The air travel experience has evolved significantly over the years, from booking tickets to in-flight amenities. Passengers today have become so accustomed to the modern air travel experience that it's easy to overlook the substantial changes that have occurred, even within the past 25 years. You may be surprised to learn that the following 5 rules of air travel have only become the standard practice in the last quarter-century. Let's get to it!
So what are the 5 airline rules you might be unaware of?
1. Restrictions on smoking during flights
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Over the years, society's attitudes towards smoking in public spaces have changed a lot, especially in the last few decades. Something that used to be very common in the United States, like smoking in restaurants and bars, is now very rare. It might be hard to believe but the same was true for airplanes too.
Smoking was allowed on planes for many years. But in 1973, the US government stepped in and made airlines have separate smoking and non-smoking sections. (You can probably imagine how well that worked.) Over the next couple of decades, as individual airlines started banning smoking on their own, the government slowly expanded the ban to cover shorter domestic flights under 6 hours. It wasn't until 2000 that smoking was finally banned completely on all flights in the United States.
2. Purchasing meals on the plane
These days, economy-class passengers on domestic flights are fortunate to receive a complimentary soda and a bag of pretzels. However, this wasn't the case in the past. Free hot meals were standard on flights over a certain distance. Although the meals may not have been remarkable, they were provided at no extra cost. This all began to change after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which had a significant financial impact on the aviation industry.
As airlines sought to reduce expenses, free meals were one of the first passenger amenities to be eliminated. By the end of 2001, most airlines had stopped offering free in-flight catering for coach passengers or had significantly reduced it. Continental Airlines was an exception, but after it merged with United Airlines, it also ended free meals in 2010. Now, it's common for airlines to offer economy-class passengers the option to purchase meals on board, which is part of a growing trend of airlines providing à la carte services.
3. Taking off shoes at airport security
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After the 9/11 attacks, airport security became much tighter. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in November 2001. Before 9/11, travelers could arrive at the airport closer to their boarding time and didn't even need a boarding pass to get through security. Now, airline passengers are used to longer lines, strict ID checks, and many other security rules.
It wasn't until 2006, after some failed terrorist plots, that the security rules got even stricter. That's when the TSA banned all liquids, gels, and aerosols (later revised to allow 3.4 ounces or less). They also started requiring passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints to check for explosives. Nowadays, the only way to avoid removing your shoes is by signing up for the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program.
4. Fees for checked luggage
Checked bag fees are a relatively new development in air travel. In the past, the cost of checking luggage was included in the ticket price. However, as many airlines struggled financially in the 2000s, they started to charge additional fees to boost their revenue. In 2008, American Airlines became the first major US airline to introduce a checked bag fee, which was $15 for the first bag. Since then, these fees have been steadily increasing.
Unfortunately, checked bag fees are likely here to stay. In fact, in 2024, the major US airlines all raised their fees. The good news is that you can still avoid these fees by flying with an airline like Southwest where bags are still included. You can also sign up for an airline credit card, which may provide free checked bags as a perk.
5. Automatic refunds for disrupted flights
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One of the latest changes in air travel regulations involves flight delays or cancellations. Before 2024, there were no federal rules about what counted as a significant enough flight disruption to require the airline to provide travelers with a refund. It was up to the individual airlines to decide, which, as you might expect, led to some policies that weren't very customer-friendly.
But thanks to new rules introduced by the DOT (Department of Transportation) in April 2024, there are now clear guidelines for flight delays and cancellations and when the airline has to give you your money back. The rules even cover delayed baggage and the failure of airlines to provide other paid services, such as in-flight Wi-Fi or seat upgrades.
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In addition to our ultimate travel guide, we would also like to provide you with some more useful information on traveling, which will be handy for those who prefer doing this by air.
If you use your own car to reach the airport, you know it's critical to park it safely for the duration of your trip. Almost every airport has special on-site parking for this purpose. However, travelers aren't ready to spend a lot of money at the beginning of their trip, as this option is pretty costly. So what should we do then?
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What is actually off-site parking, and which advantages has this parking type, you may ask? So let's take a closer look at this question.
First of all, off-site parking is much cheaper. So you can save money and then spend the most considerable amount on the things you really want to try or see while traveling.
Secondly, off-site parking services are faster. It might seem that it's faster to park your car at the airport, but that's not always the case. Off-site parking offers you the following convenience: when you drive directly up to the entrance, a staff member pulls your luggage out of your vehicle and loads it into the shuttle. Then they park your car for you. After your baggage is loaded, you can take your seat in the shuttle, which will bring you and your bags to the airport. It's a hassle-free option that is usually faster.
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Thirdly, it's much more convenient. People are always stressed before the trip, as there are many things you should keep in mind. Not to be late when taking off, fighting traffic, finding a parking place, wondering how long the shuttle service will take, and more can leave you annoyed before you step foot inside the airport. If you choose off-site parking, you are using the assistance of a private company that caters to travelers' needs. Such services can make your trip much more comfortable when you arrive at the airport and return home.
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