Talking to people on planes is a hotly debated topic. Some stick with their plan to stay silent: wine, window seat, eye mask. Others open themselves up to conversation, and even end up meeting their soulmates. Bottom line? Most people have a story about meeting someone on a plane—good or bad.READ MORE
United Airlines caused itself a PR nightmare by having a passenger violently dragged off a plane after overbooking a flight earlier this week. And while lots of variables coalesced for this disaster, it also sparked a discussion over the industry’s practice of overselling and involuntary denials of boarding (IDBs). Bad for United; good for consumers. Despite all the current negative press, however, United can take solace in one fact: it’s not the worst major U.S. airline when it comes to booting people off planes.
According to the Department of Transporation’s most recent Air Travel Consumer Report, the unfortunate crown goes to Southwest Airlines, with a rate of 0.99 IDBs per 10,000 passengers in 2016. Effectively, that means for every 10,000 people who get on Southwest planes, one is getting kicked off. Hawaiian Airlines had the best rate, at 0.05 IDBs per 10,000 passengers, while United earned fifth place, at 0.43 IDBs per 10,000 passengers. Additionally, United’s rate actually dropped 55 percent from 2015, when it had 0.77 IDBs per 10,000.
Overall, Southwest had the highest total IDBs last year, at 14,979, about a third of the 40,629 passengers across 12 carriers. To be fair, Southwest also had the most domestic passengers of any airline, at 150,655,354, while United had 86,836,527 and Hawaiian had 10,824,495. Still, not the best look for Southwest.
The monthly study from the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (OAEP) “is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by the airlines,” by tracking statistics such as consumer complaints, flight delays, and, of course, oversales, the topic du jour. Two regional carriers, ExpressJet and SkyWest, were also included in the study.
Here’s the full list of the worst airlines and their rates, in terms of oversale IDBs. And remember: just because you bought a ticket, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a seat.
Southwest Airlines 0.99
JetBlue Airlines 0.92
American Airlines 0.64
Frontier Airlines 0.58
Spirit Airlines 0.58
United Airlines 0.43
Alaska Airlines 0.40
Virgin America 0.12
Delta Air Lines 0.10
Hawaiian Airlines 0.05
We all deserve a good vacation, but every seasoned traveler knows there is a certain point where happiness peaks and homesickness starts to set in. A new study from the University of Tampere in Finland has pinpointed how long your next trip should be to maximize enjoyment and return home refreshed.READ MORE
There are frivolous lawsuits, and then there’s this. Earlier this year, a Quebec man named Daniel Macduff booked an outgoing flight to Cuba on Canadian airline Sunwing. As part of its package, Sunwing promised a complimentary on-board Champagne toast, per the BBC. Like any good connoisseur of bubbly, Daniel Macduff knows that for a sparkling wine to be labeled “Champagne,” it must be produced in Champagne, France. But Champagne from Champagne Daniel Macduff did not receive. Instead, he was served a “sparkling wine” of more humble origins that could not, in good faith, be called Champagne.
And so, he sued.
The class-action lawsuit now has the support of around 1,600 other presumably outraged Champagne purists, who have signed on as potential plaintiffs, the National Post reports. According to the paper, Macduff’s lawyer says the suit is less about the discernible differences in terroir of Champagne versus that of its impostors than it is about false advertising.
“You have to go beyond the pettiness of the [wine cost] per head,” he said Tuesday, according to the Post. “What’s important is you’re trying to lure consumers by marketing something, and you’re not giving them that something… It’s a dishonest practice.”
Officials at the Transportation Security Administration thought they had the solution for long lines at airports: “PreCheck” – It has not worked as planned.
It has not worked as planned.
Customers who apply for the program, which requires a fee of $85 and a background check, say they continue to face long waits to obtain the PreCheck clearance. Such delays could grow worse because the number of people signing up for PreCheck has more than tripled in the last few months, climbing to 16,000 a day on average in May, agency officials said.
That surge has led to long delays in processing applications. Dozens of passengers who have recently tried to sign up for PreCheck say they have been given appointments for the in-person interviews needed to complete the process that are weeks or even months away.
Tokyo ready for lunch, or that induce a fatigue so great it’s difficult to keep your eyes open, even walking down La Rambla. Yes, we’re talking about jet lag—but thankfully, solving it may not be too far off.
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TSA Lines: Why They’re So Long, and What You Can Do About It
With travelers increasingly frustrated, the Transportation Security Administration has finally spoken.
Long lines at airports are nothing new. Yet in recent weeks, understaffing, heightened periods of travel, and stricter security measures have created a perfect storm and brought the issue to a boiling point: Port Authority has threatened to replace the TSA with private contractors, and airlines have spoken out on behalf of the traveler. There’s even a designated hashtag—#IHateTheWait—and viral videos of passengers stuck in long lines, and at airports overnight. Now, the TSA is finally addressing the issueREAD MORE
How to Travel With an Engagement Ring
You’ve picked a proposal location—now how do you get the ring there without ruining the surprise?
There are all kinds of reasons to propose while you’re on a trip—perhaps it’s a place that has sentimental meaning for you and your significant other, or it’s when he or she will least expect it. Or maybe you just want a spectacular backdrop for the big moment. Regardless, additional complications come up when you’re surreptitiously traveling with a ring—what happens if TSA rifles through your baggage? Or if you set off a metal detector? Where in the hotel room do you hide an engagement ring? We lay out the logistics of traveling with a ring—so you can focus on the rest of the proposal.READ MORE
Bordeaux is the wine capital of the world, renowned for its rich history, generated by 800 years of viticulture, commerce and trade. But these days, there’s much more to this city than lush vineyards and delicious grapes.
It’s a great fusion of big city life but contained in a village-like atmosphere – Gordon RamsayREAD MORE
Consumer Traveler Today: Senator calls for FAA investigation of runaway fees
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) late last month, called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate hidden, runaway fuel surcharges and airline fees that can double passenger fares despite plummeting fuel costs.
This is a part of the long-running effort to have airlines be more transparent READ MORE