United Airlines is moving forward with the termination of 232 that have chosen not to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
United Airlines
United Airlines is in the process of terminating 232 employees that haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccine.
CEO Scott Kirby said that 99.7% of United’s 67,000 US employees have been vaccinated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order likely won’t affect United since nearly all workers are vaccinated.
United Airlines is currently in the process of terminating its remaining US employees that are unvaccinated against COVID-19. A total of 232 employees in the US have chosen not to be vaccinated, CEO Scott Kirby told CBS Mornings, out of the airline’s 67,000.
“I wish we would have gotten to 100% but out of our 67,000 US employees, there are 232 who haven’t been vaccinated and they are going through the termination process now,” Kirby said on Wednesday.
United was the first US airline to mandate vaccines when it announced in August that employees would have until October 25 or five weeks from the first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration, whichever came first. Pfizer’s vaccine was given that approval on August 23, starting the clock for United employees.
Kirby said he made the decision after hearing about the loss of a United pilot in July, after spending the worst of the pandemic writing letters to the family members of United employees lost to the virus.
“The second time I got notified of an employee – it was a 57-year-old pilot that had passed away – I walked around for half an hour and finally called our team and said ‘enough is enough,'” he told CBS. “We can do something about this, we believe in safety.”
“And weeks later, we got 99.7% of our employees vaccinated,” he said
United then made the landmark announcement the month following and started a trend for US airlines, with rival carriers like Hawaiian Airlines and Frontier Airlines soon following with similar mandates. Some airlines, however, continued to offer a testing opt-out that one public health expert told Insider may prove less effective without regular testing of multiple viral tests per week.
United’s mandate wasn’t without pushback, as evidenced by the 232 holdouts and more employees that Kirby said “did disagree” with the action. Kirby said he took an “empathetic” approach over an argumentative one to win the majority of his workforce over.
“I tried not to argue with them about it,” he said. “We’re not going to win the arguments on this with people. And I respect that you have a different opinion but you now have a decision to make about whether you want to get vaccinated and stay at United or not.”
“Because this is in the rear-view mirror for us, we don’t have to be as focused on what does this really mean in the short-term because we already got everybody vaccinated,” he said. “My responsibility is to try to do the right thing for United Airlines and what I think is safe.”
Singapore Airlines operates three of the 10 current longest flights in the world, including the leader between New York and Singapore.
Soos Jozsef/Shutterstock.com
Singapore Airlines has chosen Golden Door Spa as its new wellness partner for the world’s longest flights.
Golden Door is crafting a new in-flight menu as well as exercises, stretches, and sleeping techniques.
Wealthy celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts frequent the opulent California spa.
Singapore Airlines is bringing one of the world’s most exclusive spas to the skies in a new partnership with Golden Door.
Travelers on ultra-long-haul flights between Singapore and the US will soon experience a new Golden Door-inspired offering that will provide a holistic approach to wellness. The transition from wellness partner Canyon Ranch marks the next phase for Singapore Airlines in flying the longest flights in the world.
“Golden Door is now here to help us add on to a lot more of the softer aspect of our wellness program,” Betty Wong, Singapore Airlines’ division vice president of in-flight services and design, told Insider.
Golden Door Executive Chef Greg Frey Jr. is working in the kitchen with Singapore Airlines Director of Food and Beverage Antony McNeil to adapt the spa’s menu to the onboard environment. Meals play an important role on the airline’s longest journeys as they serve not only to satiate but also to entertain, pass the time, and contribute to a traveler’s well-being.
Frey serves as Golden Door’s culinary mastermind and has revolutionized the concept of “spa food” for his discerning guests. The 600 acres of California outdoors on which Golden Door sits serves as Frey’s workspace and garden, with rows of fresh produce in a two-acre garden that feeds the 40 weekly spa-goers.
Inside the Golden Door spa.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Some of what will be served on flights are identical to what Golden Door guests are eating, with meal options including a signature black cod served over forbidden rice with edamame puree as well as a portobello meatball in an heirloom tomato sauce with risotto.
Golden Door isn’t as focused on calorie counting as it is on using freshly grown ingredients in the right portion sizes. Dessert options on the flight will include Golden Door’s signature ginger snap cookies, chocolate mint chip cookies, and gluten-free spiced apple cake.
