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The reality of the American air travel system is that powerful forces keep passengers flying the same carriers, even after service meltdowns like Delta just suffered. For passengers who live near one of the hubs where Delta controls most of the flights, such as Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis or Salt Lake City, choices are even more limited. But by Monday, the problems were mostly limited to Delta as other businesses were back to normal, adding to the frustration of its passengers. Delta canceled more than 4,400 flights from July 19 to 21, according to tracking service FlightAware. Past experience, plus the dominance of Delta in Atlanta and Don Hooper’s frequent flyer miles, would keep them using the airline.

Persons: Don Hooper, Dorothy, I’m, ” Don Hooper, “, ” Dorothy, Dorothy Hooper, ”, Don Hooper’s, Jeremy, Kaylee Jones, Lucia, Jeremy Jones, Zach Griff, won’t, McNamara, Joe Raedle, Scott Keyes, Delta, Dylan Steele, Steele, It’s, I’ve, … It’s, he’s, you’ve, “ We’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN — Delta Air Lines, Delta, CNN, St, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, “ Locations: New York, Delta, United, Southwest, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Bozeman , Montana, Greece, Italy, Spokane , Washington, St, Orlando, Washington

☆ US flight prices are over $200 cheaper than they were 30 years ago when adjusting for inflation. Here's why it doesn't feel like it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But if you ask some Americans, airfares have gotten out of control in recent years. Keyes said international inflation-adjusted airfares for US passengers have also generally fallen over the past decade. To be sure, any frustrations about airfare prices haven't stopped many Americans from flying. "The decline in inflation-adjusted airfares appears to be uncorrelated with the financial performance of the 'big three' airlines," Tan said. AdvertisementIt's also possible that after airfare prices plummeted due to the pandemic, 2022's swift rise in airfares caught Americans off guard.

Persons: —, airfares, Scott Keyes, Mike Daher, It's, Keyes, Biden, Kerry Tan, they've, haven't, Tan, Tan, there's, airfare, Hayley Berg, Hopper's, NerdWallet Organizations: Service, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Business, Deloitte, Gallup, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Department of Transportation, TSA, Loyola University Maryland, Delta, of Transportation, Airlines for America, Southwest, Spirit, United, Biden Administration, The Airlines Locations: United, America

Memorial Day weekend, the traditional launching pad of the summer travel season, is shaping up to set a scorching pace. United is expecting the biggest Memorial Day and summer travel season in the airline’s 98-year history, according to Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Air traffic controller shortageThe air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport is a busy place. The United States is still short thousands of air traffic control personnel. Markus Mainka/imageBROKER/ShutterstockDespite a surge in hiring last year, air traffic control stations nationwide are still about 3,000 controllers short, according to new FAA numbers.

Persons: it’s, Andrew Nocella, Markus Mainka, Scott Keyes, ”, ” Keyes, Tayfun, Bob Thomas, haven’t, Elijah Nouvelage, Keyes, “, Antonio Masiello, he’s, Angela Fritz Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, TSA, American Airlines and United Airlines, Airlines for America, Airlines, America, Air, Los Angeles International, FAA, CNN Travel, San Francisco International, Anadolu Agency, Embry ‑ Riddle Aeronautical University, Aircraft, Travelers, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Getty Locations: United States, New York City, Florida, New York, Miami, Chicago, Atlantic, AFP, Rome, Europe, Mexico, Australia, Paris, Iceland, Dublin, CNN’s

Alaska Airlines plans to resume flights with its Max 9s on Friday, and United aims to follow suit on Sunday. United Airlines made similar similar findings. Travelers returned to the Boeing 737 Max 8 after two of them crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. In that case, Boeing had to redesign an automated flight-control system before the FAA would let Max 8s and Max 9s resume flying after a 20-month grounding. In addition, the FAA says it won't let Boeing expand production of Max jets until it's satisfied that quality-control concerns about the company have been resolved.

