Airline Travel Guides
Airlines
Track the airline rules, fees, route changes, and passenger policies that can change the trip before you ever get to the gate.
Airlines change fees, boarding procedures, seat policies, and route maps constantly. Most of those changes happen quietly, and travelers notice them only when the bill arrives or the process feels different. This page collects Deep Arrival’s airline coverage in one place: 12 carrier guides, 6 policy comparisons, and ongoing news reporting.
- Twelve U.S. airline guides covering fees, boarding, loyalty, and routes
- Six policy comparisons: baggage fees, boarding groups, family seating, change fees, cancellations, and best airlines
- Policy changes, route shifts, and disruption reporting as they happen
- Planning guides for the fees and rules that affect your trip before you board
Built for travelers who want to understand the rules before they buy the ticket.
Major U.S. Airlines
The six largest carriers by U.S. passenger volume. Each guide covers fees, boarding, Basic Economy, loyalty programs, hubs, and common booking mistakes.
World’s largest airline by fleet. Six hubs. Basic Economy changes May 2026 strip elite perks and add a $5 bag surcharge. oneworld alliance.
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Highest rated for reliability and satisfaction. 10 boarding zones. Carry on included on all fares. SkyTeam alliance. Expanding premium cabin tiers in 2026.
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Broadest international network. Only major carrier banning carry on on domestic Basic Economy. WILMA boarding system. Star Alliance. Polaris and Starlink WiFi coming.
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No change fees on any fare. Free bags ended May 2025. Assigned seating replaced open boarding January 2026. Four new fare types: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra.
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Merged with Hawaiian Airlines. Atmos Rewards replaced Mileage Plan. oneworld alliance. Strongest for West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii travel. Companion fare on credit card.
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Most legroom in coach. Free WiFi and live TV. Mint lie flat cabin. New numbered boarding groups April 29, 2026. Lowest bag fees among carriers that charge. Blue Sky partnership with United.
Read guide →Carry-on essentials
Move through the airport fast and keep everything in its place from gate to gate.
Budget and Leisure Airlines
These carriers operate on a different pricing model. Base fares are lower, but bags, seat assignments, drinks, and carry on overhead space are separate charges. Understanding the total cost matters more here than with the major carriers.
Operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Restructuring plan filed March 2026. Fleet shrinking to 76 to 80 aircraft. Federal bailout discussions reported. Higher booking risk than stable carriers.
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Lowest base fares among stable budget carriers. 40 lb checked bag limit (10 lbs less than standard). Checked bags sometimes cheaper than carry on at booking. Four fare tiers.
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Nonstop from small cities to vacation destinations. Uses secondary airports. Many routes not daily. Merging with Sun Country ($1.5B, closing mid 2026).
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Airbus A220 with 2×2 seating (no middle seats). Nice, Nicer, Nicest fare tiers. Founded by JetBlue’s creator. Nonstop routes between midsize cities other carriers skip.
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Flies from smaller airports with less congestion. No WiFi, no entertainment, no loyalty program. Free cancel up to 15 minutes before departure. East Coast leisure routes.
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Minneapolis hub with 90+ destinations including international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean. Being acquired by Allegiant. AirFi WiFi and USB/power on most aircraft.
Read guide →Hawaiian Airlines is now part of Alaska Air Group following the 2024 merger and recently joined the oneworld alliance. Deep Arrival covers Hawaiian under the Alaska Airlines guide.
Airline Fees, Policies, and Passenger Guides
These guides cover the rules and fees that cut across every carrier. Most planning friction happens here, not at the airline brand level.
Every major U.S. airline’s checked bag and carry on fees compared. Which airlines include bags, which charge, and how to calculate the real ticket cost.
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How each airline assigns boarding groups, what determines your position, and which carriers have changed their boarding process in 2026.
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Which airlines guarantee seating with children, which charge for seat selection, and what the DOT family seating rules actually require carriers to do.
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Which airlines still charge change fees, which waived them permanently, and how fare class determines your flexibility to rebook without penalty.
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What airlines owe you when they cancel your flight, what the DOT requires, and the difference between weather cancellations and mechanical cancellations.
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A comparison of U.S. airlines by reliability, fare value, passenger satisfaction, and which carrier fits which type of traveler.
Read guide →Latest Airline News
Recent reporting on airline fees, policy changes, route shifts, and passenger rules.
For more recent reporting, see the full Deep Arrival news feed.