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, September 6 ===

TSA PreCheck’s New Gateside Program Lets Non-Travelers Go Through Security
Remember when friends and family could walk you all the way to the gate? TSA PreCheck is bringing a version of that experience back with a new program allowing eligible non-travelers to pass through security and accompany passengers to the gate. JohnnyJet.com

American Airlines Passenger Duct-Taped to Seat After Alleged Tirade
An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark diverted to Baltimore after a 67-year-old passenger allegedly launched into a racist and homophobic tirade and became violent. Things got so out of hand that the passenger reportedly ended up duct-taped to his seat. JohnnyJet.com

Hurricane Lowell Threatens Hawaiian Islands With Life-Threatening Surf
Hurricane Lowell is expected to pass west of Hawaii’s major islands, but that doesn’t mean the state is in the clear. Forecasters are warning of life-threatening surf, heavy rain and possible mudslides, with Kauai potentially seeing as much as 10 inches of rain. NBC News

Southwest Airlines Sets Timeline for First-Ever Airport Lounges
Southwest’s transformation continues, and this time it’s heading into the airport lounge business. The airline plans to open its first-ever lounges beginning in 2027, another major departure from the no-frills model that defined Southwest for decades. Parade

Florida Man Learns Airport Gate Agents Don’t Appreciate Stand-Up Comedy About Explosives
Here’s another reminder that joking about explosives at an airport is never a good idea. A 33-year-old Florida man headed to Cuba reportedly ended up in police custody after making an ill-advised comment about a bomb to airline employees at the gate. Tampa Free Press

Princess Cruises Drops Princess Cays Calls
Princess Cruises is dropping calls at Princess Cays in the Bahamas beginning this fall, with most scheduled visits shifting to Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key instead. Princess Cays has also disappeared from Carnival’s Paradise Collection of private island destinations. Cruise Critic

JetBlue Pilot Refuses Air Traffic Control Instruction, Declares Emergency—“So You’re Gonna Make Us Go Through A Severe Thunderstorm?”
A JetBlue pilot departing Fort Lauderdale declared an emergency after refusing an air traffic control heading the crew believed would send their Airbus A320 through a severe thunderstorm. After ATC declined the crew’s requested turn because of other traffic, the pilots used their emergency authority to change course. View From The Wing

US Airlines Weigh Safety System to Prevent Midair Collisions Ahead of Legal Mandate
Some U.S. airlines are considering adding technology designed to help prevent midair collisions before they’re legally required to do so. Acron Technologies, which has already equipped American Airlines’ single-aisle Airbus fleet with ADS-B In technology, says it is talking with most U.S. carriers and could land another order by year’s end. Reuters

JetBlue’s BlueFirst Will Be an Instant Money Maker
JetBlue’s upcoming BlueFirst domestic first-class product could fill a big hole between its roomy economy seats and premium Mint cabins. Unlike Mint, BlueFirst can work across much more of JetBlue’s network, giving the airline another way to generate premium revenue on routes where lie-flat seats don’t make sense. Cranky Flier

Sydney Airport Near-Miss Involved Controllers Flagged as High-Fatigue Risk
Several air traffic controllers working when two Qantas aircraft nearly collided at Sydney Airport in July had reportedly been flagged as being at high risk of fatigue. Internal records reviewed by Reuters raise new questions about staffing and fatigue management surrounding the serious incident. Reuters

US Wants 100M Annual Foreign Visitors—but Numbers Keep Falling During ‘Trump Slump’
U.S. travel industry leaders are aiming for 100 million international visitors annually, but they left a White House meeting without a commitment from President Donald Trump to change policies or rhetoric that industry officials say are discouraging some overseas travelers. The push comes as the industry looks for ways to reverse declining international visitation. Forbes

Emergency Slide Activates on British Airways Plane While Catering Was Delivered
A British Airways Boeing 787 was hit with a major delay in Montreal after an emergency evacuation slide accidentally deployed while the aircraft was being catered for its return flight to London. The slide normally only makes an appearance during an evacuation—not while dinner is being loaded. Metro

=== Thursday, September 3 ===

Zelensky Warns Airlines Russia’s Airspace Is ‘Completely Unsafe’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is warning airlines against flying through Russian airspace as the war escalates, saying recent changes in Russia’s tactics mean the risks can no longer be considered confined to Ukraine. The Hill

JetBlue’s New First Class Comes With Some Surprising Perks
JetBlue has revealed more details about BlueFirst, its new domestic first-class product, which will feature upgraded seats made with Tuft & Needle foam, more than 13-inch seatback screens and other premium touches. USA Today

American Airlines Continues Premium Push With Redesigned Boeing Planes
American Airlines is giving its Boeing 777-300ERs a major makeover as it continues courting premium travelers. The redesigned planes will feature 144 premium seats, including 70 lie-flat Flagship Suite seats with sliding privacy doors. CNBC

FAA Wants to Permanently Restrict Flights Over Mar-a-Lago
The FAA is proposing permanent flight restrictions within a one-mile radius of Mar-a-Lago, addressing security concerns as well as President Trump’s longtime complaints about aircraft flying over his Palm Beach estate. The Washington Post

United Airlines Adds New Standby Features to Mobile App
United is making it easier for passengers disrupted by delays or cancellations to get moving sooner. A new feature in the United app allows eligible rebooked travelers to join standby lists for up to three earlier flights. TravelPulse