Persons: Max, Mike Whitaker, Ben Minicucci, “, Scott Keyes, Scott Kirby Organizations: Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, NBC, United Airlines, Travelers, U.S . Department of Transportation, Airline, BOEING, Alaska, Airbus, U.S ., United Locations: United States, United, Oregon, U.S, Portland , Oregon, Alaska

☆ 737 Max 9: What travelers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Marnie Hunter | Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

More than 170 of the Boeing 737 Max 9s remain grounded in the United States. Alaska Airlines said in a statement on January 20 that the airline had completed preliminary inspections on a group of their Max 9 aircraft. NTSB Investigator-in-Charge John Lovell examines the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737-9 Max, in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday. NTSB/Handout/ReutersThe FAA order grounded 171 of the world’s 737 Max 9 aircraft. What do I do if my flight is canceled because of the grounding of the 737 Max 9?

Persons: Max, ” “ We’re, It’s, John Lovell, Kathleen Bangs, ”, Scott Keyes, ” Keyes, David Soucie, haven’t, it’s, Bangs, ” Bangs, she’s, Keyes Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines, FAA, “, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Cirium . Lion, Delta Airlines, Lion, NTSB, Sunday, Reuters, Copa Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Lion Air, CNN Travel, United Locations: Alaska, Portland , Oregon, United States, United, Cirium, Indonesia, Panama, Turkish

☆ Budget airlines like Spirit and Ryanair make up almost a third of global airline capacity. Here's how they do business
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-20 | by ( Magdalena Petrova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Budget airlines have become common, making a no-frills experience for travelers a core part of their business models. Budget airlines in Europe include EasyJet , Ryanair and Wizz Air, while Asia is served by players such as AirAsia and IndiGo . Some of South America's low budget airlines include JetSmart, GOL and Wingo. Budget airlines try to keep a close eye on their operational costs by maximizing time spent in the air and passenger volume. "You typically see pilot pay a little bit lower on Spirit and Frontier and some of the budget airlines compared to the full service airlines," Keyes said.

Persons: Scott Keyes, Savanthi Syth, Raymond James, Keyes Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Budget, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz, AirAsia, IndiGo, CNBC Locations: U.S, Europe, Asia, GOL, Wingo

☆ Deals to the Maldives, Paris and Palm Springs: How to take advantage of ‘Travel Tuesday’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shoppers compete for the best deals on merchandise and retailers compete for consumer dollars. Here's how to strategize to score the best deals, according to experts. One of the biggest open secrets in the travel industry is that the best deals on airfare aren't on advertised deals — it's the ones that are running in the background," says Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com. "Advertised sales that are slightly better than normal are nowhere near the best deals that you tend to see on flights." In the past, Air New Zealand has offered Black Friday weekend deals on flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Persons: Julie Ramhold, it's, Ramhold, It's, Scott Keyes, Keyes Organizations: Black, DealNews.com, Air New Zealand, Discount, Bee Locations: Palm Springs, Maldives, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Emirates, Athens, Milan, Paris, French Polynesia

DALLAS (AP) — Despite inflation and memories of past holiday travel meltdowns, millions of people are expected to hit airports and highways in record numbers over the Thanksgiving break. Sunday will draw the largest crowds with an estimated 2.9 million passengers, which would narrowly eclipse a record set on June 30. Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going, is cautiously optimistic that holiday air travel won’t be the same mess. From June through August — when thunderstorms can snarl air traffic — the rate of cancellations fell 18% compared to 2022. The airlines, in turn, have heaped blame on the Federal Aviation Administration, which they say can’t keep up with the growing air traffic.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Nature, ”, Patrick De Haan, ” De Haan, haven't, Scott Keyes, ” Keyes Organizations: DALLAS, Transportation Security Administration, AAA, . Transportation, Southwest, U.S . Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation, FAA, Airlines Locations: East Coast, snowplows, New York, Miami, Jacksonville , Florida, Delta

