Category Archives for Airlines.
The man killed when a Frontier Airlines jet hit him on a Denver runway had 20 prior arrests, including attempted murder, and had been arrested again just one month before scaling an airport fence and walking into the path of the aircraft. Authorities have ruled the death a suicide,
Delta had a chance to move to Starlink, the inflight wifi system United is racing to install across its fleet. But an early SpaceX investor says the deal fell apart because Delta wanted Starlink behind its own branded portal — and now United may have the better passenger experience for years.
The man struck by a Frontier Airlines jet during takeoff in Denver has now been identified, and authorities say his death was suicide. He had climbed an 8-foot perimeter fence, crossed into a remote airfield area, and reached the active runway within about two minutes — a rare but not unprecedented form of suicide by aircraft.
United flight attendants have finally ratified a new contract after 5.5 years without a raise, with 82% voting yes. The deal brings major wage increases, a $740 million lump-sum payout, boarding pay, and top hourly rates scheduled to exceed $100 — but Delta may still set the real compensation benchmark if profits keep flowing.
Most loyalty programs are run by people who understand spreadsheets better than members. Flying Blue just went the other way, tapping someone who has spent years on the member side of loyalty: helping travelers understand points, search awards, and navigate the programs from the outside. That is rare — and very good news for a program that is already one of the strongest worldwide.
Frontier passengers were told to leave their bags behind during an emergency evacuation — exactly what safety rules require. One mother traveling with a baby says she did just that, then spent hours without diapers, formula, ID, keys, medication, or a car seat while Frontier scolded them for not taking their bags off the slide.
Miles are usually about getting more value for yourself. But United miles can also do something far more urgent: help someone get on a plane in time to say goodbye to a dying loved one.
American Airlines can spend money on seats, lounges, food, and drinks, but it cannot buy a premium experience if the people delivering it do not act like hospitality matters. The failure to consistently greet passengers is small — until you understand what it says about culture, incentives, and management.
Cabin video from the Frontier evacuation shows flight attendants pleading, “Leave the bags!” as passengers took carry-ons anyway. The exchange captures why emergency evacuations rarely work the way safety briefings imagine: people panic, protect their belongings, film, and make split-second choices that can slow everyone down.
oreign airlines often make passengers weigh carry-on bags at the gate, sometimes limiting them to just 15.4 pounds including the bag itself. They call it safety, bin space, or boarding efficiency, but the U.S. proves planes can operate safely without this theater — the real explanation is regulation, not some crisis caused by your backpack.
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 »
