View from the Wing

View from the Wing

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Gary Leff’s long-running personal blog covering the business of travel, airline strategy, loyalty programs, and hotel trends.

Rumor: Southwest To Ban Carry-On Bags On Its Cheapest Tickets
NewsApr 11, 2026

Rumor: Southwest To Ban Carry-On Bags On Its Cheapest Tickets

Southwest Airlines is reportedly evaluating a policy that would bar passengers on its lowest‑fare tickets from bringing carry‑on bags onto the aircraft. The move would force those travelers to check their roll‑aboards, generating additional bag‑fee revenue and potentially speeding up...

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United Airlines Maintenance Hung Out The Cockpit Window With A Coat Hanger — They Had To Swap The Jet
NewsApr 10, 2026

United Airlines Maintenance Hung Out The Cockpit Window With A Coat Hanger — They Had To Swap The Jet

United Airlines maintenance staff were filmed using a coat hanger to nudge a small angle‑of‑attack vane on a Boeing 737’s cockpit window during a Newark‑Austin flight. The improvised fix caused a 2.5‑hour delay while the aircraft was swapped for another. The...

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Best-Ever 200,000-Point IHG Business Card Bonus
NewsApr 10, 2026

Best-Ever 200,000-Point IHG Business Card Bonus

Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card now offers a record‑breaking 200,000‑point sign‑up bonus. Cardholders earn 140,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first three months and an additional 60,000 points after $9,000 total spend in six months. The...

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Flight Attendant Fired Over Onboard Lingerie Selfies — Then She Took The Airline To Court
NewsApr 10, 2026

Flight Attendant Fired Over Onboard Lingerie Selfies — Then She Took The Airline To Court

China Southern terminated veteran chief flight attendant Guo after she posted lingerie selfies on WeChat during a delayed flight in October 2019. The airline cited misuse of work time and violation of online conduct rules, while Guo argued the post...

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Passenger Touched A Flight Attendant’s Buttocks, Claimed China-Malaysia Relations Made It Okay
NewsApr 10, 2026

Passenger Touched A Flight Attendant’s Buttocks, Claimed China-Malaysia Relations Made It Okay

A Chinese passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight 318 was removed after patting a flight attendant’s buttocks, claiming the gesture was harmless because China‑Malaysia relations are friendly. The Airbus A330 departed Kuala Lumpur for Beijing Daxing 1 hour and 16 minutes...

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Frontier Pilot Slams On The Brakes After Two Trucks Cut Off His Plane At LAX: “Closest I’ve Ever Seen”
NewsApr 10, 2026

Frontier Pilot Slams On The Brakes After Two Trucks Cut Off His Plane At LAX: “Closest I’ve Ever Seen”

Frontier Airlines Flight 3216, an Airbus A321neo carrying 217 passengers, was forced to slam on its brakes after two service trucks entered its taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport. The pilot reported the near‑miss to air traffic control, noting it was the...

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Don’t Miss The Chase 100,000 Point Ink Business Preferred Bonus
NewsApr 9, 2026

Don’t Miss The Chase 100,000 Point Ink Business Preferred Bonus

Chase has re‑launched the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card with a 100,000‑point sign‑up bonus after $8,000 of spend in the first three months. The card delivers 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and social‑media ad...

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Delta And JetBlue Quietly Started Charging To Check Bags Curbside At Some Airports — $3.50 For What Used To Be...
NewsApr 9, 2026

Delta And JetBlue Quietly Started Charging To Check Bags Curbside At Some Airports — $3.50 For What Used To Be...

Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have begun charging a $3.50 fee for curbside baggage check at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, joining American and Southwest in a model that outsources the service to Bags, Inc. The arrangement replaces airline staff with lower‑paid...

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Passenger Boarded A Flight Only To Learn Their Seat 27E Didn’t Exist
NewsApr 8, 2026

Passenger Boarded A Flight Only To Learn Their Seat 27E Didn’t Exist

A passenger on a Lisbon flight discovered that seat 27E on their boarding pass did not exist after the airline swapped the aircraft at the last minute. The original six‑abreast plane was replaced by a four‑abreast regional jet, but the...

