Latest Airline News Events & Airline Blogs

The best part of booking travel is actually getting to your destination, but delays and detours can really put a damper on the deal. Thanks to a new report from FlightStats (www.flightstats.com), we've got the best - and worst -...

What was once a hot-spot for holiday travel saw a decline in travelers this year. Initial estimates reveal that airports in South Florida saw fewer holiday travelers in 2008 than in years past. Although official figures have not been released...

Delta Air Lines is waiving change fees for passengers affected by winter storms in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Travelers booked on Delta, Northwest Airlines or Delta Connection flights between Jan. 5 and 7 can make one...

Frontier Airlines has announced new sale fares for travel on Denver flights to destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica. The prices are divided according to the carrier's new fare structure – Economy, Classic and Classic Plus. Sample Economy...

It’s tough being a college student. From books and tuition to rent and meals, the costs add up quickly. So, when someone offers a college student a deal it's worth taking. Enter: AirTran. Discount airline AirTran is opening up registration...

 In the last 13 days, I've worked ten!  That's a lot of flying.  Why?  I wanted to make up for having worked only four days in December BEFORE the 23rd (vacation).  We have had full, busy flights.  I've demonstrated the safety features of the aircraft over and over and served 2,000 plus drinks. That's the nuts and bolts of our work.  Let me share some moments of serendipity that make me smile as I remember them and keep me loving my job.

Children five- to 11-years-old can fly unaccompanied.  Understandably, during the holidays we have a lot of Unaccompanied Minors.  One flight had 15!  With one group, I introduced myself and began filling out their paperwork.  While doing this I asked their names and then said: "And what is my name?"  I had been through the routine five times and when the sixth child had my attention, I didn't ask if he remembered my name.  As I put his papers in his pouch, he looked at me and said: "Aren't you going to give me the test?!"  This same flight I remembered I needed to add something to the first child's paperwork.  I asked him to give it to me and told him I forgot to write something.  With a lisp he asked, "Is THIS your first time?"  Spending time with these children is a joy no matter how many times I've done it.

 Another large group are our Armed Forces.  I can't see these young faces without feeling almost a maternal pride.  As we entered the airport early for our first flight, I noticed a young woman in fatigues.  She was hugging her husband, and they were surrounded by two young children and a baby in a carrier!  I wanted to go in her place! One young man, again in fatigues, boarded last with tears in his eyes.  I said, "Do you need one more good-bye kiss?" and he leaned over and kissed me!  The Ops Agent said the soldier was with his wife and children in the gate area.  I'd love to be on their flights bringing them back home.

 Babies were everywhere!   I've never seen an ugly baby.  There's no better reason to fly than to spend time with grandparents and extended family!  One popular Christmas gift is a trip to Disney World!  It's a lot of fun seeing children's faces as they tell me where they are going! One family had twelve traveling together - grandpa was footing the bill.  A trip to remember.

Some of our flights were over two hours--one was over four hours.  This gives our passengers a chance to get well acquainted.  One particularly friendly group was exchanging addresses and phone numbers.  They agreed it was the best flight they have every been on.  That's the feeling we want our passengers to have.   

I wonder how many wheel chairs are in an airport?  Each flight had a long line of wheelchair passengers.  We had extra Ops Agents and Pilots helping the Sky Caps. Flying is a big deal to a lot of these passengers.  I must tell you about Homer.  He boarded first and sat on the first row by the window.  He is in his eighties--a snappy dresser!  We had time to talk while I was sitting on the jumpseat, plus it was a long flight. He asked me if I would come and live with him.  He paid $60,000 for his house in California, and it was now worth $240,000.00!  Before we landed, I saw him take a business card from the male passenger sitting beside him.  I thought, "How nice; he has made a friend."  Well, he handed me the card as he left.  He had written his name and phone number on the back of the other man's card and added "Call me some time."  I won't forget him and the memory will make me smile.  I hope he will do the same!

Holiday flying is hard work, but the kind that gives you a warm feeling afterward. 

 

   

What quality of on-board rest should cockpit crews of ultra-long flights get? That’s the issue at the heart of a lawsuit just filed by seven airlines against the Federal Aviation Administration (www.faa.gov). The FAA wants crews on aircraft that fly...

Planning on traveling to our nation's capitol for the big event? If you're one of the lucky 3 million-plus people who scored Washington DC flights and hotel rooms for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration listen up: Washington DC is a small...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

American Eagle says no one was injured this afternoon after an emergency landing of an Embraer ERJ-145 in Killeen, Texas following a flight from Dallas.

Continental Airlines today reported a December consolidated load factor of 79.9 percent, 1.2 points above the December 2007 consolidated load factor.

Members of the Frontier Airline Pilots Association today ratified a long-term labor agreement with the airline.

Traffic on United Airlines fell 11.5% in December from a year earlier, with the worst weakness on flights in the Pacific region, according to preliminary figures released Monday.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Monday JetBlue Airways Corp. and the Transportation Security Administration paid $240,000 to a man who claimed he was discriminated against based on his ethnicity and ...

Delta Air Lines is offering cheap flights from Atlanta to several destinations in Europe. Sample prices include flights to Amsterdam or Zurich for $289; flights to Barcelona or Dublin for $309; flights to Paris for $269; Prague flights for $279...