Posts

flights

Airlines Slash Routes as FAA Faces Staff Shortages During Government Shutdown

/in /by

Airports across the country are facing turbulence, and it’s not the kind that comes from the sky. Following the Trump administration’s announcement of a 10 percent reduction in air traffic at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, airlines and travelers are now scrambling to adapt.

Read more
airport

2022 Thanksgiving Travel Expected to Top Pre Pandemic Levels

/in , /by

Despite rising airfares due to inflation, many Americans are taking to the skies to spend the holidays with loved ones and celebrate the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The number of travelers in just the few days leading up to this Thanksgiving has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Read more
tsa

Gun Found Stuffed Inside a Raw Chicken at Florida TSA Checkpoint

/in , /by

A Florida air passenger attempted to smuggle a gun onto a flight using a raw chicken on Monday. Transportation Security Administration officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport caught the firearm at one of its checkpoints, wrapped in thin paper packaging inside a Kikiri Quirch brand baking hen. 

The passenger had stashed the chicken in his carry-on and was headed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, according to Sari Koshetz, a TSA spokesperson for the Gulf region. 

The official TSA Instagram account shared a post on Monday containing a photo of the raw chicken being examined inside the security area alongside the gun. It was captioned, “There’s a personal fowl here…”

“The plot chickens as we barrel our way closer to Thanksgiving. For us, it’s a time to be thankful that our officers are always working around the cluck to keep you safe. Take for instance this ‘hen you believe it?’ find at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. We hate to beak it to you here, but stuffing a firearm in your holiday bird for travel is just a baste of time. This idea wasn’t even half-baked; it was raw, greasy, and obviously unsupervised. The only roast happening here is this poor packing choice! Feather you like it or not, there are rules for traveling with guns and ammunition. So, don’t wing it; roost over the proper packaging info through the link in our bio.”

Embed from Getty Images

Passengers are permitted to transport fresh meat and seafood in their carry-ons if they follow special instructions provided by the TSA. People who want to travel with guns and ammunition must pack the firearms unloaded in locked, hard-shell containers within their checked bags. They must also declare the items at the airport ticket counter.

“The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted. Be aware that the container the firearm was in when purchased may not adequately secure the firearm when it is transported in checked baggage.”

A criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is ongoing. Nestor Iglesias, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, told CNN he could not provide additional details since the incident is a “criminal case which has been accepted for prosecution.”

This is not the first time a passenger has attempted to conceal prohibited items using unconventional methods. According to CBS News, a “meth burrito” was confiscated in Houston last year. 

In 2022, passengers cumulatively brought more than 700 guns to TSA checkpoints at Florida state airports, a higher number of guns than in any previous year. Twelve airports set records, according to a TSA news release. 

Embed from Getty Images

“The largest number of guns TSA officers have had to intercept were: 129 guns at Orlando International Airport (MCO), 120 guns at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), 102 guns at Tampa International (TPA), 83 guns at Miami International (MIA), 58 guns at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), 37 guns at Southwest Florida International (RSW), 28 at Palm Beach International (PBI), and 24 at Pensacola International (PNS).”

Koshetz said that “every passenger bears the responsibility of knowing exactly where their gun is before entering the security checkpoint” since “an accidental discharge could result in tragedy.”

“Don’t let bringing a gun to a federal checkpoint be the reason you cannot answer ‘no’ to the question often asked on job applications: have you ever been arrested? As we enter the busiest holiday travel period, remember if you are going to travel with your gun, it must be in your checked bag, but be sure you know what the gun laws are on each side of your trip or you may be heading to jail instead of to your family gathering. Guns may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.”

Koshetz told USA Today that it was unclear whether the passenger’s gun was loaded. Passengers who violate TSA rules could face civil penalties of up to $13,910, even if they are not arrested by law enforcement. 

airport

Airlines Commit to Providing Meals and Hotel Rooms After Canceled Flights

/in , , /by

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.”

Traffic

The Best And Worst Days To Travel This Holiday Season

/in , /by

As Christmas and New Years get closer and closer, millions of Americans are gearing up and already preparing for their holiday commutes this year. Whether or not you already have a plane, train, or bus ticket purchased there’s always room to improve upon your travelling plans. Every year it seems as if more and more Americans decide to gear up and make the holiday commute to spend their days with family and friends. So when is the best time to actually hit the road and make your way to grandma’s house? 

Airlines for America (A4A) is an industry trade group for all major airlines and they recently released their reports for what to expect during holiday travel this year. The reports list all the best days during the holidays to make your commute, and when the worst time to travel is. Surprisingly, the data shows that Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve will be the lightest travel days this year. This means there’s likely to be much less foot and regular traffic amongst the roads and air terminals on these days. This data is compiled by using the results from the A4A reports of the past few holiday seasons. Most travelers are already at their destination by actual Christmas Day, however, if you can manage to hold off and wait, and are in a situation where you’re not going very far, definitely hold off if you’re dreading your commute this year. 

