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The Real ID Deadline Is Officially Here And Required For Air Travel In America

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Starting this week, air travelers in the US need a state-issued ID that is compliant with “Real ID” requirements in order to fly, or they’ll be subject to further screenings. So far, US airports have been reporting that the transition has been operating smoothly.

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jetblue

Justice Department Files Lawsuit to Block JetBlue’s Acquisition of Spirit Airlines

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The United States Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to halt JetBlue’s $3.8 billion bid to acquire Spirit Airlines. It has been over 20 years since the government last intervened to prevent a merger between US airlines.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the lawsuit on Tuesday. President Joe Biden’s administration has long advocated for increased competition among businesses, particularly in the airline industry, to protect consumers and reduce prices

Spirit Airlines is well-known for providing customers with affordable flight options and is the country’s largest ultra-low-cost competitor to major carriers. Garland is concerned that the merger will negatively impact customers who rely on the company’s affordable fares.

“If not blocked, the merger of JetBlue and Spirit would result in higher fares and fewer choices for tens of millions of travelers across the country. The Justice Department is suing to prevent that from happening. Companies in every industry should understand by now that this Justice Department will not hesitate to enforce antitrust laws and protect American consumers.”

Within the last 22 years, five airline mergers have been allowed by the Justice Department, resulting in the consolidation of nine major airlines into four national carriers in the United States (American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines). Currently, around 80% of all domestic flights in the U.S. are serviced by just four airlines.

JetBlue argues that the new merger would create a stronger competitor to those four major airlines, causing fares to fall rather than rise. According to JetBlue, due to the four airlines dominating the U.S. market, JetBlue and Spirit can only compete with each other rather than larger carriers.

However, according to the lawsuit, average fares on routes have fallen by 17% once Spirit began to serve them.

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To foster healthy competition, the company has proposed forfeiting landing and takeoff slots and gates at overcrowded airports to other low-cost airlines.

“The combination of JetBlue and Spirit plus the rapid growth of ultra-low-cost carriers will assure increased competition and low fares,” JetBlue said in a statement.

“JetBlue’s combination with Spirit allows it to create a compelling national challenger to these dominant airlines while also ensuring ultra-low-cost carrier options remain available in overlap markets. While JetBlue, with its highly unique combination of low fares and great service, will be able to expand with new national breadth as a result of the transaction, it will remain a significantly smaller player than each of the Big Four airlines. According to the data, a combined JetBlue and Spirit will have only about 9% market share, compared to about 16-24% for each of the four largest airlines, but the added scale and ability to further grow will result in meaningful competition on more routes to more destinations and greater opportunities for Crewmembers and Team Members of both airlines.”

JetBlue plans to close its deal with Spirit by the year’s end and hopes to get the lawsuit dismissed by then. The merger would form the fifth-largest airline in the U.S.. JetBlue has also spent the past 18 months defending itself against a separate lawsuit brought forward by the Justice Department alleging its Northeast alliance with American Airlines is predatory.

The Justice Department claims that the two airlines conspired to increase prices and limit options for travelers flying to and from major Northeastern cities in the United States. The companies traded information on flight schedules, pilot rosters, and aircraft sizes to use for each flight. They also shared revenues earned at these airports and pooled their gates and takeoff/landing authorizations.

“Approximately 75% of JetBlue’s total capacity is tied up in the Northeast Alliance,” the Justice Department stated in the recent lawsuit.

“That means JetBlue today coordinates its capacity decisions and shares its revenues with American Airlines on the vast majority of its flights. In other words, JetBlue no longer competes with American Airlines on those flights — and if this acquisition happens, Spirit won’t either.”

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Initially, Spirit Airlines was opposed to the merger with JetBlue on the grounds that it would increase fares and therefore present too many obstacles for regulatory approval. Instead, it planned to merge with Frontier Airlines—another ultra-low-cost airline carrier. However, it has now abandoned that plan since JetBlue outbid Frontier Airlines.

In his statement, Garland referenced the Spirit Airlines board’s statement back when they opposed the merger with JetBlue.

“A court will be very concerned that a JetBlue-Spirit combination will result in a higher cost, higher fare airline that would eliminate a lower cost, lower fare airline and eliminate about half of lower cost capacity in the United States.”

“We agree,” Garland added after reading the quote.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division stated, “This transaction occurs against the backdrop of years of airline consolidation in the United States.”

“JetBlue’s proposed acquisition of Spirit eliminates a disruptive, low-cost option for millions of Americans. Whether they fly Spirit or not, travelers throughout the United States benefit from an independent Spirit because where Spirit competes, other airlines – including JetBlue – are forced to compete more vigorously by lowering fares, offering greater innovations and delivering more consumer choice.”

The Justice Department and two other federal agencies—the Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission—will need to approve the deal before it can be finalized. However, the decision ultimately rests with the federal courts that will hear the case.

passengers

New Study Reveals the Most Annoying Passengers on Flights

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According to a study from The Vacationer, American travelers find fellow passengers who kick the seats in front of them or display drunken or disruptive behavior as the most annoying.

