A Spirit Airlines passenger carried a rotisserie chicken through TSA security in a clear pet backpack, claiming it was his “emotional support animal”—then proceeded to enjoy it onboard, leaving passengers amused, staff stunned, and TSA officially unfazed.
Washington National Airport’s control tower just replaced paper flight strips with electronic ones—finally abandoning an FAA practice that lasted 43 years. Also in this roundup: Selena Gomez’s unexpected love for DFW Terminal E, Southwest pilots getting teased for their taxi speeds, American Airlines quietly raising checked-bag fees, and a TikToker dropping her phone into an airport toilet mid-dance.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry during the ongoing government shutdown, claiming it conserves staff—but TSA’s own documented findings clearly show the opposite. Eliminating expedited security means longer lines, increased staffing demands, and ultimately less-secure airports.
Southwest flight attendants have voted down higher union dues three times, but the proposal is back for a fourth try. This time, the union is limiting ballots to in-person meetings, turning a $5-a-month ask into a fight over turnout, process, peer pressure and whether “no” actually means no.
Delta employees celebrated their $1.3 billion Profit Sharing Day with a party so big even IT had DJs, karaoke, and gelato served by pilots. Here’s an inside look at the unique employee culture that powers Delta’s unmatched profits and keeps its workforce flying high.
Southwest’s Companion Pass is still the best domestic perk: your companion flies for just taxes (from $5.60 each way), even on award tickets, as long as there’s an open seat. Last week my family used two passes on one trip. And right now you can get Companion Pass through Feb. 2027 via a credit card initial bonus.
An El Al flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv departed without 140 checked bags after they were vandalized with “Free Palestine” stickers, triggering a security alert and lengthy inspections at LAX. Authorities suspect an inside job by airport employees, and passengers landed in Israel without their luggage.
American Airlines is making bold moves, from new premium cabins and better meals to rolling back unpopular policies, yet CEO Robert Isom struggles to clearly articulate a vision—leaving employees, customers, and investors unsure of what exactly the airline aims to become.
A $13 Snickers at MGM Grand isn’t an outlier—it’s joined by $26 water, a $48 pizza, and even a $50 fee just to charge your laptop in a Las Vegas hotel room. Also in this roundup: Snoop Dogg’s credit card declined at the Winter Olympics, a new grocery price freeze pitch tied to lower credit card fees, and why shared airplane air vents lead to conflict.
Florida’s legislature just passed a bill renaming Palm Beach International Airport as “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” becoming the first major U.S. airport named for a sitting president. But changing airport signs doesn’t change habits—everyone flying into Palm Beach will likely keep calling it “Palm Beach” or “PBI.”
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 »
