Delta is launching three new and five resumed routes by summer 2022 as competition grows in its hubs.
The move comes as the Northeast Alliance expands in New York and Sun Country Airlines adds flights in Minneapolis.
The route adjustments will bring back the company’s shuttle service between New York and Boston.
Delta Air Lines’ competitors in the Midwest and the Northeast are expanding in the carrier’s primary hubs, and the Atlanta-based carrier is responding by expanding its network with more route options.
As part of its network adjustments, Delta is bringing back its hourly shuttle service between LaGuardia and Boston Logan International Airport, which will return to operating up to 16 times a day starting in January 2022, the carrier told Insider. Delta currently flies the route between three and 12 times a day, according to the company’s interactive route map.
“Delta will offer the most conveniently timed, reliable service of any carrier and be the only to offer First Class for business travelers frequenting this route,” a Delta spokesperson told Insider about the shuttle product.
Meanwhile, Delta’s position in Minneapolis, which is the carrier’s second-largest hub, is facing increased competition from Sun Country Airlines, which announced seven new routes from its Minneapolis base in October. Part of the expansion included a new route to Burlington, Vermont, which Delta will also begin serving in 2022.
Here is a closer look at Delta’s nine new and returning routes.
Between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island.
Shobeir Ansari/Getty Images
Delta will start daily flights between New York City and Providence on January 5, 2022. The new route will be operated by the carrier’s regional subsidiary, Endeavor Air, using a Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft. While Delta will not face direct competition out of LaGuardia, the airline will compete with United Airlines out of Newark Liberty International Airport.
Between Minneapolis and Asheville, North Carolina
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Delta will start Saturday-only flights between Minneapolis and Asheville on April 16, 2022. The new route will operate from Minneapolis in the morning and depart Asheville in the afternoon. Delta will face competition from budget carriers Sun Country Airlines and Allegiant Air.
Between Minneapolis and Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Delta will start thrice-weekly flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between Minneapolis and Burlington on June 7, 2022. The new route will operate from Minneapolis in the morning and depart Burlington in the afternoon. Delta will face competition from low-cost carrier Sun Country Airlines.
Between New York City and Albany, New York
Albany, New York.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Delta will resume daily flights between New York City and Albany on January 5, 2022, marking the first time the carrier has operated the service since 2012. While Delta will not face direct competition out of LaGuardia, the airline will compete with United Airlines out of Newark.
Between Minneapolis and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Delta will resume its thrice-weekly service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between Minneapolis and Myrtle Beach on April 12, 2022. The returned route will operate from Minneapolis in the morning and depart Myrtle Beach in the afternoon. Delta will compete with Sun Country Airlines.
Between Minneapolis and Providence, Rhode Island
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Education Images / Getty Images
Delta will resume its daily service between Minneapolis and Providence on June 6, 2022. The returned route will operate from Minneapolis in the evening and depart Providence in the morning. Delta will face competition from Sun Country Airlines.
Between Minneapolis and Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine.
Kathryn Donohew/Getty Images
Delta will resume its daily service between Minneapolis and Portland on June 6, 2022. The returned route will operate from Minneapolis in the evening and depart Providence in the morning. Sun Country Airlines will be Delta’s only competitor.
Between Minneapolis and Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Delta will resume its thrice-weekly service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between Minneapolis and Savannah in summer 2022. The returned route will operate from Minneapolis in the morning and depart Providence in the afternoon. Delta will compete with Sun Country Airlines on the route.
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Holiday travel is safer in 2021 than in 2020 but you should still take precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
The best precautions for traveling are getting vaccinated and wearing a mask in public spaces.
Additional items like at-home COVID tests and portable hand sanitizer can also help you travel safer.
Medical review by: David Aronoff, MD, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
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With rising vaccination rates in the U.S. and around the world, travel is reopening further. Americans are cleared to travel within the U.S. and, if fully-vaccinated, many places abroad, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, traveling isn’t the same as pre-pandemic or even the same as mid-pandemic: Whether or not you’re vaccinated, you need to take precautions when flying or driving. Everyone must wear a mask over their nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains, taxis, and other forms of public transportation.
Most countries have other specific rules to visit, including proof of vaccination and certification that you’ve had a recent negative COVID test. Many experts also recommend taking a COVID test before and after you travel regardless of if it’s required.
While it’s relatively safe to travel, that’s only true if you take proper precautions. We’ve talked to three experts about everything you need to know to travel safely in the fall and winter of 2021, whether you’re flying or driving, vaccinated or not.
Here are the new essentials everyone should pack before traveling:
Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the most important and effective way we can reduce the spread and severity of COVID-19, David Aronoff, MD, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Insider during his medical review of this piece.
“While masks, reduced crowding, and social distancing are among the many things we can do to reduce the spread of COVID-19, vaccination has been shown to protect against getting infected, reduce the risk of symptoms or severe disease, and prevent death,” he said.
Be sure that anyone in your traveling party (or meeting you at your destination) is vaccinated if they are eligible, and that they’ve received their booster vaccine doses, which is now available for most people who’ve already been immunized.
Additionally, all travelers should ask themselves before they go: Can I afford to be trapped somewhere if I or one of my travel companions gets COVID and can’t travel home? “If the answer is no, stay home,” Dr. Aronoff added.
If you are traveling, Dr. Aronoff encourages checking your health insurance carefully to find out where and how to seek medical attention if you need it and exactly what your policy covers. Some countries require proof of travel health insurance that covers COVID to enter their borders. Dr. Aronoff also suggested having a plan for where you’d go to get care if you got sick and how you’d quarantine from the people you’re visiting.
What should be in your travel safety kit
Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images
Whether you’re vaccinated or not, driving or flying, remember the basics of COVID travel: Wear the best mask you can (ideally an N95-type mask), making sure it fits snuggly without gaps at the sides (layering two masks can help), and keep your distance from people outside your household as much as possible.