Singapore Airlines favorites, such as lobster thermidor, will still be available through the “book the cook” meal pre-order program as well as other in-flight dining programs. It’s part of the airline’s strategy to give passengers the freedom to enjoy the flights as they desire.
Inside the Golden Door spa.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
“The purpose of this relationship is to develop a robust and a very flexible wellness program,” Wong said. “We want to make sure that these options are available, but at the end of the day choice is yours.”
Beyond the dining experience, Golden Door is also crafting in-flight exercises and stretches for passengers to improve their well-being. Benefits including improvements in circulation, flexibility, and alertness upon landing.
Specially crafted beverages and new sleeping techniques will also be introduced to aid in passenger hydration, relaxation, and rejuvenation on the ultra-long-haul journeys.
Kathy Van Ness, chief commercial officer at Golden Door, likens the role of the spa to that of Singapore Airlines: both only have a short period of time to make an impact on a guest.
“Even seven days, we have to change those people’s lives,” Van Ness said of Golden Door. “By the time they depart, they have to feel a remarkable difference in their health.”
Inside the Golden Door spa.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
It’s important, according to Van Ness, that flyers disembark with a better understanding of how to “pause.” And a 19-hour flight between New York and Singapore is time enough to learn that important skill.
Scheduled to debut in January 2022, the partnership comes as Singapore opens to vaccinated Americans and eliminates quarantine for travelers arriving on certain flights. Singapore Airlines’ non-stop flights from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as some one-stop flights from Seattle, are included in the Vaccinated Travel Lane program.
Southwest Airlines passengers checking in for their flight.
Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty
Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights last weekend that left some passengers stranded.
Travelers with canceled flights are owed a refund and can push for hotel stays and alternate travel.
Trip insurance can help get expenses reimbursed if it’s due to a flight delay or cancelation.
Southwest Airlines is still canceling flights after a weekend meltdown during which more than 1,700 flights were cut from the schedule.
At least 365 flights have already been canceled for Monday, according to flight tracking company FlightAware, and more may be on the horizon as the airline recovers from a chaotic weekend.
There’s no foolproof method to avoid being stranded when flight cancellations and delays strike, but travelers should take precautions before heading to the airport to increase their chances of resolving airline-related issues.
Here are 5 tips to deal with delayed and canceled flights.
Know how to contact an airline
A Southwest airport agent helping a passenger.
Patrick T. Fallon /AFP/Getty Images
At the airport, airline gate staff and customer service agents can help rebook flights in the event of a cancellation or delay. Travelers should find the closest customer service center as early as possible.
Airline phone numbers are also available on their websites and apps; it can be worth saving those numbers into your phone’s contact book ahead of time.
Southwest’s customer service phone number is 1-800-435-9792. The call center is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Southwest’s baggage service phone number is 1-888-202-1024, group travel is 1-800-433-8747, and the Spanish language phone number is 1-800-826-6667.
Social media also can be a useful resource – sending an early direct message to Southwest’s Twitter can act as a virtual placeholder on the customer service line.
Use an airline’s mobile app or website to rebook
Southwest Airlines’ mobile application.
Brenda Rocha – Blossom/Shutterstock.com
Airlines have made it easier for passengers to rebook with a mobile app. Flight change fees will be waived in those cases and travelers, in theory, should be able to find and book backup flights.
During high-traffic periods including ones following airline meltdowns, however, availability might be scarce as thousands of fellow passengers are also trying to rebook. If online means of rebooking aren’t being helpful, talking to an airline representative is the next best bet.
Know your traveler rights
Southwest Airlines passengers checking in for their flight.
Airlines must provide a refund to travelers who cancel their bookings outright, according to the Department of Transportation.
Travel credits offered by the airline can often only be used on that airline, while a refund gives travelers additional freedom, whether it be to scrap a trip outright or rebook with a different airline. However, the airline may not be inclined to help once a booking is fully canceled and refunded.
Travelers can also request vouchers for meals and hotel stays if the disruption to a trip is severe. In the latest case, Southwest is blaming issues outside of its control, however, so passengers might be limited in what they can get.
Understand travel insurance and credit card coverage
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum travel credit cards.
One event that may apply is if you can’t reach your destination for at least 24 hours “due to severe weather (or another covered reason),” traveler insurer Allianz’s website reads.
