Airlines

The airline eventually put passengers on buses to Dallas after deciding that the crew had reached its legal limit on flight time and no other flights were available.Spirit issued full refunds and gave each passenger $100 in future travel credit."Spirit Airlines flight 917 with scheduled service from New York LaGuardia to Dallas was forced to divert to Tulsa due to dangerous weather in Dallas," a company statement read. "As a result of long ground delays in Dallas, our flight Crew was legally required to be put on rest and therefore no longer allowed to continue to Dallas. Guests were bussed via motor coaches to Dallas and received a full refund for the flight. They also received a total of $100 in future travel credit. "We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration these diversions can cause, but the safety of our Guests and Crew is paramount." Severe thunderstorms struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area Thursday, causing the flight to switch paths. DFW Airport kept many … [Read more...] about Passengers bused to Dallas after 17-hour wait as Spirit flight diverts to Tulsa because of weather

The route is served by both Southwest and Delta, with Delta operating five daily flights -- it’s sole service out of Love Field -- to its hub in the southeast.Next on the list are Los Angeles -- served by Southwest and relative Love Field newcomer Alaska Airlines -- at $27.2 million; New York’s LaGuardia airport at $25.2 million, San Francisco at $23.1 million, and Washington’s Reagan airport at $19.2.From there, it’s a steep drop off as Love Field’s limited number of maximum daily flights -- a legacy of the Wright Amendment Reform Act -- restricts Southwest and other airlines’ operations.In sixth place is Las Vegas -- where Southwest operates five daily flights -- with $8.2 million, followed by Seattle -- an Alaska stronghold; Denver, New Orleans and, rounding out the top ten, Phoenix, which grossed $5 million in revenue over 12 months, according to OAG data.Noticeably absent from Love Field's top 10 is Houston, where Southwest operates 20 daily … [Read more...] about Here are the DFW Airport and Love Field routes that generate the most cash for airlines

The lavatories are about 22.4 inches across at a passenger's chest level when seated, American said. That's 3.1 inches narrower than the previous models."You're talking inches. We're not talking feet," said David Seymour, American's senior vice president of integrated operations. "I don't know how big of a population falls into 'I can't move around in it.'"'Too far'To passengers already losing space bit by bit, however, trimming a few more inches can be a big deal.Airlines "have decided the lavatory doesn't matter that much" as they try to squeeze in more seats, said Jami Counter, vice president of flights at the TripAdvisor and SeatGuru.com air-travel sites. "I think they might have gone a bit too far. They're taking it off of what already was a very skinny configuration."United Airlines' first Boeing 737 Max 9 flights on June 7 spurred complaints on Twitter about the small restroom. Zach Honig, an editor-at-large for The Points Guy, a travel-tips site, tweeted that the economy class … [Read more...] about How airlines are making more money by making airplane bathrooms smaller

"This is the Case of the Incredible Shrinking Airline Seat," Millett wrote in her decision last year. "As many have no doubt noticed, aircraft seats and the spacing between them have been getting smaller and smaller, while American passengers have been growing in size." The court ordered FAA to conduct a "properly reasoned disposition" of safety issues related to seating configurations. It found the agency had used "off-point" studies and "undisclosed tests using unknown parameters" to justify its initial refusal to review the rules. "That type of vaporous record will not do," the court said.In its court-ordered response and eight-page summary of evacuation test results by the agency's senior specialist for cabin survivability, Jeffrey Gardlin, the agency said factors other than seat spacing are what slow evacuations.Evacuation testsIn emergencies, flight attendants must first make their way to exits, check outside before opening emergency doors for fire and ensure that emergency … [Read more...] about FAA won’t set minimum airline seat size after safety review

The crowded airports shouldn’t come as a surprise to travelers, who have seen passenger traffic surging over the past several years on the backs of lower fares and a strong economy. Already, the summer travel season is predicted to be the busiest ever, with an estimated 246 million passengers expected, 9 million more than a year ago, according to figures from industry group Airlines for America.Nine of the top 15 busiest travel days in the TSA’s history have occurred since May 2017, according to Bloomberg. The agency has been preparing for those increased passenger volumes with more than 1,600 additional officers stationed at the nation’s 50 largest airports on peak days. Still, passengers should plan for crowded terminals  and security lines, with airports encouraging them to arrive at least 90 minutes ahead of their scheduled departure for domestic flights.Passengers will have to deal with new screening rules that encourage passengers to pack containers of … [Read more...] about DFW Airport, Love Field brace for one of the busiest travel days of the year