Then, pack a portable COVID-19 safety kit, whether flying or driving.
Proof of vaccination
Again, getting the COVID vaccine is the best thing you can do to stay safe and keep other safe while traveling during the pandemic. Many countries require proof of vaccination before entering their borders, and even if you’re traveling domestically, it’s a good idea to have proof with you just in case a public space or business upon arrival requires it.
If you want to travel with your physical vaccine card, we suggest putting it in a protective vinyl casing. But there are also a handful of apps, such as CommonPass and VeriFLY, that allow you to upload proof of vaccine and even connect PCR test results so you have proof of your low-risk all in one place.
Masks are required on all airlines, regardless of your vaccination status or where you’re flying. They’re also recommended for any public place while driving, like public restrooms or service stations.
As coronavirus is an airborne virus, wearing a mask is still one of the key ways to reduce spreading or getting COVID, especially in an indoor, crowded place like an airport or airplane, Joyce Sanchez, MD, medical director of the Travel Health Clinic at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin tells Insider.
Nearly everyone can safely wear a mask, other than those who can’t put on or take off a mask themselves. This includes those with chronic lung and heart problems, Dr. Sanchez says. “Even if it feels harder to breathe while wearing a mask, it doesn’t actually affect how much oxygen your body gets,” she assures.
Why are masks so important? Think of the COVID virus like cigarette smoke spreading indoors — it flows throughout the space (beyond 6 feet from the person who exhaled it and around plexiglass barriers) and can hang in the air for hours, even after the person is no longer in the room.
Considering its spreadability, and given how contagious the Delta variant is, it’s more important than ever to wear a well-fitting mask to both prevent spreading the virus to others and inhaling it yourself.
N95-type masks are best now that they’re no longer in short supply like early in the pandemic, followed by KN95 masks (both technically called respirators rather than masks). Both seal the sides of the face and top of the nose to minimize any gaps where air can leak, and offer additional filtration of air as you breathe, Dr. Sanchez explains.
However, counterfeits are common, so check the CDC’s list of approved masks and suppliers. A quick way to tell is that real N95s have straps around the back of the head instead of ear loops and a TC number (e.g., 84A-XXX for U.S.-approved N95s).
After N95s and KN95s, a three-layer cloth mask is your next best option. The outside two layers should be a tightly-woven fabric like cotton or linen and the middle a filter fabric, either built-in or added-in by you (a folded paper towel works great).
It’s important that your mask fits snugly to trap the potentially-infected air particles rather than leaking through the edges of the mask and being directly inhaled, Abe Malkin, MD, MBA, the founder and medical director of Concierge MD LA, tells Insider. Make sure there are no gaps around the edges of your mask — a detail of equal importance regardless of if you’re vaccinated or not.
If your mask has gaps on the top or sides or if you only have a single-ply mask, it’s smart to double up with a disposable surgical-type mask underneath and a tighter cloth mask over top. And if your mask slips down under your nose as you talk, it’s a sure sign you need a better-fitting mask.
Skip the neck gaiters and bandanas — early reports that they’re worse than no mask at all were likely overblown, but researchers do know real masks are more effective. Plus, many airlines don’t allow them anyway.
A well-fitting mask is the most important factor for anyone, so children should use masks made for kids, Dr. Malkin says, adding “adult masks are too big for them.”
If kids can help choose their own supplies, it increases the chance they’ll use them. Dr. Malkin advises opting for a mask with a character or designs your child likes to increase the chance that they’ll keep it on when you’re not looking.
Mindful Masks (2-Pack) (small)Mickey Mouse masks, 4-pack (small)Smurfs Original Blue Cloth Face Mask (small)
Masks are generally required on planes for kids 5 and older, though sometimes it’s 2 or older (check your airline’s requirements before you go). And Dr. Aranoff advises all kids over 2 years old should wear one in indoor, public places unless they physically can’t. The CDC does not recommend masks for children under 2.
Kids need multiple masks just like adults, so stash a few extras in their backpacks and in the car, Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University tells Insider.
At-home COVID-19 test
Most countries require you to have proof of a negative COVID test to enter. Taking one is a good idea even if you’re traveling domestically, especially if you’re unvaccinated, the CDC advises.
Even if your destination doesn’t require it and even if you’re vaccinated, it’s wise to get a COVID test both before you travel and after you arrive to minimize the chance of spreading the virus to vulnerable people. “If you are planning on visiting others, make sure to get tested to ensure everyone’s safety,” Dr. Malkin adds.
For international or domestic travel, the CDC recommends that people who aren’t vaccinated take a COVID test one to three days before you leave, keep your distance from others as much as possible while traveling, and once you return home, take another viral test and self-isolate for a full seven days. If you don’t get a viral test, you should isolate for 10 days. Either way, avoid being around high-risk folks for 14 days.
As for where to get a COVID test, many towns have free testing sites. But you can also snag an at-home rapid antigen test or, slightly less common, more accurate molecular tests (such as a PCR test). Just remember, the tests aren’t 100% foolproof.
Many at-home tests require you to mail in a nasal swab or spit tube to be processed in a lab. But newer tests (both antigen and molecular) available in some countries let you get your results online in as little as 45 minutes, with some antigen tests delivering results right in front of you, within 15 minutes. (Just be sore to follow the instructions closely and the tests can give a false negative.)
Most tests that are supervised by a health professional over video provide you with the certification you need for flights. Just make sure you know the precise time window to do your test and get the certification back before your flight.
When our team researched and tested the leading at-home COVID tests on the market throughout 2021, we found EmpowerDX Nasal to be the most accurate, covered by most insurance or the cheapest test available out of pocket and turns results around within two days of the lab receiving the sample. Dr. Sanchez also recommends the Abbott at-home antigen test kit, which offers six tests for $150.
