William J. McGee

Yes, that site is handy for travelers.

Burbank and other US airports see delays as shutdown hits air travel There were delays at a number of US airports on Monday as officials said the government shutdown is affecting air traffic control staffing.

"DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said some controllers are calling in sick as the shutdown, now in its seventh day, adds stress on workers. He estimated staffing has at times dropped to 50% in some areas."

Past shutdowns indicate there's more of this to come.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

The Unexpected Travel Effects of the Federal Shutdown The U.S. government shutdown is changing travel. Unfortunately, some consequences aren't being discussed—particularly what it means for safety.

My new column for @Frommers details not just the obvious effects of the shutdown on travelers--unpaid air traffic controllers & TSA screeners--but the dangers of furloughing FAA safety inspectors. Who watches the airlines & Boeing if they self-police?
www.frommers.com/tips/miscell...

Delta, United, and American Airlines drop popular loyalty reward Some airlines have been more open about the changes than others.

Truer word never spoken:
"Airline loyalty programs used to be built around making regular passengers feel special...Some perks remain, but many of the things that made people truly loyal have gone away because they're not profitable for the airline."
www.thestreet.com/travel/ameri...

"We’re at an inflection point," @wjm-air.bsky.social tells Senators at a hearing on competition in aviation.

"Congress needs to investigate the failures of deregulation – and, just as it did 50 years ago, hear from the public, not just airline executives and their lobbyists.

Economic Liberties’ William J. McGee to Testify Before Senate Judiciary on Airline Consolidation Crisis - Economic Liberties’ William J. McGee to Testify Before Senate Judiciary on Airline Consolidati... This afternoon at 2:30pm EST, William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation and Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, will testify in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Compet...

www.economicliberties.us/press-releas...

Examining Competition in America's Skies | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Don't miss @wjm-air.bsky.social and @ganeshsitaraman.bsky.social as they testify at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on competition in the airline industry.

Tune in at 2:30PM EST⬇️
www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

Examining Competition in America's Skies | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Looking forward to testifying in the Senate tomorrow on the topic of U.S. airline competition.
www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

DOT Moves to Roll Back Biden-Era Airline Consumer Protection Regulations | Law.com “They are looking to rescind or weaken virtually all of the [consumer] protections that we have,” said Bill McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project.

The "dek" in this story says it all:
"'They are looking to rescind or weaken virtually all of the [consumer] protections that we have,' said Bill McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project."
www.law.com/nationallawj...

“The fact that it’s treated as such a pie in the sky idea … speaks to how dysfunctional we are in this country in how we view consumer protections."

ICYMI: @wjm-air.bsky.social calls out the Trump admin tossing out consumer protection rules in favor of big airline lobbyists.

The U.S. promised fliers better passenger rights. What happened? The Transporation Department has rescinded a proposal to expand compensation for flight cancellations and significant delays.

"McGee said he questions whether people voted for such decisions: 'Did anybody vote to say, "Well, when I'm shopping for an airfare, which is one of the most confusing products on the free market anyway, I don't need to know all prices ahead of time?"'"
www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2025/...

The U.S. promised fliers better passenger rights. What happened? The Transporation Department has rescinded a proposal to expand compensation for flight cancellations and significant delays.

All, this is worth reading (and it also includes @wjm-air.bsky.social):

Excited to be at the Brooklyn Book Fest tomorrow (Sun/21st, 10am-6pm). Hope to see some book lovers there! I'll be at Booth #134, so stop by and say hi.
brooklynbookfestival.org/wp-content/u...

Spirit Airlines pilot chastised mid-flight for getting too close to Air Force One Air Force One was carrying the president and first lady to the UK for a historic state visit

Meanwhile over Long Island...restricted airspace incident involving Air Force One & Spirit Airlines.
"'I gotta talk to you twice every time,' the air traffic controller said. 'Pay attention. Get off the iPad.'"
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Anti-Monopoly Summit Join a community of workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, business owners, community activists, policy researchers, advocates, and public officials to build a future where markets are fair and competitive,...

Looking forward to the "Fixing Air Travel" panel today at AELP's Anti-Monopoly Summit:
• John Pepper, Allegiant Airlines
• Jen Howard, Former DOT
• William J. McGee, AELP
• Moderator: Grace May, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator
antimonopolysummit.org

Talk about favorite co-workers! Who's better than @celestepewter.bsky.social? Really looking forward to our "Fixing Air Travel" panel discussion on Tuesday.

