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What Is a 'Canceled' Flight? Rule Spells It Out for First Time

It's part of new federal protections for air travelers

(Newser) - Most air travelers would seem to know the definition of a "canceled" flight, but as Quartz points out, the term can get a little squishy for airlines when it comes time to issue refunds. To counter that, the Department of Transportation has spelled out for the first time what...

American Airlines Launches Its Longest-Ever Flight

New route from Dallas to Brisbane takes almost 16 hours

(Newser) - The longest nonstop flight in American Airlines' history landed at Brisbane Airport Monday morning after departing from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Saturday night and crossing the International Date Line on the almost 16-hour journey to Australia. The airline says passengers on the record-setting flight received gifts including a koala plushie,...

American Airlines Hit With $50M Fine Over Disabled Fliers

It's a record payout over injuring passengers, damaging wheelchairs

(Newser) - The nation's largest airline has been hit with a $50 million fine for repeatedly violating rules intended to protect passengers with disabilities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the fine against American Airlines on Wednesday, saying it was 25 times larger than any other fine issued by the Department of...

Hoax Bomb Threats Cause Chaos in the Skies

At least 10 bomb threats against Indian airlines have been reported since Monday

(Newser) - Nearly a dozen flights out of India received bomb threats within a 48-hour span this week, causing chaos and forcing the emergency landing of one plane. An Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago made an abrupt landing in Iqaluit, a city of 7,000 on Baffin Island in Canada'...

They Boarded Plane, Took Off Sweaters, Got Booted

Women say Spirit Airlines kicked them off flight out of LA for wearing crop tops on hot aircraft

(Newser) - Two California women say they were booted from a Spirit Airlines flight before it got off the ground in Los Angeles because they were wearing crop tops. Tara Kehidi of Dana Point tells KABC that she and friend Teresa Araujo, a Costa Mesa resident, both had sweaters on when they...

Airline Bans Couple Over Reclining Seat Kerfuffle
She Wouldn't Put Her Seat
Up. Then It Got Personal
in case you missed it
Sep 28, 2024 3:30 PM CDT

She Wouldn't Put Her Seat Up. Then It Got Personal

Hong Kong pair banned from Cathay Pacific after Chinese woman says they harassed her over seat

(Newser) - A couple from Hong Kong has been barred from the territory's flagship airline, after an incident involving another passenger who was from mainland China. Per CNN , the latter posted a video on Chinese social media over the Sept. 17 encounter, which involved a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong...

Battery Fires Are a Growing Problem on Planes

'One of these thermal-runaway incidents at 40,000 feet does present unique risks'

(Newser) - Devices powered by lithium-ion batteries are overheating more often during airline flights—and passengers often put them in checked bags that go into the cargo hold, where a fire might not be detected as quickly, per the AP . Overheating incidents rose 28% from 2019 to 2023, although such events remain...

There's an Issue With Airline's Comfy New First-Class Suites

Rebalancing is now needed to fix Swiss Air's nose-heavy A330s

(Newser) - Swiss International Air Lines announced last year that it would be updating its first-class suites for 2025 based on consumer feedback. Up to 37 square feet with 6-foot walls and lockable doors, these new suites may bring privacy for those who can afford the ticket, but they're causing a...

Engine Issue Detected Midflight Turns Up in More Planes

Cathay Pacific grounds dozens of flights due to problem with Rolls-Royce engines

(Newser) - An engine component failure forced the turnaround of a Cathay Pacific flight on Monday and ultimately led to the discovery of a much larger problem. After Flight CX383 bound for Zurich returned to Hong Kong, the region's flagship airline discovered faulty parts in 15 of its 48 Airbus A350s,...

Discount European Airline Launches 'All You Can Fly' Pass

Wizz Air annual pass comes with a lot of conditions

(Newser) - Wizz Air, a discount airline based in Hungary, has launched an annual All You Can Fly pass, which it describes as a "no limits" pass on its extensive route network. The airline is offering the pass for an introductory price of 499 euros, around $550, which will go up...

British Airways Safety Video Is a Big Hit Online

It was inspired by classic British literature

(Newser) - Hundreds of thousands of people have watched British Airways' newest in-flight safety video , and not all of them were strapped into seats at the time. The Guardian reports that the video, inspired by period dramas, has become a hit on YouTube. Titled "May We Haveth One's Attention,"...

Big Changes Are Coming at Southwest
Big Changes
Are Coming
at Southwest
Jul 25, 2024 10:05 AM CDT

Big Changes Are Coming at Southwest

No more open seating, for starters

(Newser) - Southwest Airlines is unveiling what it says will be the biggest changes in its 53-year history, per CNBC .
  • No more open seating; after an undisclosed date, assigned seats only
  • Seats with extra legroom to be available next year, for a premium
  • Red-eye flights (initially Las Vegas to Baltimore; Las Vegas
...

At One Major Airline, the Cancellations Continue

Dealing with lingering issues, Delta cancels 1K Monday flights

(Newser) - Hundreds of US flights are still being canceled as a result of Friday's computer outage —mostly at Delta Air Lines. "It's been a horrible weekend. For us all," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a video message to employees on Sunday. The airline canceled 1,...

Flight Attendants' Pins Cause a Hubbub at Delta

Airline issues apology after commiserating with someone who complained about 'Hamas badges'

(Newser) - A Delta Air Lines customer didn't like an accessory that two flight attendants sported, complained about it online, and received a sympathetic response from Delta—and now the airline is issuing an apology over its response. Per the Hill , the commotion started when someone put up a photo online...

More Passengers Complain to Government About Air Travel

Filings about airlines hit post-pandemic high, though cancellations fell last year

(Newser) - Air travel got more miserable last year, if the number of consumer complaints filed with the federal government is any measure. The Transportation Department said Friday that it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many...

Air Traffic Staff to Alarmingly Low Flight: 'You Good?'

Southwest flight drops to 500 feet above ground in Oklahoma, triggering air traffic control concern

(Newser) - If you're low-key wary of flying lately, we can't say we blame you , and the latest news out of Oklahoma probably won't ease your concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into Southwest Flight 4069 out of Las Vegas, which dipped to an alarmingly low altitude just...

Airline CEO: We 'Fell Short' in Booting Black Men From Flight

American Airlines says it has suspended multiple workers after January incident

(Newser) - Multiple workers at American Airlines have been suspended after an incident in which eight Black passengers, none of whom knew each other, say they were booted from a plane over supposed body odor. Three of the men who were kicked off the plane have since sued. "We are holding...

There's a New Best Airline in the World

Qatar Airways comes in at No. 1 on AirlineRatings.com list

(Newser) - Air New Zealand has been dethroned. AirlineRatings.com is out with its annual list of the world's top airlines, and the new victor for 2024 is Qatar Airways. Thrillist notes that "the standards are high" to make it to the top of the list, put together by five...

After Extreme Turbulence, Experts Say Get Ready for More

Climate change could lead to more incidents like one on Singapore Airlines flight that killed a man

(Newser) - More than three dozen people remain hospitalized after an incident of severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines plane on Tuesday, including a toddler, reports the BBC . The 2-year-old is receiving treatment in Bangkok for a concussion, per a doctor at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital. The oldest patient is said to be...

Frontier Airlines Announces 'New Era'

Airline says it will nix change/cancellation fees, offer more transparency in traveling options

(Newser) - "Today marks the beginning of a new era for Frontier," Frontier chief Barry Biffle said in a Friday statement, announcing an overhaul likely to go over well with customers. Key among those shifts, per Quartz : the elimination of most fees for changing or canceling flights. Under the previous...

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