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Software Company Flew 120 Employees To Honduras For A Survivor-Style Retreat — It Turned Into A Fyre Festival
NewsApr 8, 2026

Software Company Flew 120 Employees To Honduras For A Survivor-Style Retreat — It Turned Into A Fyre Festival

Plex, a software firm, flew 120 remote employees to Honduras in 2017 for a week‑long, Survivor‑style retreat that cost roughly $500,000. The event unraveled before arrival: the hotel’s general manager quit weeks earlier, the head chef left days before, and...

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Marriott Lets Westin LAX Charge A $20 Cash Fee To Redeem Your Points [Roundup]
NewsApr 7, 2026

Marriott Lets Westin LAX Charge A $20 Cash Fee To Redeem Your Points [Roundup]

Marriott has allowed the Westin Los Angeles airport hotel to impose a $20 cash co‑pay on Bonvoy point redemptions, sparking criticism of destination fees in the hotel industry. Unlike Hilton and Hyatt, which forbid extra charges on free‑night awards, Marriott’s policy...

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Rove Miles Adds Virgin Atlantic And Virgin Red As 1:1 Transfer Partners
NewsApr 7, 2026

Rove Miles Adds Virgin Atlantic And Virgin Red As 1:1 Transfer Partners

Rove Miles has announced Virgin Atlantic and its retail arm Virgin Red as new 1:1 transfer partners, joining its existing roster across Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam and non‑alliance carriers. The addition strengthens Rove’s SkyTeam connections and gives members access to...

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Delta Pilots Earn Up To $465.13 An Hour — They Want A Fast New Deal Before The Window Closes
NewsApr 7, 2026

Delta Pilots Earn Up To $465.13 An Hour — They Want A Fast New Deal Before The Window Closes

Delta Air Lines and the ALPA pilots union have opened negotiations for a new contract ahead of the December 31, 2026 amendable date. The union’s opening proposal focuses on higher pay rates, improved layover hotels, expanded personal‑travel non‑revenue opportunities, and greater schedule...

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White House Budget Bans COVID Air Travel Mask Mandates — Four Years After They Already Ended
NewsApr 6, 2026

White House Budget Bans COVID Air Travel Mask Mandates — Four Years After They Already Ended

The White House’s FY2027 budget proposal for the Department of Transportation includes a provision that bars any federal funds from being used to enforce COVID‑19 mask mandates on aircraft. The federal mask requirement, which was struck down by a judge...

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Using A VPN Could Subject You To Government Surveillance, Senators Warn [Roundup]
NewsApr 5, 2026

Using A VPN Could Subject You To Government Surveillance, Senators Warn [Roundup]

U.S. senators have cautioned that using commercial VPNs, many of which are foreign‑owned, could inadvertently waive privacy protections and expose Americans to government surveillance. The Department of Homeland Security notes billions are spent each year on such services, highlighting potential...

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Pilot Flew A Jet With A Taped-On Tail Number — Then Ignored An FAA Warning And Lost His License For...
NewsApr 4, 2026

Pilot Flew A Jet With A Taped-On Tail Number — Then Ignored An FAA Warning And Lost His License For...

A private pilot flew a Cessna Citation 550 with a taped‑on tail number after the FAA warned the aircraft was displaying the wrong registration and lacked a matching airworthiness certificate. The pilot ignored the condition notice and returned to Texas, prompting...

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Toys On The Floor, Shoes Off, Blankets Everywhere — Delta Sky Clubs Are Not Playrooms
NewsApr 3, 2026

Toys On The Floor, Shoes Off, Blankets Everywhere — Delta Sky Clubs Are Not Playrooms

A family in Delta’s Seattle Sky Club turned a four‑seat area into a makeshift play zone, removing shoes, spreading toys and blankets across the carpet. While Delta’s house rules require attire and behavior that maintain a dignified atmosphere, the incident...

