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):

=== Sunday, August 16 ===

Two American Airlines Jets With the Same Flight Number Nearly Collide
An alert Phoenix air traffic controller caught a potentially disastrous mix-up after two American Airlines jets were operating with the same call sign on the same frequency—one arriving and the other departing. The duplicate flight number created the conditions for a near collision before the controller recognized the problem. Daily Mail

FAA Eases Some Flight Restrictions at San Francisco International
The FAA is revising restrictions at SFO to allow staggered arrivals, a move that could help the airport handle more flights while runway maintenance continues. The change partially relaxes an earlier ban on parallel approaches and is aimed at making better use of the runways that remain available. NBC Bay Area

Canadians Are Returning to the U.S.—But Mostly by Car
Canadian travel to the U.S. increased for the fourth straight month in July, with 2.3 million return trips, up 10.2% from a year earlier. The rebound is being driven entirely by road travel: car trips jumped 12.8%, while air travel slipped 1.4%. Yahoo News Canada

Two Renovated Gates Reopen at Chicago O’Hare
Chicago O’Hare has reopened two renovated American Airlines gates at Terminal 3, along with four baggage claims, as its $300 million ElevateT3 overhaul nears completion. The project is part of the city’s broader effort to modernize one of the country’s busiest airports. ABC7 Chicago

Vietnam Airlines 787 Damaged in Tail Strike During Takeoff
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 suffered a tail strike while departing Munich, with video showing the aircraft kicking up a large cloud of dust as it finally lifted off near the end of the runway. The incident damaged the aircraft and is raising questions about what went wrong during takeoff. 7NEWS

Four Frontier Flight Attendants Fall Ill Midflight
Four of the five flight attendants aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Cleveland to Fort Lauderdale became ill during the trip, prompting the pilots to request emergency medical crews on arrival. More than 230 passengers were aboard the flight, and the cause of the crew members’ illnesses wasn’t immediately clear. NY Post

Engine Failure Shatters 737 Window and Partially Pulls Passenger Outside
A jet engine fan blade broke loose on a Boeing 737 and struck the passenger cabin, shattering a window and partially pulling a passenger outside, according to an NTSB preliminary report. The Ryanair flight had departed Thessaloniki for Germany less than 10 minutes earlier before turning back for an emergency landing. CNN

Memphis Airport Renamed for FedEx Founder Fred Smith
Memphis has renamed its airport Frederick W. Smith International Airport in honor of the FedEx founder whose company helped transform the city into a global cargo hub. Airport officials credited Smith’s business leadership, philanthropy and decades-long impact on Memphis. Airport World

‘Mystery Vacations’ Turn Not Knowing Your Destination Into the Attraction
Travelers are paying for vacations without knowing where they’re headed until after they book, turning the destination itself into a surprise. One Atlanta traveler paid $393 for a mystery airfare-and-hotel package and later discovered she was headed to Las Vegas. WSJ

Seeing the Full Price of an Airline Ticket Could Get Harder
The Transportation Department is proposing changes that could let airlines advertise fares without giving the total price—including taxes—the same prominence travelers see today. If adopted, the shift could make comparison shopping less straightforward and put more of the burden on passengers to check the fine print. LA Times

Air Canada Offers $200 Voucher After Losing Bag Containing Husband’s Ashes
An Air Canada passenger says the airline lost a checked bag containing her late husband’s ashes during a trip from Edmonton to St. John’s, then offered her a $200 voucher as compensation. She called the offer offensive given the irreplaceable nature of what was inside the missing luggage. SimpleFlying

Rome’s Colosseum Is Drawing Crowds After Dark
The Colosseum has extended its summer hours to 11 p.m., giving visitors a chance to explore the landmark after sunset and escape some of Rome’s daytime heat. The nighttime tours are already selling out, with visitors describing the illuminated amphitheater as magical and romantic. AFP

=== Thursday, August 13 ===

Tropical Storm Threatens Hawaii With Flooding, High Winds and Dangerous Surf
A tropical system southeast of Hawaii could strengthen into a hurricane before bringing heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf to the islands this weekend. AccuWeather