Dr. Sanchez recommends each person bring at least two approved at-home test kits that meet the testing requirements when traveling internationally in case there’s a problem with one or you need to re-test. “You do not want to be stuck or delayed in returning home because you have not prepared for that required step,” she adds.
At-Home Covid-19 Nasal PCR Test (small)BinaxNOW COVID-19 At-Home Test Kit – 6 Pack (small)
Hand soap, sanitizer, and wipes
Traveling exposes you to tons of germs — viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi — outside of COVID that can cause illnesses. It’s super important to clean your hands before and after you eat, in particular. The best way: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and then dry them thoroughly with a paper or cloth towel (rather than an air blower).
But since that’s not always possible, the second-best option is to use hand sanitizer. Always pack one with at least 60% alcohol in your carry-on, and rub it all over your hands, even the nooks and crannies, until it evaporates.
Antibacterial hand wipes are less ideal since they sometimes contain harmful chemicals and may contribute to antibiotic resistance. But in a pinch, they’re definitely better than having unclean hands. Keep in mind that most wipes are formulated for objects and not for skin, Dr. Malkin points out. As with hand sanitizer, the formula needs to be at least 60% alcohol to kill viruses.
Power Mist Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer (small)Antibacterial Aloe Wipes (small)
Disinfectant wipes
Keeping high-touch surfaces clean is important, but don’t obsess over disinfecting every surface you come into contact with, Dr. Sanchez told us — you’re not at all likely to acquire COVID by touching an infected surface. This is especially true when driving; there’s no need to wipe down your car handles or steering wheel, for example.
That being said, high-touch surfaces on planes — armrests, tray tables, in-flight entertainment screens — can transmit germs, so it’s wise to wipe down surfaces around your seat with a disinfectant wipe.
Be sure to clean your phone too — you might be surprised by how dirty it actually is. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to clean it and try to use it only with clean hands. (But be careful: Some cleaners can ruin your screen.)
Disinfectant Wipes On the Go (small)HomeSoap UV Sanitizer (small)
Storage bags
When flying, carry-on storage is essential to make it easy to access hand sanitizer and other essential items. Ideally, your carry-on bag has multiple pockets so you can keep things like food and extra masks separate from dirty items. You can also use a small pouch to keep these essentials right on top (we like these durable, zippered pouches from Baboon to the Moon).
We also recommend having a few plastic bags available to store dirty masks, in addition to things like used disinfectant wipes or tissues until you can find a trash can. You’ll want one for your car and in your carry-on.
It’s also helpful to have a designated clean storage bag where you can put your mask when you take it off to eat away from dirty surfaces or other people’s breath, Dr. Sanchez advises. Avoid placing your mask on a table or your arm to minimize germ contamination.
Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag (small)Dopp Kit (small)
What you should leave at home
Gloves
You don’t need to bring gloves with you traveling. First of all, COVID-19 is transmitted by breathing, not by touching things and then touching your face. Regardless, germs can live on the surface of a latex glove, the same as skin, Dr. Malkin says. Plus, “some people become too relaxed when they are wearing gloves. They do not realize they are at more risk for spreading [germs] because they are touching multiple personal items in between other things,” he adds.
How important are face shields? “As we do not have data to support the use of face shields in protecting individuals from acquiring COVID-19 in the community setting, they should not be used as a substitute for a well-fitting mask,” Dr. Sanchez says.
She added that while she saw no downside to adding a face shield to your travel safety kit, “they are not an equivalent substitute for face masks.” They might provide protection if someone sneezes in your direction, for example, but they don’t protect others from any virus you may be carrying.
Is it safer to fly or drive?
RuslanDashinsky/Getty Images
If you do need to travel, driving is generally safer than flying commercially, Dr. Sanchez says. If you drive, you have control over who shares the car with you, where you stop along the way, and when you return.
If you’re fully vaccinated and wearing a well-fitting mask, it’s generally safe to fly from a COVID-19 transmission standpoint, she adds.
Just keep in mind that you’re most likely to transmit or catch the coronavirus when in close proximity to an infected person, especially in situations where people aren’t wearing masks at all or wearing them properly. That means airport lines are an issue (sitting on the plane much less so, as we’ll explain below), as is driving with anyone not already in your household bubble. Eating indoors — since people have no choice but to remove their masks — is high risk.
Remember that COVID is spread by people breathing and talking, not by touching surfaces. If you’re driving, you don’t need to wipe down your steering wheel. But it can bring peace of mind to clean your hands before getting in; have hand sanitizer at the ready before and after you eat, and for after you use a gas pump and public restroom, for example.
Power Mist Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer (small)
Choose restaurants where staff are diligent about wearing masks. Keep your mask on unless you’re actively eating or drinking, and try to eat outdoors or in your car.
Use public restrooms for bathroom breaks. Pulling over for a roadside bathroom break is actually illegal throughout the U.S. Just wear a mask and try to wait outside in a well-ventilated space for a free stall. If the toilet has a lid, close it to flush. (There’s evidence that the coronavirus can spread by flushing.)
Dr. Sanchez adds that you should assume public restrooms are not properly disinfected and that surfaces could be covered in many kinds of germs aside from COVID. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and then use a paper towel to dry your hands and turn off the tap and open the door. If you do touch anything on your way out, use your 60%-plus alcohol hand sanitizer.
Your airport safety plan
dmphoto/Getty Images
Airports — especially with lines at security, boarding gates, and within the plane itself — are risky because of the close proximity to other people. Wear your mask at all times and keep as much distance from others as you can.
When the TSA has you lower your mask for identity verification, touch it from the ear loops rather than the middle to avoid transferring any germs on the fabric onto your hands. It’s wise to sanitize or wash your hands after you’ve touched security trays, not so much because of the coronavirus, but to protect yourself from other germs.