But not all policies require a 24-hour delay. The “trip delay reimbursement” benefit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides reimbursement if your travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay.
Settle in for a long wait – and know when to jump ship
An airline traveler making a phone call.
Phil Walter / Getty
Remember that airlines will be handling the same issues for thousands of customers, as well as trying to return to its normal schedule. Long lines and waits will be incredibly common.
Travelers might consider alternate means of transportation if flying doesn’t look immediately possible. A rebooked flight might also be canceled or delayed as the airline gets back on its feet.
A number of grounded Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft are shown parked at Victorville Airport in Victorville, California
Reuters
Southwest Airlines is still recovering from its weekend meltdown with cancellations continuing into the week.
Airlines have been experiencing these meltdowns during the pandemic after scaling down in 2020.
Holiday travel may be impacted as airlines have proven they’re still highly vulnerable to disruptions.
Southwest Airlines is still recovering from a dizzying Columbus Day travel weekend mired by thousands of flights cancellations that stranded passengers across the country.
America’s largest low-cost carrier initially warned of cancellations on Saturday, placing the blame on “air traffic control issues” and bad weather. The ripple effects are still impacting the airline as of Monday and flight-tracking company FlightAware shows 365 canceled flights, or 9% of its planned schedule, and 713 delayed flights, another 20% of its planned schedule, at the time of writing.
Residual cancellations will subside as more time passes from the incident but the meltdown casts doubt on the ability of airlines to handle upcoming holiday travel. Americans will likely be taking to the skies en masse for the winter holidays and some airlines have proven that they’re still vulnerable to these types of disruptions.
“The system’s a little more brittle because there’s less spare capacity, that’s just the nature of the beast,” Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group, told Insider. “And that’s another reason to be more concerned about weather events.”
Extreme weather events including thunderstorms have been the catalyst for airline meltdowns in months past and winter brings its own challenges. Weather incidents like snowstorms, when combined with the reduced workforce airlines are experiencing, can quickly see an airline spiral into delays and cancellations.
United, for its part, has been largely spared of these operational nightmares and cites its decision not to furlough pilots during the pandemic as the reason.
“The system isn’t designed to flex the way it’s been flexing over the last year and a half,” Aboulafia said. “We’ve never had to scale down and up as a system the way we have this time. It’s hard.”
Airlines have also had a harder time deciphering demand trends as vaccination rates across the country remain slow-growing, according to Aboulafia. Many travelers didn’t hesitate to take to the skies in 2020 but some may reconsider holiday travel to destinations with large rates of unvaccinated residents.
“Sometimes these things are hard to anticipate, everything can’t always be in sync,” Aboulafia said, noting that airlines had no choice but to scale down during the worst of the pandemic when demand dropped by around 66%.
Flyers can take proactive measures including staying near customer services centers ahead of scheduled flights, having multiple ways of contacting an airline to rebook a canceled flight, researching potential backup flights, and understand their travel insurance coverage (including insurance that’s included with certain travel credit cards).
Beyond that, Aboulafia says that “there’s not a lot you can do to hedge against [disruptions] except allow for some flexibility.” Delta Air Lines was the victim of bad weather and staffing issues during 2020’s holiday season that saw around 500 flight cancellations around the Christmas travel rush.
Aboulafia also recommends that travelers consider an airline’s geography when booking holiday travel, as airlines are stronger at their hubs and can recover quicker in the event of a disruption.
Dallas, for example, is an American Airlines and Southwest stronghold while Boston has a large JetBlue Airways and Delta presence.
A crew member boarding a Southwest plane. The injunction stops Kiwi.com from selling the airline’s flights.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest was granted a preliminary injunction, stopping Kiwi.com from displaying its fares.
A judge said Kiwi.com caused “damage to [Southwest’s] reputation and loss of goodwill.”
The injunction was the “whole nine yards,” a lawyer for Southwest said.
A federal judge granted Southwest Airlines a preliminary injunction against Kiwi.com, stopping the discount-ticket website from posting the airline’s fares.
“Kiwi breached [Southwest’s] Terms by scraping Southwest flight data and fare from Southwest’s website, presenting Southwest flight data on kiwi.com, and selling Southwest flights without authorization,” Ada Brown, US district judge, wrote in an order dated September 30.
