Latest news with #ViewFromtheWing
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Thieves using discarded airline bag tags for fraud scheme, apparent airport worker claims
A Reddit user claiming to be an airline employee is warning travelers about the possibility of being scammed when it comes to their printed bag tags. Posted in the 'r/delta' forum on Reddit, the message is titled, 'Toss your bag tags at home.' The Reddit user claimed to be a 'baggage claims manager.' The individual wanted to 'let everyone know to please start discarding your bag tags at home.' 'So please be careful and don't take your tags off at the airport,' the person concluded. 'They can steal enough information from that to use your travel itinerary to get paid.' Many flight passengers took to the comments section to debate whether this could be possible — sharing their own thoughts. 'Clearly my strategy of forgetting to remove the tag until it's time for my next trip is paying off,' commented one user. Another agreed, saying, 'I actually leave my tag on my bag until my next trip myself.' 4 A Reddit user wants you to discard your bag tags at home. Aris Suwanmalee – 'I always tossed them at home, not because I'm conscious [of it] but I'm kinda forgetful,' one Redditor wrote. Another flyer said, 'Japan had secured bag tag disposal receptacles near the secured exit of baggage claim … This explains why.' 'Do one better. SHRED your bag tags and printed boarding passes as soon as you can after getting to your destination,' one person wrote. Yet another Redditor said, 'Because my full name is on it, I've always discarded them at home.' 4 'I always tossed them at home, not because I'm conscious [of it] but I'm kinda forgetful,' one Redditor wrote. C&A – 4 'Do one better. SHRED your bag tags and printed boarding passes as soon as you can after getting to your destination,' one person wrote. EDER – The original poster shared the belief that others could scam passengers. 'A bag tag only consists of the name, flight[s] and confirmation number outside of the tag itself,' the person wrote. 'They make an email address with that person's name in it, a random phone number and a random address and submit the claim.' Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog 'View From the Wing,' told Fox News Digital he does not see the scam being that prevalent. 'You should keep the bag tag attached until any baggage issues are fully resolved, then discard it at home,' said Leff. 'That said, this doesn't strike me as plausibly a high-volume, common scam.' 4 The original poster shared the belief that others could scam passengers. ID_Anuphon – Leff said tags carry limited information, such as a last name, flight number and a specific bag tag number. He pointed out the tags do not commonly have a ticket number or street address. 'Bags are scanned. Each scan from check‑in to baggage belt is logged. If a scammer files a missing bag claim where the system shows it was delivered, that's going to be a flag, especially when this happens at scale,' said Leff. 'The most common thing is filing lost bag claims for items that were actually delivered, which I've written about a couple of times,' he added.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Airline's tip option for flight attendants leaves customers fuming: ‘Get bent, greedy corporations!'
Passengers aren't fond of this mile-high guilt tip. Frontier Airlines passengers are ripping into the airline over its controversial policy of soliciting gratuities for flight attendants — claiming that the practice is fly-way robbery. The complaints came to light in a thread going viral on Reddit. The original poster claimed they'd ordered beer and snacks — which the carrier charges for– on a flight from Denver, Colorado to Seattle, Washington. Advertisement When the time came to pay, they were 'presented with tipping options on screen with min tip option 18%.' 3 'Frontier is the only airline that solicits tips and considering they are in charge of your safety in case of an emergency, it's extremely inappropriate,' cavetched one Redditor. Getty Images 'Seriously?? These FA for prominent airlines are now asking for tip for WHAT????' the Redditor raged. 'They were zero helpful and the audacity????! Last time I am getting on a Frontier!!! Get bent, greedy corporations!!' Advertisement Frontier Airlines is one of the few airlines that solicits gratuities for onboard purchases of food and drink — a measure that it enacted six years ago as a way to supplement crew wages. The airline recently shifted from 'shifted from pooling all the tips from a flight and splitting them evenly across the crew to allowing each individual flight attendant to keep the tips they generate,' wrote a View From the Wing contributor Gary Leff. 3 Frontier imposed the tipping policy six years ago as a way to supplement crew pay. pressmaster – However, many passengers accused them of simply taking guilt-tipping — obligating passengers to leave steep gratuities for minimal service — to new heights. Advertisement 'Lmao to tipping the airlines. That's crazy talk,' declared one poster in the Reddit thread. Another griped, 'Frontier is the only airline that solicits tips and considering they are in charge of your safety in case of an emergency, it's extremely inappropriate.' 'I've flown Frontier enough to say that instituted tipping shouldn't exist onboard,' said a third. 'It just creates animosity and resentment for the cheap people who don't tip. From my experience with some of the 'bad' FA from Frontier, I'm not wholly confident they wouldn't let that resentment get in the way of safety and their job.' However, one flyer claimed that they will slip crew members some extra cash if they have a good attitude. Advertisement 'When I do, I tip if the flight attendant is friendly. I don't if they're not,' they wrote. 'They make almost nothing, unreliable schedules (much more often than the passengers) and have to deal with an extremely frustrated public.' 3 Some discourage flight attendant tipping as they claim it creates an environment where good service is predicated on receiving extra cash. OlegD – Even industry insiders discourage the practice. Many claim that tipping flight attendants creates a conflict of interest as crew members' primary duty is to ensure passenger safety and not to act as servers in the sky. 