A Model Born in Disruption The ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) was supposed to revolutionize air travel in the United States. Modeled loosely on Ryanair in Europe, ULCCs like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant promised rock-bottom base fares by unbundling every possible service: bags, seats, snacks, and even customer service. For a time, it worked. These carriers filled…
A Personal Confession I have a confession to make. Though I have flown hundreds of times, I have never flown on Southwest Airlines(LUV), America’s second largest airline. I never experienced Southwest’s open seating, nor benefited from its free unchecked bags. This is not by design—Southwest has a relatively small presence at my home airport. The…
TSA’s Slow Evolution Finally Accelerates For over two decades, airport security lines in the United States have shared a universal ritual: take off your shoes, pull out your liquids, and hope for the best. It has been inconvenient, undignified, and largely unquestioned. But in July 2025, one of those rituals came to an end—and another…
A partial listing of Aiport Twitter/X accounts are below. Please share others in the comments: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson(ATL) Baltimore Thurgood Marshall Airport(BWI) Boston Logan(BOS) Charlotte Douglas International Airport(CLT) Chicago O’Hare Airport(ORD) Cincinnati CVG Airport(CVG) Denver International Airport(DEN) DFW Airport(DFW) Miami International Airport(MIA) Memphis International Airport(MEM) Nashville Airport(BNA) Orlando International Airport(MCO) Philadelphia International Airport(PHL) Pittsburgh Airport(PIT) Raleigh-Durham…
Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) is embarking on a significant new chapter with its recent runway expansion project. This development, coupled with American Airlines’ announcement of new service to the airport, marks an exciting period of growth for this regional hub. A Brief History of Cape Cod Gateway Airport Cape Cod Gateway Airport, located in…
[caption id="attachment_7588" align="alignright" width="300"] Sad (tired) woman sitting in the airport[/caption] On April 1, 2024 the Secretary Buttigieg signed the final version of the revised rule on airline refund policies. The new policy requires automatic refunds in certain circumstances. The biggest change in the rule is the standardization of definitions. This has been an issue…
American Airlines is eliminating 335 customer service positions in Phoenix, and will be handling most simpler calls overseas. More complex calls and sensitive issues will continue to be handled by Customer Success teams based in the United States. While many companies, including airlines, have been offshoring for decades, we have continued to see lower quality…
For many situations, booking your tickets online is the easiest and best approach. But, if your situation is more complicated or you just prefer talking to a person, the telephone may be an option. Of course, you can call the airline directly, but a third party may sometimes be preferable. A good travel agent is…
Traveling offers a world of adventure, exploration, and the unexpected. While the thrill of the unknown is part of the allure, it also brings forth the importance of safeguarding your journey against unforeseen circumstances. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the question that often lingers in the minds of travelers: Should you purchase travel…
Air travel has undergone significant changes over the decades, and while modern airports offer a plethora of conveniences, there are some charming amenities from the past that many travelers reminisce about. In this blog post, we’ll take a nostalgic journey through aviation history and explore seven airport amenities of yesteryear that evoke a sense of…
Embarking on a journey, whether for business or leisure, begins with a well-chosen piece of carry-on luggage. The right carry-on not only makes your travel experience seamless but also ensures your essentials are within arm’s reach. In this guide, we’ll explore eleven essential tips to help you make an informed decision when buying the best…
For avid travelers and budget-conscious adventurers, the quest for affordable flights is an art form. The good news is that with a bit of savvy searching and strategic planning, you can soar to your dream destinations without breaking the bank. In this blog post, we’ll uncover six tried-and-true tips to help you navigate the world…
As one of the leading carriers in the world, American Airlines boasts an extensive network of hubs strategically located across the United States. These hubs serve as key connecting points for travelers, facilitating seamless journeys to domestic and international destinations. Join us as we explore the vibrant tapestry of American Airlines hubs, each contributing uniquely…
“No One Should Pick You Up At The Airport” blares the Wall Street Journal headline. Nikki Waller says you’ll be a hero if you just ride share yourself home. “if you can order a burrito from your phone, you can hail a ride-share car,” she says. Sure, perhaps Ms. Waller has never tried to catch…
Canadian airports have become transit hubs for US passengers due to the implementation of US Customs Preclearance. This process involves a partnership between Canadian Customs and Immigration, US immigration, and US Customs and Border Patrol to establish US border points within major Canadian airports. The main objective behind this collaboration is to allow travelers to…
We started this site in 2006. Things have changed a lot since then, but the realization that it has been ten years since a plane landed on the Hudson River has made us realize it may be time to revisit this site, which has been idle for a bit now. [caption id="attachment_856" align="alignright" width="225"] USAirways…
How do my fellow airline passengers annoy me? Let me count the ways. Check with your seatmate before you switch on the reading light, and the person behind you before reclining, such as it is.
An AirAsia Flight, flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with Air Traffic Control. There were 162 people onboard. This year has been a year when we have asked the question too many times…how can a plane go missing in this day and age? We hope the end to this story is not…
In our travels, we have encountered several different boarding procedures. None of them seem to work particularly well, though all of them do have in common that we are somehow always the last allowed on.
An emotional support pig was kicked off a US Airways flight for being disruptive. The large brown pig allegedly stank up the aircraft before defecating in the aisle. Emotional support animals have become an increasingly common thing, especially since the DOT ruled that emotional support animals qualify as service animals. There are legitimate emotional support…
The Delta Shuttle has always been promoted and priced as a premium product. Even though the product has declined over the years, it still retains some vestiges of its heyday. Free newspapers. Free wine or beer(sometimes). A bagel in the morning. The recent changes to the Boston-New York shuttle service, promoted in signage as “upgraded”…
Earlier this month, Janice Hough at Consumer Traveler wrotethat coming anti-consumer “interline” baggage rules were worse than baggage fees. With all respect to Ms. Hough, who is a travel agent, in this regard, we believe she is wrong, although we can understand her point of view. Let’s go over the issue. Interline baggage refers to…
In June of 2009, we reported on how Continental Airlines had lost a young girl who was travelling under its unaccompanied minor program. Another similar situation has arisen with United Airlines, which merged with Continental, to the point that there is a petition on change.org, asking United to either redesign or discontinue its Unaccompanied Minors…
As part of our six year anniversary…our first post was launched on July 29, 2006, we’re proud to announce another aspect of our six year revamp. Effective immediately, we are dropping blog.flightwisdom.com in favor of www.flightwisdom.com. Those of you who have linked to us over the years, Any links to pages on blog.flightwisdom.com will still…