Passengers on South African low-cost carrier FlySafair were filmed passing banknotes up the aisle during boarding, like they were paying fares onboard in a minibus taxi. It’s a joke—FlySafair is cashless for inflight purchases—but it points to a real throwback: airlines like People Express once let travelers board without tickets and then sold fares in the cabin. Here’s how that worked, and why it’s basically impossible in modern U.S. air travel.
“Are you from Florida?” was all it took to set off a passenger on a Frontier flight—she erupted at a flight attendant, repeatedly accusing the crewmember of having an “issue with minorities” and claiming she’d been “triggered.”
The flight attendant stayed calm, told her she was “in control of your own actions,” called for security, and the woman was removed from the flight.
A Delta flight attendant noticed a toddler “needed a job,” so she put her to work. Minutes later, the pint-sized helper was marching down the aisle with a trash bag, politely asking passengers, “Trash, please” — and the whole cabin played along.
Millions have watched the same gut-punch: a checked suitcase rolls onto the baggage claim carousel already popped open, dumping clothes out in public while everyone stares. It’s a perfect illustration of why checking bags is a time tax and a trust exercise you usually lose—so pack lighter, keep what matters with you, and treat anything you do check as disposable.
American Airlines may be looking at Porto, Portugal as its next growth move in a country where Lisbon is effectively capped, with the obvious play being Philadelphia.
Delta seatback screens were showing the route map—while the bulkhead screen up front had an R-rated director cut instead.
Also in today’s roundup: Labubu pop-ups take over Denver airport, a China mall uses toilet doors that turn transparent if someone smokes, a Lyft business profile can earn higher Alaska/United/Hilton rewards, a new SFO program lets neurodiverse travelers practice the boarding and inflight experience, and it is the final week for that Rakuten referral offer.
Etihad’s Abu Dhabi–Hong Kong flight is showing up again and again in theft reports—passengers say valuables vanished from bags in the overhead bin while the cabin slept, and police have repeatedly been waiting at the gate on arrival.
A New Orleans Marriott put up a sign that reads “Benches Are For Employees Only,” and guests are reading it as a pretty blunt message. The real story is a clumsy attempt at loitering control that manages to insult guests while failing to solve the underlying problem.
Complimentary elite upgrades have largely disappeared, with airlines like Delta and American selling premium seats cheaply rather than rewarding loyalty. Instead of pretending upgrades still exist, airlines should replace them outright with meaningful first-class discounts—benefiting frequent flyers and airline bottom lines alike.
“We’ll text you when your room’s ready”—but luxury hotels rarely follow through. These common “luxury lies” don’t just frustrate, they steal your time. From fake upgrades to eco-friendly cost cuts, here’s how high-end hotels consistently fail at delivering genuine hospitality.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