The injunction stops Kiwi.com from scraping fare data, displaying tickets, and selling Southwest flights – it’s the “whole nine yards,” a spokesperson for Southwest’s law firm, Munck Wilson Mandala, told Insider via email.
Southwest sued Kiwi.com in January in US District Court in the Northern District of Texas, saying the website breached the terms of Southwest’s website by scraping fare and flight information.
“As detailed in Southwest’s request for a preliminary injunction, Kiwi.com improperly inflates Southwest fares and engages in other conduct that harms both Southwest and its customers,” a Southwest spokesperson said via email on Friday.
He added, “Southwest is pleased that Judge Brown has ordered Kiwi.com to stop these unauthorized activities until this matter reaches a final decision.”
The injunction will remain in effect until a decision at trial or another court motion.
Brown wrote that Kiwi.com had “caused Southwest to suffer damages, including damage to its reputation and loss of goodwill from customer complaints and increased customer service burdens and disruption to operations.”
Southwest is also in an ongoing legal battle with Skiplagged, another travel search site. The airline in previous court filings had sought details about the relationship between Skiplagged and Kiwi.com.
Southwest is “no stranger” to suing search engines and other sites that are displaying its fares, wrote Jeffrey Neuburger, co-head of law firm Proskauer Rose LLP’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, in a blog post.
“What made this result particularly notable is that the preliminary injunction is based on the likelihood of success on the merits of Southwest’s breach of contract claim and Kiwi’s alleged violation of Southwest’s site terms,” Neuburger wrote.
Kiwi.com didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the company has told Insider in recent interviews that it was unreasonable for Southwest to claim it had broken the airline’s website’s terms of service.
In July, a Kiwi.com spokesperson told Insider: “Southwest makes its flight and fare data publicly available to the entire internet, and it cannot legitimately prevent fare competition and price comparisons through enforcement of its browsewrap terms of use, to which Kiwi.com never agreed in any event.”
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Spirit Airlines in August canceled thousands of flights after extreme weather impacted its operation, impacting its reputation for cheap on-time flights.
The event highlighted the risks of booking with an ultra-low-cost carrier, which may recover slower than larger carriers.
Even with the risks, Spirit still manages to attract flyers that are price-focused with fares lower than $35 one-way for cross-country travel.
Spirit Airlines is one of the US’s leading budget carriers, known for cheap flights with no frills that make air travel more accessible to the masses.A Spirit Airlines aircraft.
Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock
But over the summer, Spirit briefly became known for delayed and canceled flights. Extreme weather led to thousands of Spirit flight cancellations over the course of a week, seriously impacting the airline’s reputation for on-time performance.
Passengers wait in line at the Spirit Airlines check-in counter at Orlando International Airport on the sixth day the airline has cancelled hundreds of flights.
Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The event highlighted the risk that can come with booking through an ultra-low-cost carrier. Specifically, travelers on these airlines may have less recourse when things go wrong, such as a lack of backup flights on a given route.
Airlines like Spirit also don’t commonly partner with other airlines, preventing them from rebooking disrupted passengers onto a different carrier.
A Spirit Airlines plane at Los Angeles International Airport.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty
Those risks usually entice me to book flights on full-services carriers over budget airlines. But I couldn’t resist the challenge when I saw the fare on a cross-country flight was only $34.57 on Spirit for a recent flight home.
Flying on a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320neo.