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Delta Accused Of Kicking Muslim Family Off Flight — International Treaty Means They Never Get Their Day In Court
NewsApr 3, 2026

Delta Accused Of Kicking Muslim Family Off Flight — International Treaty Means They Never Get Their Day In Court

A Maryland appeals court ruled that the 1999 Montreal Convention, which governs international airline liability, bars damages for wrongful deplaning when no physical injury or death occurs. Delta argued the Rome‑Atlanta‑Baltimore itinerary fell under the treaty, and the court agreed,...

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Delta Adds New York Times To Seatback Screens — ‘Free Access’ Is Really A Subscription Pitch
NewsApr 2, 2026

Delta Adds New York Times To Seatback Screens — ‘Free Access’ Is Really A Subscription Pitch

Delta Air Lines has partnered with The New York Times to provide SkyMiles members aged 18 and older with free, all‑access NYT content through its seat‑back entertainment system, Delta Sync. The offer grants up to 24‑hour access and can be used up to...

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Passengers Keep Stealing From Carry-On Bags On Hong Kong Flights — But Cabin Cameras Still Aren’t Standard
NewsApr 2, 2026

Passengers Keep Stealing From Carry-On Bags On Hong Kong Flights — But Cabin Cameras Still Aren’t Standard

A passenger on a Hong Kong Express flight from Phu Quoc to Hong Kong caught a thief rummaging through carry‑on bags, prompting police to intervene after cash was discovered missing. Airline data reveal more than 15 theft incidents per month...

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Southwest Quietly Expanded Its Privacy Policy — Now Customers Fear Dynamic Pricing And Biometric Tracking
NewsApr 1, 2026

Southwest Quietly Expanded Its Privacy Policy — Now Customers Fear Dynamic Pricing And Biometric Tracking

Southwest Airlines announced an update to its privacy policy, expanding data collection permissions. The revised terms allow the airline to gather session replay, mouse movements, Wi‑Fi usage, location data, and even audio/video at airports. Analysts fear these capabilities could enable...

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Delta One Lounge At JFK Makes Guests Check Bags Before Dinner — Then Asks Them To Tip In SkyMiles
NewsMar 31, 2026

Delta One Lounge At JFK Makes Guests Check Bags Before Dinner — Then Asks Them To Tip In SkyMiles

Delta’s flagship Delta One lounge at JFK has introduced a new “no‑bags‑allowed” rule in its dining room, requiring guests to check luggage before entering. The airline also rolled out a digital tip prompt that lets passengers tip staff with SkyMiles,...

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Air India Will Start Weighing Flight Attendants — Overweight Crew Will Be Pulled From Flights Without Pay
NewsMar 31, 2026

Air India Will Start Weighing Flight Attendants — Overweight Crew Will Be Pulled From Flights Without Pay

Air India will enforce a new Cabin‑Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy starting May 1, requiring flight attendants to maintain a BMI between 18 and 24.9, with conditional allowances up to 29.9. Crew members with a BMI of 30 or higher...

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This Tiny Amex Lounge In Fort Lauderdale Had A 150-Person Wait List — Travelers Will Queue For Anything Labeled Premium
NewsMar 30, 2026

This Tiny Amex Lounge In Fort Lauderdale Had A 150-Person Wait List — Travelers Will Queue For Anything Labeled Premium

A tiny 5,400‑square‑foot Escape Lounge at Fort Lauderdale’s Terminal 3 has attracted a waitlist of over 150 travelers, despite its modest amenities. The lounge, co‑branded with American Express, does not honor complimentary entry for Platinum cardholders and instead charges $45 per...

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Yikes: Delta Regional Jet Was Landing At LaGuardia — The Wrong Controller Asks, “Where Are You?”
NewsMar 29, 2026

Yikes: Delta Regional Jet Was Landing At LaGuardia — The Wrong Controller Asks, “Where Are You?”