As for the plane itself, airlines have stepped up their disinfecting regimens. Many use electrostatic foggers nightly — sometimes between every flight. They spray a fine mist of disinfectant throughout the plane, and the electrostatic charge causes it to stick to all surfaces, not just fall to the floor.
Though COVID isn’t transmitted by touching things, don’t assume your flight has been freshly fogged with disinfectant. Planes can be filthy. It’s still wise to wipe down everything in your seat area with a disinfecting wipe like Clorox Ultra Clean Disinfecting Wipes; many airlines now hand out disinfecting wipes as you board, too.
If you bring your own, look for “disinfecting” and at least 60% alcohol on the label — a cleaning wipe rids your tray table of that splash of Coke, but it won’t kill bacteria and viruses. Settle into your seat and wipe down everything you’re likely to touch: the seat belt, armrests, the tray table, the air vent, the window-shade handle, and all places you need to touch to operate the entertainment system.
Then, thoroughly clean your hands with sanitizer. The TSA increased the size limit for sanitizer during the pandemic, and until further notice, you’re allowed to bring one bottle that’s up to 12 ounces in your carry-on bag. If you’re flying internationally, note that some countries maintain the 3-ounce limit.
Disinfectant Wipes On the Go (small)Power Mist Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer (small)
You might be worried about sitting in an enclosed space for hours, but the air on planes is cleaner than in many indoor places, and airlines’ mandatory mask policies help protect everyone from virus particles that anyone could be breathing out. A September 2021 peer-reviewed, real-world study showed that the risk of contracting COVID-19 on a plane is 0.1% thanks to mask policies, requiring negative COVID tests to fly, and planes’ hospital-grade air filtration systems.
When a plane cruises, the cabin air refreshes every three to four minutes, using both fresh air from outside and air that’s gone through HEPA filters that remove virtually all viruses.
However, if you need to eat or drink on a plane, it’s wise to wait a few minutes after the people around you have put their masks back on before you take yours off.
Minimize moving around on the plane, including wrestling carry-on luggage in and out of the overhead bin. If you need to use the restroom, be sure to close the toilet lid before you flush. After washing your hands for 20 seconds and drying them, use a paper towel to unlock and open the door. Avoid touching seatbacks as you return to your own, both to keep your hands clean (headrests are the dirtiest surfaces inside an airplane cabin) and so you don’t disturb other passengers.
After your flight, it’s smart to avoid crowds around the baggage carousel — wait until space clears before you grab your bag.
You’ll also want to check your destination’s latest COVID-19 rules for arriving passengers. Some countries require everyone, whether vaccinated or not, to have a negative COVID-19 test on arrival and self-isolate until it’s confirmed negative.
Our experts
For this article, we deeply researched across leading health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We also spoke with the following experts:
Dr. Abe Malkin, MD, MBA, the founder and medical director of Concierge MD LA
Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University
This piece was also medically reviewed for accuracy before publishing by Dr. David Aronoff, MD, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Almost 1 in 5 American Airlines flights on Saturday were canceled.
The company said bad weather and staff shortages were to blame.
Chief Operating Officer David Seymour said more stable operations should resume next month.
American Airlines has canceled or delayed hundreds of flights this Halloween weekend because of bad weather and staff shortages.
Throughout the weekend so far, the airline canceled close to 1,000 flights.
FlightAware, an aviation tracking tool, showed that 541, or 20%, of the airline’s flights, were canceled as of 11 p.m. on Saturday. Another 401 flights were delayed.
On Friday, FlightAware noted that the 342 American flights were canceled and 737 were delayed.
In a statement to Insider, American shared a letter to staff from Chief Operating Officer David Seymour that said high wind gusts on Thursday cut capacity at the airline’s largest hub in Dallas-Fort Worth and crew members ended up out of their regular flight sequences, which means they weren’t in the right position to catch their next flights.
FlightAware also shows preemptive cancellations for 479 flights on Sunday.
“To make sure we are taking care of our customers and providing scheduling certainty for our crews, we have adjusted our operation for the last few days this month by proactively canceling some flights,” Seymour wrote.
Seymour said most customers impacted were rebooked the same day and he expects flight schedules to be more stable starting next month.
He added that around 1,800 flight attendants would return from leave on November 1 and more will be back by December 1, in addition to more than 600 new hires. Additionally, American is hiring more pilots and airport crew to help with the upcoming holiday season.
Southwest said it canceled the flights because of a combination of severe weather and air traffic control issues.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is issuing vouchers to passengers whose flights were canceled, USA Today reported.
Vouchers ranged from $100 to $250, the publication reported. These were on top of refunds.
Southwest canceled thousands of flights last weekend because of weather and air traffic control problems.
Southwest Airlines has been handing out vouchers of up to $250 to passengers who were stranded when it canceled more than 3,000 flights last weekend, USA Today first reported.
The airline started emailing affected passengers on Wednesday evening, saying that it would send vouchers, the publication reported.
“We’re so sorry for the disappointment this disruption caused and want a chance to make it up to you,” Southwest said in an email to a customer viewed by USA Today. The airline told the customer it would give them a $100 voucher, per USA Today.
Passengers told USA Today their vouchers had varied between $100 and $250. Passengers who had frequent flyer status or who were persistent in asking for a voucher or reimbursement appeared to get higher-value vouchers, USA Today reported.
The vouchers are in addition to flight refunds, which airlines are mandated to pay when they cancel flights and rebooking options either aren’t available or are rejected by customers.
A Southwest spokesperson told the publication that affected passengers should automatically get their voucher but that it “might be slower than usual due to the number of customers we are processing.”