The Airplane Etiquette Violations Survey polled 1,098 Americans over the age of 18 and asked them to choose which common behaviors by co-passengers they found most irritating. The survey takers could choose as many or as few options as they wanted.

Seat kickers and drunken, unruly passengers were at the top of the list, with 59.11% of respondents checking them off.

“The 59.11% of American adults that selected each represent more than 152 million people according to the recent census. So, the next time you fly, you may want to reconsider your foot placement inflight and how many alcoholic drinks you consume.”

Passengers who smell too bad from bad hygiene or too good from strong perfume or cologne came in second, with 48% of respondents disliking these co-passengers.

Passengers who do not pay attention to their children’s behavior earned the third spot at 46.81% of respondents choosing it.

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Some of the other top 10 offenders were passengers who eat food with pungent smells (39.8%), passengers who hog the armrest (39.07%), passengers who recline their seats all the way (38.25%), passengers who talk too much (29.87%), passengers who board or deplane out of turn (29.6%), and passengers who have their headphones turned up too loud (28.96%).

Some other annoyances that did not make the top 10 list included passengers who take off their shoes, passengers who flirt with other travelers and flight attendants, passengers who use overhead space meant for other rows, and passengers who practice excessive PDA.

Passengers who requested too much from flight attendants were at the bottom of the list, cited by only 13.02% of respondents.

According to Federal Aviation Administration data, there were 5,981 reports of unruly passengers in 2021, making it the worst year on record. Nearly 4,290 of those cases were mask related.

In a statement issued last November, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed U.S. attorneys to “prioritize prosecution of federal crimes occurring on commercial aircraft that endanger the safety of passengers, flight crews and flight attendants.”

“Passengers who assault, intimidate or threaten violence against flight crews and flight attendants do more than harm those employees; they prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel. Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard.”

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Several bizarre headlines have sprung out of these altercations. In an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., earlier this year, a man attempted to open the plane door after an argument with a flight attendant. The flight attendant managed to subdue the man, hitting him in the head with a coffee pot.

In the survey, some people checked off none of the options. The Vacationer found that 11.57% of respondents had no issues with any behaviors.

“Nearly 12% of American adults said that none of these 16 onboard flight behaviors annoyed them. The 11.57% that said this represents nearly 30 million people. Nearly 30 million people say they are not annoyed by sitting next to disruptive drunks, having their seat kicked or someone smelling. In addition, they have no problem with inattentive parents, loud music, talkative people, and more. These people must be saints, and we need to cherish their patience. They put the 88.43% of the rest of us who get annoyed to shame.”

airport

Airlines Commit to Providing Meals and Hotel Rooms After Canceled Flights

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Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, put pressure on major airlines to improve their customer service policies when passengers face flight disruptions.

In a letter to the CEOs of major airlines, Buttigieg requested they provide meals if there is a flight delay for more than three hours and hotel accommodations for overnight cancellations within the airline’s control.

“When passengers do experience cancellations and delays, they deserve clear and transparent information on the services that your airline will provide, to address the expenses and inconveniences resulting from these disruptions.”

The Department of Transportation also revealed an online dashboard last week which gives passengers information on which airlines provide accommodations in case of a cancellation or delay. Buttigieg notified airline executives that the department would unveil the dashboard by Sept. 2.

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DOT officials claim that leading airlines made significant policy changes within two weeks of unveiling the dashboard. According to Buttigieg, the dashboard acts as a “tool for transparency” and is not intended to shame the airlines.

If airlines fail to keep their obligations, passengers may file a complaint.

The airlines currently listed on the dashboard include Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United.

If a cancellation or delay were to occur, the dashboard checks if the airline will rebook the passenger on its airline or another airline at no cost. It also checks if the airline will provide meals or meal vouchers if flights are delayed three or more hours and pay for overnight hotel accommodations. It even lists if the airline will cover transportation from and to the hotel.

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Data from the Department of Transportation shows that in the first six months of 2022, roughly 24% of domestic flights were delayed, while 3.2%  were canceled. Since the start of June, more than 45,000 flights have been canceled.

The statistics became so dire that the attorneys general of 40 states banded together to write a letter to congress about the aviation industry’s inability to live up to its responsibilities to customers.

“The mistreatment of airline consumers is a bipartisan issue—one that requires immediate action from federal lawmakers. Flying is essential to millions of Americans as they go about their personal and professional lives and is critical to our local, state and national economies. Customers booking airline tickets should enjoy a reasonable expectation of being treated fairly, respectfully, and consistently under the law throughout all interactions during their experience with the airline industry.”

The upcoming holiday season will strain the current system further. Due to staff shortages, airlines have been reducing their scheduled number of flights. For their July schedules, 11 major U.S. airlines trimmed their schedules by 19,000 flights.

Buttigieg said that the department would fine airlines if they do not fulfill the obligations they claimed on the dashboard. However, it would be one small part of “a bigger framework.”

