It’s really incredible how unreliable the OMNY readers are. The driver of a bus I just got on told every passenger basically to not even bother with the taps because his reader was missing most of them anyway

I published my last Cruising Altitude this morning. Here's where experts think the aviation industry is headed as I move to Expedia's comms shop for the next chapter of my career

I'm pretty skeptical of AI in general, but when the FAA told me how it's using new tech to help with its data processing and proactively make flying even safer, it finally sounded like good AI to me. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

After years of reporting on the Boeing 737 Max, I finally had a chance to fly one earlier this month. Here's why I know it's a safe plane, why I wasn't worried to take it across the Atlantic, and why you shouldn't be, either. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Higher airfares may be the biggest pain point for summer travelers, driven by oil prices and the fall of Spirit Airlines. I joined USA TODAY's The Excerpt to talk summer travel. Listen here: art19.com/shows/5-thin... (or on YouTube youtu.be/TOVqt9xAm9A)

Have a long flight coming up? Rest, hydration and entertainment (and stretching) are the keys to making it less painful and more relaxing. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

This is gonna sound weird — and I don’t want to do spoilers on an opening weekend — but if you’ve worked at the Washington Post over the last few years and have any unresolved feelings about it, then you may want to pump the brakes about seeing The Devil Wears Prada 2.

British Airways now lets passengers make voice and video calls on flights. I really hope other airlines don't follow suit. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Airlines have raised the cost of checked bags again. They largely cited "higher operational costs" but don't expect these fees to come back down once fuel prices drop. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Air New Zealand's Sky Nest is going to be in service for the end of the year. Economy class passengers, rejoice. Your bedtime has come. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Okay CTA. This is a good sign.

Depending on where and when you fly, you could be at increased risk for radiation exposure. Cruising Altitude this week looks at the dangers and what you need to know to minimize the risks. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Proud to see my news organization (@usatoday.com) running No Kings coverage front-and-center on its homepage while the NY Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal all have it far lower. Ideology aside, it's smart news judgment. Today could be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

Flying is safe but experts say that the crash at LaGuardia is just the latest sign that the safety net that undergirds US aviation is showing definite signs of strain. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I am looking to interview a trans athlete who self identifies as not that good at their sport but enjoys it anyway. Is that you? HMU!

My editor took the phrase "I am not a skincare girlie" out of my copy, so it's on my socials instead. Cruising Altitude this week looks at why you don't have to go overboard with face products when you fly. It's better to focus on hydration and moisturizing basics. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

TSA agents are sleeping in their cars at airports to save money on gas as the shutdown continues www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Why do we board airplanes the way we do? Because it's the best way for airlines to make some extra money, not because it's efficient in terms of time. Read more in this week's Cruising Altitude. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

My 2026 accessibility in flying project continues! I want to hear your stories. Has an airline damaged or destroyed your mobility device? Have you not gotten the accommodations you need? Fill out the form or reach out at [email protected] www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Deeply personal Cruising Altitude this week, talking about how I went from a terrified traveler to a travel writer, with help from lots of therapy and my professional hero, Samantha Brown. I hope you'll give it a read www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Job offer!! I’m helping a PBS series look for a social media manager/content creator for an upcoming promotional campaign. The start date is ASAP, and a project timeline that currently goes to July. This is for a series on American Muslim history, so candidates with cultural familiarity preferred!

We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was

Data suggest people are more ready to check bags these days. A combination of being used to paying bag fees, and credit cards or airline perks that help cover them, may be part of the reason. Cruising Altitude this week digs in. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

It’s the end of an era at Southwest Airlines as the carrier started assigning seats on Jan. 27. The move drew little fuss in airports and onboard, but it says a lot about the current state of aviation in the U.S. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK

The Star-Tribune is taking donations to help fund the purchase vital newsroom supplies and equipment, including protective and tactical gear for street reporters and photogs. If you live in MSP, pls subscribe. If you don't and want to help, here's a way -- www.startribunecompany.com/donate-payme....