☆ $29 flights are back as airlines race to fill seats in the off-season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A Frontier Airlines airplane taxis past a Spirit Airlines aircraft at Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis, Indiana. Southwest Airlines , for example, last month offered one-way fares of $29 for flights early in the morning or at night, just one example of airline discounting for off-peak periods. Airlines have scheduled a record 259.8 million seats for domestic flights in the fourth quarter, up nearly 8% from last year, on 1.86 million flights, up 6% from 2022, according to aviation-data firm Cirium. United Airlines said it expects to fly 5.9 million passengers from Nov. 17 to Nov. 29, up 13% from last year and 5% more than 2019. That means they could increase their inventory of cheaper basic economy fares during weaker demand periods, or raise fares when demand is high for premium seats.

Persons: Luke Sharrett, Ryan Green, Scott Keyes, airfare, Bob Jordan, Jordan, Barry Biffle, we're, Hopper, that's, Biffle, Henry Harteveldt Organizations: Frontier, Spirit Airlines, Indianapolis International Airport, Bloomberg, Getty, Texas — Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Skift Aviation, Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Budget, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, . Frontier Airlines, CNBC, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest, Atmosphere Research Locations: Indianapolis , Indiana, Texas, Miramar , Florida, Orlando, Vegas

☆ Why you might need to start booking your 2024 summer vacation now
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But according to some industry experts, it’s not too early to start thinking about – and perhaps even booking – next year’s trip. But Keyes generally advises travelers not to necessarily hit that purchase button as soon as an airline opens up a flight for booking. “While it’s relatively common knowledge that last-minute fares are expensive, what’s far less known is that it’s also possible to book flights too early,” he says. From the hospitality industry perspective, advance booking can help hoteliers and other businesses adjust staffing, pricing and other factors to offer a better experience. While Cabutti of JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa acknowledges that “the early booking trend results in higher room rates,” it also enables businesses to better meet guests’ needs.

Persons: it’s, they’ve, ” Dino Triantafillou, Triantafillou, ” Triantafillou, Cristiano Cabutti, “ We’re, ” Cabutti, “, Stephanie Bias, Camp Aramoni, ”, ‘, Scott Keyes, ” Keyes, Keyes, Sally French, you’re Organizations: CNN, Labor, CNN Travel, Global, JW Marriott, Marriott, SDI, US State Department, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Italy, Tonica , Illinois, United States, Madrid, Santorini, Europe, Asia, Hopper’s, Saharan Africa, JW, Venice

☆ Travel news: When to book airline flights and why you shouldn’t check your bag
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Read tips on how you can make your next trip greener and then check out the rest of the news from the world of travel this week. Lost bags are partly why luggage trackers have become the hottest travel accessory of 2023. If it’s the largest mirror-covered building in the world you’re looking for, though, the place to head is Saudi Arabia. If you’re a camping novice, our explainer tells you everything you need to know before you set out.

Persons: Read, Keen, Barry Sherry, “, ”, Scott Keyes, we’re, There’ll, They’ve, Bon, New Englanders, Le Bec Sucre Organizations: CNN, Discovery Channel, Warner Bros, San Locations: Europe, That’s, California, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, Saudi Arabia, Rhode Island, France, New, San Francisco, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Tokyo

All-inclusive packages can be an easier way to travel, and road trips are a great budget option. These higher costs are leaving everyone wondering what kind of travel they can actually afford over this year's summer vacation season — and rightfully so. Travel in late summer if you canScott Keyes of Going says that summer flights for 2023 are expensive in general, but not equally expensive over the full summer travel season. Consider a summer road tripTravel expert Anu Agarwal of Destination CheckOff says that summer 2023 is a great time to consider a new type of trip if you're trying to keep costs down: summer road trips. "Flights in the 2023 summer travel season are expensive, plus airlines have hefty change or cancellation fees for flights," he says.