Thomas Pallini/Business Insider
I flew Spirit Airlines home from Santa Ana, California to Newark after a work trip to California. Here’s what it was like.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
My transcontinental journey started dark and early with a 7 a.m. flight from Orange Country’s John Wayne Airport. The first leg of my trip consisted of a short hop to Las Vegas, where I’d connect to a non-stop flight to Newark.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
As per tradition when I book flights on ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit, I didn’t purchase any extras and let fate decide my experience. All I had with me was an overnight bag and a ticket to ride.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
This would be the longest journey on Spirit at seven hours and 12 minutes from start to finish. I can’t say I wasn’t tempted to pre-pay for window seats, which started at $10 for the shorter flight and increased to $13 for the longer one.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Nevertheless, I stuck to my faith in the system and was rewarded with a choice of two window seats at check-in. Both were towards the back of the plane but I saved $25 by not pre-paying.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Tickets in hand, I went to the security checkpoint that was luckily empty at the ripe hour of 5 a.m.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Flying time to Las Vegas was a brief 44 minutes and I wasn’t concerned at all with this leg of the journey. The route is among the shortest in Spirit’s network and there’s not much I can’t put up with for 44 minutes on an airplane.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Boarding began in groups around 30 minutes prior to departure. Travelers that purchase extras like a carry-on bag or early boarded, as well as Spirit credit cardholders, are given the first two zones and board first.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I was given zone three and still boarded relatively early. But this also wasn’t a full flight.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Spirit’s newest fleet type, the Airbus A320neo, was operating the flight to Las Vegas. This was the second time I was getting to fly on the jet for Spirit as it took me to Boston in 2020.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
The first two rows, however, house “big front seats” that are essential business class-style recliners without the business class perks. These seats offer 36 inches of pitch and 20 inches of width, with a wide center console and adjustable headrests.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
There are no additional perks besides a larger seat with extra legroom but it did look comfortable. Upgrade bids for this seat started at $26 for the Santa Ana-Las Vegas flight and $31 for Las Vegas-Newark.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Regular economy seats offer 28 inches of pitch and 17.75 inches of width. It’s a tight fit and the seats are remarkably thin.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
There are no adjustable headrests, seat-back entertainment systems, in-seat power outlets, or even seat-back pockets.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
A small literature holder acted as a makeshift seat-back pocket that just barely fit my iPhone.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Seat storage isn’t Spirit’s strong suit and putting a bag under the seat would only serve to further reduce legroom. That said, I didn’t immediately feel too crammed into the seat, even as a larger traveler.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
But these were all things for which I was prepared. I had downloaded entertainment to my phone ahead of time and packed a portable charger.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The only thing I forgot was a travel pillow to make up for the lack of a proper headrest. Other than that, the “deluxe leather” seats seemed to be comfortable enough for a cross-country journey.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I was also lucky enough to have the row to myself and feeling good that I didn’t pay for a seat assignment. It didn’t get better than this.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
And where Spirit lacked in frills, it made up for in on-time performance on this short hop to Sin City. We pushed back to the gate a remarkable six minutes early and made our way to the runway.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
We started our takeoff roll just after 7 a.m. and I could rest easy that the airline’s troubles over the summer weren’t going to affect this flight. Though, I still had one more flight to go.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The A320neo’s performance capabilities truly shined on takeoff as we climbed incredibly quickly over Orange County. John Wayne Airport is known for complex departure procedures to keep noise levels down, and the A320neo handled it quite well.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Plus, the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines were incredibly quiet on takeoff and throughout the flight.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Flight attendants quickly began the in-flight service once we reached our cruising altitude of 23,000 feet. Flight attendants walked around taking orders instead of rolling out the trolley, given the short duration of the flight.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Nothing is free on Spirit, not even water, but the prices were reasonable for what was on offer. Passengers could choose from combos or standalone purchases.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider via Spirit Airlines
Tea was $2 per cup while coffee and hot chocolate were $3 per cup.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider via Spirit Airlines
Soft drinks and bottled water were $3 each.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider via Spirit Airlines
Servings of beer and liquor started at $8, comparable to what a beer costs in New York City, and cocktails were available for between $9 and $11.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider via Spirit Airlines
Snacks then started a $3, with snack boxes increasing to $8. The pricing was comparable to what I’ve seen on other airlines.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider via Spirit Airlines
But for this short flight, I decided to wait and have a proper breakfast once we landed in Las Vegas. I wasn’t alone as not many of my fellow passengers placed orders.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
So far, I was holding to my initial fare of $34.57 and no more. We began our descent into Las Vegas shortly after flight attendants finished taking orders.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Seeing the Mandalay Bay marked the end of my Spirit journey’s first leg. Next came a layover of one hour and four minutes before the flight time to Newark.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Deplaning occurred as normal with no change to that procedure. Flying Spirit felt like flying during pre-pandemic times, as more and more airlines are getting back to the normal swing of things.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