Passengers told USA Today that in some cases they had to fork out for flights with alternative airlines and extra accommodation after their Southwest flights were canceled. Twitter users made similar remarks, and some said that the Southwest vouchers didn’t cover the extra expenses.
The spokesperson said that Southwest reviewed each case individually, and took into account the length of the delay, the quality of accommodation available, and flight cancellations when determining how much the vouchers would be worth.
Southwest did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
The airline is requiring its more than 54,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 24, though staff can apply for disability, medical, and religious exemptions.
Separately, United Airlines said that 232 of its employees were being fired for not complying with its vaccine mandate.
Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights on Sunday, leaving customers stranded.
The cancellations were caused by air traffic control problems and weather, according to the airline.
1,007 flights were canceled and 383 have been delayed on Sunday, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights, leaving hundreds of customers stranded.
The cancellations started on Saturday and went into Sunday and were caused by air traffic control problems and weather, according to a statement released by the airline on Twitter.
1,007 flights were canceled and 383 have been delayed on Sunday morning as of publishing, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware. 808 flights, nearly 25% of the airline’s total flights that day, were canceled by the airline Saturday. Southwest also experienced almost 1,200 delays on Saturday as well, Flight Aware reported.
“ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation,” Southwest Tweeted on Saturday. “We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected Customers, and Customer Service wait times are longer than usual.”
However, several Southwest passengers have voiced concerns online that the delays are the result of pilots and crewmembers striking after the airline issued a coronavirus vaccine mandate for its employees. Southwest did not respond to Insider’s request to comment on the claims of the rumored strike online.
Recently airlines like JetBlue, Spirit, and American Airlines have come under fire by customers after issuing mass delays and cancellations in the US. Last month, United Airlines was fined $1.9 million by the Department of Transportation for keeping thousands of passengers stuck on planes for hours, in violation of federal rules, Insider reported. It was the largest penalty of its kind, according to Reuters.
Table of Contents: Masthead StickyElite service (per year) (small)
They say once you fly first class, you can never go back to coach. There’s nothing like going past the first class curtain to plush, and in some cases, lie-flat seats, while tucking into chef-prepared meals and sipping champagne.
I know personally that the saying is true. But unfortunately, I’ve made the long walk back to economy many times after experiencing the indulgent front of the plane.
That’s because for most fliers, business or first class is often prohibitively expensive and a rarity saved for special occasions or occasional upgrades.
However, Scott’s Cheap Flights, a newsletter and website for finding the best flight deals, has an Elite tier specifically for cheap premium economy, business class, and first class flights. It’s not free like their basic newsletter, but if you like to stretch out in style, it’s worth checking out.
I tried out an Elite subscription, comped for review purposes, and for just under $17 per month, think it’s one of the best ways to find good deals on upgraded cabins. Here’s how it works, how it compares to the free service, and some of the best deals I spotted.
What is Scott’s Cheap Flights?
Scott’s Cheap Flights is a newsletter and website that shares incredible flight deals, in some cases, even 90% off a typical flight price.
They have a team of researchers who religiously research flights and if you opt in to email subscriptions, you’ll be alerted when airlines have sales or mistake fares.
Basic membership is free, but for tailored and exclusive deals, you’ll have to upgrade to Premium, while Elite (which includes Premium) is exclusively for premium economy, business class, and first class flight deals. Here’s a full breakdown of how it works.
What is Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite?
While a standard membership shares limited deals, and Premium alerts you to significantly more deals on international and domestic economy flights, mistake fares, and some of the most popular destinations, Elite focuses specifically on premium economy, business class, and first class flights.
However, because it also includes Premium membership, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds – in other words, all the best deals without limitations.
Deals are available based on membership levels.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
Deals arrive daily in your inbox or can be found on the website. Online, you’ll see deals reserved only for Premium or Elite members.
To find the best cheap flights for you, you’ll want to “follow” airports where you typically depart. Free members may select up to five airports, premium members can follow up to 10, and Elite members have unlimited choices.
Tailor your search results by setting “home” airports.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
How much does an Elite subscription cost?
Elite is $199 per year, which is significantly more than Scott’s Cheap Flights’ Premium service that costs $49 for an annual subscription. Regular memberships are free.
But if you travel often, love to jump on good deals, and specifically want to fly in upgraded cabins, that’s just under $17 a month, which is pretty cheap.
You may also try it for free for 14 days at no cost if you decide it isn’t for you.
How do I sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights’ Elite subscription?
Signing up for a Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite account is easy:
First, create an account, by going to their homepage where you’ll submit your name, email, and create a password. You’ll also answer prompts to make sure you see the best deals.
For Elite, you’ll then be prompted to input your credit card information.
That’s it.
Signing up for Elite, or any membership, takes only a few minutes.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
Is Elite better than Premium or Free?
That depends on how often you fly or plan to jump on deals, and how important elevated cabins are to you.
However, to see how many more deals an Elite member receives (which, again, includes Premium), I also signed up for a free account on another email to track how many I received for each tier. Over a five-week period, here’s how they compared:
Free service:
30 email deals for economy domestic and international flights
16 emails with destination-related content, travel tips, and offers for discounts on paid memberships
Newsletter and Deals (small)
Premium service:
121 email deals for economy domestic and international flights
16 emails with destination-related content, travel tips, and offers for discounts on paid memberships
Premium service (per year) (small)
Elite service:
9 email deals for domestic and international premium economy class flights
26 email deals for domestic and international business and first class flights
126 email deals for economy domestic and international flights
16 emails with destination-related content, travel tips, and offers for discounts on paid memberships
Elite service (per year) (small)
So, looking at deals specifically, since all members receive similar promotional emails, being a Premium member earned significantly more deals than a basic membership.
Elite included all the same Premium emails, with the addition of upgraded cabin deals, which were mostly for business class over any other.
