Latest news with #airtravel
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta Air Lines Makes 'Exciting' Announcement for Travelers
Delta Air Lines has already established itself as one of the best in its industry, but that doesn't mean management is satisfied. Earlier this week, Delta was awarded Best Airline Staff Service in North America by Skytrax. Despite the airline's strong reputation, the higher-ups are considering a plethora of moves that could take their product to the next level. Delta senior vice president of network planning Paul Baldoni spoke to The Points Guy about potential changes coming to the airline. For starters, Baldoni revealed that Delta's fleet of Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300 jets will be retrofitted with Delta One Suites. This change will take place over the next few years. Additionally, Delta confirmed that it'll have a subfleet of Airbus A321neos. "We are looking forward to the A321neos that will come with flat-bed seats," Baldoni said. "We're going to put it places where we have existing domestic Delta One service today." Baldoni wasn't done revealing changes for Delta Air Lines. Last year, Delta made the decision to upgrade all flights between New York and Los Angeles with premium economy seats. Baldoni said that decision went over so well with the public that Delta will do the same for flights between New York and San Francisco. San Francisco isn't the only city expected to benefit from Delta's new plans. Though nothing is official yet, Austin could become the next hub for the Georgia-based airline. "We've had great success in Austin. We like the demographic trends we see in Austin. So, that will continue to be the primary focus," Baldoni said. "We're getting up to now close to 80 departures a day [along with our partners]. When we get to close to around 120 daily departures, you start building some of that connectivity that exists in what you would call a hub, whether we call Austin a hub or not." Delta Air Lines Makes 'Exciting' Announcement for Travelers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why do some airlines often seem to be running late?
Q Are easyJet always late? I am recently back from a trip to Split in Croatia. I had an early-morning flight from Luton, returning to Gatwick in the late afternoon. Both were over an hour late. Is there a systemic problem with easyJet, or is there other stuff going on? Robin S A All the budget airlines are sharply focused on keeping to time. Their business model depends on using cabin crew and planes as intensively as possible – especially in summer, when demand is strongest. I shall take each of your journeys in turn. Luton airport has never been busier. The home team, easyJet, is up against Ryanair, Wizz Air and, from this summer, Jet2. The first wave of flights begins soon after 5am, with the Split flight typically at 6.20am. Yet Luton does not have the same sclerotic pace first thing in the morning as Gatwick – partly because there is less incoming traffic, and also because there is not the same critical mass of aircraft trying to get on their way as the Sussex airport sees. On a 6.35am Ryanair flight from Luton to Vilnius recently, the plane arrived 25 minutes early in the Lithuanian capital. I bet the delay stemmed from flow restrictions in airspace over Europe: the rate at which aircraft are cleared to fly through the complex skies. There are serious problems with staffing at a number of continental 'area control centres' – the operations that look after large swathes of sky. Between Luton and Split, the most direct route passes over France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, with plenty of scope for congestion. Coming back, it may simply be that delays had built up during the day. Even though airlines try to put in a bit of a firebreak in early afternoon where they can make up for earlier hold-ups, that is not always possible. Looking at Thursday's hardworking flight programme, the same Airbus A320 went from Gatwick to Split twice, with less than an hour between each take-off and landing, picking up delays along the way. On occasions this summer, disruption will intensify as pressure on a rather creaky air-traffic control system intensifies. By the time we get to August, it may be that a delay of just an hour is seen as roughly on schedule. Q We have a young family and are hoping to spend a week or two away in Germany this summer, travelling from Manchester – ideally to the Black Forest, and near a lake. What can you recommend? Katherine S A Germany is by far the most underrated nation in Europe for family holidays, and the Black Forest is an ideal playground. It is also easy to reach from Manchester: easyJet flies five times a week in summer (the 'missing days' are Wednesday and Saturday) to Basel. This is officially the 'EuroAirport' serving Switzerland, France and Germany. FlixBus connects the airport with Freiburg, with buses every hour or two taking just 55 minutes. Freiburg is an excellent place to spend your first couple of days: smaller and calmer than many German cities, with an atmospheric old town dominated by the towering minster. The Vauban quarter, south of the centre, is worth exploring. During the postwar occupation of Germany, this was the site of a French army barracks. But, since 1993, it has transformed into a sustainable community