Airlines travel tips

Before joining TPG in 2021, I was a newbie to the world of points and miles. Despite traveling frequently throughout the previous decade, I was oblivious to the benefits of loyalty programs or how straightforward it could be to earn points or miles for airfare and hotel stays.

Alaska Airlines will expand its presence in southern California this fall with several new routes from San Diego and Los Angeles.

With summer fast approaching, there are recently opened hotels and resorts in Greece to consider. From popular escapes such as Mykonos and Santorini to the lesser-known islands across the Aegean chain, here are five new Greek hotels worth checking out—and into.

Riding one of the longest flights in the world is already an undertaking—then I had to do it with my talkative son in tow. Even though flying with a toddler can be tough, I was determined to introduce him to the paternal side of my family who I hadn’t seen for over 20 years. So we embarked on an 18-hour journey from London to Bali. Here is what I learned about flying with a toddler after the trip—and what I wish I had known before.

Capital A—the parent of budget carrier AirAsia that’s owned by tycoons Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun—is merging its various airline affiliates across Southeast Asia in a deal valued at 6.8 billion ringgit ($1.4 billion).

Southwest Airlines is considering making major changes to its seating process.

Seven years after it was first announced, the wait is finally over.

Southwest's famous boarding process may be up in the air. On Thursday, after reporting a net loss of $231 million, the Dallas-based airline announced a variety of changes, including the potential for new seating assignments and confirmed the closure of operations at several airports. 

San Francisco is gearing up to greet more visitors from China, starting with a pair of pandas.

Indian budget carrier IndiGo has placed its first-ever order for widebody aircraft, with an order of 30 Airbus A350-900 jets. The move is expected to help expand IndiGo’s international network to long-haul destinations.

A new set of rules announced on Wednesday by the Department of Transportation are focused on righting some wrongs in the airline industry and providing extra consumer protection.

The ongoing Boeing 737 Max 9 fallout is continuing to burn airlines.

Southwest Airlines is ceasing operations at four airports, and reducing flights from others, in an effort to cut costs after its growth plans were curtailed by fewer than expected plane deliveries from Boeing.

Southwest Airlines is shrinking its route map.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, April 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Airline delays and cancelations are frustrating enough, but having to spend time fighting with the airline to get compensation or getting stuck with an airline voucher you’ll never use makes the situation even worse. Fortunately, that’s all about to change—the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) just announced a new policy that requires airlines to automatically issue cash refunds to passengers when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.

Airlines will soon face far stricter rules for issuing refunds, the Biden administration said Wednesday.

Flight delays and cancellations are some of the most un-fun issues to deal with while traveling. Even more of a headache? Trying to get a refund from the airline for your airfare or for any extra fees you paid for, like checked baggage.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new rules Wednesday requiring airlines to disclose all fees upfront as well as “promptly” provide refunds when they are owed. Under the new rule, travelers are entitled to a refund if an airline cancels or significantly changes their flight, like changing the departure or arrival time by more than 3 hours for domestic flights and 6 hours for international flights, the DOT shared with Travel + Leisure. Travelers can also demand a refund if an airline significantly delays their checked bags (more than 12 hours for domestic flights and 15 to 30 hours for international flights), or if the airline doesn’t provide the ancillary services a passenger purchased like Wi-Fi, seat selection, and in-flight entertainment. Airlines will now be required to issue a refund automatically without a passenger having to request one. The refund must be in the form of cash or the original form of payment, and airlines cannot substitute travel vouchers or other forms of compensation unless the passenger willingly accepts it.

JetBlue's latest in-flight entertainment updates can involve your whole travel crew.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced two new rules for airlines in its years-long war on so-called “junk fees.” The White House says the new rules will help consumers save over half a billion dollars every year that they are currently overpaying in airline fees.