Europe Delays ETIAS Travel Permit Again as Officials Warn About Scams
Europe’s long-awaited ETIAS travel authorization has been delayed again, with no firm launch date announced. EU officials are reminding travelers that the system is not yet operating and warning them to avoid websites selling bogus ETIAS permits. Daily Mail

Delta Shuts Down Inflight WiFi After Unauthorized Network Is Detected
Delta temporarily disabled WiFi aboard a Las Vegas-to-Atlanta flight after an unauthorized wireless network appeared onboard. The airline says the network wasn’t provided or operated by Delta and is investigating what happened. Fox 5

Georgia Father Faces Prison in Jamaica After TSA Allegedly Missed Ammo in Carry-On
A Georgia man says 30 rounds of ammunition made it through TSA screening in his carry-on before Jamaican authorities discovered them as he prepared to fly home. The family vacation has now turned into a potentially lengthy legal ordeal, with the traveler reportedly facing up to 15 years in prison. JohnnyJet.com

Low Water Levels Are Disrupting European River Cruises
Extreme heat and drought have pushed water levels down on the Danube and Rhine, forcing river cruise lines to modify or cancel itineraries and, in at least one case, dealing with a ship running aground. Tauck’s CEO called it the worst low-water season since 2018 and warned that increasingly extreme weather could make these disruptions more common. Travel Weekly

FAA Says Recruitment Push Has Produced More Than 2,000 Hires
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the FAA has hired more than 2,000 people as air traffic controllers following a recruitment campaign that included outreach to video gamers. The agency has reportedly reached 94% of its hiring goal, with another 2,000-plus candidates in the pipeline. USA Today

Passenger Jailed After Racist and Homophobic Rant on Jet2 Flight
A 56-year-old passenger has been sentenced to 10 months in jail after directing racist and homophobic abuse at passengers and crew on a Jet2 flight from Antalya to Newcastle. The drunken outburst also included threats and a Nazi salute. BBC

Istanbul Overtakes Heathrow as Europe’s Busiest Airport
Heathrow has lost its title as Europe’s busiest airport, with Istanbul handling 8.15 million passengers in July compared with Heathrow’s 7.86 million. Heathrow also reported a sharp year-over-year decline in Middle East traffic amid regional conflict. BBC

Tourist Dies After Falling From Iconic Oregon Waterfall
A 20-year-old Kentucky tourist died after reportedly entering a restricted area to take photos at the top of South Falls in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park. Authorities say he slipped and fell over the edge of the 177-foot waterfall. SF Gate

River Cruise Disrupted? Getting Compensation May Not Be Easy
Low water can turn a European river cruise into a very different vacation, with operators using ship swaps or buses when vessels can’t navigate planned routes. But those itinerary changes don’t necessarily mean passengers will be entitled to compensation. The Telegraph

United Unlocks Privacy Doors on New Polaris Suites
United passengers flying international business class on select Boeing 787-9s can now close the privacy doors on the airline’s new Polaris suites. The doors debuted as part of United’s upgraded Dreamliner interiors but had remained locked open while awaiting FAA certification. USA Today

More Stingrays Are Showing Up Along Southern California Beaches
A persistent marine heat wave off the West Coast is bringing more stingrays close to shore in Southern California, increasing the chances of painful encounters with beachgoers. The unusually warm coastal waters are part of a broader pattern that scientists are closely monitoring. ABC News

Pan Am Is Plotting a Comeback—But It’s Bigger Than an Airline
More than three decades after Pan Am stopped flying, the famous name is being revived across private aviation, hospitality and potentially scheduled commercial service. Pan Am Global Holdings is building a broader travel portfolio while working with aviation partners on a possible return of Pan American World Airways as a U.S. carrier. Airport Industry-News

Americans Keep Traveling Despite Higher Vacation Costs
Higher airfare, gas prices and other expenses haven’t stopped Americans from prioritizing vacations this summer, although travelers are making more tradeoffs to keep trips within budget. A PwC survey found travelers planned to spend nearly $2,900 on average, with 71% expecting to spend at least as much as last summer. MSN

Tourist Seriously Injured by Jet Blast at Famous Plane-Spotting Beach
A tourist suffered a serious head injury after being knocked to the ground by an aircraft’s engine blast near Skiathos International Airport in Greece. The beach is famous for its extremely close-up views of arriving and departing aircraft, but the incident is another reminder of the risks of getting too close. The Independent

