12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
(This is a recurring post, updated daily with new information):

=== Thursday, September 17 ===

American, United and Southwest trim schedules as higher fuel costs hit airlines
American, United and Southwest are pulling back on some planned flying as higher fuel prices put more pressure on airline profits. Carriers are trying to balance those added costs with strong demand, higher fares and tighter capacity. Reuters

Airfares jumped 23.4% in August compared to last year
Flying got a lot more expensive in August, with airfares up 23.4% compared to the same month last year and also higher than July. Rising jet fuel prices and airlines pulling back on capacity are helping push ticket prices higher. Travel Weekly

American Airlines pilots union questions CEO’s leadership
The head of American Airlines’ pilots union is publicly questioning whether the carrier needs new leadership as American continues to trail Delta and United in earnings. Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Nick Silva said the airline has plenty of potential but raised the possibility that someone else could turn things around faster. Dallas Morning News

American Airlines says just 30% of its seats generate half its revenue
Here’s another reason airlines are adding more premium seats: American CEO Robert Isom says just 30% of the airline’s seats generate 50% of its revenue. American plans to increase the share of premium seating as aircraft are reconfigured and new planes join the fleet. CNBC

Travelers are getting happier with U.S. airports, J.D. Power finds
Here’s some good news for flyers: Overall satisfaction with North American airports increased this year, according to J.D. Power’s latest study. Newer terminals and gates are among the reasons travelers are giving airports better marks. CNBC

United passenger says she was left locked in a jet bridge waiting for a wheelchair
A disabled United passenger says she was left alone in a jet bridge after landing while waiting for wheelchair assistance that was supposed to meet her. She documented the experience on TikTok, saying the aircraft had been closed and she had nowhere to sit while waiting for help. USA Today

Canada considers private investment in four of its biggest airports
Canada is looking at bringing private investment into the operation of Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Calgary and Vancouver airports while the federal government would retain ownership of the underlying land and assets. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the goal is to bring new capital and expertise into the airports’ operations and growth. CTV News

Major SFO runway reopening early after months of work
Good news for travelers flying through San Francisco: SFO’s Runway 1 Right is expected to reopen several days ahead of schedule after being closed since March 30 for a major rehabilitation project. The closure contributed to increased delays, so getting the runway back should help airport operations. San Francisco Chronicle

Japan now has more than 100,000 people age 100 or older
Talk about longevity: Japan has more than 100,000 centenarians for the first time, with 107,677 people age 100 or older as of September. It’s the 56th consecutive year the country’s centenarian population has increased. CNN

JetBlue faces lawsuit over allegedly unavailable ‘free’ seat selection
JetBlue is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from a California passenger who says he paid more for a Blue fare partly because it advertised free seat selection, only to find no standard seats available without an additional charge. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, is seeking $5 million in damages. Men’s Journal

Nepal tourism takes a hit following catastrophic floods
Weeks after deadly flash floods struck Nepal near the Chinese border, tourism businesses are reporting a drop in visitors, including in areas that weren’t directly affected. Travel specialists say some local guides are seeing business dry up as travelers stay away from the country. Travel Weekly

Are phones becoming the new cigarettes at restaurants?
Here’s an interesting debate: Smartphones have become such a constant presence at restaurants that they’re being compared to the cigarettes that once seemed to be everywhere in dining rooms. Between glowing screens, notifications and people scrolling at the table, phones are changing the dining experience in ways that probably sound familiar to anyone who’s tried to have a phone-free meal. The Wall Street Journal

=== Tuesday, September 15 ===

Qantas Is Retiring Its A380s. Is It Time to Say Goodbye to the Superjumbo?
Qantas plans to start retiring its 10 remaining Airbus A380s in 2028, four years earlier than previously expected, as maintenance and fuel costs continue to rise. The massive double-decker jet still has plenty of devoted fans, but this is another sign that the A380 era is slowly coming to an end. CNN

Dolly Parton’s New SongTeller Hotel Begins Soft Opening in Nashville
Dolly Parton’s new 245-room SongTeller Hotel is beginning its soft opening in Nashville. The hotel celebrates Parton’s music and career and includes two live-entertainment venues, including Jolene’s, a rooftop space featuring nightly performances from Nashville singers and songwriters. Fox 17

airBaltic Files for Chapter 11 but Says Flights Will Continue as Normal
Latvia’s national airline airBaltic has voluntarily initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York as it works through a financial reorganization. The important news for travelers is that the airline says flights and customer services are continuing as normal. airBaltic

Cruise Passenger in Critical Condition Rescued 125 Miles Off Canadian Coast
A passenger aboard Celebrity Solstice was airlifted from the ship while it was about 125 miles off the coast of British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Air Force dispatched both a helicopter and an airplane for the early-morning rescue, and the passenger was taken to a hospital in critical condition. People

Amazon Suspends Cargo Carrier 21 Air After Fatal Miami Crash
Amazon has suspended its use of cargo airline 21 Air after an Amazon-branded aircraft crashed while landing in Miami earlier this month, killing five people. Amazon says the decision followed a review of circumstances surrounding the crash as the NTSB continues its investigation. NBC News

Traveler Sues Club Med After Alleged Shark Attack in Turks and Caicos
A U.S. traveler is suing Club Med after she says she was attacked by a shark while vacationing at Club Med Turkoise in Turks and Caicos. The woman alleges she suffered permanent nerve damage and severe scarring and claims a resort sailing instructor bears responsibility for what happened. The Independent

