Delta has removed the second barcode from its printed boarding passes, a change agents often describe as ink-saving but which Delta says also improves compatibility with airport scanners. Both explanations are true — the legacy 1-D code caused read errors, and dropping it also cuts print costs at scale.
SNL’s ‘Thanksgiving Week Airport Parade’ Nails Holiday Travel — Newark, Fake Service Animals, Drunk Pilots and All
SNL’s “Thanksgiving Week Airport Parade” may be two years old, but its send-up of Thanksgiving air travel—Newark jokes, fake service animals, frazzled TSA agents, restless kids, and even a “crazy plane lady”—still feels uncomfortably accurate today. If you dread flying this week, the sketch is worth revisiting.
A Hotel Owner Tested Old Key Cards At Marriott, Hyatt, And Westin — Why They Still Opened Lounge, Gym And Elevators Months Later
A longtime reader who owned a hotel decided to test something most properties assume never happens: what old key cards can still open long after checkout. Across Marriott, Hyatt, and Westin—at airport and city hotels alike—his months-old cards kept unlocking lounges, gyms, and even elevator access. The results say far more about how these systems are actually configured than hotels would ever admit.
Air Canada Passenger Goes Viral With Accusation of Six-Month-Expired Meal — Because She Read the Date the American Way
A video went viral after an Air Canada passenger claimed her inflight meal was six months expired, pointing to packaging labeled “05/11/2025” and “06/11/2025.” The issue: she read the dates using the U.S. month/day format instead of the day/month format used by Canada and most of the world.
Delta and SAS Have $1,600s Roundtrip Business Class to Europe — Rare Sub-$2,000 Fare Wide Open Into May
Delta and SAS are offering rare sub-$2,000 roundtrip business class fares to Europe, with prices in the $1,600s to cities like Rome, Milan, Vienna and Copenhagen. The sale is wide open from January through May 2026, includes Saturday-night stays, and is bookable through December 2 unless pulled earlier.
Southwest Said Her Service Dog Had an ‘Accident’ — And Then Required $150 for Him to Fly
A Southwest Airlines passenger says the carrier refused to let her service dog fly for free after staff claimed the dog had an “accident” in the terminal. She disputes that anything happened and says Southwest told her she’d need to pay a $150 pet fee and place the dog in a carrier instead.
Atlanta Passenger Calls 911 About A Gun That Didn’t Exist — Opens The Exit Door, Blows The Slide And Cancels Flight To Amsterdam
A passenger on KLM’s Atlanta–Amsterdam flight called 911 from his seat to report a gun on board. There wasn’t one. But before police could respond he opened the 777’s exit door while the aircraft was taxiing, blowing the slide and forcing the entire flight to be canceled.
‘Butter, Sugar and Crap’: Transportation Secretary Pushes Airlines to Drop Pretzels and Biscoffs [Roundup]
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Hyatt Is Now on Rakuten — And You Can Earn 12× Points on Stays While Still Getting Full Points And Elite Credit
Hyatt has quietly gone live on Rakuten, letting members earn 12× points or 12% back on stays while still receiving full Hyatt points, elite-night credit, and elite benefits. It’s one of the richest stacking opportunities Hyatt has ever had—and it pairs with Rakuten’s ability to convert earnings into Amex or Bilt points.
Internal Email Shows New Pacific Airlines Has Finally Shut Down — Ending Years of Failed Route Plans and Constant Reinvention
An internal email shared with employees indicates that New Pacific Airlines—formerly Northern Pacific—has now shut down for good. After failed Anchorage–Asia ambitions, multiple rebrands, short-lived domestic service, and the collapse of affiliated Ravn Alaska, the long-struggling startup appears to have reached the end of the line.