While I didn’t receive nearly as many premium or business class deals as I did for economy flights through Premium, the number of premium/business/first class sales totaled just about the same as all the emails I received in entirety as a free member, which is a pretty good showing.
Flying first, business, or premium economy comes with lots of plush perks.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
What are some of the best deals Elite members receive?
While I received a lot of great deals as an Elite member, these offered some of the most significant savings to popular destinations. Do note that these were tailored to my residence on the East Coast:
New York City to Quito, Ecuador in premium economy: $505
New York City to Barcelona, Spain in premium economy: $778
Boston to Copenhagen, Denmark in premium economy, $990
New York to Bangkok, Thailand in premium economy, $1,186
New York City to Nassau, Bahamas in business class, $623
New York City to Quito, Ecuador in business class: $755
Boston to Seattle in business class, $997
Boston to Rome, Italy in business class, $1,568
Hartford to Madrid, Spain in business class, $2,210
New York, to Cape Town, South Africa, $2,704
The bottom line
Most major travel requires a flight, which can be a long, uncomfortable journey. Flying business or first class is an indulgence that removes many pain points, but is also expensive and discounts are hard to come by.
If you fly often and are open to paying more for premium economy, business class, and first class, then Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite service is one of the best ways to find cheap airfare on these cabins. And at roughly $17 per month for a year, this price is cheaper than buying dinner.
While I didn’t purchase airfare during my testing period (I have a baby and we’re trying to limit travel with her during the pandemic), I would definitely sign up for Elite if I were flying at pre-pandemic levels, or knew I’d be traveling on long haul routes.
However, if you don’t fly much or are perfectly comfortable in coach, you’re better off trying Premium, which still nets great deals for about $4 per month. Or, start with the free version and upgrade if you like what you see.
United Airlines has instructed its flight attendants not to use duct tape on disorderly passengers.
John Slater, United’s senior vice president of inflight services, sent a memo to flight attendants on Friday telling them to avoid using tape to restrain unruly passengers.
“Please remember that there are designated items onboard that may be used in difficult situations, and alternative measures such as tape should never be used,” he wrote in the memo, which was viewed by Insider. “The overwhelming majority of our customers have been on their best behavior throughout the pandemic and returned to our flights with confidence and enthusiasm.”
United declined to name the “designated items” to which Slater referred.
The memo referenced recent viral incidents in which disorderly passengers were taped to their seats.
“As you’ve likely seen, a few airlines have recently made news about the way they’ve handled situations onboard,” Slater wrote in the memo. “When things have evolved, you’ve relied on all aspects of inflight safety training, including de-escalation. This professionalism and composure have set us apart from some of our competitors.”
The memo continued with tips for flight attendants to manage chaotic situations onboard.
“Address difficult situations calmly by informing, de-escalating and following our reporting process,” Slater wrote in the memo. “In the event you are unable to reach an agreement with a customer about one of our safety-related policies, you should follow your regular de-escalation and training process and always use your best judgment.”
United says the memo served as a reminder of existing policies, not a notice of a new one.
“These are not new safety policies and this reference was in a weekly memo we distribute to our inflight crews that includes pertinent information like important notices and reminders about standard safety policies,” the airline told Insider.
While United has used duct tape on unruly passengers in at least two situations well before the pandemic, other airlines have used duct tape to restrain disorderly passengers much more recently.
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PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty
With pent-up demand for travel, airports are more packed than ever.
There are a few good ways to speed up the process – travelers just need to know where to look.
Here are five ways to speed through airport terminals or even avoid them altogether.
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
The mere thought of navigating an airport right now can be downright daunting. Airlines are struggling to ramp back up to meet consumer demand, which all but vanished earlier in the pandemic. The new rise in travel interest has led to a rash of flight cancellations.
And with the Delta variant surging, these crowded airport conditions are also a cause for concern for travelers wishing to minimize mitigate risk.
Fortunately, there are ways you can streamline the airport experience – or avoid it altogether. We found the best ways to do it, ranging from an $85 solution (for which your credit card might even pick up the tab) to a $695 ultra-luxurious airport alternative, and up from there if you have the means to go totally private.
These are the best ways to speed through an airport, sorted by price
TSA’s PreCheck program is the lowest-cost way on our list to expedite your airport experience.
To apply, travelers must go in person to an application center to provide required information, documentation, and fingerprints. To get TSA PreCheck, you’ll need an unexpired U.S. government-issued photo identification and proof of citizenship, which may be a passport or a driver’s license and birth certificate.
Once approved, you’ll get a designated known-traveler number, which you can enter every time you book a domestic flight. It will appear on your boarding pass and allow you to queue up for expedited screening when you fly from domestic airports. The application fee for TSA PreCheck is $85 for five years.
A step up from that is Global Entry, which provides expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States, and is also good for five years. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits as part of their membership, so for many international travelers, it’s a no-brainer to apply for Global Entry and get both for just $15 more than the cost of TSA PreCheck alone.
Many travel-oriented or premium credit cards offer statement credits that pay for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications, which is how I sidestepped the $100 fee.
CLEAR is an expedited method for speeding through security lanes at more than 50 major airports (and stadiums, too). This program is operated not by TSA but by the private, publicly-traded company, Alclear.
CLEAR members scan their iris and boarding passes — a totally touchless process — which allows them to head straight to the front of security lines in major airports. In this way, CLEAR sidesteps the necessity for traditional documents by using your eyes and face to confirm it’s really you. It transforms these so-called biometrics into an encrypted code that is unique to you and can therefore serve as validation when you check-in.
To get it, start online or on the CLEAR mobile app. Finish the process at any of the participating airport locations, which should only take about five minutes. You’ll need your eyes and face but no appointment is needed.
From there you’ll skip to the front of the regular security line.
