Tagged: airlines

Four Men Eat Crate of Oranges at Chinese Airport to Avoid Excess Baggage Fee

How far would you go to get out of paying an extra fee at the airport? Whatever your answer, we're guessing it doesn't involve gobbling up nearly 70 pounds of produce in less than 30…

On Day One, President Biden Makes Masks Mandatory on Planes, At National Parks, and Elsewhere

Over the last 10 months, common sense sat on the back burner. Even though 33 transportation unions, most airline CEOs, the good folks at Consumer Reports, and hundreds of thousands of…

These Last-Minute Rules from the Trump Administration Could Harm Travelers

Yes, travel is our focus at Frommer's. But that doesn't mean we can ignore the actions of government that affect how we travel—our safety, our rights as consumers, and the protection…

A New Government Rule Might Have Just Killed Involuntary Airline Bumping for Good

Midnight regulations are actions taken during the lame-duck period of a presidential administration. They tend to be controversial moves, especially if one party is taking over the…

Norwegian Gives Up: Low-Cost Airline Will No Longer Serve American Cities

More than 40 airlines have claimed insolvency in the age of Covid-19, but for American budget travelers, this carrier may prove to be the most missed. Norwegian Air, which was already…

Guess the Safest U.S. Airline for 2021—and Where It Ranks Worldwide

The world's 20 safest airlines have been named for 2021 by the safety monitors at AirlineRatings.com. Among 385 carriers that were evaluated according to factors such as incident…

If My Toddler Refuses to Wear a Mask on a Flight, What Can I Do?

A few days ago, a video—of desperate parents trying to wrangle an overtired two-year-old—went viral. That's a pretty common scenario for a viral video, but in this case, the tot was…

China: Flight Attendants Should Wear Diapers to Reduce Covid Risk

The regulatory agency that oversees civil aviation in China has issued new guidelines advising flight attendants to wear disposable diapers on flights to and from countries with high…

Delta and KLM to Begin No-Quarantine Flights Between USA and Europe

Last month, Frommer's told you how some airlines have been running special flights on which each passenger has been pre-cleared to fly with a Covid-19 test. Delta Air Lines and KLM…

A Charge for the Overhead Bin? One Airline Is Doing It

Hard times make us do things we'd never normally do, like make best friends with a volleyball, sell our hair and belt "I Dreamed a Dream," or get into sourdough baking. For easyJet,…

First Airline Confirms: Covid Vaccination Will Be Required to Fly

The first airline has confirmed that it will require all international passengers to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination—once a vaccine becomes available—in order to fly. The airline is…

TikTokker's Carry-On "Hack" Gets Him Banned from Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines has reportedly banned a TikTok user from flights for two years because of a carry-on luggage tip the man posted. In an 18-second clip titled "Spirit carry on hack" that…

For Flyers Who Want Vacant Middle Seats, Only One Airline Will Qualify Now

For Americans who would rather fly with an empty seat beside them, there is only one choice now. One by one, all the other airlines have peeled away from their commitment to leave…

Ski Free If You Fly Alaska Airlines to the Slopes

Airlines and ski resorts have something in common: They're desperate to take customers to high altitudes this winter. Like all the major carriers, Alaska Airlines is doing everything…

Get Ready: Travel Is Becoming More Expensive and More Exclusive

The warning signs are everywhere. You will soon be paying more to travel. The headlines are full of news about the airlines cutting capacity. In Europe, Ryanair will fly only 40% of…

Southwest Airlines to Start Filling Every Seat Again, Despite Covid

Just in time for the holidays, Southwest Airlines announced it will no longer restrict ticket sales for flights, which will result in middle seats being occupied on full…

The Department of Transportation Says It's Not There to Ensure Passenger Safety

In late July, members of 33 transportation unions—flight attendants, pilots, TSA inspectors, ferry workers, bus drivers, and others—filed an official petition with the Department of…

Headlines Shout of Covid-19 Exposure on Flights, but Look Deeper—It's Worse

You might have seen a few headlines this week casting doubt on whether flying is safe. Here's one from the New York Post, dated September 21: "Woman spread coronavirus to 15 people on…

See the "Air Liners" of the 1930s on These Rare Vintage Trading Cards

In the 1920s and '30s, all eyes turned skyward. Aviators were the heroes of the day, courageously testing the elements and wobbly technology alike as they pushed newfangled aircraft to…

This Airline Will Charge You More if You Use an Internet Ad Blocker

Here's an airline fee you surely never imagined would exist. Sean O'Neill at Skift reports the discovery of a brand-new airline fee: an extra surcharge for using ad suppression…

Ding Dong! Airline Change Fees Are Dead! Delta and American Copy United

Yesterday, in a huge win for travelers, United Airlines dropped change fees for many types of flights. We gave you the full rundown of the move in this earlier post. Now, as they…

United Airlines to Drop Change Fees Permanently on Many Types of Flights

Not long ago, Frommer's listed the things we don't miss about pre-pandemic travel. Paying big fees for making changes to airline tickets ranked right up there with buffets and dirty…

SFO Airport Opens Rapid Covid Testing Facility, but We Need More

Covid-19 has been with us for the whole year, and back in the spring, countries around the world began requiring negative test results from visitors, but the world's airports still…

Airlines Are Cutting Smaller Cities: Aren't We Tired of Having Two Americas?

American Airlines is threatening to cut flights to dozens of small and medium-sized American cities after September 30, when the conditions of the recent federal aid package…

Major Airfare Search Engine Now Includes Covid-19 Safety Ratings

Scientists are still piecing together evidence to figure out how dangerous airline travel is (judging by this study, it isn't) during the pandemic. But the fact remains: Consumers are…