You heard it here first: a new version of American Airlines’ app will make it easier to navigate flight disruptions. Here’s what to know. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

USA TODAY is doubling down this year on highlighting accessibility in travel. If have your mobility device damaged or destroyed by an airline, or trouble getting some other accommodation you need when you fly this year, please reach out -- I want to tell your story. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

This is Ollie. He found a perfectly placed carrot snack on his walk. Simply can't believe his luck. 13/10 best day ever (TT: maxime_aries)

Whether you’re flying with your own kids this winter or just dealing with other kids on your flight, there’s plenty you can do to make the it less stressful. Cruising Altitude this week brings advice from the best source: a flight attendant who is also a mom. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I forgot to post the doodle this week! I spoke to Brittney Griner about her experience getting arrested for possession of medical marijuana in Russia, and what she hopes others can learn from her experience about the right ways to travel with prescription meds. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Ok, this is legitimately awesome youtu.be/yvHT_VYVEvI?...

lol @ an in-uniform NYPD traffic cop boarding the same bus as me and not paying the fare…

Airport lounges have evolved from focusing on business travelers to appealing to a much broader array of flyers. Cruising Altitude this week looks at why, and what comes next for these more premium spaces. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

If you're flying in the next few days, keep an eye out for updates from your airline as Airbus A320s face a required technical fix before their next flights www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I tried to use (approved) AI for such a simple task at work today and it failed me so many times! My company has Microsoft Copilot, and I needed a transcript of an audio file. So I asked Copilot if it could transcribe the file for me and it said yes, just upload the file 1/

Wondering what to do if your Thanksgiving flight plans don’t go off without a hitch? Check out Cruising Altitude for what to do if you face delays or cancellations this holiday weekend. Remember to be nice to the people who are working to get you to your destination. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Ever wondered how mixed-airline itineraries on partner carriers work? Cruising Altitude this week takes a deep dive on airline codeshares, how they benefit travelers and what some of the drawbacks can be when you fly more than one airline on the same trip. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I know it’s frustrating, but there’s just not enough overhead bin space for everyone on a plane. Just because you have a ticket doesn’t mean you automatically get to stow your stuff in the cabin. Cruising Altitude this week looks at how we got here. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Cruising Altitude this week is all about one of my favorite little quirks of (some) international travel: customs preclearance. So much better than going through on the U.S. side. Read the column and learn how it works. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Everyone needs to stop worrying about “disruptions” in air service and start caring about flight safety and how wrong it is to demand that people work unpaid & exhausted at one of the most stressful jobs in the world. Politics continues to endanger ATC and it needs to stop. Now.

Sometimes people fly because they have to, but some trips happen just because an airline offers an attractive new route. This week’s Cruising Altitude looks at how airlines can induce demand for new passenger traffic. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Me every time Microsoft updates and I have to toggle through six menus to turn off text predictions in Word. Let me do my job, computer! You deal with the beep boops and assorted 0s and 1s.

Listen, we all have to share space for our carry-on bags when we fly. Cruising Altitude this week looks at why the carry-on bag limit exists and why it matters that ALL passengers pay attention to them. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

British Airways recently announced a new flight from London to St. Louis. Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how airlines decide which routes to operate, and how that specific flight came to be. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Do you know the difference between first class and business class on a plane? Check out this guide I wrote for @usatoday.com to put your #avgeek knowledge to the test www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

Desperately wish this had happened like two days ago so I could have included this wild story in my column about seat switching today www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

I'm really proud of this doodle! Also, this week's Cruising Altitude is about why you can't just switch your airplane seat without asking. Yes, there's a revenue issue for airlines, but there's a safety one for passengers as well. Check it out. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...

If you don’t have a seat assignment before your flight, is there anything you can do to boost your odds of a better spot? Cruising Altitude this week looks at your options, any why basically none of them are sure shots. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...