The Federal Aviation Administration has a goal of customer satisfaction. Lest that make you feel all warm and fuzzy, consider that the customer it wants to satisfy isn’t you, the passenger. It’s the airline industry.
Understand that, and you understand the…

United Airlines announced today that it would start charging passengers $15 for the first checked bag on all flights. This follows American Airlines’ decision three weeks ago, which made it the first U.S. carrier to implement the unprecedented fee.

Most U.S. carriers already have instituted…

Airliners will resemble flying sardine cans, with passengers jammed elbow-to-elbow. Legs will crunch against bulging carry-ons — under the seat in front of you, please — because overhead bins will be stuffed.
Fares will be higher and schedules less convenient, so…

In just a few short weeks, the Federal Aviation Administration has transformed itself from a lapdog for the airline industry into a snarling pit bull. Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded as airlines ground planes for safety checks.

The FAA…

To err is human. But just how can major airlines manage to flub safety inspections on hundreds of aircraft?

American Airlines is the latest to pull off such a blunder. It somehow forgot or otherwise fouled up inspections due on more…