full of good ideas. The Black Forest – a beautiful, relatively low mountain range draped in woodland – extends east and north from Freiburg. Public transport is excellent throughout the Black Forest, and a 40-minute train ride will take you to Titisee. I suggest spending a good few days here, not least because of the Badeparadies Schwarzwald – a charmingly retro water park. You can swim in the lake, or just walk around it, and rent bikes for wider exploration. You could simply retrace your steps to Basel airport, but I recommend you make the most of the opportunity to travel through the forest. Head north to the splendidly situated town of Triberg for mountain walks. Then continue by train to Baden Baden, perhaps the finest spa town in Europe – with good facilities for children, too. From here, you can take the train south to Basel, ideally spending a day in the Swiss city before flying home. Q After the airlines put their prices up following the Eurostar shambles, I wonder when the government will look at rip-off dynamic pricing in the transport sector? Name supplied A Never, I hope. For context, yesterday, air fares between London and Paris soared to over £600 one-way as passengers whose Eurostar trains were cancelled tried to find alternative means to reach the French capital. The 'total chaos' – as Eurostar described it on social media – happened as a result of two tragedies involving people being struck by trains on high-speed lines in France, and the overnight theft of cable near Lille Europe station. Yesterday I watched as the air fares rose and planes sold out for the short hop from London to Paris. I can understand the view that this is the unacceptable face of capitalism: exploiting misfortune to make extreme profits. Yet the airlines found themselves the custodians of what had suddenly become an extremely scarce resource: transport between the UK and French capitals. They could have kept the price down to the normal £300 or so for a last-minute ticket (which is also roughly the usual Eurostar Premier fare). Were they to have done so, those tickets would have been snapped up immediately for less than the market would bear. I contend that there needs to be a mechanism for ensuring that people who are desperate to travel are able to do so. Those precious assets are allocated by price. As I have mentioned before, I was on the wrong end of a Qatar Airways cancellation from Kathmandu last November. I needed to be back in the UK for family and professional reasons. With so many seats taken out of the market, it was almost impossible to fly from the Nepali capital. The only international flight with any seats available was with a budget airline to Bangkok. It cost over £700 for a three-hour hop – in the wrong direction. But I also knew that British Airways had plenty of seats from Bangkok back to Gatwick for £500. Luckily, I had a credit card that took the strain and I made it back in time. Money well spent – which I imagine is the view of those high-spending passengers on the last flight to Paris yesterday evening. Q My daughter is stuck in Doha on her way home from Bangkok. She doesn't seem to have the same rights over there, and I was wondering what Qatar Airways' obligations are? Stuart White A The inconsistency of UK (and EU) air passengers' rights legislation is glaringly apparent after the closure of Doha's airspace overnight on Monday, which wrecked the plans of tens of thousands of passengers. Those consumer protections work only for flights beginning in Europe, or on airlines based in the UK or EU. Not yet left Britain? Passengers booked from UK airports on Qatar Airways flights via Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa must be flown to their destination as soon as possible by any carrier that has seats available. That would mean, for example, transferring passengers booked from London to Perth via Doha to the Qantas nonstop. They must also be provided with a hotel and meals until they can be flown out. Similar benefits apply to passengers who were stranded in Doha mid-journey from the UK. Someone flying from Edinburgh or Manchester who reached Doha before airspace closed can expect a hotel, meals, and an outbound flight on any airline, pronto. But passengers in your daughter's position have no such rights. She is flying home from a non-European location, Bangkok via Doha, on a non-European airline, Qatar Airways. Unless national or regional rules specify otherwise, the airline can do what it likes. The situation is made more complicated by a shortage of seats. Widespread cancellations are reverberating through the airline's schedules, as well as on Qatar Airways' partner, British Airways. When normality is restored, passengers booked on cancelled flights go to the back of the queue, scrabbling for seats with thousands of others. Last November, Qatar Airways cancelled my flight from Kathmandu via Doha to London and offered an alternative a week later, with no hotel accommodation. On that occasion, I took a refund and spent a further £1,300 on a flight home – ironically via Bangkok. Your daughter may wish to do something similar. Travel insurance may help with some out-of-pocket expenses and a modest payment for long delays, but it is no substitute for proper passengers' rights. I hope your daughter makes it home soon without too much additional stress and expense.
