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…
Updated August 2026 You find a United flight at a price you can live with, but you are not quite ready to buy it. Maybe you are waiting for someone else to confirm the trip, checking vacation dates, or trying to coordinate a hotel. United’s FareLock lets you pay a fee to hold both the…
Delta 4819 Crashes In Toronto After years without serious commercial air incidents, 2025 is not shaping up well. Less than an hour ago, Delta 4819 a CRJ900 operated by Endeavor crashed in Toronto Pearson(YYZ) on its flight from Minneapolis(MSP). Initial footage show the fuselage upside down on a snowy tarmac. The plane seems to…
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…
It’s been 16 years since a Colgan Air plane crashed on approach to Buffalo, killing 50 in February 2009. Until yesterday, there was not another significant airline crash in the United States since that day. A remarkable safety record, and we find ourselves in a vastly different world now. Twitter was already quite popular then,…
One of the early reactions at this point to the collision at DCA this evening was a comparison to earlier similar situations. Now, because of various safety improvements, two planes hitting each other, outside of runway incursions, has become much rarer. This evening’s flight was operated by PSA Airlines. The current PSA, which operated the…
There are reports of a regional jet and a helicopter colliding in the vicinity of National Airport. A webcam at the Kennedy center appears to have filmed the collision as it occurred. Will continue to update this post as new information is received. The flight was AA5342 inbound from Wichita, a CRJ700 operated by PSA…
As the nation mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on his enduring legacy—not only as a statesman and humanitarian but also as a key figure in reshaping the aviation industry. While Carter’s presidency is often remembered for its struggles and triumphs on the global stage, one of his…
Southwest Airlines announced the revolutionary move of…what every other airline offers. Assigned seating. It’s been ten years since Ultra Low Cost Carrier Ryanair gave up on open seating, twelve years since Easyjet gave up on it. So, why did it take half a century and why now? Southwest has always liked being different. But as…
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…
JetBlue has once again made headlines with the launch of its new service from New York’s JFK airport to Edinburgh, Scotland(EDI), which begins today. This addition marks another significant step in JetBlue’s expansion into transatlantic travel, offering passengers more options and competitive pricing on routes across the Atlantic. JetBlue’s Growing Transatlantic Network JetBlue’s foray into…
[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…
Updated August 2026 You are flying to a wedding that starts at 4 p.m. Your connecting flight is canceled, and the airline’s best alternative gets you there at 9 p.m. Technically, the airline can still transport you to your destination. Practically, there is no longer much reason to go. Airlines have a term for this…
Delta Airlines Bereavement Fares Delta Airlines is one of the few airlines that still has an official bereavement flight policy. Through a program called Delta Cares, they also can help to transport the remains of your loved one with sensitivity. They have a page devoted to bereavement fares, excerpted here: In the event of a…
Chef Anthony Thomas recently flew on a Southwest flight that was nearly empty. Southwest Airlines has open seating, and passengers can choose where to sit when they board. As seen in his tweet below, Thomas took a seat, and, out of dozens of empty rows, the only other passenger on the plane chose the seat…
Nestled in the heart of the Southeastern United States, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) serves as a vital gateway not only to the historic city of Savannah, Georgia, but also to the scenic Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. This dual-named airport encapsulates the charm and hospitality of the South, offering both convenience and a…
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…
In the world of air travel, bigger isn’t always better. Small airports in the United States offer travelers a unique and serene experience, often overlooked by the crowds and chaos of major hubs. These compact aviation gateways are characterized by efficiency, charm, and convenience. Join us on a journey to explore the eight best small…
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…
Back in 2010, we mourned the loss of the old Terminal 6 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, which was knocked down to allow JetBlue at Terminal 5 to consolidate its operations. I.M. Pei, who died in 2019 at the age of 102, was very unhappy to hear the old Terminal 6, which…
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…
Updated August 2026 If you are flying Southwest from Boston Logan, go to Terminal B. More specifically, Southwest currently lists its Boston operation as Terminal B, Pier A, using Gates 31A through 35. That “Pier A” label can be confusing. It does not mean Terminal A. Southwest is in Terminal B. Pier A is a…
United FareLock Still Around After All These Years 13 years ago, in late 2010, we wrote about a new service being offered by Continental Airlines called FareLock. We were amazed that they chose to launch this innovative new product in the middle of their merger with United Airlines. So we are pretty surprised that United…
Updated: May 2026 When FlightWisdom first covered bereavement fares back in 2006, 2008, and 2010, they were already fading. Even when more airlines offered them, the value was questionable. Today, they’re almost gone — a quaint vestige of another era, not unlike the onboard lounges of the past. We even remember a call center agent…