The Trump Administration Wants to Roll Back Airline Passenger Rights

"'Since deregulation in 1978, consumers have fewer rights...State courts, legislatures, & attorneys general have no authority over airlines,' Mr. McGee added. 'DOT Secretary is the only sheriff in town & if they side with airlines, consumers are out in the cold.'"
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/t...

www.congress.gov/118/chrg/CHR...

Toxic Fumes Are Leaking Into Airplanes, Sickening Crews and Passengers Doctors compare brain effects to concussions in NFL players. A Wall Street Journal investigation shows such incidents are increasingly common.

Some--especially my friend, the flight attendant @Heather_Poole--have been speaking about these bleed air issues for years. It even came up in a Congressional hearing I testified at in 2023. It's past time for FAA to act.
www.wsj.com/business/air...

Just had a very rewarding experience at the PASG conference in Toronto, reading from my novel HALF THE CHILD and hearing stories from both parents and grown children about custodial issues. Now it's on to Washington and speaking at a very different conference--on a panel about the airline monopoly!

Both Sides Now: Dana Laquidara and I will co-present at the Parental Alienation Study Group conference here in Toronto. She'll read from her memoir YOU-KNOW-WHO & I'll read from my novel HALF THE CHILD. It was an excellent discussion at the PASG conference in Philadelphia in 2019.

The Trump DOT is making it easier for airline giants to rip you off — tossing out a Biden-era rule that required airlines compensate for severe delays and cancellations.

"The DOT’s agenda reads like it was copy-pasted directly from Airlines for America," says @wjm-air.bsky.social

Schedule | PASG 2025 Conference Throughout the 2-day conference, we will collectively shift from debating the existence and nature of parental alienation to empowering the judiciary with the latest tools and scholarly knowledge for ...

Non-Airlines Alert!...
This week I'll read from my novel HALF THE CHILD @ the Parental Alienation Study Group conference in Toronto. I'm grateful to partner with my friend Dana Laquidara, author of the memoir YOU-KNOW-WHO. Hope to see both old & new friends there.
www.pasg2025toronto.ca/schedule

Boosting this again -

Bill is an expert and advocate in all things aviation, and tracking what's happening right now + other aviation-related developments closely. Follow him.

(And yes, I work with Bill - and frankly, would be lost without him on these issues.)

Buttigieg Blasts Trump Nixing Airlines Compensating Americans for Flight Disruptions Trump withdrew a Biden rule that forced airlines to pay compensation plus free meals and lodging if some flights were delayed or canceled.

Daily Beast:
"'The DOT's agenda reads like it was copy-pasted directly from Airlines for America, the lobbying arm of the largest carriers,' said William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project."
www.thedailybeast.com/buttigieg-bl...

DOT Abandons Passenger Rights to Serve Big Airline Lobbyists - DOT Abandons Passenger Rights to Serve Big Airline Lobbyists Following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) release of its "Unified Agenda" of airline regulatory actions, after a bizarrely quiet comment process, the American Economic Liberties Project ...

"The DOT is taking marching orders from deep-pocked lobbyists and ushering in a new era of flying dystopia...the DOT is telling airlines they can deny refunds, hide fees, and strand passengers without consequence."
www.economicliberties.us/press-releas...

Trump Administration Drops Biden Plan for Flight Delay Compensation

I've been posting about these separately, but let's do it in one quick thread for tidiness:

1. Follow @wjm-air.bsky.social this morning (and always, tbh). The Trump administration is reversing Biden era-approaches towards consumer protections re: flying.

Bill tracks all things aviation.

U.S. Airlines Try to Abandon Passenger Rights and Performance… Red alert! Airline lobbyists are pressuring regulators to abandon your protections as a customer. Will the Trump administration do their bidding?

Here's my take for Frommer's two days ago--BEFORE the DOT announced its rulemakings today. It's clear the major airlines are attempting to run the US Government's oversight of their industry. AELP will have more to say on this tomorrow.
www.frommers.com/tips/miscell...

U.S. Airlines Try to Abandon Passenger Rights and Performance… Red alert! Airline lobbyists are pressuring regulators to abandon your protections as a customer. Will the Trump administration do their bidding?

www.frommers.com/tips/miscell...