Passenger satisfaction is soaring — for now. Air travel hasn’t been easy as of late, with all kinds of hassles such as TSA troubles, long lines, flight delays and cancellations, and rising ticket prices and baggage fees due to rising jet fuel costs. Even with all the trouble, overall satisfaction with airlines in North America … Read more
A former Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to disable the engines of a 2023 passenger flight while riding off duty in the cockpit — after taking psychedelic mushrooms — pleaded guilty or no contest to all charges Friday and expressed regret for endangering passengers and damaging his profession. Joseph Emerson, who was restrained by the … Read more
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) PreCheck has always been a golden ticket to getting ahead in security lines at the airport — and now the system is about to get even quicker at select airports with specific airlines. Typically, travelers with TSA PreCheck must show a boarding pass or ID with the PreCheck indicator before proceeding … Read more
An Alaska Airlines flight attendant moved people to tears after giving an elderly man a heartfelt note on his last trip before he passed. The touching sendoff was detailed in a Reddit post that the deceased’s granddaughter penned to the carrier. “Just wanted to say thank you — and to let you know how much … Read more
They got guidelines for remaining on cloud nine. While jet-setting off to their destination “I Do’s” on an Alaska Airlines flight, lovebirds Kristen and Sam were showered with warm words of wisdom from fellow passengers, wishing them well ahead of their wedding. “The sweet flight attendant helped us ask people for marriage advice,” gushed Kirsten, … Read more
We’re not on board with this. A new report exposes the US airlines most guilty of overbooking their flights — a bizarre industry quirk that leaves hundreds of thousands of paying passengers grounded each year. The findings, compiled using statistics from the government’s most recent Air Travel Consumer Report, found the act of turfing ticket-holders from … Read more
An Oregon family was devastated after their dog died of overheating on an Alaska Airlines flight waiting to depart Oahu, Hawaii. “Hawaii is not dog friendly,” Angie Engelgau told KGW8 while reflecting on the tragedy. The freak accident occurred Sunday while she was waiting to fly home from Honolulu to Oregon with her husband Gary, their … Read more
Double-check your bags when flying with these carriers. A new report takes a close look at mishandled luggage over the past three years — and the numbers are jolting. Shipping site MyBaggage.com pored over a wealth of data supplied by the U.S. Department of Transportion that details the total amount of luggage — including wheelchairs and … Read more
Some airlines are really taking off with customers — and others should be grounded, flyers say. J.D. Power released its 2024 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, which broke down how travelers graded their carriers from top to bottom. Close to 1,000 passengers were surveyed on how they experienced a flight just as the industry sees a … Read more
These airlines have taken a nosedive when it comes to punctuality. A new report reveals which US flyers are putting up with the most delays and cancellations at a time when air travel is already chaotic. Studying 2023 data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, NerdWallet calculated 10 airlines’ on-time arrival rates. The analysis comes … Read more
Catch it if you can. Éric Béteille, a content designer at Meta who lives in San Diego, California said he lost his AirTag on an Alaska Airlines flight in July and since then he’s watched the tracking device travel to 37 different cities. Béteille said he realized his AirTag was traveling without him by accident. … Read more
Don’t expect air travel to soar at new heights this summer. The ongoing drama with Boeing is poised to hamper travel in the upcoming months, experts warn, as airlines scramble to distance themselves from the embattled airplane maker. Boeing is currently weathering a storm of negative press after a door plug blew off a January Alaska … Read more
An Alaska Airlines passenger and her dog were reunited Thursday after the pet was accidentally left off a flight from North Carolina to Seattle and later escaped the airport, the airline said. The dog, named Moose, was supposed to have flown on a flight out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport with its owner on Tuesday night, … Read more
It’s just a bit of turbulence — nothing to be concerned about, one aviation expert claims. Longtime commercial pilot and San Jose State lecturer Scott Miller is out to soothe travelers’ worries in the wake of what’s been three chaotic months of extremely public airline problems. “I don’t see a rise in the incidents that … Read more
Here we go again. Embattled Alaska Airlines is at the center of a second aviation drama after a plane arrived at an airport gate in Portland, Ore. last Friday with its cargo door open. The cargo hold was stowing passenger’s pets, according to local TV station KOIN, although none of the animals were injured. The … Read more
Is your favorite carrier in the no-fly zone? The Wall Street Journal released its listing of the nine best and worst airlines in the U.S. for 2023 in a ranking that’s seen some shakeups since the year prior. The last-place airline blames its futility on New York City airports facing notable challenges with weather and … Read more
But did he watch “Battle Galactica” on the plane? Rainn Wilson was recently taken aback when an Alaska Airlines flight attendant secretly slipped him a napkin at the airport. “‘The Office’ got me through some of the darkest days of my life,” the message read. “I can’t thank you enough for that. Sincerely, Melanie (Alaska flight … Read more
Boeing 737 door not included. Most air travelers are fixated on the things they’re not allowed to bring on a flight when checking in at the airport — however, there are some sweet and lesser-known freebies they’re entitled to when on board. Beyond the complimentary chips and protein bars, several airlines have signature, easter-egg-like souvenirs … Read more
Delta Air Lines is being crowned the most on-time North American carrier again in 2023, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The report, published Tuesday, said Delta flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled gate arrival time 84.72% of the time during the year. The Atlanta-based carrier has received the No. 1 position among … Read more
This canine was not happy with her seating assignment. Sputnik, a Shiba Inu, had more than enough legroom during her Alaskan Airlines flight last week as she chewed her way through the metal gate of her kennel. In a now-viral social media post, TikTok user John Krajewski shared a video of Sputnik standing at the … Read more