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.
After Doors Closed, American Airlines Flight Attendants Deny A Passenger An Empty Exit Row Seat—‘Pay Up Or Stay Cramped’
One American Airlines passenger was shocked to learn that nobody would be permitted to spread out into wide open exit rows on a recent flight.
Although he wound up in a bulkhead seat (he calls it an exit) and it’s not clear how. He proceeds to sully the privilege with his feet propped up on the wall.
Leaked Slides Reveal How United Toppled American At Chicago O’Hare After Decade Of Missteps
Several slides from the airline’s employee presentation have been making the rounds. The claim United makes about Chicago O’Hare in particular is really interesting. American was leading with local Chicago customers in 2015. But United has been gaining there ever since.
No Ding Goes Unnoticed—Hertz AI X‑Ray Tunnel Logs Every Scratch At 100 Airport Returns This Year
Hertz is installing more than 100 UVeye inspection portals at its biggest U.S. airport stations, starting with Atlanta, and full deployment is expected by the end of the year.
Hilton Standardizes $40–$60 Late Checkout Fees Across All Brands in 2026 — Honors Elite Benefit To Devalue
Hilton has a new property system coming onboard to merchandise various aspects of your stay. One of the things they’re standardizing is how hotels upsell late check-out. The price for a confirmed late checkout will be set by brand.
Knife‑Wielding American Hijacks Tropic Air Flight Over Belize—Heroic Pilot and Passenger Save All Onboard
A Tropic Air flight from Corozal Town to San Pedro in Belize was hijacked by an American brandishing a knife this morning. He seized control of the small Caravan aircraft and held it “at the mercy” of his threats. The morning flight carried 11 passengers, and shortly after takeoff, 49‑year‑old Californian Akinyela Sawa Taylor approached the cockpit with a knife and ordered the pilot to stay in the air until the aircraft ran out of fuel The plane looped south toward Belize City, then out over Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel and San Pedro, before the airport became alerted to the crisis. Despite the threats, the pilot managed a safe unplanned landing in Belize City. Two passengers suffered knife wounds during the confrontation and were rushed to nearby hospitals; one remains in critical condition following surgery.…
Southwest Assigned Seating Starts Next Year—And Strips Flight Attendants Of Their Empty‑Row Perk
Southwest Airlines is known for the games people play to secure the best seats, because the airline doesn’t assign seats – it’s first-board, first-served. That’s changing next year, and it’ll throw a crimp not just in passenger shenanigans angling for extra space, but flight attendants doing the same thing too.
LEVEL Splits From Iberia—American Airlines Suspends Codeshare, And Passengers Get Rebooked On Better Flights
American Airlines has suspended codesharing with LEVEL, the low cost transatlantic carrier within IAG, parent of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus.
“You’re Driving Too Slowly”: Delhi ATC Snaps At American Airlines Pilot, Sends Flight To Penalty Box [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.
Qatar Airways Passenger Stabbed Mid-Flight—Child Roamed Aisle With Fork While Mother Slept
A young child reportedly stabbed another passenger with a fork on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to New York JFK, while her mother slept. The girl roamed the aisle. Already disruptive during the flight, her behavior escalated when she approached a passenger holding a metal fork and jabbed her without warning.