Bloomberg
6 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Singapore's Blueprint for a Future City
Each week we bring you insights into one of Asia's most dynamic economies. If you haven't yet, please sign up here. This week, Gabrielle Ng looks at how Singapore is trying to adapt its city for an aging population and a hotter world, while Ishika Mookerjee bemoans the pressures that could make air travel even more expensive.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Airplane headaches: Inside the puzzling condition that makes people afraid to fly
Simply jetting off for a summer escape can take a major toll on your mental health — never mind the long lines and cramped conditions. Research suggests that as many as one in 12 people suffer from severe airplane headaches while flying, with some developing a full-blown fear of air travel as a result. A 28-year-old's struggle with recurrent airplane headaches was detailed just last month in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, with the woman reporting severe headaches lasting 30 minutes after landing. Things got so bad that she tried to take trains instead of planes for her twice-monthly work trips. Here's everything you need to know about the baffling condition — including steps you can take to keep it from ruining your vacation before it even starts. It's a sharp, stabbing pain — typically on one side of the forehead — that comes on suddenly and only happens during air travel, according to Neurology Live. The pain can strike at any point during a flight, though it most often occurs during descent. Unlike migraines, which can linger for hours or even days, airplane headaches are usually short-lived and tend ease up within 30 minutes of their onset. The syndrome was first described in 2004, and the International Headache Society officially recognized 'headaches attributed to airplane travel' as a diagnosis in 2013. Airplane headaches don't just cause pain — they can impact emotional well-being and overall travel experience. One survey found that 28% of sufferers often consider canceling trips to avoid another attack. Another 18% sometimes think about bailing, and 3% say they always do. The pain wrecks in-flight downtime too. Nearly half said airplane headaches always interrupt activities like listening to music, reading or watching movies while traveling. Another 22% said the disruptions happen sometimes, and 30% said they happen often. Other studies suggest these headaches fuel stress, trigger flight anxiety and push people toward avoidance behaviors. Up to 12% of sufferers say they steer clear of flying altogether because of the intense pain. The science is still up in the air. There are two main theories, both focused on the effects of rapid pressure changes in the cabin of a plane during takeoff and landing. One theory suggests this shift causes cerebral arteries to dilate, lowering blood pressure in the brain and triggering a brief, sharp headache. Another theory proposes the pressure change causes tissue injury and inflammation in the sinuses, leading to intense pain. No guaranteed cure exists, but some tricks might keep the pain at bay. Some people have found that taking medications like triptans or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before a flight can help prevent or reduce the severity of airplane headaches. The woman from the case report found success by taking the prescription medicine rimegepant, sold under the brand name Nurtec ODT, half an hour before plane departure. Others find relief with nasal decongestants or steroid sprays that can ease sinus pressure. During the flight, chewing gum or using earplugs on takeoff and landing can help block out the pain. And don't forget — the basics matter, too. When you're traveling, make sure you're staying hydrated, keeping your stress levels in check and getting plenty of rest to prevent headaches from grounding your trip.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a flight attendant and here is the one extremely popular item people wear on planes that could be a huge safety hazard
A flight attendant has revealed the five things you should never wear on a plane - including one very common item that's a safety hazard. Sille Rydell, a flight attendant and content creator from Copenhagen, shared a TikTok video on her account @sillerydell, highlighting clothing items she advises against wearing while flying. The clip, which gained over one million views, claimed items such as that shorts, crop tops and flip flops are all bad choices. She captioned the post: 'Your outfit might be cute at the gate, but at 38,000 feet? Not so much. Here's what I never fly in and why.' Alongside a clip of Sille walking through a first class cabin, she shared what you should 'not wear on a plane' and asserted that she is speaking from experience, having 'seen it all'. First, Sille claimed you should never fly in 'shorts or crop tops' because its gets very cold on a flight. Explaining further in the caption, she wrote: 'Shorts or crop tops - ever felt the wrath of plane AC [air conditioning] on bare thighs or on your naked belly? Brutal.' Next, the flight attendant revealed why flip flops should be avoided at all costs when travelling. She wrote: 'Flip flops — fine for the beach, not for running to your gate or emergency landings. Plus, I know you will take them off during the flight and walk barefoot.' Sille advised travellers to avoid polyester and synthetic fabrics when travelling because they could become uncomfortable. She explained: 'You need breathable fabrics when cabin temperature fluctuates.' The air hostess also explained that tights should not be worn when flying, as she explained that they could be a safety hazard if there was a fire onboard. She said: 'Tights [are] synthetic = flammable. Not what you want in case of fire [as the] fabric might burn into your skin.' Finally, Sille advised against tight, non-stretchy clothes, saying: 'Your body bloats in the air. 