Browsing: Travel Insight

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…

A Utah family sued Southwest Airlines after a careless flight attendant spilled boiling hot coffee on their 4-year-old son. Ryan and Kamrie Wong filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Chicago over an incident that happened last September.  According to the lawsuit, the incident happened on September 19, 2024, during Southwest Flight 4059 from Orlando to Chicago Midway International Airport. They were ultimately flying to Salt Lake City but had to connect from Chicago.  A flight attendant was carrying a drink tray on one arm when hot coffee spilled over Ryan and Kamrie Wong’s four-year-old son, identified only as K.W. in…

A Boeing jet at Boeing’s completion plant in Zhoushan was returned to the US on Friday, according to reports. Because of the ongoing trade war, the jet was not handed over to Xiamen Airlines.  Earlier this week, the Chinese government instructed Chinese airlines not to buy new jets from Boeing. It also required Chinese airlines to get permission before accepting new jets that it already ordered but had not been delivered yet.  Trade War China and the U.S. are locked in a trade war, leaving companies like Boeing caught in the middle. This jet was one of the three 737…

Will boarding passes and airport check-ins soon become a thing of the past? With a major travel overhaul on the horizon, this could soon become reality. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN agency that shapes global aviation policy, is preparing to roll out “digital travel credentials” for travelers. This will let passengers store all their travel information on their mobile device. According to Times, this could become reality in the next three years.  No More Boarding Passes and Check-In? Airline passengers currently need to check-in online or upon arriving at the airport. Afterward, they receive their boarding passes,…

An American Airlines plane bumped into another American Airlines jet at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. One of the planes was carrying at least three US lawmakers and two former Gaza hostages.  Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., wrote on X that no one on board was hurt during the incident. He wrote, “Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing.”  LaLota said that Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., was also on board the plane. She was handing out snacks to passengers…

American Airlines is looking to simplify the baggage claim process on some international flights this week. A new baggage screening process led by American Airlines will allow international passengers arriving in the US to bypass baggage claim in the Customs area and avoid rechecking their luggage for connecting flights.  With this new baggage claim process, passengers can go straight from Passport Control to a TSA Checkpoint then to their respective connecting flights.  Complicated Baggage Claim Process Passengers arriving in the United States from an international flight typically need to bring all baggage, including their checked luggage, to the Customs and…

https://youtu.be/DCQMC6wF8OE A Pennsylvania man attempted to smuggle a live red-eared slider turtle through security at Newark Liberty International Airport by concealing it in his pants. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers discovered the turtle during a routine screening, leading to the man’s detention and the turtle’s confiscation. The TSA noted that while they’ve encountered various concealed items, this was an unusual case of attempting to hide a live animal in such a manner. Southwest Airlines announced that, starting May 28, 2025, it will end its longstanding “Bags Fly Free” policy, introducing fees for checked baggage. Exceptions will be made for top-tier…

The United States is currently struggling to increase its air traffic controllers. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the current shortage is nearly at its worst in 30 years. This means that a good number of the 10,800 certified ATCs in the country need to work “six days a week, 10 hours a day – for years at a time,” according to union President Nick Daniels during a House Subcommittee meeting this week.  Daniels added that the US needs to hire more than 3,000 new air traffic controllers to solve the shortage. In addition to this, recent aviation-related…

Alaska Airlines flight attendants ratified a new three-year labor contract on Friday. The union that represents the Alaska Airlines flight attendants, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said that 95% of the votes supported the new labor contract. 91% of the 6,900 employees voted.  With the ratified agreement, Alaska’s flight attendants are getting a pay bump. However, the salary increase will depend on how long they have been working for the airline, ranging from 18.6% to 28.3%.  It also comes with boarding pay, 25 months of retroactive pay, two additional pay raises during the duration of the contract, and other benefits. The…

American Airlines continues to tweak its boarding process. This time around, the airline will start boarding passengers earlier. The airline’s goal is to make things more efficient for passengers to get on the plane and avoid the likelihood of checking their bags.  On May 1st,  American Airlines will add 5 minutes to their usual boarding time. While this doesn’t seem like much, the airline’s spokesperson Rachel Warner says, “This extra time will deliver a smoother boarding experience for customers by allowing for pauses between boarding groups, relieving congestion on the jet bridge, and allowing customers to stow their bags and…