Summer Travel

Sticker Shock Could Be A Problem For Increased Summer Travelers

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With easing travel restrictions and the overcoming of COVID-19 scares, airlines are anticipating massive waves of travelers as the summer months begin. Memorial Day weekend kicked off that stretch, with an expected total of around 12.4 million flying between May 27 to May 30, around 2.4 million per day.

However, money-savvy flyers might be shocked to see what they’re paying, and disappointed to hear they’re already too late to save on flights. According to travel-data firm Hopper, domestic roundtrip flights are averaging $400, 24% higher than in 2019 and 45% higher than this time in 2021.

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International flights are also up from 2019, though just 10%. Of course, it’s not just the flights that are killing your pocketbook. Accomodations at hotels are averaging $163 per night, up 30% from Memorial Day weekend last year. Home rentals are even more with a whopping $254 a night.

The rising prices had an immediate impact on travelers, with airline bookings dropping 17% in April. Customers spent a total of $7.8 billion, which was down 13% from March. However, demand continues to remain up when viewing it from a yearly standpoint: online spending on tickets was up 23% from the same month in 2019, while bookings were up 5%.

Airlines have been quick to blame the increased prices on jet fuel, which now sit at $146.53/bbl — almost double the price of what it was in 2019. “We have more travelers looking to book fewer seats, and each of those seats is going to be more expensive for airlines to fly this summer because of jet fuel,” Hopper economist Hayley Berg told The Associated Press.

Looking at these flight dollar signs, perhaps you might think a road trip — or using a rental car — is the way to go. Bad news there, too. Prices for a rental range around $60 to $70 per day, while gas is a whole other monster: according to AAA, the average price per gallon stands at $4.5, with states like California seeing digits all the way up to $6.

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If you still have the travel bug but can’t afford the steep prices, what can you do? Appearing on CBS Mornings, travel expert Brian Kelly emphasized to be open about where you want to travel. “There are deals out there. Instead of having the mindset on a destination, choose your destination where the deals are,” Kelly said.

Kelly — who recommended Canada, Colombia, and Europe for international travelers — also suggested looking for alternatives to hotels. While the prices are significantly lower than Airbnbs and other home rentals, you might not get the luxuries you’re used to. “You should just understand that hotel prices are through the roof and services are down,” he said.

“You may not even get housekeeping, room service. So take a look and understand you know what you’re getting. That’s why so many people, especially families now, are booking home rentals. If you don’t get the daily housekeeping anyway, why not get more space and in a better location?”

Most importantly, Kelly stressed to go out and experience some new sights and experiences, a goal that doesn’t need a big check to be accomplished. “Go explore. Go somewhere you haven’t been before. Have some adventure.”

Delta Airplane

Delta And United Airlines Will Permanently Remove International Change Fees 

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The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the travel industry in the US in more ways than one. Many major airline companies have begun implementing new policies to help cushion the economic blow that the tourism sector has suffered from within the past ten months of the pandemic. Most recently, Delta and United airlines have announced that they will be permanently eliminating change fees for flights across the globe. 

Throughout the entire pandemic airlines throughout the world and nation have recognized that there would be a major decline in travel, so they began eliminating fees that are typically charged to travelers who change their international flights or cancel them all together. Initially this was just a temporary move so that travelers wouldn’t have to worry about paying more money in the middle of a global health and economic crisis, however, Delta and United realized the elimination of these fees is actually a great thing for consumers and the airlines all together. 

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For Delta specifically, the airline will waive its $200 international change fee for any flight that “originates in the US or between the US, Mexico and the Caribbean going forward, including code-share flights,” according to the company’s announcement. Basic economic fares are excluded and according to Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian this elimination has proven to be extremely valuable.

“Our approach has always been to put people first, which is why we’re extending our current change fee waiver and making lasting changes to our practices, so customers have the trust and confidence they need long after the pandemic ends.”  

Delta is going to continue to charge $75 for same-day standby, but the airline is extending its Covid-19 policy waivers which removes change fees for all domestic and international tickets purchased through March 30th of this year. 

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United Airlines also recently announced that they would be eliminating change fees for international flights moving forward. For domestic flights, change fees will also be eliminated but only for flights booked before or on March 31st of this year. The airline wrote a statement in which they claimed that the decision was “made recognizing that flexibility is more important to our customers than ever.” 

United initially implemented the no-change fee policy back in August for all domestic flights which inspired a slew of other airlines in America to waive their flight change fees as well. American Airlines became the first US airline to get rid of change fees completely for all flights from North or South America and the airline has also eliminated their fee for domestic same-day standby.

American Airlines Chief Revenue Officer, Vasu Raja, recently released a statement regarding the choice, stating that the company is “committed to making travel easier for customers who fly on American.” 

It’s expected that other modes of transportation that make up the tourism sector for the US’s economy will also begin to implement policies and waivers of fees like these airlines at least in the beginning of the post-pandemic reopening of the country as a means of rebuilding what was lost within the past ten months.