☕️✈️ From Coffee Breaks to Control Breakdowns

Overworked, Caffeinated and Stressed.

Air traffic control hits snooze: From strikes in France to staffing shortages in the US, turbulence looms ahead in the skies. ✈️

💤 Air Traffic Controllers Need Zzz's
🇺🇸 Lets Go Brandon, No More Fees
🐪 $1.5 Trillion Desert Resort
⚙️ And More…

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✈️ 📡 Control Tower Chronicles

“JetBlue 1554, stop! JetBlue 1554, stop!”

Uh oh, turbulence ahead (not literally!) ✈️

And it’s not Boeing. Recent close calls involving air traffic controllers serve as a reminder: even ground control needs its beauty sleep. Events in France and the US highlight the need for well-rested controllers worldwide. After all, nobody wants to play a game of real-life bumper cars with airplanes, do they?

• France: Air traffic controllers planned a 24hr strike to protest work schedule changes and higher salaries.

• Thankfully, a last-minute deal saved the day (mostly)! While the strike fizzled, cancellations caused some travel hiccups. Parisian airports saw major flight reductions (up to 75%), including over 300 canceled Ryanair flights.

  • Can you imagine if they decide to stage another protest during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris? Talk about adding some unexpected hurdles to the hurdles event! 😬 🏃🏻‍♂️

Meanwhile America's air traffic control towers are running on fumes! This situation is no bueno. Air travel is booming, but staffing isn't keeping up. It's a recipe for disaster.

• 🛫🔥 United States: Secretary Pete Buttigieg is putting the pedal to the metal on overworked air traffic controllers. He's planning to boost the team by 2,000 new controllers next year to keep burnout on the runway and safety in the air. "Looks like the air traffic control tower won't be needing that extra-large cup of coffee anymore!”

• ⏰🚦Meanwhile, the FAA is fighting controller fatigue with mandated nap times and pondering bigger changes. Looks like air traffic control is taking a page from kindergarten. Sign us up! Just gotta make sure those alarm clocks are set to 'airplane mode'.

• 🤖 🧠 AI isn’t taking over just yet! For now, human brainpower is still the MVP in the control tower. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is stepping up its game with new surveillance technology to keep runways safe and reduce near-misses between aircraft.

• Did You Know….The local airport tower manages takeoffs and tracks flights for a few miles before handing off to TRACON, which oversees until 10,000 feet. Control then shifts to one of 24 ARTCCs for cruising altitude.

  • Sounds like a game of high-altitude hot potato…

🌍 Fun Fact, there are actually 5 super important agreements that decide how airplanes fly all around the world. And get this: they were created a long, long time ago, way back in 1944!

Listen to the recent near disaster close calls 👇

💸 No Fee Left Behind

Biden’s Baggage

NO MORE JUNK FEES….NO MORE SECRETS….LET’S GO BRANDON!

The Biden Administration now requires airlines to list all junk fees. This rule aims to end unexpected charges for baggage, flight changes, or cancellations. It ensures that the advertised price is the true cost, enhancing transparency and preventing hidden fees.

Going froward, what you see is what you pay—imagine that!

Thanks Biden…(now that’s something we don’t hear to often these days)

So whats this new rule about:

Airlines must disclose all fees upfront, including baggage, flight changes, cancellations, seat selection, and internet access. This eliminates "junk fees" and hidden costs.

• True Cost Advertising: The advertised price must be the final price, including all mandatory fees.

• Refunds: Passengers are entitled to cash refunds for "significant delays" defined as:

  • At least 3 hours for domestic flights.

  • At least 6 hours for international flights.

• Refund Timeframes: Airlines must process refunds within:

  • 7 days for credit card purchases.

  • 20 days for other payment methods.

• Baggage Return: Airlines must return checked baggage within:

  • 12 hours for domestic flights.

  • 30 hours for international flights.

  • Passengers are entitled to a refund if this timeframe isn't met.

These measures aim to protect and save Americans over $500 million. But hold on to your boarding passes, folks. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom isn't quite sure how these rules handle **Mother Nature's tantrums**. Figuring out refunds for weather delays might be a real whodunit (or should we say, "who-caused-it") situation!

Our weekly trip around the world

• 🇸🇦 💸 Saudi Arabia's Neom project, straight out of a sci-fi film with its massive $1.5 trillion budget, includes "The Line," a futuristic city along the Dead Sea. But here’s the kicker: they’re $500 billion short and are reaching out to bankers to help finance this ambitious dream. Quite the situation, #richproblems!

• 🧳 🌧️ Emirates Airlines CEO apologizes: There's a baggage-claim chaos after Dubai's flood turned the airport into a swimming pool. 30,000 lost bags are on a wild adventure, separate from their owners. Buckle up, it'll be a bumpy ride (to get your socks back).

• 🇭🇹 🚫 Hold the Hammocks, Haiti! Due to some not-so-tropical troubles (think kidnappings and unrest), the US government advises skipping vacation plans for now. Royal Caribbean is following suit, so don't expect a poolside paradise in Haiti anytime soon. But hey, maybe by summer those turquoise waters will be calling your name again!

🧳🚀 News Travels Fast

ICYMI

💬 Quick travel news & updates for your weary, jet-lagged mind.

• 🏆 This can’t be??? Alaska Airlines has clinched the title of America’s favorite airline for the second year in a row. Who knew that an unplanned inflight breeze could be the ticket to winning hearts and polls?

• 🏨 Good news for hotels: Hawaii is cracking down on short-term rentals due to the housing crisis. We bet hotels are celebrating—let's hope those "No Vacancy" signs still work!

• 🛩️ Despite all the turbulence Boeing has faced recently, it seems their execs are still flying high. Last year, their private jets were up in the air for a whopping 4,500 hours. Maybe they're trying to find a place to land their new careers!

• 🚣 Carnival turned from cruise ship to hero ship this weekend, rescuing 28 folks adrift at sea. Turns out, their itinerary includes tropical stops but also impromptu sea rescues.

🧳 🔫 Turks and Caicos: Americans need to double-check their bags unless they're gunning for a tour of the local jailhouse. This tourist spent time in jail because they forgot about that sneaky ammo hiding in their luggage!

• Last year, TSA found a record 6,737 guns at airport security checkpoints, and most of them were loaded…

Hey (subscriber) Dawn, it might be wise to give your bags a once-over before jetting off. We know you've got your own ammo TSA stories...

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🧳🚀 Thanks For Reading

We've reached our destination, we hope you found our flight through the news enjoyable.

See you in the clouds,

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