So-called greeter services are companies or organizations that pair a traveler with an official greeter at the airport for a fee. This person’s job is to accompany the traveler from arrival at the airport through to the moment they board their flight. They offer assistance with luggage as well as expertise and expedition throughout the process. Versions of this service also aid arriving passengers or those navigating layovers.
Unlike TSA Pre Check, greeters don’t need buy-in from individuals. Rather, they partner with airports in order to help individual travelers get through various checkpoints like security or customs. These services pay airports in order to be able to offer their services within the facility.
One such program is the well-established Royal Airport Concierge, which bills itself as the largest in the world, operating in more than 750 airports worldwide, including just about every major airport in the U.S. such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Austin, Memphis, Boston, and many more. It offers fast-tracking and VIP services to help avoid terminal touchpoints.
Consider this example for a passenger with a departing flight: If you use Royal Airport Concierge, a representative will contact you before you leave for the airport to arrange a meeting point. When you get there, the greeter will meet you and personally advise you about the steps ahead, accompany you throughout, provide a porter and fast-track services (where airports cooperate to make them available), and offer snacks and drinks at a lounge (where available).
These tiered services start at $100; for $750 you’ll even get a ride to the plane in a limo and entry into a private suite.
Other greeter services are more regional, such as Asia Fast Track, which serves 350 airports in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Western Europe.
You can avoid commercial airport terminals altogether by removing the actual commercial air travel.
In some cases, flying semi-private can be cheaper than flying economy and removes the long waits and crowded lines associated with busy airports. With semi-private airlines like JSX, boarding takes place in private hangars or separate airports. We tried and reviewed the airline and recommend it wholeheartedly.
JSX is a regional airline that feels like a posh private-flying experience, except tickets are available to the public with prices starting at a very modest $99. JSX caps flights at just 30 people and operates out of private terminals and hangars (technically known as “fixed-base operators,” or FBOs), which are adjacent to many major airports.
More luxurious options include Wheels Up, which offers Connect Memberships that require an initiation fee of $2,995, with $2,495 annual dues starting in year two. Non-members can now book on a per-leg basis, too. Either way, you’ll avoid commercial airports.
With SurfAir, membership options start at $199 per month, and unlimited flying memberships start at $999/month. Yes, that means you can fly all you want for that monthly cost.
PS, or Private Suite, is a private luxury service for travelers on commercial flights at LAX. Though it’s adjacent to the airfield, it’s not actually in the airport and allows travelers to avoid the terminals altogether.
Instead, guests arrive at PS and check in the way you might at a hotel. Travelers spend their time relaxing ahead of their flight in a posh ultra-private lounge stocked with essentials, chef-prepared meals on-demand, and dedicated staff.
Each private suite accommodates a group of four travelers and the experience costs $4,350 for a group of four non-members, or $3,250 for the group if it is booked by a member. Membership is an option but not a requirement and annual individual dues cost $4,500 and include over-the-top luxuries such as car detailing, in-suite massages, manicures, and even a concierge doctor if needed.
When it’s time for your flight, the staff and control room team members choreograph a seamless experience, coordinating with government, security, and airline officials and whisks you through the process with the TSA staff in a private room.
Immediately after, chauffeured BMWs stand by to transport guests directly to their plane waiting on the tarmac, where they bypass the jet bridge line to board, too.
Naturally, this service is expensive and not an option for most people. It has historically been a favorite among celebrities, dignitaries, and big-time executives. Fortunately, PS just opened a new more affordable offering called the Salon that offers a similar standalone, indulgent airport experience, but for far less.
The Salon at LAX is geared to solo or business travelers, couples, or anyone who doesn’t need an entire suite to themselves, or would like a luxury experience with a cheaper price tag. Instead, you’ll wait in an equally luxe lounge. There may be other travelers, but never more than 50. The price for this service is $695 per person for members and non-members alike.
It’s also better than a standard airport lounge because it also allows you to skip out of the airport altogether and comes with a baggage porter and the same flight coordination as PS, plus a ride to the tarmac, just in a semi-private environment as opposed to all to yourself.
For now, this is an option that will help you only if you’re traveling through LAX, but PS is eyeing major U.S. metro airports and will likely be offered soon at MIA, followed by JFK.
Seasoned travelers know that a little preparation goes a long way to help speed up your airport experience. Dress so you can easily remove your shoes and jacket if needed and keep your documents easily accessible, even available to quickly pull up on your phone when possible.
Don’t try to travel with liquids in sizes that exceed TSA’s rules. Make sure tech tools like laptops are easily separated from the contents of your luggage for screening if need be.
How do you skip the line at the airport?
Options on our list for bypassing or expediting airport security lines include TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR.
If you fly business or first class, you may also be able to avoid some lines. And if you fly private or semiprivate, or if you go through PS at LAX, you can opt-out of the crowded commercial airport experience altogether.
Do you still have to take your shoes off at the airport?
TSA PreCheck allows you to keep on your shoes (and you can leave liquids and laptops in your carry-on bags with the program, too). Kids under 12 and adults 75 and up can keep shoes on. TSA is currently working on a new screener that it expects will allow all travelers to keep their shoes on during the process in the future.
Does first class get you through security faster?
In many cases, yes. Flying first class gets you both a nicer seat and service on the plane, as well as expedited lines at security checkpoints within the airport.
What is the 3-1-1 liquid rule?
According to the TSA, “each passenger may carry liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels, and aerosols.”
A group of Orthodox Jewish girls who were barred from boarding a flight from Amsterdam to New York on Thursday evening was kicked off another flight the next day, according to their rabbi.
The 18 teenagers, part of a group who had been visiting religious sites in Ukraine, were initially disallowed from traveling on a flight home due to a dispute over COVID-19 protocols on the KLM-operated leg of their journey from Kyiv to Amsterdam, Insider previously reported.