McCarran International Airport didn’t have too much to offer for breakfast in the Spirit terminal. Moe’s Southwest Grill, Siegel’s Bagelmania, and Starbucks Coffee provided the only real breakfast options so I bought two bagels since I still had a long way to go until Newark.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The flight time to Newark was scheduled for five hours and two minutes. And as luck would have it, I was going to be flying on the same exact plane that brought me to Las Vegas.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
This flight was markedly more crowded, however, with nearly every seat filling up. Boarding once again began around 30 minutes prior to departure and one gate agent was tasked with scanning boarding passes and checking passengers’ bags.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Multiple people were taken off the line for having bags that were too large. This gate agent wasn’t playing around.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I was able to board with no issues thanks to my overnight bag, saving what would have been a $60 fee had my bag been larger in size.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The familiar yellow and black A320neo greeted me once more and I got ready for the longest flight of my life on an ultra-low-cost carrier.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
This time I was in the second to last row with a seat assignment of 30A. I was way in the back but still had a window seat so I couldn’t complain.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
And this seat actually had a window. Row 31, the last row, does not have any windows.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Boarding went smoothly and those that were forced to check their bags, or pay the carry-on fee, soon filed onto the plane.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Once again, we pushed back from the gate and departed on time. I rested easy knowing I wouldn’t be stranded in Las Vegas and that I might even get home early if the tailwinds were strong enough.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I was also happy that I didn’t spring for the $13 seat assignment fee as I had scored a window seat in a row with no middle seat. I couldn’t have asked for a better assignment, compliments of Spirit.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Flight attendants started the in-flight service and brought around a trolley this time. I once again declined, having eaten in the airport.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The next few hours would be somewhat challenging. I didn’t sleep on the flight to Las Vegas and needed to get some rest. But I’ve never slept well when flying on ultra-low-cost airlines.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I finally managed to get two hours of sleep, taking off a good chunk of the flight. It wasn’t a good sleep, and I really should’ve brought a pillow.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I knew I was home free once we crossed the mighty Mississippi River, and that there would be no more than around two and a half hours until touchdown in Newark.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Flight attendants came around for the final service and I couldn’t help but indulge since I had a long journey home from Newark airport to my house on Long Island, New York.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
I purchased the $11 snack box and drink combo that came with almonds, Brownie Brittle, Craisins, crackers, and smoked gouda cheese. It was a typical airline snack box and I enjoyed every bite. The total cost of my $34.57 Spirit ticket was now $35.57.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
As there were no forms of in-flight WiFi or entertainment onboard, I had to rely on the old-fashioned method of using landmarks to gauge our location the rest of the way. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was the first marker, soon followed by Lake Michigan.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Next came Detroit, letting me know that there was no more than an hour and 30 minutes left of flying time. Our descent started around an hour later, marking the final stages of a long cross-country journey.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Overall, it wasn’t the most comfortable flight of my life but it was more than bearable, and I couldn’t complain given the $35 airfare. For comparison, $35 isn’t even enough to fill up my car with gas with current $3 per gallon gas prices in New York.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
But as with anything that seems too cheap to be true, I was taking a risk when choosing Spirit. The airline’s focus on improving its on-time performance in recent years has mitigated that risk but it still remains.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
We actually landed in Newark ahead of schedule. Next came the hardest part of the flight, getting home from Newark airport.
Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
A low-cost Ukrainian airline is ditching its old uniform for female flight attendants that requires them to wear high heels and pencil skirts on board.
SkyUp Airlines, one of the youngest budget airlines in Europe, said it is swapping high heels for sneakers and pencil skirts for trousers, The BBC reported.
The uniform shake-up was a long time coming, following complaints from several flight attendants about the uncomfortable uniform in a company survey.
“Twelve hours on your feet, flying to Kyiv to Zanzibar and back. If you wear high heels, you are hardly able to walk afterwards,” SkyUp flight attendant Daria Solomennaya told The BBC.
“Many of my colleagues are permanent clients of podologists; their toes and toenails are constantly damaged by high heels,” she added.
SkyUp Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment
Other airlines have already made changes to dress codes that were previously considered standard in the industry. In 2019, Virgin Atlantic announced that women are no longer required to wear makeup while working.
SkyUp’s uniform changes also signal a pivot away from some of Ukraine’s old traditions, which have typically focused on womens’ appearances.
The scrutiny of female flight attendants around the world often makes headlines. In September, a former Emirates flight attendant said she was subjected to random weight checks, as Insider reported.
The woman said a colleague complained that the crew member was “too heavy” and that she was weighed for three years as a result.
The Saturday incident occurred at Atlantic City International Airport as flight 3044 prepared to fly to Fort Lauderdale.
