@seancudahy
Senior Aviation Reporter at The Points Guy covering all things airlines and air travel | Previously: WHIO-TV (Dayton), NBC29 (Charlottesville) American University alum. New England sports (Red Sox, Patriots) fanatic. Durham, NC
We're seeing a flurry of changes when it comes to airlines' 'basic' fares.
- No miles at American (or United, if you don't have status or a card)
- Delta now sells 'Comfort Basic' and is pondering more
- JetBlue bars access from its new lounge
- Southwest now has basic economy
Story just posted:
Just in: Trump administration reverses course, will end the suspension of Global Entry Wednesday morning. First on the scoop was @nytimes.com
"If you're buying for three or four months down the road, I would lock it in and buy now ... It's sure as heck not going to go down."
Also worth noting: Yesterday was the busiest day at U.S. airports since Jan. 4, which was the final day of the holiday rush.
At Houston Hobby today, average security wait times now top 3 hours. But if you have TSA PreCheck? 10 minutes.
United pointed to the expansion of free on-board Wi-Fi (via Starlink) as the impetus for the new line in its Contract of Carriage about headphone usage
Emirates to begin operating some flights late Monday amid airspace restrictions affecting DXB
“The same paper that broke the Dan Snyder investigation, sent reporters to every Olympics, and produced some of the most important sports journalism in American history, is now frontloading wire copy about European soccer for a Washington audience”
MONDAY GULF FLIGHT UPDATE
Emirates flights are suspended until at least 1500 UAE time on Tuesday, 3/3
Qatar Airways flights are suspended until at least 0900 Doha time on Tuesday, 3/3
Etihad flights are suspended until at least 1400 UAE time until Tuesday, 3/3
(📷 @photojdl.bsky.social)
During a week that's brought all sorts of headlines about Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, here's an update on another (more expensive) airport shorcut — Clear.
Its new e-gates are live at 37 airports
Spirit Airlines hopes to emerge from Ch11 bankruptcy by late spring or early summer
Frontier Airlines plans to pull out of JFK — *almost entirely. Its daily service to Atlanta will remain.
LATEST: Global Entry still shuttered, travel sector urges 'immediate' restoration
In 2024, a top CBP official told me this about Global Entry, and how it helps w/ overall waits, safety:
“Not only does the traveler benefit, the whole, basically, travel industry benefits from overall improved efficiency, and the agency and the U.S. government benefit from the improved security."
The U.S. Travel Association shares a scathing statement on the Trump administration's decision to suspend Global Entry amid the partial shutdown affecting DHS.
"There is no fiscal – or logical – rationale for this decision," the org. said. “We urge DHS to restore Global Entry immediately."
LATEST: Global Entry shuts down, but TSA PreCheck remains operational
Updated: TSA PreCheck won't be suspended, after all, agency now says
JUST IN: TSA PreCheck lanes will NOT close, after all, the agency confirms
"At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public. As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly."
TSA PreCheck still running at RDU and many airports across the country. Talking to sources, sounds like there’s a lot of confusion.
Very little communication from DHS about what they’re actually doing with PreCheck/Global Entry - all we’ve gotten so far is a politically-charged statement.
American Airlines made a tweak to its checked baggage fees today — customers will either have to pay more for their second bag, or pay ahead of time thepointsguy.com/news/america...
I should add, this is one of my favorite times of the year to be a Globe subscriber thanks to its great (human-written) spring training reporting from pros like @peteabeglobe.bsky.social
A certain social media platform seems to be hallucinating a big AI pivot at the Boston Globe, confusing it with the widely-reported situation in Ohio.
When you click on the (right rail) link about the Globe, it takes you instead to a smattering of posts about Cleveland[dot]com's use of AI. Ironic.
NEW: Delta is restoring its service between Boston and Honolulu, launching new MSP service to Maui next winter.
Delta and Hawaiian both dropped their Boston-Honolulu flights ahead of this winter.
Delta’s had only been around for one season. Now, it’s coming back
Frontier Airlines' new CEO: Delay and cancellations record "not acceptable."
Meanwhile, the airline is doubling down on Atlanta — which this year will become its busiest base. Inflight Wi-Fi is coming. And so are (more) flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
NEW: Southwest Airlines is adding Starlink Wi-Fi to its planes. The carrier expects to outfit 300 aircraft with the service by the end of 2026. Like Southwest's current internet, Starlink will be free for Rapid Rewards members.
American continues to invest in Chicago. On top of the new capacity it's added at O'Hare, the airline today announced a new Admirals Club, which will replace its existing Terminal 3, L-Concourse facility.
Sickened by today's layoffs at The Washington Post. Journalism is essential.
Sharing this thread from a non-profit outlet covering DC news. Our democracy, and our communities, need work like this to succeed.
Democracy dies in the bright light of billionaire ownership.
Airline lobby calls on Congress to pass FAA funding so air traffic controllers won’t again have to work without pay if the government shuts down
Airline lobby calls on Congress to pass FAA funding so air traffic controllers won’t again have to work without pay if the government shuts down