this year, many passengers are holding off, betting on fare drops or remaining uncertain…

Alaska Airlines, along with its subsidiary Horizon Air, was forced to request a ground stop for all flights on Sunday due to a computer network outage. Federal authorities kept Alaska and Horizon Air flights grounded until the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the stop at 2 AM ET on Monday. In its statement, Alaska Airlines mentioned that the information technology outage was “impacting our operations.” The airline said on its website, “We are experiencing issues with our IT systems. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issues.”  Although the computer outage has already been resolved, it continued…

United Airlines and JetBlue have teamed up in a new alliance they are calling “Blue Sky.” Unveiled on Thursday, this will allow passengers to book on both websites. In addition to this, passengers can interchangeably earn and use points in their frequent flyer programs. The news came after weeks of speculation that United and JetBlue would partner in a new alliance.  Blue Sky Under the “Blue Sky” partnership, JetBlue will provide United access slots to New York’s JFK airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights starting 2027. However, this is still subject to approval by US regulators. This partnership…

US airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines are charging solo travelers more than groups, research reveals. In some cases, solo travelers are paying 70% more.  Travel sites Thrifty Traveler and View From The Wing exposed this pricing tactic on select domestic routes.  In an article, Thrifty Traveler’s Kyle Potter wrote: “While it’s not widespread – you won’t see it on each and every route – it’s real and undeniable.” Researchers tested the three airlines and saw the price drop as additional passengers were added.  The Independent was able to replicate this. Testing it on a…

I had the incredible opportunity to be aboard United Airlines’ inaugural nonstop flight from New York/Newark (EWR) to Palermo, Sicily — the airline’s first-ever service to this southern Italian gem. From the moment I stepped into the gate area at Newark Liberty International Airport, it was clear this was more than just another flight. It was a celebration of connection, culture, and a new chapter in transatlantic travel. The atmosphere at the terminal buzzed with excitement. Passengers and airline employees gathered around the gate as the festivities kicked off with snacks, drinks, and then came the ceremonial ribbon cutting. United…

The Trump administration dropped a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Southwest Airlines over allegations of chronically delayed flights. In January 2025, the Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines in a California district court, accusing the carrier of continually operating chronically delayed flights. The lawsuit demanded that the airline pay $2.1 million in fines. This was among the Biden administration’s final actions, aimed at solidifying his legacy as a champion of consumer rights.  Southwest Challenged the Proposed Fines  The DOT under the Biden administration already had some wins against other airlines as both JetBlue and Frontier accepted big fines over…

The Federal Aviation Administration is probing an incident involving the wings of two Alaska Airlines planes clipping each other at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport gate on Saturday. No injuries were reported on either plane.  The incident took place at around 12:15 PM local time and involved Alaska Airlines Flights 1190 and 1094. Ground-service tugs were pushing the two Alaska Airlines planes. Shortly after, the planes’ winglets touched. This delayed both flights as officials responded.   There were no injuries, according to the airline’s spokesperson. Shortly after, the passengers on the two planes deplaned and were transferred to other aircraft.  Alaska Airlines…

TAP Air Portugal, Portugal’s national carrier which celebrates its 80th anniversary of operations this year, continues its record-breaking expansion from the US with three new routes to Portugal launching in the coming weeks. Yesterday, TAP began service from Boston to Porto. This summer, TAP will offer more than 100 weekly flights from North America. Last year, passengers between North America and Portugal, up 8.9 percent year over year (approximately 10 percent of TAP’s global total of 16.1 million passengers in 2024, up 1.6 percent from 2023). The North American routes are the airline’s fastest-growing. Last year was the first time…