On March 15, Delta Connection flight 5752, operated by Republic Airways, mistakenly tuned to JFK Tower’s 119.1 MHz instead of LaGuardia Tower’s 118.7 MHz while on final approach to LaGuardia. The crew received a landing clearance from JFK before realizing the error,...

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Passengers Say Delta Regional Flight Was Held For CEO’s Daughter — And She Was Given Someone Else’s First Class Seat
NewsMar 28, 2026

Passengers Say Delta Regional Flight Was Held For CEO’s Daughter — And She Was Given Someone Else’s First Class Seat

Delta flight 4279 from Salt Lake City to St. George was delayed 53 minutes after boarding while crew waited for a late‑arriving passenger identified as the daughter of SkyWest CEO Russell Childs. Passengers were asked to relinquish first‑class seats, and one...

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Delta Had Empty First Class Seats — So The Gate Agent Held A Break Dance Contest
NewsMar 28, 2026

Delta Had Empty First Class Seats — So The Gate Agent Held A Break Dance Contest

Delta Air Lines faced two empty first‑class seats at Salt Lake City, prompting a gate agent to stage a break‑dance contest for the upgrades. The airline now allocates only about 12 % of first‑class seats to complimentary upgrades, down from 81 %...

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Lawsuit: Marriott Hotel Told Black Guest ‘You People’ Can’t Stay Here — Then Called Police
NewsMar 27, 2026

Lawsuit: Marriott Hotel Told Black Guest ‘You People’ Can’t Stay Here — Then Called Police

A federal civil‑rights lawsuit has been filed in Ohio alleging that a Black guest was denied a reservation at a TownePlace Suites‑Fairfield Inn, a Marriott‑branded property, after staff reportedly used the phrase “you people” and called police. The plaintiff, LeRon...

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Even If You’re Just Transiting Hong Kong, Refusing To Unlock Your Devices Is Now A Crime
NewsMar 26, 2026

Even If You’re Just Transiting Hong Kong, Refusing To Unlock Your Devices Is Now A Crime

Hong Kong has amended its National Security Law, making it a criminal offense to refuse police access to passwords or decryption assistance for any personal electronic device. The rule applies to all individuals, including U.S. citizens, whether arriving or merely transiting...

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American Airlines Is Serving $1 Shelf-Stable Pasta In First Class — While Selling A Premium Comeback
NewsMar 26, 2026

American Airlines Is Serving $1 Shelf-Stable Pasta In First Class — While Selling A Premium Comeback

American Airlines is serving a $1 shelf‑stable three‑cheese pasta on its Salt Lake City‑Philadelphia First‑Class route, a meal that must be pre‑loaded due to the airline’s lack of local catering contracts. The pasta, originally priced at 99 rupees (about US$1.05), is...

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American Express Is Opening A Previously Unreported Lounge In Shanghai — But Not Where You’d Expect
NewsMar 25, 2026

American Express Is Opening A Previously Unreported Lounge In Shanghai — But Not Where You’d Expect

American Express is quietly adding a new lounge at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport’s domestic Terminal 2, a departure from its usual focus on international hubs. The lounge targets premium short‑haul business travelers, reflecting Amex’s strategy to deepen its presence in mainland China’s...

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One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems
NewsMar 22, 2026

One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems

On March 13 the FAA halted flights at Washington National, Dulles, Baltimore, Andrews and Richmond for about two and a half hours after a strong chemical odor forced the evacuation of the Potomac TRACON. The smell originated from an overheating circuit...

By View from the Wing
United Airlines Accidentally Emailed Every Flight Attendant That They Were Moving To London [Roundup]
NewsMar 21, 2026

United Airlines Accidentally Emailed Every Flight Attendant That They Were Moving To London [Roundup]

United Airlines mistakenly emailed every flight attendant a notice that they were being transferred to London, sparking internal confusion. The error highlights the airline’s reliance on mass communications without adequate safeguards. In related travel industry news, American Airlines will equip...

