Category Archives for Airlines.
The Trump administration has formally withdrawn the Biden administration’s plan to require airlines to pay cash compensation for flight delays — a rule that was never close to becoming real. Despite two years of headlines, DOT never issued an actual proposal, never established legal authority, and never moved beyond an advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
Passengers are roasting American Airlines’ $11 cheese plate after photos showed just how little you get for the price. One flyer summed it up perfectly: “It tastes like a bad financial decision.” And the close-up of the single $3 grape makes the case better than any review ever could.
Delta Air Lines scored a critical victory when a federal appeals court paused the Department of Transportation’s order to break up its joint venture with Aeromexico. The partnership can continue pending appeal, pushing any final decision into late 2026 and ensuring joint scheduling and pricing remain in place for now.
American Airlines flight attendants face escalating pressure from their union, including threats of termination for unpaid dues and a demand they pay 48% more in union fees. With internal union battles complicating matters, a national legal defense group has stepped forward, offering flight attendants free legal assistance to protect their jobs and understand financial options.
American Airlines now upgrades deadheading pilots into first class ahead of the customers who actually earn those seats. Ten high-value flyers watched a pilot get the only available upgrade on their flight, a moment that captured how far the airline has drifted from its own loyalty promises.
The discovery of a loaded magazine under 7A forced Frontier to empty the aircraft and bring in police, TSA, DHS, and K-9 units. Frontier now says an armed officer left it behind on the inbound flight, a failure that highlights how often the people trusted to carry guns in the cabin show less discipline than the passengers who face consequences for far smaller mistakes.
Former British Airways chief Alex Cruz says he’s proud of bringing the low-cost mindset from Vueling to BA — unbundling meals, baggage, and perks while calling it innovation. You might wonder why he’s confessing. He’s actually bragging!
Scott Kirby didn’t just adjust United’s messaging between administrations — he rebuilt the airline’s public identity to match whichever political winds were blowing. Under Biden, United wrapped itself in pronouns and DEI; under Trump, Kirby is aligning with Stephen Miller and Trump.
Two fledgling airlines with turbulent histories are teaming up to launch an all-business class carrier in the United States. The concept is fascinating — and ambitious — but regulatory hurdles, fleet challenges, and execution risks make the path forward far tougher than the announcement suggests.
United CEO Scott Kirby marked Veterans Day by declaring his airline “the best in the history of aviation.” But is that claim even close? From Pan Am’s glory days to Singapore Airlines’ long reign at the top, here’s who really deserves the title.
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 »