'Tipping is not part of a flight attendant's compensation for serving as aviation's first responders,' Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) international president, said in a statement to Travel and Leisure. In addition, leaving a gratuity could give the impression that good service is predicated on receiving extra dough — a dangerous precedent given crew members' first responder responsibilities. Meanwhile, big tippers could expect special favors, which could interfere with crewmember duties and therefore jeopardize the safety of those on board. 'Our jobs have historically been objectified and sexualized,' Nelson told Travel and Leisure in August. 'Is it okay for someone to harass us if they hand us a tip? Obviously not. But it's not a dynamic we can even entertain.' Meanwhile, AVFTW contributor Gary Leff argued that 'more tipping means less pay' because customers are essentially supplementing the crew member wage, thereby allowing their employer to pay them less. Advertisement Fortunately, there are other ways passengers can show their appreciation for crew members outside of a financial transaction. Acceptable gestures include giving air hosts and hostesses gift cards, food (provided it's sealed), and even employee recognition certificates that can potentially make them eligible to participate in raffles for big prizes. Meanwhile, Ryanair crew members have to meet an in-flight sales quota, so it behooves flyers to buy goodies from the crew. Advertisement Although flight attendants say that the best way to show sky staffers some love is through a simple verbal 'thank you' or positive review.
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Flight passengers reveal jaw-dropping behavior in ‘weirdest things' they have seen
In the 'r/delta' forum on Reddit, a user posted a provocative question recently. 'What's the weirdest thing to happen to you on a plane?' the person asked — garnering some 2,000 reactions to date. Advertisement The user opened up the discussion by sharing a photo of a flight passenger playing a wooden recorder while sitting in a window seat. 'On landing/taxi, this fine gentleman pulled out his recorder and played 'Amazing Grace' for the other 100 or so people on the plane,' the user wrote. 'I'm quite happy he waited until the end of the flight.' The user added that it was 'by far the absolute weirdest thing I've seen inside an aircraft.' Other Redditors took to the comments section to share the wildest actions they'd seen while traveling 30,000 feet high in the sky. Advertisement 'I got stuck in a middle seat years ago next to a young woman carrying an almost life-sized doll head with a full head of messy hair,' one user wrote. 'And no, she wasn't a hairdresser.' Another user said, 'I don't like it when people clip their toenails. I've seen it three times. Twice [in] a row across from me and another time in my same row.' Commented another person, 'A woman put her rooster in the overhead bin, but it got loose.' 4 A discussion on airplane passenger etiquette needs to be had. Julian – Advertisement Wrote one individual, 'A woman across the aisle from me brought spaghetti and meatballs with her onto the plane, but she must have been in a rush because she was eating it out of one of those plastic thank-you bags.' Another Redditor said there was an 'old dude who kept asking me questions about my job even after I put my headphones on (multiple times) to work — couldn't take a hint and then said I was rude for not talking to him.' Said yet another person, 'My wife and I were sitting in 1C and 1D. The guy in 1B pulled out dental floss after the meal and started going at his mouth like he was giving himself a root canal. Full-on two-handed flossing right in his seat.' 4 'I don't like it when people clip their toenails. I've seen it three times. Twice [in] a row across from me and another time in my same row.' EdNurg – Advertisement A user wrote, 'The weirdest I've seen was someone changing their baby's diaper on their seatback table. Yep, the entire plane smelled of dirty diaper for the rest of the flight.' Another user described this: 'Donald and Melania Trump impersonators [were in the] first row on a Southwest Flight. The impersonator knew that I had done a double take when I passed him by. I guess most [people] do.' Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog 'View From the Wing,' told Fox News Digital that flight passengers need to be mindful of others. 4 'The entire plane smelled of dirty diaper for the rest of the flight.' EdNurg – 'Passengers have a zone of personal space on the plane that roughly corresponds to the area of their seat,' said Leff. 'Within that space, there are all [types] of behavior that might come under criticism (usually in the realm of personal hygiene and grooming), but it really comes down to the discretion of the individual,' he added. Former flight attendant and Florida-based etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore told Fox News Digital about different ways in which passengers can practice proper etiquette on flights. Advertisement Whitmore also noted that it's important to practice spatial awareness. 'The seats may be getting smaller by the day, but that doesn't give you the right to spill over into someone else's space or put your head on another person's shoulder — unless, of course, you know that person well.' As for passengers who opt to remove their shoes, Whitmore suggested putting on a pair of socks. 4 Flight attendants urge those who would like to take off their shoes to at least wear socks. ThamKC – Advertisement 'From an etiquette standpoint, it is rude to walk about barefooted in a public place as many germs can be transmitted from your feet,' Whitmore told Fox News Digital. Leff noted that flying has become more affordable and democratized. 'What that means is that all sorts of different people with different customs and expectations are now thrown together inside a metal tube,' he said. 'Then add in that people may be afraid to fly, or are traveling for emotionally stressful reasons, such as visiting family, leaving home (or escaping a bad home situation) or going to a funeral,' he said. 'Air travel brings together disparate people in stressful times who act as though they're in private.' Advertisement Leff said that he's seen people drinking too much, arguing with a spouse and traveling barefoot. 'Humans are strange creatures, indeed,' he added.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
British Airways bans crew from taking selfies, making TikTok videos; effective immediately the new guidelines say: You may be fired if ...
