DOT, FAA Terminate Mandated Air Capacity Cuts
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have terminated the mandated capacity cuts at 40 high-traffic airports as of 6 a.m. Eastern time Monday, the agencies announced Sunday, so “normal operations can resume across the National Airspace System.” The cuts were designed to help curtail increasing delays and cancellations as a growing number of air traffic controllers called in sick during the government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1. The cuts began Nov. 7, with a 4 percent reduction in flights, which increased to 6 percent on Nov. 11. Read More…
Southwest Expands Touchless ID, Adds Digital Bag Check-In
Southwest Airlines has expanded its participation in the U.S. Transportation Security Administration PreCheck Touchless ID program after a successful pilot launch last month at Denver International Airport, the carrier announced Monday. The service also is available at airports in Atlanta; New York’s LaGuardia; Portland, Ore.; Seattle and Salt Lake City. Members of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and who hold a valid passport may opt in to TSA PreCheck Touchless ID on the Southwest app. Read More…
TSA to Charge Flyers Without Real ID or Passport $45
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Feb. 1, 2026, will begin to charge air passengers without acceptable forms of identification, including a Real ID or passport, a $45 fee to fly, the agency announced Monday. The fee would cover the use of TSA’s new Confirm.ID “modernized alternative identity verification system” for 10 days, according to the agency. That process will take on average 10 to 15 minutes but could take longer than 30 minutes, TSA said. Read More…
Southwest will fly to Hawaii from Ontario and Burbank airports
Southwest Airlines will launch two additional Honolulu routes from Southern California next summer. Daily service to Hawaii from Ontario International Airport will begin June 4. Service from Burbank to Honolulu will operate on peak travel days beginning Aug. 4. Southwest will compete against Alaska Airlines on both routes. Southwest also will begin routes from San Diego to Santa Barbara, Long Beach to Seattle, and Long Beach to Portland, all beginning Aug. 4. The announcements came as Southwest extended its schedule for booking through September 2026. San Diego-Santa Barbara flights will operate on peak days and compete against Alaska. Read More…
What It Means If ‘See Agent’ Is Printed on Your Boarding Pass
Each airline’s boarding pass has a different design, but the basics are all there. Your seat number, departure time, airline, and flight number, frequent flyer number, and class of service are all standard practices to provide the information travelers and airline staff need. A lot of that is stored within a scannable bar code. The first thing that most travelers look for when handed their boarding pass, though, is their seat assignment. Perhaps you want to confirm if you’re sitting by the window or the aisle, or are eagerly checking to see if you have been upgraded. But on occasion, your boarding pass might say something like “see agent” or “seat assigned at gate.” Read More…