United Airlines Accused of Carrying Military Cargo on Passenger Flights
United Airlines is facing allegations that it transported military cargo aboard flights that were also carrying civilian passengers, raising questions about potential risks. The story draws comparisons to the history of civilian transportation being used to carry military supplies during wartime. Frommer’s

Wealthy Europeans Are Moving North as Temperatures Climb
As extreme summer heat becomes increasingly difficult to deal with in parts of southern Europe, some wealthy residents are looking north for cooler weather. The trend could have interesting implications for everything from real estate to where Europeans choose to vacation and spend their summers. The Wall Street Journal

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Undressing on American Airlines Flight
Police met an American Airlines flight arriving in Miami after reports that a female passenger had undressed and behaved indecently during the flight from Baltimore. The woman was arrested after the aircraft landed at Miami International Airport. New York Post

American Wanted in Texas Arrested in Phuket
Immigration officers in Phuket arrested a 48-year-old American man wanted in Texas in connection with an alleged 2022 domestic violence strangulation charge. Thai authorities reportedly tracked him down after receiving information from the U.S. Embassy. The Thaiger

How Southwest Came to Dominate Southern California
LAX gets most of the attention, but Southwest has quietly built an enormous presence across Southern California’s secondary airports over the past several decades. Cranky Flier digs into schedule data going all the way back to 1980 to show how Southwest became such a dominant player in the region. Cranky Flier

She Got Her First Passport at 91. Now, at 96, She’s About to Visit Her Seventh Continent
Here’s an inspiring one: Joy Ryan got her first passport at age 91 and, five years later, she’s preparing to visit her seventh continent. She and her grandson Brad have already traveled extensively together, including visiting all 63 U.S. national parks, proving once again that you’re never too old to start traveling. The Telegraph

=== Sunday, September 13 ===

Honoring the Flight Crews Who Died on 9/11, 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years later, the memories of September 11, 2001 remain incredibly vivid, especially for those who work in the travel industry. Cranky Flier pays tribute to the flight crews who lost their lives that day and makes sure their names and stories are not forgotten. Cranky Flier

25 Years After 9/11, TSA Is Rethinking Some Airport Security Rules
Airport security changed dramatically after 9/11, but some of those rules are now being reconsidered as threats evolve. TSA has recently eased certain procedures, including allowing some PreCheck passengers to access secure gate areas without a boarding pass with advance notice, while focusing more attention on emerging threats like drones, AI and cybersecurity. CNBC

Could Nashville International Airport Be Renamed for Dolly Parton?
Here’s something politicians on both sides in Nashville apparently agree on: honoring Dolly Parton. Officials are supporting the idea of renaming Nashville International Airport after the Tennessee icon, which would reportedly make her the first woman to have her name on one of America’s 50 busiest airports. CNN

FAA Meets With Airline CEOs About Plan to Reduce Flight Delays
Anything that can reduce flight delays has my attention. The FAA administrator met with CEOs of major U.S. airlines to discuss using advanced software to overhaul flight scheduling and improve how flights are managed across the country. Reuters

Hyatt Is Teaming Up With Delta and Ending Its Enhanced American Airlines Partnership
There’s a big shake-up in the loyalty world: Hyatt and Delta are launching a long-term partnership that will let eligible elite members earn rewards across both World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles. At the same time, Hyatt’s enhanced loyalty partnership with American Airlines is coming to an end. Travel Weekly

Air Traffic Controller Shortage Causes Cancellations and Delays at Sydney Airport
Travelers at Sydney Airport faced cancellations and major delays Friday morning because of an air traffic controller staffing shortage. Airservices Australia said it had to restrict traffic flows to safely manage demand, another reminder that ATC staffing problems aren’t just a U.S. issue. Reuters

JetBlue Forces Famous Surfer to Leave His Surfboard in a JFK Trash Can
Talk about a brutal way to end a trip. Ecuadorian surfer Jorge Sangachi reportedly had to abandon his surfboard at JFK after a ticket purchased through United was switched to JetBlue, which had a different policy for traveling with surfboards. Surfer

U.S. Diesel Prices Top $6 a Gallon for the First Time Ever
Here’s another reason everything seems to be getting more expensive: the national average for diesel has hit a record $6.05 a gallon, up more than 60% from $3.71 a year ago. Since diesel powers much of the trucking, rail, construction and farming industries, those higher costs could eventually make their way into the prices consumers pay. Reuters

Italian Airport Authorities Find Crocodile Head in Passenger’s Luggage
Here’s something you definitely don’t expect airport security to find in a suitcase. Authorities at Turin Airport discovered the head of an endangered crocodile in the luggage of a man arriving from Miami via Istanbul, and he is now under investigation. UPI

Princess Cruises Passenger Runs 7 Marathons in 7 Days
I thought I packed a lot into my recent Mediterranean cruise aboard Enchanted Princess, but this guy takes the cake. Paul Manson ran seven marathons in seven consecutive days during his cruise, mapping out routes in destinations including Rome, Naples and Sicily, then returning to the ship to recover before doing it all over again. People

Which Country Has the World’s Most Polite Tourists?
A new survey has ranked Japanese travelers as the world’s most polite tourists, followed by travelers from Norway and Switzerland. The survey also looked at other travel behaviors, including tipping, trying local food and how adventurous travelers are when they’re away from home. Euronews

This Is America’s Most Beautiful Hotel, According to Time Out
Time Out’s editors have ranked the most beautiful hotels around the world, and a New York City property came in fifth overall, making it their highest-ranked hotel in the United States. The list celebrates hotels that stand out for their architecture, design and memorable settings. Time Out