Persons: —, Sharael Kolberg, Kolberg, Kaitlyn Rosati, Scott Keyes, Greg Johnson, Johnson, Linda Orceo, Gulps, Arceo, you'll, Jacob Wade, Wade, Anu Agarwal, Agarwal, Ray Aberman, Brett Keller, Keller Organizations: Service, Family Travel, Travel Locations: Ipsos, Anguilla

☆ Total solar eclipse 2024: Start planning your trips now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

That’s where you’ll want to be on April 8, 2024, to take advantage of the last opportunity for decades to see a total solar eclipse over the contiguous United States. Just under seven years after the American eclipse in August 2017, next year’s total solar eclipse will provide the last easy access to such an event for most US residents until August 23, 2044. People watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on August 21, 2017. The longer people wait, the harder it will be to find accommodations inside the eclipse path. People watch the solar eclipse from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee on August 21, 2017.

Persons: it’s, Jay Anderson, Michael Zeiler, Anderson, ”, ” Anderson, Mario Anzuoni, Dave Clark, ” Clark, Jonathan Ernst, haven’t, they’ve, Carla Pendergraft, that’s, Scott Keyes, we’re, “, Keyes, Grand Teton, George Frey, Pendergraft, Clark, “ ‘ Organizations: CNN, Griffith Observatory, LA, Reuters, CNN Travel, McLane, Baylor University, Lowell Observatory, Center, Visitors Bureau, ” Locations: United States, Mexico, Canada, Mazatlán, Coast, Texas, Oklahoma , Arkansas , Missouri , Illinois , Kentucky , Indiana , Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York , Vermont , New Hampshire, Maine, , Texas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Europe, Smoky, Tennessee, Russellville , Arkansas, Waco , Texas, Arizona, Waco, You’ll, Grand Teton, Jackson , Wyoming, Grand, “ ‘ Worth

☆ Getting a new passport takes longer than you think these days. Here's what you should know about getting yours faster.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Department of State reports wait times of up to 13 weeks for a passport. As of now, the processing time for a new passport or a renewal is estimated at 10-13 weeks, according to the State Department. The State Department is facing "unprecedented demand" for passports, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, according to CBS News. The April estimate for expedited passport processing, which will cost you an extra $60, is about 7-9 weeks, the agency says. On its site, the State Department acknowledges extended wait times for calls about passport issues, and offered processing options for applicants.

☆ Spring break gets pricey as travelers return to old booking habits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Spring break travel demand is picking up, driving up airfare and hotel rates. Airlines, grappling with pilot shortages and aircraft delivery delays, have already limited capacity growth, which is keeping airfare up from last year. Now travelers are going back to booking patterns common before the pandemic, flying on peak days to traditional destinations, airline executives say. That makes it even more important for travelers to stay flexible if they're trying to save money to avoid spikes in fares. Spring break demand is "probably the best we've ever seen," Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said in an interview.

☆ How Southwest can win back its angry, stranded customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Southwest Airlines’ customers are furious about the company’s Christmas week service meltdown. Southwest said that it lost about $350 million in ticket sales for January and February because people have avoided bookings on the airline. No wonder: the holidays are perhaps the worst time of the year to strand customers. One group that has clearly not forgiven Southwest as of yet is airline investors. Southwest (LUV) shares closed Tuesday down only 1% from where they closed December 19, the day before the meltdown started.

☆ Airlines can price climate change into your plane ticket. There are reasons to not buy it
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

United Airlines , for example, has committed to net zero carbon by 2050 without any contribution from traditional carbon offsets. Southwest Airlines ' "Wanna offset carbon?" Consumer psychology and the environmentIt's not just about the dollar amount of the carbon offset purchase in the consumer psychology. If airline travelers want to stay environmentally conscious without paying carbon offset fees, Keyes recommends choosing cheaper airlines when traveling. "It's true that we all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions.

