🤨 When Are Delays the Airline’s Fault? The Answer is Changing

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Greetings,

Today we’ve got some good news for you and some bad news.

The bad news is that, thanks to new federal rules, delays are now even more your problem than they were before.

The good news is that your extra time in the airport may actually be more enjoyable. (How’s that for a bright side?)

Today we’re talking about:

🛫 When are delays the airline’s fault? The answer is changing
🥰 People are increasingly happy with airports — especially these
⏩ Our favorite airport shortcuts keep getting faster
💳 7 reasons you probably want the Amex Business Platinum instead of the Amex Platinum

NEWS & NOTES

Checking in: Your smart travel briefing

There’s been a lot of big news in the travel and loyalty worlds since we were last in your inbox. Let’s catch you up on some of the big stories we’ve been covering.

More than 1,000 flights have been canceled from East Coast airports in the last couple of days. Here’s what travelers should know.
Citi has an exciting new transfer partner that’s beloved for its luxury cabins — and right now you can get a 30% transfer bonus.
Finally! This lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has fully reopened after a months-long closure.
This airline will open one of the biggest lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the new Terminal One.
A loyalty power couple has formed. Delta and Hyatt are cooking up what we hope will become a long, lucrative dual earning partnership.
Want your authorized users to get lounge access? These cards extend that benefit to them.
Leaf-peeping season is almost here. Here’s where to see fall foliage across the US in 2026.

SMART TRAVEL

Bad news. Delays are increasingly your problem

There’s an important question that runs through every flight delay. Is it within the airline’s control or not?

Well, the U.S. government is about to change the answer — and it could affect how travelers are compensated (or not) when things go wrong.

Starting Oct. 19, the Department of Transportation will broaden the types of disruptions considered outside an airline’s control. That will now include some maintenance issues, along with other circumstances that could leave passengers facing delays or cancellations.

Why does that distinction matter? It can determine whether an airline provides things like meals, hotel accommodations and other assistance.

The great Sean Cudahy unpacks what’s changing, what types of delays are affected (yes, even the dreaded unruly passenger is in there) and what travelers should know before the new rules take effect.

Check out the full article.

AIRPORTS

The airports people are happiest with

Let’s call it like it is — travelers are pretty unhappy with the rising costs of airfare, overcrowded flights and their fellow travelers’ behavior these days.

But there’s an unexpected bright spot in the travel experience right now: the airport.

Research from J.D. Power finds that customers are increasingly satisfied with North American airports. Kind of surprising, right?

What’s also interesting is which airports get the most love.

For instance, the top-ranked mega airport (those with at least 33 million passengers per year) doesn’t really feel like it should make that category — and yet it’s topped the rankings three years running.

The top-ranked large airport also has a famously funny social media account. Maybe that’s part of why people love it so much?

And the medium-sized airport travelers are happiest with belongs to what is also considered the happiest city in the South.

Check out our full article to get the details and see where your airport stands.

SECURITY FAST-TRACK

Our favorite airport shortcuts keep getting faster

This year we’ve seen many of our favorite airport fast-track services get even faster with new high-tech offerings.

TSA PreCheck now lets you go “touchless” at more than 60 U.S. airports at no additional cost, and is testing out new automated “e-gates” at a select few East Coast airports.

Global Entry is trialing new “camera capture” technology in some places — and facing more competition from free government-offered services that provide a similar fast track through customs.

Clear is rolling out similar upgrades, and has been expanding its Clear Concierge service — an option that truly saved the day for this TPGer during the chaos that followed this year’s government shutdown. (Remember that? It was actually only six months ago.)

Here’s more on what’s been happening with these programs this year, and where to look for new services.

Today’s top stories

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Photo Credit: CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY, BalkansCat, Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

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