American Airlines has had to remind agents that not everything passengers call a medical device qualifies for free checked-bag treatment, because people are apparently showing up with items like hospital beds, massage tables, wagons, and even soap. The update is useful not just for what it says about baggage policy, but for what it reveals about the inventiveness of travelers trying to turn oversized or oddball items into fee-free luggage.
Airlines
Category Archives for Airlines.
Viral Grassroots Effort To Buy Spirit Airlines Claims $22 Million In Pledges — But Has No Cash And No Business Plan
A “people-owned” rescue effort for Spirit Airlines has gone viral, claiming $22 million in pledges from would-be founding patrons. It has no cash, no actual bid, and no business plan to fix an airline that was losing money before it shut down.
After Spirit Shutdown, Budget Airlines Seek $2.5 Billion Bailout — DOT Says They’re Taking Advantage
With Spirit Airlines ceasing operations, other low cost airlines are doubling down on their request for a government bailout.
Delta Air Lines Meltdown — Hundreds Of Flights Canceled While Rivals Run Fine Amid Internal “Crew Restrictions”
Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights while American, United and Southwest are barely canceling at all. Weather does not explain it. A tech outage does not explain it. And sickout rumors do not hold up — leaving internal Delta “crew restrictions” as the clearest clue to a meltdown at an airline once known for reliability.
JetBlue Pounces After Spirit Shutdown — Planes And Crews Head Straight For The Airline’s Home Base
Spirit Airlines’ shutdown was supposed to leave a hole in the market. JetBlue is already treating it like an opening — shifting planes, crews and new flights into Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale home base while cutting flying elsewhere.
Watch: Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Says Goodbye To Final Passengers — ‘I Don’t Remember The Bad Times’
Spirit Airlines has plenty of stories people will mock, but one flight attendant’s farewell to the airline’s final passengers was unexpectedly gracious. As Spirit shuts down after 43 years in the air, he told passengers he did not remember the bad times — just the good ones — and thanked them for staying with the airline until the end.
American Airlines Bringing Back Seatback Screens — Customer Chief Says “Stay Tuned”
American Airlines spent years ripping seatback entertainment screens out of domestic aircraft and telling passengers their phones were good enough. Now its customer chief says “stay tuned,” suggesting one of the airline’s most visible passenger-experience mistakes may finally be getting reversed.
Listen: Final Spirit Airlines Flight Asked Tower, “Are We The Last One?” — Then Said Goodbye
The final Spirit Airlines commercial flight to land asked DFW Tower whether any other Spirit flights were coming in behind it. When the answer came back that they might be the last one, the crew signed off with grace — “it was a pleasure working with you guys” — a quiet, dignified ending for the employees who stayed until the end.
United CEO Keeps Predicting Higher Airfares — Empty Seats Keep Proving Him Wrong
United CEO Scott Kirby keeps insisting airfares should rise, and that airlines are too timid to charge what passengers will pay. But after years of predictions that have not panned out, the flaw in his theory is simple: airlines hate empty seats, and supply and demand still set fares no matter how badly CEOs want prices higher.
American Airlines Improves Coach Food For Sale — A Rare Upgrade Where Most Passengers Sit
American Airlines is giving coach passengers something they do not get very often: an actual onboard food upgrade. New snack boxes, name-brand items, a refreshed cheese plate, and a turkey sandwich are coming to buy-on-board — a small but meaningful improvement in the part of the plane where most customers actually sit.










