Zach Wichter
@zlwichter.bsky.social
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Travel reporter and Cruising Altitude columnist for USA TODAY
[email protected]
✡️🏳️🌈✈️🗒
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...
4 days ago
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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...
9 days ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Jason Rabinowitz
12 days ago
Ok, this is legitimately awesome
youtu.be/yvHT_VYVEvI?...
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Bored Brookline teen accidentally changes name of MBTA bus stop
YouTube video by CBS Boston
https://youtu.be/yvHT_VYVEvI?si=DRfsLyNYZhjJN3ke
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lol @ an in-uniform NYPD traffic cop boarding the same bus as me and not paying the fare…
15 days ago
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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...
18 days ago
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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...
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Flyers could see delays as Airbus orders fixes for A320 flight controls
A solar radiation–linked software flaw in Airbus A320 jets triggered urgent global fixes, causing possible delays but no safety risk for travelers.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/11/28/fix-airbus-a320-glitch-solar-radiation/87510648007/
23 days ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
SpecterClaus🎅
24 days ago
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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/
24 days ago
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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...
25 days ago
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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...
about 1 month ago
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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...
about 1 month ago
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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...
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Colleen Mondor
about 2 months ago
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.
add a skeleton here at some point
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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...
about 2 months ago
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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.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
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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...
about 2 months ago
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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...
2 months ago
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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...
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What you get when you buy an upgrade: Premium economy, business and first class explained
Airline premium cabins, from premium economy to first class, can be confusing. Here's what to know.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/10/11/airline-premium-economy-business-first-class-cabins-explained/85821985007/
2 months ago
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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...
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
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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...
2 months ago
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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...
3 months ago
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Most airlines are doubling down on investments to attract premium passengers. Cruising Altitude this week asks the question: as the economy softens, will travelers still pay the extra price? Here’s what experts say.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
3 months ago
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Airlines don’t have clear guidance on what to do if you need to evacuate your flight with a service animal or pet, but Cruising Altitude this week explores how you can advocate for yourself and some of the best practices in an emergency.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
3 months ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Emily L'Orange 🦆🍊
3 months ago
Theres.... a new artist meme going around where you describe your style in detail with 3 samples and babes if that doesn't sound like training data i dont know what is
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Will Carless, USA TODAY
3 months ago
Are you the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk? Do you know them? Have an idea who they are? My DMs are open. Talk to me.
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Wow a guest on MSNBC talking about this Charlie Kirk thing just said off-handedly that the first terrorists in history were a movement of Jewish zealots killing Romans, so that’s cool.
3 months ago
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Yesterday I got to join JetBlue's final Embraer E190 flight and had a chance to write about why the plane means so much to me in Cruising Altitude this week
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
3 months ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Rachel Holliday Smith
about 1 year ago
ok night night
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As Southwest Airlines moves to restrict its industry-leading refund policy for plus-size passengers, Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how major U.S. airlines stack up and how passengers who need extra space can travel safely, comfortably and economically.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
4 months ago
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I got a first look at Amtrak’s new Acela trains ahead of their entry into regular service tomorrow. Here’s what passengers can expect
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
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First look inside Amtrak’s new Acela, featuring modern seating, faster Wi-Fi
Amtrak’s long-awaited NextGen Acela trains debut this week with faster top speeds, upgraded seating, improved accessibility and modern amenities.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/08/27/amtrak-nextgen-acela-inside/85846966007/
4 months ago
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Traveling internationally with your pet may have a few extra hurdles, but with the right advanced legwork it can be a smooth and stress-free experience. Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at what you need to know.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
4 months ago
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Airlines are already using AI to help set their prices, but that doesn’t mean airfares are personalized…yet. Cruising Altitude this week looks at how airlines are already using technology to tweak ticket prices, and what the future could hold.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
4 months ago
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Pilots, if you have thoughts, feel free to reach out!