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Rove Miles May Have The Best Hotel Trick In Points — Burn Miles, Earn Hotel Points And Elite Credit
NewsMar 21, 2026

Rove Miles May Have The Best Hotel Trick In Points — Burn Miles, Earn Hotel Points And Elite Credit

Rove Miles offers top‑tier earn rates for travel bookings and online shopping, crediting points instantly for prepaid hotel reservations. The program also awards hotel loyalty points and elite status credit when users book hotels through its platform, effectively turning a...

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Citibank Is Slashing Points Transfers To Two Partners April 19 — One Drops 25%, The Other 50%
NewsMar 20, 2026

Citibank Is Slashing Points Transfers To Two Partners April 19 — One Drops 25%, The Other 50%

Citibank announced that, effective April 19 2026, its Premium ThankYou Rewards cards will transfer points to Choice Privileges at a 25 percent reduced rate and to Preferred Hotels I Prefer at a 50 percent reduced rate. The former moves from 1,000 ThankYou points for 2,000 Choice points to 1,500,...

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Lufthansa Is Testing Dirtier Coach Cabins — While Business Class Still Gets Cleaned Between Flights
NewsMar 20, 2026

Lufthansa Is Testing Dirtier Coach Cabins — While Business Class Still Gets Cleaned Between Flights

Lufthansa is piloting a reduced‑cleaning regimen for economy cabins on 20 short‑haul routes, while business class continues to be cleaned between flights. The test, running through March 29, limits lavatory cleaning to passenger requests and removes seat‑back trash only when necessary,...

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Air India Made Passengers Endure A 14-Hour Flight To Nowhere — It Sent An Ex-Delta Plane Without Enough Oxygen For...
NewsMar 20, 2026

Air India Made Passengers Endure A 14-Hour Flight To Nowhere — It Sent An Ex-Delta Plane Without Enough Oxygen For...

Air India’s Delhi‑Vancouver flight 185 turned back after seven hours when the airline discovered it had dispatched an ex‑Delta Boeing 777‑200LR lacking the mandatory emergency‑oxygen system for high‑terrain routes. The aircraft, registered VT‑AEI, was part of a leased sub‑fleet not approved...

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U.S. and Canadian Fighter Jets Scrambled After Passenger Stole Frequent Flyer Miles And Flew Under Someone Else’s Identity
NewsMar 19, 2026

U.S. and Canadian Fighter Jets Scrambled After Passenger Stole Frequent Flyer Miles And Flew Under Someone Else’s Identity

On March 18, 2026 NORAD scrambled Canadian CF‑18s and U.S. F‑16s to escort two international flights bound for Montreal after authorities discovered a passenger had used stolen Aeroplan miles and a false identity. The incident, involving a man who was already listed...

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This Dad Is A Vacation Hero — Sprinting For Pool Chairs So His Family Can Actually Relax
NewsMar 19, 2026

This Dad Is A Vacation Hero — Sprinting For Pool Chairs So His Family Can Actually Relax

A growing number of resort guests are sprinting for pool chairs, turning a simple leisure activity into a competitive sport. High‑priced hotels often provide insufficient loungers, forcing families to arrive before dawn or even sleep on chairs to secure a...

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United CEO Scott Kirby Says Buying JetBlue Is Up To Them — As Government Travel Falls 50%
NewsMar 18, 2026

United CEO Scott Kirby Says Buying JetBlue Is Up To Them — As Government Travel Falls 50%

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told investors that government travel is down roughly 50%, eroding about 4‑5% of the carrier’s revenue. United is responding by retiring 21 aircraft early, cutting redeye flights and shifting its yield‑management system to fill seats...

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United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]
NewsMar 15, 2026

United Flight Attendants Havent Had A Raise In 5.5 Years — But Their Union Dues Are Still Going Up [Roundup]

United Airlines flight attendants have not received a wage increase in 5.5 years, with only a 2% bump in 2020, while union dues are set to rise. The American Flight Attendants (AFA) union reports that 91% of its members feel...