Airlines’ service cuts that ramped up this summer show no sign of relenting this holiday season, leaving more travelers likely to pay higher fares for fuller planes at crowded airports. And while dozens of small cities receive federal subsidies to support air travel through the long-running Essential Air Service program, Malarkey Black said even 29 of those communities are facing potential cutbacks due to pilot shortages. For the regional flights that do remain, “fares are up markedly as a result of service cuts,” said Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights. Major U.S. carriers have cited pilot shortages for their cuts at regional airports, with some of them saying the labor crunch would take years to resolve. “Commercial air service is an expected amenity to both businesses and residents alike,” Grover said, promising to work “relentlessly, tenaciously” to restore it.

☆ Get ready for the most expensive holiday travel season ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

US gas prices are higher than they’ve ever been at this time of year. “Holiday travel has come back as strong as ever, and leisure travel is why that recovered,” said Scott Keyes, founder of travel site Scott’s Cheap Flights. “Holiday travel is definitely more expensive than we’ve seen in previous years,” said Hayley Berg, chief economist for Hopper. Even with the annual surge in holiday travel, the amount of driving in November and December is typically well below the summer driving season. Other travel costsHotel prices also are more expensive than they’ve ever been this time of year.

☆ Here's why it's so hard to find cheap airfare this year — and why 2023 isn't looking much better
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"Holiday flights are going to be expensive once again," said Scott Keyes, founder of flight-deal site Scott's Cheap Flights. "The pricing power has shifted back to the airlines for winter holiday travel." Windfall for airlinesThe three biggest U.S. airlines — Delta , United and American — each reported profits and record revenue for the third quarter. "Demand has not come close to being quenched by a hectic summer travel season," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on the carrier's quarterly call last week. "When you are opening your Christmas presents, ideally that's when you should be thinking about booking those summer flights," he said.

☆ Delayed, lost or damaged luggage: What you should do
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-06 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —It’s enough to give anyone already on edge about how to handle possible flight delays and cancellations yet another reason to pop an antacid or two: the prospect of delayed, lost or damaged baggage. There are things you can do and strategies you can take to help avoid losing a bag or at least minimize the impact of delayed, lost, stolen and damaged luggage. “Many times, airline personnel will explain that the luggage has been located but will be delayed until the next flight,” Travelers United says. Liability limits: There’s fine print, exceptions and paperwork / documentation hurdles, but you can eventually get cash for your lost bags. Damaged bags: If you see your luggage is damaged while still at the airport, report it there.

Persons: CNN —, you’re, Michael Ciaglo, Scott Keyes, Keyes, it’s, Robert Michael, Jo Hoban, ”, Paula Twidale, Hoban, “, Samantha Brown, you’ve, Guy, Jonas Walzberg, “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Southwest Airlines, Denver International Airport, Dresden International, CNN Travel, AAA, Travelers, United, North Carolina Consumers Council, ” Travelers, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, British Airways, Department of Transportation, US, Aviation, Airlines Locations: Germany, Spanish Fork , Utah, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, City, Hamburg, United States

☆ What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-28 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So many things can cause a flight to be delayed or canceled. Here’s some general advice for navigating a very complicated and frustrating system when flights are delayed or canceled. You can also put your airline and flight number directly into a Google search bar to retrieve the status that way. What you might get depends on the airline itself and the specific circumstances on why a flight was canceled. Google your credit card plus travel protections to see what specific offerings your card carries.”If your flight is delayed instead of outright canceled, you might want to weigh whether to wait at the airport.

Persons: ”, Scott Keyes, ” Keyes, That’s, Keyes, Mike Segar, you’ve, “ It’s, It’s, Anna Moneymaker, They’ve, “, Jeff Klee, ” Lousson Smith, ” Smith, Rebecca Blackwell, you’re, They’re, Guy, it’s, ” Tomasz Pawliszyn, ” Pawliszyn Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Delta Airlines, LaGuardia Airport, American Airlines, “, Twitter, Dulles International, Cooperation, Miami International Airport, US Department of Transportation, Delta Air Lines, “ Airlines Locations: Queens, New York City, Dulles , Virginia, Delta

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