Embed from Getty Images

The same logic goes towards New Years, by the actual eve of the day, most individuals are either already at their destination from Christmas, or are heading somewhere local for the day, so for the most part the roads and skies remain clear. However, “clear” during the holiday season, really just means that public transportation will look like it does on an average day more so than a holiday. A4A is predicting that a total of 47.5 million Americans will fly round trip this year during the 18 day holiday travel period. This period of time goes from Thursday, December 19th to Sunday January 5th, and those dates are again based on past data on holiday commuting. 

This is why planning ahead is so important. The reports also tell us that the worst days for travel this holiday season will be Friday, December 20th; Saturday, December 21; Friday, December 27; and Thursday, December 26. On these days as many as 2.6 million flyers are expected to take a plane ride to their holiday destinations. Compared to last year the reports tell us that’s a 3% increase in passengers! To convert that percentage, that means an additional 88,000 individuals will be flying on an additional 884 flights that airlines are cramming into the schedule every day. 

Embed from Getty Images

“Throughout this year we’ve seen steady gains in air travel demand, and this winter will be no exception. Buoyed by a healthy economy and plentiful, affordable air service, travelers once again are expected to take to the skies in record numbers,” said Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich in a statement. 

In addition to the millions of passengers that will be passing through these airports this holiday season, U.S. airlines will also be transporting around 58,000 tons of cargo per day. That’s a lot of presents in Santa’s sack. 

Whenever you plan on making your commute, it’s likely that you will hit traffic (either in a car or on foot) of some sort, so make sure to plan. It’s recommended that if you’re taking a flight this holiday season to ensure that you have a ride to the airport that will get you there at least three hours before your departure time. This will ensure that you have enough time to get through security, no matter how long the line is, and might even have time to grab a snack for the plane. Additionally, if you’re flying, consider getting TSA precheck to skip heavy standard security lines. 

If you’re driving, and it’s on one of the days listed above as the worst day to travel, try to leave as early as possible. You can catch up on sleep once you get to your destination but the longer you wait to leave in the morning, the longer it’s likely to take to actually get there. Regardless, plan it out, pack the essentials, and take your time, Christmas will still be waiting for you once you get there so you might as well get there safely. 

Train Commute

What To Expect For Your Thanksgiving Commute This Year

/in , /by

As the holiday season is about to kick off next week with Thanksgiving, millions upon millions of Americans are gearing up for their first holiday travels of the season. If you’ve travelled for the holidays in the past, then you definitely know that planning is truly everything when it comes to the big commute. Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking the train, commuting during the holiday season can be tricky and stressful and this year is no different. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), there will be a record breaking number of travelers both on the road and in the air this year. 

The AAA reported that a total of 55.3 million people are expected to be travelling between Wednesday November 27th and Sunday December 1st, all via car, train, plane, and even a cruise ship. Compared to last years data that’s an increase of 1.6 million individuals on the road, in the air, and in the sea. 

Embed from Getty Images

“With record levels of travelers, and persistent population growth in the country’s major metropolitan areas, drivers must prepare for major delays. Although travel times will peak on Wednesday afternoon nationally, travelers should expect much heavier than normal congestion throughout the week,” said Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at INRIX, a partner transportation analytics company of AAA.

According to their data the worst day and time to travel via car will be Wednesday afternoon. They predict any individual who begins their commute between the times of 5 to 8 pm can expect an additional 3 and a half hours to what their commute would be with no traffic! However, the data also suggested that severe traffic could begin as early as 1 pm in some areas of the U.S. such as Los Angeles or New York. 

Embed from Getty Images

Air travel predictions estimate that up to 5 million Americans will be flying to get to their Thanksgiving destinations this year. The busiest day for air travel, however, will actually come after Thanksgiving day, as opposed to before like with ground transportation. Sunday December 1st is predicted to see 3.1 million passengers flying via U.S. airlines. The Monday before Thanksgiving is expected to be the lightest travel day for this holiday in particular, for any mode of transportation. 

The AAA suggests for individuals who still aren’t don’t planning their holiday commute this year, consider leaving on Thanksgiving day itself if possible. Not only are the roads predicted to be much less congested, but plane ticket prices will be the cheapest for the week. 

The data also showed that the top places that Americans will be travelling to this Thanksgiving are places with much warmer climates to escape the brutal winter that has already begun here in America. Orlando, Florida and Anaheim, California are the top two destinations this year, and four out of the top 10 destinations in general are located in Florida, Disney World should be predicting massive traffic as always. 

Regardless of where and when you’re planning on travelling, just make sure you do have a plan and give your hosts a heads up of any delays you’ll be experiencing, and most importantly stay safe.