Basic is the new luxury. United Airlines has officially launched a cheaper first-class fare — and it’s pretty basic. The airline giant will offer passengers first-class status with its new “base” fare. Starting in the fall, the Chicago-based company will roll out three fare options for United First and United Business. The new choices — … Read more
A major international airport is facing mounting scrutiny after investigators released preliminary findings into a series of runway incidents and near-collisions. The incidents, which involved passenger aircraft, all occurred at Sydney Airport during the past three months. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released preliminary reports on Sept. 30. The incidents began July 27, when a Qantas … Read more
A guy enjoying a perk simply won’t fly. Sacrificing a first-class seat on a flight is now an enlightening litmus test for romantic relationships, revealing whether a fella is chivalrous or selfish, warns an insistent influencer. “A real man is going to switch seats with you,” said Madeline McAdam, a NYC-based content creator, arguing that gallant … Read more
Economy seats conjure images of minimal legroom, uncomfortable proximity to fellow passengers, and paltry snacks. However, not all economy seats are created equal, and experts say the experience can vary from tolerable to miserable depending on the airline. To identify the best of the basic, Travel + Leisure polled travelers and travel experts and voted … Read more
It took autonomous aviation to new heights…and lengths. A single-engine prop Cessna Caravan soared into the record books after becoming the first autonomous airplane to complete a cross-country flight across the US. “This journey across America offers a glimpse into a new era of aviation,” declared JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, in … Read more
It literally blew up in his face. A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight had to turn back partway across the ocean after a power bank reportedly belonging to the ex-CEO exploded midflight. The backfire occurred while KLM Flight 735 reportedly ferrying 322 passengers from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to the Caribbean Island of Curacao on … Read more
A grieving UK mother has labeled Ryanair “inhumane” after they refused to refund her canceled flight because her teen son passed away a day too early to qualify. “It was like a slap in the face,” Tina McDermont told Kennedy News while recalling the “disgusting” and “petty” move. The 45-year-old civil servant and her husband … Read more
Frightening footage captured the dramatic moment that passengers screamed in terror as the plane appeared to fall apart during a flight across Iran. The Sepehran Airlines flight had been slated to fly from Mashhad to Kermanshah on September 15, Jam Press reported. However, disaster struck shortly after takeoff, when the Boeing 737 suffered a mechanical … Read more
Common courtesy isn’t always plane and simple — especially at 30,000 feet. A New York City tourist is receiving death threats after asking a fellow airline passenger to help lift her heavy luggage into an overhead bin on a recent flight to Hawaii. Her request — and her seatmate’s alleged “rude as f*** response” — … Read more
She’s serving up airplane doos and don’t’s. Baby poop particles are the undetectable, undesirable condiments likely contaminating those pretzels, cookies and in-flight bites frequent flyers eat from their tray tables at 30,000 feet, cautions a cabin crew pro. “People change their kids diapers on those tray tables on airplanes; that’s why, as a flight attendant, I don’t … Read more
Labor Day is upon us, marking one of the year’s busiest weekends for air travel, and while many will be taking to the friendly skies, not everyone will get where they’re going on time. To help travelers plan and pad their time accordingly, a new ranking reveals which airlines and airports are the biggest culprits … Read more
American Airlines is expanding its international network in 2027 with seven new routes, three new destinations and more service between New York and London. The Texas-based carrier said Thursday that all its newly announced summer routes will operate daily. Tickets go on sale Aug. 31 through American’s website and mobile app. “Our international network has … Read more
Another day, another Day. This week, some folks will be celebrating National Bacon Day, National Tooth Fairy Day and National Soft Ice Cream Day. But buckle up, because the greatest “Day” for affordable airfare is about to take off. National Cheap Flights Day lands on August 23 every year Studio Romantic – stock.adobe.com National Cheap … Read more
Navigating a world with peanut allergies can be… well, nuts. Even if you’re not the one who’s allergic. More than six million Americans have a food allergy, and peanuts are the third-most common allergen. And it doesn’t just impact those who can’t eat it: Because reactions can be deadly, peanut-free policies and other restrictions are … Read more
Things are seating up. A Virgin Australia passenger, Shane Hryhorec, was recently booted from his flight all thanks to his wheelchair. The Adelaide-born flyer — who uses a wheelchair after a tragic swimming accident in 2007 left him disabled — boarded the plane with his service dog and a SmartDrive battery. This is a device … Read more
As parents, we all know that flying with kids, toddlers, and babies is not fun. The anxiety and stress parents feel while boarding is immense, regardless of the age of their children. Charlotte Heinrich Freeman recently learned that the hard way while traveling with her two children: her toddler daughter, Mimi, and her son, Freddie, … Read more
They treated it like a plane-ground. A cross-Canada flight had to be canceled after a misbehaving tot refused to fasten their seat belt, stranding the passengers until the following day. The ludicrous incident occurred on Thursday, Aug. 6, after Porter Airlines flight PD444 had departed the terminal at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) in British Columbia … Read more
Researchers are gearing up to resume their search for Amelia Earhart’s lost plane in the Pacific Ocean after setbacks delayed the search. Purdue University officials said in a recent statement that researchers will travel to Nikumaroro Island in the Pacific to investigate the Taraia Object, a satellite-imaged anomaly believed by some to be Earhart’s lost Lockheed Electra. The expedition, … Read more
Bye-bye boarding lines. The sharing of posh private jets among travelers has soared to record heights in the US as many residents are getting wealthier and turning up their noses at commercial flying. While owning a plane is still impractical for many flyers — with prices for a new small jet starting around $14 million … Read more
For passengers on the budget Australian airline Jetstar, the days of cramming your bag into an overhead locker already full of your seatmates’ full-sized suitcases are coming to an end, but there’s a catch. The carrier will charge passengers for stowing carry-on bags in the overhead compartments, beginning in February 2027. The move came after passengers and … Read more