In a statement to Insider, an airline spokesperson said the plane stopped before leaving the ground after a “large bird entered one of the plane’s engines.”
The plane was brought to a halt and safely evacuated a total of 102 passengers and seven crew members, Fox29 Philadelphia reported. Two people suffered minor injuries, according to officials.
“The captain braked safely and brought the plane to a stop, received an indication of damage to the engine, and ordered an evacuation in accordance with our standard procedures,” the company said.
“Our guests will receive full refunds, a future travel voucher and the option of travelling to Fort Lauderdale on another plane tonight,” it added.
In a tweet, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “We’re closely monitoring an aircraft incident that happened tonight at @ACYAirport.”
The airport remained closed hours after the fire as officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigated the incident.
It is not the first time a plane has caught fire this year. In February, a United Airlines plane was filmed soaring through the sky with one engine on fire, although it went on to land safely at a Denver airport, Insider’s Michelle Mark reported.
In that incident, the Boeing 777-200 plane dropped debris throughout several Colorado neighbourhoods, including one huge piece of metal that narrowly missed someone’s home.
Scenes of desperation and terror were visible at Kabul airport as people crowded onto runways in an attempt to board planes, with some still clinging on as they took off.
The airlines called into the mission included American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Omni Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines, according to a Pentagon statement.
Afghan evacuees boarding a United Airlines flight as part of the CRAF mission.
Artemis Bayandor
Volunteering on two United flights was Artemis Bayandor, a former flight attendant who now works in the airlines’ safety department.
Bayandor is also a translator of Farsi and Dari, which are two dialects of the same language. Dari is spoken as an official language in the north and west of Afghanistan, and is also commonly spoken in the capital.
“United sent out an all-call email to the company employees asking if anyone has Farsi/Dari/Pashto language skills to assist with the CRAF missions we had just been assigned,” Bayandor told Insider.
“I immediately responded, I wanted to help,” she added.
Bayandor said she could empathize with passengers on board because she had experienced the same fear of the unknown in the past. She fled the Iranian revolution when she was a young girl and the experience inspired her to take part in the CRAF mission.
She said she was also motivated by United’s mission to connect people and unite the world.
One way Bayandor helped evacuees feel at ease was by responding to their needs and questions in their own language, during one of the longest and most difficult journeys of their lives.
“Knowing that I could welcome them on board, provide them with the safety announcements and comfort them in their own language was priceless,” she said.
Afghan children’s drawings pictured on a United Airlines’ flights transporting evacuees during the Taliban takeover.
Artemis Bayandor
Speaking to the evacuees was an emotional experience for Bayandor. “I listened to all of their stories, and about what their lives were like in the last 20 years or so. Then how things changed so quickly,” she said. “The things they had to leave behind, the family they had to leave behind to make sure they stayed safe.”
But the evacuees’ sorrow contrasted with hope for what the future held. “You could see that they were starting to picture what could be and what awaits in the US for them,” Bayandor said.
In another effort to console the passengers, Bayandor filled up a suitcase of children’s clothes to give to parents so their offspring had new clothes to wear during the long flights. “One little girl [who was] my daughter’s age had an accident. She was so excited to know she had other clothes she could change into,” she said.
“I braided hair. We played with my makeup. We colored. The kids were so much fun,” Bayandor added.
There were many pregnant women on the flight too. The moments Bayandor shared with them were the highlight of her trip. “I was able to play with the children or hold the babies while their parents rested and got some much-needed sleep,” she said.
All in all, “it was a truly life-changing experience for me,” Bayandor said.
Frontier Airlines announced 12 new routes on Wednesday and it’s honing in on Mexico and Florida, just in time for the winter travel season.
Frontier is targeting Cancun, Mexico, and Tampa, Florida in its latest network expansion, with service scheduled to start on November 30. Five nonstop routes will operate to Tampa International Airport, six to Cancun International Airport, and the last of the 12 will connect Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic.
Frontier made Tampa a crew base in May 2021 and intends to establish Atlanta as a base later this year, according to the airline. The carrier said nearly 400 pilots and flight attendants would be based in Tampa and that the opening of both bases will give it the opportunity to increase its domestic and international operations out of the growing markets.
