In The Know - Short's April 2026 News
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Our external newsletter is your go-to for the latest travel news. Be sure to check it out every month to stay in the know!
INDUSTRY NEWSEvery Major U.S. Airline Has Now Raised Baggage Fees to Cover Surging Fuel Prices — Here’s How Much You’ll Pay
All of America's largest airlines are hiking up their fees for checked baggage amid rising jet fuel prices.
JetBlue, American, United, Delta and Southwest Airlines have all recently announced increases in their checked baggage fees, citing soaring jet fuel prices amid the ongoing war with Iran.
Fuel costs in the January-March period jumped 14% compared to last year, reaching $2.7 billion, Delta told investors on Wednesday, April 8, according to a BBC report. After labor, fuel is generally the second-largest expense for airlines.
On Thursday, April 9, American Airlines joined the growing list of airlines raising fees, increasing its checked bag fees by $10. Prepaid checked bags will be $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second. If you pay at the airport, it’ll be $50 for the first and $60 for the second. A third checked bag will cost $200, a $50 increase...read more
Travelers will face limits on how many chargers they can carry as airlines try to reduce fire risks
Travelers will soon face restrictions on how many portable chargers they can carry on a flight as airlines continue to try to reduce the risk of another lithium battery fire aboard their jets.
Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday that starting April 20 passengers will only be able to carry one charger on their planes, and they won’t be allowed to put it in the overhead bin or in their checked luggage. The airline already requires passengers to keep their chargers in the open while they are using them, so flight attendants can act quickly if they start to overheat.
The new Southwest rule goes even further than the limit of two chargers per passenger that the International Civil Aviation Organization recommended last month. But the airline says it isn’t going to aggressively enforce the policy by searching bags and confiscating chargers. Instead, Southwest’s Vice President of Safety and Security Dave Hunt said the airline will stress this to travelers when they book their flights and arrive at the airport while explaining the potential dangers...read more Delta Air Lines Announces Additions, Flight Upgrades for College Football Season
College football season kicks off on August 23, 2026, and as a result, Delta Airlines is adding more than 40 nonstop flights and 27 aircraft upgrades for some of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season.
From September through November, these Delta additions and upgrades will connect fans to marquee matchups like Clemson at LSU, Notre Dame/Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, Texas at Tennessee, Ohio State at Texas, USC at Florida, Alabama at LSU, and more.
The airline’s seasonal boost includes:
TSA Travel 2026: How Digital ID and Face Scans Change Security
In 2026, TSA is accelerating digital ID and facial recognition at checkpoints. Here is how the new systems work, where they are live, and what travelers can do now. Airport checkpoints across the United States are entering a new phase in 2026, as the Transportation Security Administration expands digital ID and facial recognition systems that promise faster security lines while raising fresh questions about reliability and privacy. Digital identification has shifted from small pilots to a core part of TSA’s modernization push, with mobile driver’s licenses, state IDs and, more recently, passport-based credentials now accepted at hundreds of checkpoints. Publicly available information from TSA indicates that more than 250 airport lanes nationwide can read approved digital IDs stored in smartphone wallets for in-person identity verification on domestic flights. In practice, that means many travelers can tap a phone or watch at a reader instead of handing over a plastic card...read more |
TRAVEL TIPSTSA wait times
Check estimated wait times, traveler-reported wait times and TSA PreCheck status at select U.S. airports...read more |
