Browsing: Travel Insight

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…

Recent headlines about airplane accidents can make even the most seasoned travelers uneasy. Graphic images, dramatic survivor accounts, and in-depth crash analyses dominate the news cycle, reinforcing fears that flying is dangerous. However, the reality is quite the opposite: flying remains the safest mode of transportation. Perspective on Aviation Safety Airplane accidents, though tragic, are exceedingly rare. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global accident rate in commercial aviation is just one incident per several million flights. To put this into perspective, the odds of dying in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million, compared…

Southwest Airlines hired Tom Doxey as its new chief financial officer. Doxey is considered an industry expert with experience working with the likes of Allegiant Air and US Airways. He recently worked as senior advisor for Breeze Airways.  Doxey will also work as Southwest’s executive vice president starting March 10, according to the airline’s statement. He is set to replace Tammy Romo, a Southwest veteran executive who is expected to retire on April 1. The airline announced last January that Romo would retire after three decades.  Romo has worked for the airline as its CFO since 2012 and joined the…

An American Airlines flight was delayed last week due to a suspected bomb threat. The crew alerted authorities after noticing suspicious activity on the plane, a WiFi hotspot that included the word “bomb.” American Airlines Flight 2863 was scheduled to fly from Austin, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina.  WiFi Hotspot Named “There is a bomb on the flight” One of the passengers onboard, Bruce Steen, 63, told ABC News that he was traveling home from a meeting when the incident happened. Steen mentioned that he was seated in front of the plane when he saw a young man show a…