With business travel lagging, a bulk of the pandemic rebound has come from tourists heading to leisure destinations, and Frontier’s focus on Cancun and Tampa banks on traveler demand for beach vacations.
“We’re excited to grow in our newest base city, Tampa, with five new nonstop routes beginning right in time for the winter travel season. Tampa continues to shine, literally and figuratively, as a destination people want to visit, especially in the winter months,” said Daniel Shurtz, Frontier’s senior vice president of commercial.
However, after a strong summer season, some airlines say end-of-year bookings are down due to the continued threat of the Delta variant, which is causing travelers to postpone or cancel plans. Andrew Nocella, United Airlines’ chief marketing officer, said during an investor conference in early September that he anticipates travel to slump in October, November, and between Thanksgiving and Christmas, reported USA Today.
Nevertheless, data released by Expedia on Wednesday revealed the top trending winter destinations for this holiday season, and Cancun was number two for Christmas, which is right when Frontier is launching its new routes. Also on the list was Punta Cana at number five and the Sarasota area, which is just south of Tampa, at number 10.
Here’s a closer look at Frontier’s 12 new routes.
Between Tampa and Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Roland Shainidze Photogaphy/Getty Images
Frontier will fly thrice-weekly to Rochester on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays beginning November 30. The route will see competition from Southwest Airlines, which is scheduled to begin Saturday-only service between the two cities from mid-December. One-way introductory fares start at $49.
Between Tampa and New York City
New York City, New York
Joey Hadden/Insider
Frontier will fly twice-weekly to New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning December 1. The airline will compete with a number of airlines, including JetBlue, Delta, Spirit, and Southwest. One-way introductory fares start at $39.
Between Tampa and Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock
Frontier will fly twice-weekly to Bloomington on Mondays and Fridays beginning December 17. The carrier will offer the only nonstop service between the two cities, meaning no direct competition. However, Allegiant operates a route to Bloomington from nearby St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, which is only 20 minutes from Tampa. One-way introductory fares start at $49.
Between Tampa and Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
JamesBrey/Getty Images
Frontier will fly twice-weekly to Green Bay on Thursdays and Sundays beginning December 16. The airline will not face direct competition on the route, however, Allegiant operates nonstop service between the secondary cities of St. Petersburg in Florida, which is 20 minutes from Tampa, and Appleton in Wisconsin, which is 40 minutes from Green Bay. One-way introductory fares at $49.
Tampa to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
pawel.gaul/Getty Images
Frontier will fly twice-weekly to Columbus on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning December 17. The carrier will see competition from Spirit, Southwest, and newcomer Breeze Airways, which just launched operations in May. Moreover, Allegiant operates a route from nearby St. Pete-Clearwater to Columbus’ secondary airport, Rickenbacker International Airport, which is 25 minutes away from Columbus’ primary airport where Frontier flies. One-way introductory fares start at $49.
Between Boston and Cancun
Boston, Massachusettes
Getty/Steve Marsel
Frontier will fly five-times-weekly from Boston to Cancun on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays beginning December 16. The route will face competition from JetBlue, Delta, and American, which offers Saturday-only service. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Frontier will fly five-times-weekly from Minneapolis to Cancun on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays beginning December 16. The airline will compete with Delta and Sun Country on the route. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Between Baltimore and Cancun
Baltimore, Maryland
Shutterstock
Frontier will fly thrice-weekly from Baltimore to Cancun on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays beginning December 17. The route will see competition from Spirit and Southwest. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Between Detroit and Cancun
Detroit, Michigan
Rebecca Cook/Reuters
Frontier will fly twice-weekly from Detroit to Cancun on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning December 16. Delta and Spirit will be direct competitors on this route. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Between Columbus, Ohio and Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
Shutterstock.com
Frontier will fly twice-weekly from Columbus to Cancun on Mondays and Fridays beginning January 21. The airline will face Saturday-only competition from American and Southwest. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Between Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and Cancun
Raleigh, North Carolina
Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock
Frontier will fly once weekly from Raleigh-Durham to Cancun on Saturdays beginning January 22. American and JetBlue will be competitors on the route. One-way introductory fares start at $89.
Between Atlanta and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Shutterstock.com
Frontier will fly once weekly from Atlanta to Punta Cana on Saturdays beginning December 18. The carrier will compete with Delta on the route. One-way introductory fares start at $99.