Representative image British Airways has introduced a stringent new policy prohibiting its flight attendants and pilots from sharing photos or videos taken at layover hotels, sparking debate among crew members and industry observers. The policy, detailed in a report by View From the Wing, extends to images captured inside hotel rooms, lobbies, parking lots, or even nearby outdoor areas like pools or beaches. Crew members have been instructed to scrub their social media accounts—private or public—of any such content, with non-compliance potentially leading to termination. According to the new guidelines, crew members are also required to go over their feeds with a fine-toothed comb and delete every trace of prior layover hotel-related content — even the stuff set to 'private' — or risk getting fired. The airline's security team has cited safety risks as the driving force behind the policy. Advanced image analysis tools can reportedly extract subtle background details—such as parking lot signage, pool tiling patterns, or window shapes -- to pinpoint a hotel's location. British Airways argues that such information could be exploited, potentially compromising crew safety during layovers. The ban covers a wide range of content, including 'get ready with me' TikToks filmed in hotel bathrooms, uniform selfies in corridors, poolside photos, and group shots in hotel bars or restaurants. While British Airways has not confirmed whether a specific incident triggered the policy, the timing raises questions. Just weeks ago, a British Airways flight attendant was found dead at a layover hotel in San Francisco, an event that has drawn attention within the industry, though no official link to the policy has been established. This move follows British Airways' 2023 update to its social media guidelines, which already restricted employees from posting content showing them 'professionally engaged' in their roles. The new rules, however, go further, effectively limiting crew members' ability to share personal moments from their travels, even on private accounts. The policy has sparked mixed reactions. Some industry experts argue it's a prudent step in an era of sophisticated digital tracking, while others see it as an excessive restriction on personal freedom. 'Crew members rely on social media to connect with friends and followers, often sharing the glamour of their jet-setting lives,' said aviation analyst Sarah Collins. 'This blanket ban could impact morale and even recruitment, as social media presence is a draw for younger crew members.' British Airways has not publicly commented on the policy beyond internal communications to staff. The airline's focus on security aligns with broader industry trends, as carriers increasingly grapple with privacy and safety challenges in the digital age. For now, crew members are left to comply or face serious consequences, reshaping how they share their lives on the road. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
New York Post
28-05-2025
- New York Post
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Summer travel is in full swing after a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend. A massive 45.1 million Americans were predicted to travel at least 50 miles from their homes, with 3.61 million Americans flying to their destination. For those flyers who tend to bring a lot of baggage with them, a viral travel hack involving pillowcases is now apparently helping some passengers avoid checking a bag. The pillowcase travel hack disguises clothes and other soft items as a travel pillow. People are stuffing items into an empty pillowcase — then bringing this item on board for free. Most airlines allow passengers to bring travel pillows without counting the items as baggage. Travel expert Francesca Page of New York told Fox News Digital she recently returned from a trip and noticed an influx of people traveling with their own pillows. 'I always thought it was for in-flight comfort, especially for red-eye flights,' said Page. 'However, I came to find out that that isn't the ONLY reason people are taking their own pillows.' 3 Flyers are turning to a viral travel hack involving pillowcases to avoid checking a bag when flying. í¢í°íâíÅíí½í° íâí¾í»í°í¾í²í° – 3 People are stuffing items into an empty pillowcase and bringing it on board for free. í®í»í¸í íâí°í²í°í»í¸íËí¸í½í° – Page said that with the 'additional tightening of onboard luggage and fees, people will start getting smart about using the case itself to take whatever bulky items can't fit in their bag, because it's not technically considered more than a pillowcase.' Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog 'View From the Wing,' told Fox News Digital he saw the hack circulate on social media in 2023 and 2024, too. 'Nobody minds a pillow as an extra carry-on,' said Leff. 'It's not going in the overhead bin, or underneath your seat, usually. So you're betting that it just gets a pass.' 3 'Additional tightening of onboard luggage and fees, people will start getting smart about using the case itself to take whatever bulky items can't fit in their bag,' travel expert Francesca Page says. tampatra – 'This trick has been talked up enough, I think, that it's become too obvious to work in many cases. At least there's enough risk that it won't that it's probably not worth trying,' he added. Leff said that by bringing more items than allowed just to save on fees, he's seen passengers turn themselves into 'human suitcase[s].' Some passengers are even wearing as many clothes as possible along with stuffing their pockets with additional clothes.