[email protected]
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Getting older doesn’t have to stop you from traveling. Cruising Altitude this week offers some general advice on how to keep seeing the world, especially as you navigate the airports on the way.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
4 months ago
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You can get extra space on your next flight without upgrading to business class, but you’ll probably still have to pay. Cruising Altitude this week looks at some of your options for leg and elbow room when you fly.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
5 months ago
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Don't get caught off guard if you have to gate check your carry-on. Cruising Altitude this week helps you know what to expect and how to prepare
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
5 months ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
The Guardian
5 months ago
‘It’s all about trusting yourself, pushing your limits’: Malawi’s first climbers take their sport to new heights
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‘It’s all about trusting yourself, pushing your limits’: Malawi’s first climbers take their sport to new heights
From a wall in a back garden to their first international contest, a dedicated community of young climbers is attracting new recruits in the south African country
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jul/29/malawi-first-rock-climbers-bouldering-take-their-sport-to-new-heights?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=bsky_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1753781373
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Is it ever OK to take your shoes off on a plane? Cruising Altitude this week walks through the safe, polite way to do it, and features possibly my favorite doodle yet.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
5 months ago
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Airline pricing can be intentionally opaque. This week’s Cruising Altitude takes a look at why, and explores some common questions about ways to save, like whether it’s cheaper to buy a roundtrip ticket or two one-ways.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
5 months ago
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Summer heat can make airplanes uncomfortably warm, especially while they’re on the ground. Cruising Altitude takes a look this week at why some advocates are calling for airplane cabin temperature regulations.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
6 months ago
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Four subway rides today, all of them delayed. Is it gonna be another one of *those* summers for the MTA?
6 months ago
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Resharing my interview with Jim Obergefell today, the actual 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v Hodges, which legalized marriage equality nationwide
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
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He was at the center of a Supreme Court case that changed gay marriage. Now, he's worried.
Jim Obergefell never planned to sue the state of Ohio, but his love for his husband drove him to become a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/08/jim-obergefell-v-hodges-anniversary/83816882007/
6 months ago
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Could supersonic flight return? I look back on the revolutionary Concorde and what the future might look like on today's episode of The Excerpt.
art19.com/shows/5-thin...
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US strikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear sites, according to intelligence report
U.S. strikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear sites. Plus, USA TODAY Government Accountability Reporter Erin Mansfield looks back on the last 70 years of history between the U.S. and Iran. Zohran Mam...
https://art19.com/shows/5-things/episodes/500ac432-000d-45d0-a02b-d48a4b94ca06
6 months ago
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As we approach the 25-year anniversary of a fatal crash that marked the beginning of the end of the Concorde program, Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at the past and future of supersonic passenger flight.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
6 months ago
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In this week's Cruising Altitude I share one of my favorite avgeek tips for experiencing the luxury of international business class without breaking the bank.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
6 months ago
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reposted by
Zach Wichter
Jon Ostrower
6 months ago
Right now, I have no idea what happened to Air India 171 and neither do you.
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When Scott Kirby said last month that the ULCC airline model was dead, my gut reaction was “that's crazy.” But the more I reflected and talked to smarter people, the more I realized he had something. Cruising Altitude this week is about what Kirby got right.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
6 months ago
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10 years after marriage equality became the law of the land thanks to his legal battle, Jim Obergefell told me the thing that still means the most to him is hearing how the ruling helped others feel loved
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
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He was at the center of a Supreme Court case that changed gay marriage. Now, he's worried.
Jim Obergefell never planned to sue the state of Ohio, but his love for his husband drove him to become a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/08/jim-obergefell-v-hodges-anniversary/83816882007/
7 months ago
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DCA will be closed for part of June 14 to accommodate the military parade President Trump planned to celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
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DCA to suspend flights during Trump's military parade: What about passengers?
Reagan National Airport will close for several hours on June 14. Here's what flyers should know.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/06/05/dca-suspends-flights-trump-military-parade/84054670007/
7 months ago
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In Cruising Altitude this week, I applaud Southwest Airlines' new personal electronic devices policy. Electronics fires are one of my biggest safety concerns as a frequent flyer, and policies like this both help raise awareness and keep us safe!
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
7 months ago
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