Former Flight Attendant Admits Posing as Pilot to Score Free Flights
A former flight attendant has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after prosecutors say he spent nearly five years posing as a pilot to obtain hundreds of free or heavily discounted airline trips. Authorities say he used a fake identification badge to exploit employee “non-rev” travel benefits at three major U.S. airlines. The Jerusalem Post

=== Tuesday, August 11 === 

American Airlines Offers 1,205 Flight Attendants Unpaid Leave Amid September Flight Cuts
American Airlines is offering up to 1,205 flight attendants the option to take September off without pay as it trims its fall schedule, partly in response to higher jet fuel costs. The offers span all 10 crew bases and represent about 4% of the airline’s flight attendants. Simple Flying

Workers Sue TSA Over TSA Gold+, Claiming ‘Secretive Push’ of New Program
The union representing 47,000 TSA workers is suing the agency, seeking records about TSA Gold+, a new program involving the expansion of privatized airport security screening. The union says it wants more transparency about how the program is being rolled out. USA Today

Threats From Passengers on Two Planes Prompt Emergency Responses
Threats made by passengers aboard two flights this week triggered emergency responses, including a lockdown, according to air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN. The incidents in Milwaukee and Miami come as the FAA has already received more than 830 reports of unruly passengers this year. CNN

Disney World’s Trash Cans Have a Cult Following. Now They’re Going Away
Only at Disney could trash cans develop a fan base. Some Disney World regulars have turned the park’s distinctive garbage cans into meeting spots, mascots and even minor celebrities, but changes are coming—and fans aren’t happy about it. Washington Post

How One Airline Is Using AI to Optimize Operations
Alaska Airlines operates roughly 1,500 flights on a typical day, and it’s increasingly turning to AI to help its dispatchers make sense of weather, air traffic, winds and other variables. The technology is designed to help find more efficient routes while leaving the final decisions in human hands. NPR

SFO Expects Fewer Delays After FAA Reverses Ban on Parallel Landings
Some good news for SFO travelers: The FAA has approved staggered parallel landings at San Francisco International Airport after banning parallel landings in March. The change allows more planes to land and could help reduce the frequent delays that have plagued travelers this summer. SF Chronicle

A New Nonstop Cross-Country United Route Is Coming to SFO This Fall
United Airlines is adding seasonal Saturday nonstop service between San Francisco and West Palm Beach beginning November 7. United is also bringing back daily nonstop SFO-Cincinnati service starting October 25 as part of its fall and winter schedule. SF Chronicle

Lufthansa and German Pilots’ Union Agree on Process to Resolve Labor Disputes
Lufthansa and its German pilots’ union have agreed to a new arbitration and mediation framework aimed at resolving long-running labor disputes. The deal covers several Lufthansa Group airlines and, importantly for travelers, could reduce the threat of future pilot strikes. Reuters

Santorini’s Tourism Invasion: Videos Show ‘Instagram Island’ Overrun by Travelers
Those postcard-perfect Santorini photos may require a lot of patience. Tourists in Oia are reportedly waiting as long as two hours in huge lines to get that coveted shot of the Greek island’s famous blue-domed churches, creating gridlock in the village’s narrow streets. Daily Mail

The Island With an Air-Conditioned ‘Forest’ to Cope With Scorching Summers
Qatar is taking outdoor air conditioning to a whole new level. Gewan Island features an air-conditioned outdoor “forest” designed to make spending time outside more bearable during the country’s brutally hot summers. CNN

6 Unique Stargazing Experiences Near Cities
You don’t always have to trek into the middle of nowhere to see a spectacular night sky. While many of the world’s certified Dark Sky Places are far from civilization, there are some excellent stargazing spots close enough to cities that you can still enjoy hotels, restaurants and other creature comforts. AFAR

Why It’s Dangerous When Phones Fall Between Airplane Seats
There’s a good reason flight attendants tell you not to retrieve a phone that falls between airplane seats. Moving the seat while a phone is trapped can crush or damage its lithium-ion battery, potentially creating a serious safety hazard, so call a flight attendant for help instead of reaching for it yourself. AFAR