'What feels snug on the ground might feel like a corset in the sky.' She added: 'Choose comfort, safety, and layers you can easily remove or add'. A number of viewers took to the comments to share their own opinions on suitable and comfortable attire for air travel, with many saying they like to wear shorts. @sillerydell ur outfit might be cute at the gate, but at 38,000 feet? Not so much. Here's what I never fly in and why ✨ 💾 Save this for your next flight 🩳 Shorts or crop tops — ever felt the wrath of plane AC on bare thighs or on your naked belly? Brutal 🩴 Flip flops — fine for the beach, not for running to your gate or emergency landings. Plus, I know you will take them off during flight and walk barefoot🫣 🚫 Polyester & synthetics — you need breathable fabrics when cabin temperature fluctuates 🧦 Tights — synthetic = flammable. Not what you want in case of fire fabric might burn into your skin 🫃 Tight non stretchy clothes —your body bloats in the air. What feels snug on ground might feel like a corset in the sky. 💡 Choose comfort, safety, and layers you can easily remove or add 👇 Tell me your go-to plane outfit or worst airport fashion fail! 🫶 💾 Save this for your next trip #FlightAttendantTips #TravelSmart #WhatNotToWearOnAPlane #travelhacks ♬ original sound - sillerydell The clip, which gained more than one million views, claimed items such as that shorts, crop tops and flip flops were a bad choice A number of viewers took to the comments to share their own opinions on suitable and comfortable attire for air travel, with many saying they like to wear shorts. One said: 'See nothing wrong with shorts in the summer especially if you're going to a country that's 30+degrees and you've got a full day sightseeing before you get to accommodation.' To which Sille replied: 'So if you're going to a warm destination you wouldn't mind being cold for your entire 12 hour flight?' Another said: 'I wear shorts and rake a hoodie on short haul 100% long haul is a different kettle of fish I look like im going to Antarctica.' Someone else added: 'I live in shorts, even in the coldest of winter. I'd be way too uncomfortable sitting on a plane in anything other than shorts.' A fourth added: 'I always wear shorts and flip flops and have been okay.' Meanwhile some claimed they love to wear jeans and others opted for their pajamas while flying. One wrote: 'Jammie pants a T-shirt and a normal hoodie good or bad?' Many took to the comments to share their own opinions on suitable and comfortable attire for air travel, with many saying they like to wear shorts and others suggesting they wear their pajamas Another added: 'Jeans are very stretchy these days.' Someone else added: 'pajamas basically and sandals.' It comes after another flight attendant revealed three annoying habits that she believes should be made 'illegal' on plane journeys. Dallas-based air hostess Cher Killough, who has worked in the industry for five years, recently took to TikTok to call out bad in-flight etiquette - including three of her biggest passenger pet peeves. According to Cher, the most irritating behaviour is 'manspreading' or, more specifically, 'manspreading when you're in a middle seat'. According to the Oxford dictionary, manspreading refers to the 'the practice whereby a man adopts a sitting position with his legs wide apart, in such a way as to encroach on an adjacent seat' - especially on public transport. Branding this behaviour as 'unacceptable' in her TikTok, Cher said: 'I've been a passenger, and had it numerous times, where men will spread their knees all the way into my seat section or the person's on the other just unacceptable. 'It's always the shortest ones that are doing it!' she continued. 'I'm 5ft 8in, so if I'm taking up just my seat section, then you as a little 5ft 6in man can definitely do the same.' Cher also claimed that 'smelling like anything' during a flight was inconsiderate to other passengers. 'It's already an environment where people are prone to getting nauseous, so having an extra fragrance on top of that is just not a good mix. 'But if I had to pick one, I would definitely choose someone's perfume over someone's body odour over because we get that sometimes,' she clarified. Lastly, Cher added, taking off your shoes and walking around the plane barefoot was a big no-no. You seriously need to go to jail if you are having your bare toes out when you go to the bathroom,' she continued. 'I see this all the time and it should be against the law and in general I don't want to see your bare feet at all. Wear shoes or wear socks.' The clip, which racked up over 7,000 views, was captioned: 'Don't get mad at the fragrance one in the cabin! Some people are extremely sensitive to smells (I'm ppl)' Cher's clip sparked a spirited discussion in the comments section, with several people agreeing with her advice. One TikTok user noted: 'When they man spread in the middle i make myself as big as possible til they get the hint.' Another added: 'If someone man spreads I just lean my legs against him. He'll move and retract eventually.' Someone else added: 'If he manspreads I'm doing it too and now making things awkward by our legs touching.'