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American Airlines Flight Attendant Spots a Phone Pointed at a Woman — Makes a Smart Safety Check in a ‘Couldn’t...
NewsMar 13, 2026

American Airlines Flight Attendant Spots a Phone Pointed at a Woman — Makes a Smart Safety Check in a ‘Couldn’t...

A video from an American Airlines flight shows a flight attendant noticing a passenger’s phone aimed at a woman’s back. She promptly asked if the two were traveling together and, after confirmation, eased the situation with a light comment about...

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Hyatt Business Card Hits A Record 80,000 Points — The Fastest Way To Spend Toward Status
NewsMar 13, 2026

Hyatt Business Card Hits A Record 80,000 Points — The Fastest Way To Spend Toward Status

Hyatt’s World of Hyatt Business Credit Card now offers a record‑breaking 80,000 bonus points after $10,000 of spending in the first three months, up from the prior 60,000‑point offer tied to a $5,000 spend. The card accelerates elite night credits,...

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United Airlines Sued After 4-Year-Old Is Burned By 200-Degree Tea — But Airline Liability Is Capped
NewsMar 12, 2026

United Airlines Sued After 4-Year-Old Is Burned By 200-Degree Tea — But Airline Liability Is Capped

United Airlines faces a lawsuit after a four‑year‑old was scalded by 200‑degree tea on a Newark‑Tel Aviv flight. The plaintiff relies on the Montreal Convention, which obliges carriers to compensate for onboard injuries but caps damages at about $216,000. The dispute...

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American Airlines Flight Attendants Union Brings Back Strike-Threat Pins — But Still Will Not Say What It Wants
NewsMar 11, 2026

American Airlines Flight Attendants Union Brings Back Strike-Threat Pins — But Still Will Not Say What It Wants

American Airlines flight attendants have revived the red “WAR” pins from the W e A R e campaign, signaling renewed readiness to strike despite the National Mediation Board’s refusal to authorize one. The union publicly voted no confidence in CEO...

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Frontier Passenger Tells a Flight Attendant “Get Out of My Way” — Threatens to Fight the Crew Booting Him Off
NewsMar 11, 2026

Frontier Passenger Tells a Flight Attendant “Get Out of My Way” — Threatens to Fight the Crew Booting Him Off

On February 27 a Frontier Airlines passenger on a Las Vegas‑Chicago flight confronted a flight attendant over overhead‑bin space, using profanity and demanding the crew “get out of my way.” The crew interpreted the exchange as a threat, removed the passenger...

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American Airlines London Catering May Finally Be Fixed — DO & CO Is a Big Upgrade for Premium Cabins
NewsMar 10, 2026

American Airlines London Catering May Finally Be Fixed — DO & CO Is a Big Upgrade for Premium Cabins

American Airlines faced catering problems at London Heathrow after a dispute with dnata, forcing the carrier to ship meals from the United States and limit menu options. The airline has now partnered with premium caterer DO & CO for its premium...

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Thrifty Traveler Premium Prices Jump March 14 — Lock In the Current Rate for Life and Stack $20 Off Your...
NewsMar 10, 2026

Thrifty Traveler Premium Prices Jump March 14 — Lock In the Current Rate for Life and Stack $20 Off Your...

Thrifty Traveler Premium announced a price increase effective March 14, raising its annual fee to $129.99 for the standard plan and $189.99 for Premium+. Existing members can lock in the current rates for life by subscribing now, and a promotional...

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United Airlines Business Card Bonus — 100,000 Miles + 2,000 Status Points After $5,000 Spend
NewsMar 9, 2026

United Airlines Business Card Bonus — 100,000 Miles + 2,000 Status Points After $5,000 Spend

United SM Business Card now offers a 100,000‑mile sign‑up bonus plus 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. The card carries a $150 annual fee but includes free first‑checked‑bag travel, two United Club passes, a...

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