Southwest Airlines moved from flexible open seating to strict assigned seats overnight—now passengers report being forced to remain squeezed next to travelers spilling into their space, even when entire rows remain empty.
Amex Centurion lounges offer exclusive seating areas for Black Card holders—complete with reserved seats and better champagne—but a growing number of Platinum members have realized these premium sections are rarely monitored.
An American Airlines flight departing Phoenix was abruptly stopped by air traffic control after pilots spotted a man wandering onto the runway, waving his arms, forcing authorities to quickly intervene.
A viral travel hack suggests running your underwear through a hotel room coffee maker with boiling water—then blow-drying it and making coffee in the same machine the next morning. The clip has reignited long-standing warnings about what really happens inside in-room brewers—and why many travelers refuse to use them at all.
United Airlines flight attendants are being flagged and fired over sick leave abuse—especially when calling in sick right after vacation—and the airline’s union says the company is using advanced technology to track suspicious absences. Plus, British Airways accidentally leaked its new A380 seat map, and Corey Lewandowski reportedly broke aviation safety rules before firing a DHS pilot mid-flight.
Passenger seats in a plane’s exit row suddenly collapsed backward during takeoff, slamming into the row behind and raising fresh concerns about maintenance and safety standards at an airline already under scrutiny. Though no injuries were reported, the incident highlights troubling issues surrounding Lion Air-owned Batik Air.
A Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite member sparked viral backlash after publicly demanding a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at the Westin Puerto Vallarta, despite violent cartel retaliation outside the resort causing widespread flight cancellations and roadblocks. The internet quickly mocked the entitled complaint amid the dangerous situation.
Suspending Global Entry during the government shutdown has created chaos at U.S. airports, resulting in massive lines, compromised security screening, and growing economic damage—including a worsened trade deficit due to reduced international travel. Instead of saving resources, the policy decision by DHS is increasing staff demands, weakening border security, and harming the administration’s own economic goals.
A Delta Boeing 737 carrying 179 passengers suffered an engine failure seconds after taking off from Savannah, causing sparks, loud booms, and igniting a grass fire near the runway. Despite powerful winds fanning the flames, the crew safely returned the aircraft to the airport about 27 minutes later, and no injuries were reported.
Mexican cartel retaliation has disrupted flights and triggered airport panic in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Manzanillo following the killing of CJNG drug boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera by government forces. Airlines have canceled flights amid violence, narco blockades, and widespread chaos impacting travelers across western Mexico.
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 »