A day later, Delta Air Lines allegedly kicked off the same girls for swapping seats on a Friday morning flight, Rabbi Yisroel Kahan claimed in an interview with Insider.
Kahan said that he suspects antisemitism is at play with regard to Delta’s decisions. “With antisemitism, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck,” he said.
After the girls were banned from boarding the flight on Thursday evening, Kahan said, the group slept on benches at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport while he and a chaperone tried to arrange their journeys home.
The Orthodox Jewish teens slept at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport while their rabbi tried to arrange another flight.
Yisroel Kahan
Kahan said that he and another rabbi started calling New York lawmakers, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to reach out to Delta to remedy the situation.
Schumer reportedly stepped in, the rabbi said, and Delta executives personally called the parents of the stranded girls and arranged a Delta flight from Amsterdam to New York for Friday morning.
Schumer did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
On Friday morning, the girls boarded the Delta flight to New York from Amsterdam but, shortly after, Kahan said the girls were asked to leave. “Ten minutes later, the phone rings,” he said. “They’re being taken off the plane.”
The rabbi claims that one of the girls was asked to swap seats by a mother who wanted to be seated next to her son. “The minute they made the swap, a stewardess made a beeline to the girl and said, ‘You’re misbehaving, you’re kind of on thin ice, to begin with, get off the plane,'” he said.
A video seen by Insider appears to show a woman confirming that she asked to switch seats and that this led to the girls being asked to leave the flight.
Although the girl returned to her assigned seat, Kahan said, the entire group of teenagers was told to leave the flight. He said that the woman was allowed to remain on the plane because it was her “first transgression,” he said.
The rabbi said that, although he hates to “throw that card out there,” he thinks the incidents reeks of antisemitism.
“Either you’re telling me that you know that each and everyone one of them was violating rules on both flights,” Kahan added. “Or you’re telling me that you banned the entire group, a group of one ethnicity, for this misbehavior.”
The girls were removed and booked onto a Delta flight for later that day but declined to travel on it because it would have involved returning to their homes after the start of Shabbat – the Jewish day of rest when observant Jews are not allowed to travel by car or plane.
Instead, they spent the night in Antwerp, Belgium, and traveled home to New York with United Airlines on Sunday morning.
In an email to Insider, a Delta spokesperson said: “We apologize to our customers on Delta Flight 47, Amsterdam to New York-JFK, who were delayed and inconvenienced to remove a group of passengers who refused to comply with crew instructions. The flight departed approximately two hours after its originally scheduled time.”
When Spirit Airlines employees walked into work on Sunday, airports across the country were in utter chaos. Customers were screaming and crying, demanding to know why hundreds of flights were being canceled. Part of the problem: most staff had no idea either.
“We were not aware why the flights started canceling,” one Spirit employee who works in customer service told Insider. “It was one after the other. I had an anxiety attack, thinking maybe something like 9/11 was happening.”
More than 1,000 Spirit Airlines flights were canceled this week in an epic meltdown caused by a poorly timed combination of bad weather, system outages, and staffing issues.
The low-cost carrier canceled 260 flights on Friday and 402 flights on Thursday, marking six straight days of disruptions despite Spirit’s reassurance that cancellations would start falling.
The Spirit staffer – one of almost 9,000 Spirit employees – requested anonymity to speak freely about the situation, though her identity is known to Insider. She has worked for the airline for seven years and said she stays at the company for its flight discounts, which allow her to visit her son in the military who’s stationed abroad.
“I’m exhausted,” she said, adding that some Spirit workers felt like they couldn’t take breaks or take time to eat lunch, despite working long hours.
She said customers and workers alike could be seen crying throughout the airport. Stranded crew members and passengers whose flights were canceled slept on the floor and on benches. The international flight zone transformed into a temporary rebooking area, as the terminal overflowed with people waiting in lines for hours on end.
The customer service agent said most passengers were extremely frustrated, and that some became aggressive. The most difficult part for her, she said, was not being able to help groups with infants or elderly family members. At one point, she spent four hours trying to help a group after the company’s rebooking system crashed. When she finally got the information she needed from her supervisor, the family was nowhere to be found.
“There’s definitely some angry people,” Spirit CEO Ted Christie said Thursday, according to CNBC. “Right now, all I can say is we’re very sorry for what happened.”
During the peak of the meltdown, Spirit Airlines announced that employee shifts would require “mandatory overtime due to irregular operations,” according to the Spirit staffer, who also provided a copy of a company flyer announcing the policy. She said this led her and other employees to work until 3 a.m. one day, and that some junior staffers worked shifts as long as 15 hours on Sunday.
She said many employees felt trapped in mandatory overtime and thought that if they left, they might lose their job. According to the Spirit staffer, this fear stemmed from the airline’s attendance policy regulated by the “Team Member Dependability Program,” an 11-point system that keeps track of missed shifts or tardiness.
The policy dings employees with points for planned absences, unplanned absences, no-shows, and late arrivals, according to a copy of the program obtained by Insider. Once a staff member accrues 11 points, they can be fired.
Insider received a copy of Spirit’s 11-point attendance policy.
Spirit Airlines
A Spirit spokesperson did not respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Spirit COO John Bendoraitis sent the airline’s operations team an email about the cancellations roughly 12 hours after they began.
“Our scheduling disruption this weekend stems from weather and ATC delays that added up over the past week, taking a toll on our crew availability. I own this, and we have a plan,” the internal email read. “Right now, all hands are on deck working around the clock to solve the network disruption. We will not stop until we are successful.”
The Transport Workers Union of America said in a statement on Thursday that Spirit Airlines executives have “shown little concern for the safety and mental well-being of their frontline agents at FLL, who have been attacked and even spat on – just for doing their job.”
Do you work for Spirit? Contact the reporter of this piece from a non-work email at htowey@insider.com