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review. Last March, I enjoyed a sublime holiday in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. You can read my trip reports here: Review: Lufthansa A330 Business Class Frankfurt to Male Review: Soneva Fushi, the Maldives’ original desert island hideaway Review: Soneva Jani, the Maldives’ most amazing resort Review: Shangri-La Colombo Hotel (Sri Lanka) Review: Wild Coast Tented Lodge (Yala National Park, Sri Lanka) Review: Aman tour in Sri Lanka: Amangalla Review: Aman tour in Sri Lanka: Amanwella Review: Austrian Airlines B777 Business Class Colombo to Vienna Today (June 26, 2018): Trip report: Austrian Airlines B777 Business Class Colombo to Vienna. On March 28th 2018, I flew Business Class in an Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-200ER from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Sri Lanka to Vienna International Airport (VIE) in Austria. Austria’s flag carrier – … [Read more...] about Trip report: Austrian Airlines B777 Business Class Colombo to Vienna

With a month to go before the world's major airlines must comply with Beijing's order to recognize Taiwan as part of China, U.S. carriers risk flying fewer mainland passengers by staying defiant. While Japan Airlines Co., ANA Holdings Inc. and Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. have changed how they described Taiwan on their websites, Delta Air Lines Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. are among the last few standing, calling the island a region or country. They could face measures such as air-traffic control delays, ramp inspections, hold-ups at immigration and security checks, according to Robert Mann, the New York-based head of aviation consultancy R.W. Mann & Co."The present trade regime and rhetoric is getting ugly, and it may get far uglier," Mann said. "Short of an outright ban, the Chinese could make it commercially, operationally difficult for U.S. carriers arriving and departing Chinese airports."Delta and American Airlines, which have until July 25 to fall in line on the … [Read more...] about U.S. airlines could lose passengers over Taiwan defiance

But there remain the underlying federal regulations.The Transportation Department, building upon prior efforts to reach a consensus, has now moved forward with a multi-month process to reconsider those rules for service animals and comfort pets. It's also announced interim enforcement priorities until that endeavor is completed.A major sticking point is sure to be over what kind of animals are allowed in the cabin.Airlines currently operate under a broad definition that covers any animal that is "individually trained to assist a person with a disability" or that is "necessary for the emotional well-being of a passenger." DOT's interim enforcement priorities, however, take a different approach.The agency says it generally won't take action against an airline that accommodates only dogs, cats and miniature horses.Airlines for America, in its response to interim rules, said it appreciated that "common-sense decision." But it also urged DOT to go further and follow the U.S. Justice … [Read more...] about Airlines to Trump administration: Don’t make us board emotional support animals

The new study looked at past occurrence of cancers in flight attendants rather than their risk of developing cancer and its authors cautioned against drawing any conclusions about specific causes. It's part of a broader Harvard research effort dating back to 2007 that’s exploring numerous aspects of flight attendants’ physical and mental health and well-being. Researchers conducted a survey of 5,366 U.S. flight attendants in 2014 and 2015 that asked them to self-report on health outcomes, including past cancer diagnoses, work experience, employment history and personal characteristics. The sample group was more than 80 percent female and had an average tenure of 20 years, with 91 percent actively employed. The group included some flight attendants who were part of the original 2007 study, as well as new participants recruited at five large U.S. airports, from airline unions and using social media. The flight attendants were then compared with a … [Read more...] about U.S. flight attendants show higher rates of some cancers, new study says

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire. Today (June 25, 2018): Top 10 world’s best airline liveries. As airlines have evolved over the past few decades, so have the liveries –  or the exterior designs and graphics comprising paint colors and logos – on their aircraft. As airplanes fly across the globe, their often striking liveries not only represent the airlines that operate them but in many instances also serve as visual ambassadors and symbols for their respective homelands. And liveries, when done right, can be something of beauty. I hereby present my pick of the best aircraft liveries flying the skies. There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite airline livery in the comment section or take my poll below. This slideshow requires JavaScript.*** Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration *** … [Read more...] about Top 10 best airline liveries in the world