Delta Air Lines is changing its boarding process starting May 1, introducing numbered boarding zones for all flights to speed up loading passengers onto planes. Customers will have a zone number assigned to them instead of boarding groups labeled by airline status or fare class. The change aims to provide more clarity and make the boarding process more intuitive, especially for infrequent travelers and non-English speakers. However, some experts question whether the change will significantly speed up the process, suggesting that other changes, such as boarding based on seat location, could be more efficient.
Delta Air Lines will revert to a numbered zone boarding process starting May 1, 2023, replacing its current method of boarding by named categories. The new zones will provide more clarity for customers and will be printed on boarding passes. This change marks the end of a five-year boarding process aimed at bringing consistency and simplicity to the gate and boarding experience. Other airlines, such as United and American, have also made adjustments to their boarding procedures in efforts to save time and improve efficiency.
A Frontier Airlines passenger, 60-year-old Dulce Huertas, faces charges of simple assault, interference with a flight crew, and indecent exposure after allegedly pulling down her pants and squatting in the aisle while threatening fellow passengers. The incident occurred when she was not allowed to use the bathroom during landing on a flight from Orlando to Philadelphia. If found guilty, she could face up to 21 years in prison.
The summer season of airline travel has been marked by surging delays and frustrations for passengers, despite a decrease in flight cancellations. The House has passed a bipartisan bill to address airlines' obligations to customers during times of disruption, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is pursuing new rules to require compensation for delays or cancellations caused by airlines. Airlines blame the Federal Aviation Administration for the issues, citing staff shortages and a backlog of passport applications has also caused challenges for travelers, with potential international passengers waiting up to 13 weeks for documents.
Strong summer storms hit South Florida, causing power outages for over 4,300 residents and disrupting airline travel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The storms brought heavy rain, gusty winds, and downed trees in areas like Coral Springs and South Miami, leading to flight cancellations and delays. Frustrated travelers faced missed connections, extended wait times, and the need for hotel accommodations due to the inclement weather.
Double-decker and standing-room-only seat configurations for airplanes are unlikely to take off due to stringent FAA regulations and concerns over passenger safety. The FAA has rules regarding emergency exit access and physical requirements that seats must adhere to in "emergency landing dynamic conditions," but none of these regulations specifically address the issue of comfort or personal space in airplane seating. Additionally, political wrangling around airplane seating has led to legislation that would require a reassessment of evacuation rules and consideration for passengers of different heights, sizes, ages, and mobility.
CNBC's "Now Boarding" podcast discusses frequent flyer status, airline perks, and whether the game is worth it with guests Tom Stuker, who has flown more than 23 million miles and has lifetime Global Services status on United Airlines, and Brett Snyder, a former airline manager and founder of the Cranky Network Weekly. Topics include the benefits of airline status, how to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles, and the future of airline loyalty programs.
Reality TV star Savannah Chrisley was allegedly kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight and took to social media to rant about it. However, the airline has since responded, claiming that things didn’t play out exactly as Chrisley said. According to Southwest, Chrisley arrived at the gate late in the boarding process and repeatedly insulted an employee after being asked to gate-check her bag. As a result, she was denied boarding on her original flight and booked on a later one. Chrisley has yet to respond to the airline's statement.
