Newark Airport. The big news this month is all about Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been deemed unsafe for flights because of the lack of air traffic controllers. This has caused numerous delays, and United Airlines has cut 35 daily flights from there. I, for one, am grateful I don’t have any flights scheduled in or out of that airport, but I worry that this will become a concern in other airports. I usually fly out of JFK or LGA.
Addressing air traffic concerns? The U.S. Department of Transportation is purportedly implementing a three-year plan to upgrade the technology of the current air traffic control system. Let’s hope this really works!
Real ID. As of May 7th, you can’t fly domestically without a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification. This means that your regular driver’s licenses will no longer fly (literally), and you also can’t fly with a temporary Real ID. If you don’t have one yet, bring one of the following to the airport: passport or passport card, trusted traveler card for Global Entry or Nexus, U.S. Department of Defense identification, Veteran Health Identification Card, U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential, or ID issued by a tribal nation that has been recognized federally.
No more independent panel in the U.S. that reviews air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) in the U.S. will no longer have an independent panel that evaluates how the FAA handles air traffic control. Just in time to feel even less safe in the air.
TSA rules. Many people don’t realize that you can’t carry battery chargers in your checked baggage. You have to put it in a carry-on. Pay heed!
Denver Airport power outage. On Monday, air traffic controllers and pilots lost communication for as many as six minutes because of a bunch of radio transmitter outages.
NYC helicopters. After a fatal helicopter crash over NYC in April, the New York City Council has voted to limit “non-essential” helicopter flights over the city.
Alaska Airlines and Philippine Airlines. These two have announced a new partnership that they’ll roll out over the coming months. Passengers can use Alaska Airlines’ website and frequent flyer miles to book flights on Philippine Airlines. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has also launched daily service between Seattle and Tokyo’s Narita Airport.
United Airlines lounge restrictions. If you have a one-time pass to a United Club, you can now only enter three hours or less before your departure, and you can’t share the passes with anyone else except an authorized user on your branded credit card account or a guest that you accompany into the lounge. This is another in a series of steps by airlines to curb overcrowding in their lounges.
ETIAS delayed again. If you’re going to Europe this summer, you won’t have to worry about the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) yet. It has now been delayed until year’s last quarter.
Yellowstone incidents. Sadly, early this month, 7 people were killed in a crash near Yellowstone between a van and a pickup truck. Our hearts go out to all affected. Also, a tourist got too close to bison and was gored. Luckily, he suffered only minor injuries, but honestly, why don’t people pay heed to the many signs that warn them to keep their distance from the wild animals?
Mexico City bans violent bullfighting. This happened in March, and I can’t believe I missed it! But don’t get too excited – not all bullfighting has been banned. It just stops the killing of bulls and the use of sharp objects, and it restricts the amount of time the bulls can be kept in the ring. Well, it’s something.
Mayhem in the skies. Vanity Fair has reported that according to the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. (FAA), there have been many more passenger outbursts on flights since 2019. There were 2,102 in 2024 and have been 524 so far this year. I saw a woman almost get kicked off my flight to Santiago last year because she refused to move to her assigned seat. The only reason they let her stay is that the man whose seat she was occupying agreed to move. I still think she should have been removed from the flight because I spent the whole time worrying she would misbehave again. Have you observed any bad behavior in the air?
New suites on American Airlines. On its 737 planes, American Airlines is launching premium Flagship Suites starting June 5th – domestically first and then from Chicago to London. They will later roll these out on flights from Philadelphia to Zurich and Dallas to Brisbane. The suites have private sliding doors! If you book one of these, please report back!
Best hotels in the world? Based on reviews, TripAdvisor has released its list of the top 10 hotels in the world. Its number one is Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico. Number two went to Grandvrio Ocean Resort Danang in Vietnam, and number three went to Gokulam Grand Turtle on the Beach in south India.
Delta flight ceiling collapse. Last month, Delta flight #2417 from Atlanta to Chicago suffered a ceiling panel collapse. Passengers held it up by hand for more than 30 minutes before someone offered tape to keep it in place. Yikes!
Increased hotel and rental tax in Hawaii. Starting in 2026, Hawaii will increase its tax for hotels and vacation rents by 1.75%. The funds will be used to combat climate change issues.
Whaling in Iceland. The country is considering a ban on all whaling, which would be amazing, as it’s one of the few countries (including Japan and Norway) to still continue commercial whaling, which defies the International Whaling Commission. Meanwhile, Iceland’s largest fin whaling company won’t do any whaling this year (after also ceasing last year) because the market in Japan has gotten smaller. As a result, the company has suffered financial losses. Other companies are still whaling in Iceland, however. Baby steps toward progress…
American Airlines and DFW Airport Terminal F. The new terminal F at DFW is going to be expanded from the original plan of 15 gates to 31, all to be used by American Airlines. The first 15 gates are set to be ready in 2027, while the others will be rolled out gradually. So it will probably be under construction to some degree for a good while.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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