MapQuest Hits No. 1 on Apple’s App Store After Keeping Lake Ontario Name
MapQuest shot to the top of Apple’s free-app rankings after announcing that it would continue calling Lake Ontario by its historic name rather than adopt the Trump administration’s new designation, Lake America. USA Today

Waymo and Zoox Expand as the Robotaxi Race Heats Up
The robotaxi race continues to accelerate, with Waymo launching paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego and Tampa while Amazon-owned Zoox prepares to begin supervised testing in Houston and San Diego. CNBC

Delta Air Lines Is Dropping Boston to Honolulu Nonstop Service Next Year
Delta is once again pulling the plug on nonstop service between Boston and Honolulu. The seasonal route will return in December 2026 for the holidays but disappear from the schedule after January 4, 2027, with weak demand reportedly behind the decision. TravelMarket

Carnival Launches New Rewards Program With More Flexible Benefits
Carnival Cruise Line is replacing its longtime VIFP loyalty program with Carnival Rewards, a new system that rewards cruisers with redeemable points and status-qualifying Stars and even allows members to earn status through eligible credit card spending. Parade

As the Himalayas Warm, Devastating Floods Are Becoming More Frequent
Communities across the Himalayas are facing an increasingly dangerous cycle of disasters as warming temperatures accelerate glacier melt and contribute to devastating flash floods. Recent flooding in Nepal highlights how little time some villages have to recover before the next disaster strikes. AP

Couple Planned an Intimate Mexico Wedding but Got a Pool Full of Spectators
A couple hoping for an intimate oceanfront wedding at Dreams Natura Resort & Spa near Cancun got an unexpected audience when a crowd of swimsuit-clad hotel guests gathered at the nearby pool to watch them say “I do.” A video showing the amusing contrast between the elegant ceremony and packed pool quickly caught attention online. People

Dale ‘Grey Beard’ Sanders, 91, Reclaims Record as Oldest Appalachian Trail Hiker
Talk about inspiring: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, 91, has reclaimed the record as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. Sanders tackled all 2,193 miles despite falling 71 times along the way, including one fall that briefly landed him in the hospital and another just 200 yards from the finish. NBC News

=== Tuesday, September 1 ===

Passengers begged the captain to turn back. Then he jumped overboard
Passengers aboard the Filo Jet ferry reportedly pleaded with the captain to turn back as rough seas battered the vessel off northern Cyprus. Instead, survivors say he continued on before the situation took a terrifying turn. The Telegraph

Moldy dishes, live maggots and cockroaches: LAX in-flight meal provider under scrutiny
This might make you think twice about your next airline meal. A complaint filed with Cal/OSHA alleges workers at an Inglewood airline catering facility were exposed to disturbing conditions including moldy dishes, maggots, flies and cockroaches. Los Angeles Times

Grand Canyon flash floods: More than a dozen people may be missing
A major flash flood swept through parts of Grand Canyon National Park, prompting evacuations and closing popular visitor areas, with roughly 15 people reported missing or unaccounted for. The National Park Service is asking for help identifying anyone who may have been in the affected Bright Angel Creek corridor. USA Today

Lake Ontario now called Lake America on Google Maps for U.S. users
Google Maps has changed Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for U.S. users following President Trump’s order to rename the lake. It’s similar to Google’s 2025 change showing the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for U.S. users. AP

China’s three biggest airlines post heavy first-half losses
China’s three largest state-owned airlines continue to struggle, posting combined first-half losses of about $1.22 billion as higher jet fuel prices take a toll. Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have now reported first-half losses for seven consecutive years. Reuters

New TSA head pushes privatization with another shutdown on the horizon
With another possible federal government shutdown looming on October 1, the new head of the TSA is pushing to privatize more airport security. A shutdown could once again leave TSA airport screeners working without pay. Aviation Week

Ferry carrying 270 people capsizes off Cyprus, killing at least six
At least six people have died after a ferry carrying 270 passengers capsized shortly after departing northern Cyprus. The vessel was traveling from Kyrenia/Girne to Tasucu, Turkey, and a major rescue operation was launched. Daily Mail

Iceland voters reject talks to rejoin the European Union
Icelanders have voted against restarting negotiations to join the European Union, with 52.8% opposing the measure and 47.2% supporting it. The debate centered largely on geopolitical stability and Iceland maintaining control over its valuable fishing industry. AP News

The Mediterranean is becoming a year-round cruising destination
The Mediterranean has traditionally been a warm-weather cruise destination, but that’s changing. After Explora Journeys moved a ship from the Middle East to the Med for winter and saw strong bookings, the luxury line is considering making winter sailings a regular offering. Travel Weekly

Influencer fined for petting a marmot at Mount Rainier National Park
Here’s your latest reminder to leave wildlife alone when visiting national parks. A 23-year-old influencer was hit with a hefty fine after petting a wild marmot while hiking the Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier National Park. Daily Mail

Hawaii tourism ‘largely returned to normal’ after storms Lala and Moke
After a rough stretch of tropical weather, tourism in Hawaii has largely returned to normal. Hurricane Lala brought damaging winds and rain, particularly to the Big Island, before Tropical Storm Moke followed just days later. Travel Weekly

Silent safaris: Electric vehicles are changing wildlife adventures in Africa
Electric safari vehicles are becoming more common across Africa, offering quieter rides, closer wildlife encounters and fewer emissions. But there’s an interesting question emerging: How will animals accustomed to hearing diesel safari vehicles react when they can no longer hear them coming? Travel Weekly