Travel Week in Review – July 29th, 2022

After a bidding war lasting over three months, JetBlue has officially won over Spirit Airlines executives with their multiple bids. A merger agreement with the low-cost-carrier valued at $3.8 billion, including a prepayment and ticking fee for Spirit shareholders until the deal is consummated. JetBlue & Spirit Aim to Create “The Most Compelling National Low-Fare Challenger.” The announcement between JetBlue and Spirit comes less than one day after Frontier Airlines announced they ended the merger agreement. Read More…

A proposed FAA regulation would require all new aircraft delivered to commercial U.S. airlines to have a secondary cockpit door. The second door would enable a pilot to close the door to the cockpit before opening a door to the airplane cabin, preventing a hijacker from rushing the cockpit when a pilot steps out to use the lavatory. The proposal, which was issued in draft form by the FAA on July 26, has been long awaited. Read More…

The UK is planning to implement “contactless” border crossings in UK airports from 2024. It will allow some passengers to enter the country without using an electronic passport gate or speaking to a Border Force officer. Instead, they may have to upload a photo of themselves and submit it to the Home Office before they travel. The scheme is intended to reduce queues at the border, “helping to speed up legitimate journeys to the UK.” Read More…

Southwest Airlines announced that flight credits would no longer expire, a move it called a “first-of-its-kind policy and value among major U.S. airlines.” The low-cost carrier said all credits that are unexpired as of Thursday would not have expiration dates. Previously, flight credits expired a year after the booking was made, though the carrier said it repeatedly extended that deadline during the pandemic. The decision to do away with expiration dates altogether is in line with other passenger-friendly policies. Read More…

Nebraska football fans will once again get a quick and easy way to travel to a Husker road game this fall. United Airlines announced it would add 120 flights to its schedule this fall, including two direct flights to and from Lincoln to accommodate fans. “College football fans love following their team on the road and this year we’re making it easier than ever,” said Michael Weeks, managing director of domestic schedule development and publication. Read More…