Airlines

Sept. 25 (UPI) — Breeze Airlines will begin offering international flights to the Caribbean, which makes it the first U.S. airline in over 10 years to get Federal Aviation Administration approval for overseas trips.

The startup has been in business for five years and will begin trips to sunny destinations beginning in January. The flights will be to Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The international flights will leave from Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; New Orleans, La.; Providence, R.I.; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tampa, Fla., and they will only be on Saturdays.

Breeze was founded by David Neeleman, JetBlue founder, in 2021. The airline now serves 81 cities, with 291 non-stop routes.

“We picked places that have all-inclusive resorts because people like to go on Saturday and fly back (the following) Saturday. It’s a good complement to what we’re doing already,” Neeleman told USA Today. He said the airline has peak traffic on its other routes on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. That leaves spare capacity to fly to resort destinations on Saturdays.

Neeleman said Breeze service will be the same for international fliers.

“We’re excited to be able to fly people out of the country,” he said. “You can expect the same great service and the same great airplanes on international, and I think it’s going to be a big hit with our guests.”

The airline also announced it has been certified by the FAA as a U.S. Flag Carrier. That means Breeze can take cargo and passengers whose travel is funded by the federal government.

“Becoming a U.S. flag carrier is a huge milestone for Breeze, and one that our team members have been working tirelessly on for the last three years,” Neeleman said.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have recently joined other carriers in banning the use of power banks onboard

Two additional airlines have joined a growing list of carriers prohibiting the use of one popular gadget that countless travellers rely on during flights.

Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have now implemented measures to prevent passengers from using power banks to charge their electronic devices whilst in the cabin. This follows comparable actions by numerous other airlines throughout the year, many of which operate in and out of the UK.

The new regulations arise from mounting worries regarding the safety of lithium batteries on aircraft. Just last week, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) released an updated alert following 50 incidents involving power banks on board.

They declared: “Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers. Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety.”

Under these fresh regulations, travellers will no longer be permitted to charge their gadgets using power banks during flights, nor can the battery packs be recharged via in-flight ports, reports the Express. Passengers are still allowed to bring power banks into the cabin, but they must remain unused and visible at all times.

The first airline to introduce such a prohibition was Air Busan, after a power bank fire in January forced one of its aircraft out of service. Fortunately, no passengers were harmed, but the incident caused considerable damage.

The biggest name on the list of airlines banning the use of power banks is Emirates, the Middle East-based travel giant. Bosses announced that a ban on power banks will be enforced from October 1, 2025.

A spokesperson for the airline stated that “Emirates customers are still permitted to carry one power bank onboard with specific conditions” but clarified that “the power banks may not be used while in the aircraft cabin – neither to charge devices from the power bank, nor to be charged themselves using the aircrafts’ power source.”

The spokesperson added: “After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard. There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.

“All power banks are subject to the new rules onboard Emirates. Emirates new regulations will significantly reduce risks associated with power banks by prohibiting their use while onboard the aircraft.

“Storing power banks in accessible locations within the cabin ensures that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond and extinguish the fire. Safety is one of Emirates’ core values, and a cornerstone of all operations and practices.”

UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), alongside other aviation regulators, advises that lithium batteries and power banks should be carried in hand luggage and switched off completely to minimise fire risks.

Their guidelines specify that the heat-generating element of a lithium battery-powered gadget should be “separated” from the battery – meaning the battery or heat-generating part should be taken out. The guidelines state: “Any battery that has been removed must be protected against short circuit (by placing in its original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals, e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate bag or protective pouch).”

Portable electronic devices containing lithium ion batteries that exceed a Watt-hour rating of 100 Wh and under 160 Wh should also be stored in carry-on baggage. The CAA further advises: “If devices are carried in checked baggage measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation and to protect from damage and the device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode).

“Large portable electronic devices such as laptops and tablets should not be packed near aerosols or perfumes.” The new regulations introduced by airlines affects passengers flying from London aiports including Heathrow, as well as other major transport hubs like Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Full list of all 14 airlines banning power bank use aboard a plane

Operating in the UK:

• Asiana Airlines: London Heathrow
• Cathay Pacific: Heathrow, Manchester
• China Airlines: Heathrow
• Emirates: Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh
• EVA Air: Heathrow
• Korean Air: Heathrow
• Singapore Airlines: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester.
• Starlux Airlines: Gatwick
• Vietnam Airlines: Heathrow

Not serving UK airports:

• Air Busan
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Thai AirAsia
• Tigerair
• Vietjet Air

Two more airlines have implemented strict regulations around the use of power banks onboard aircrafts, following in the footsteps of other major carriers concerned about lithium battery safety

Two airlines are introducing bans on a common travel item, following the lead of other major airlines.

The bans are a heightened measure to ensure the safety of passengers following previous lithium battery-related incidents. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air are the latest air carriers to ban the use of power banks and portable chargers.

The new regulations mean passengers will no longer be able to use power banks while onboard a flight. The new ban also prohibits passengers from charging their power banks using the inflight ports.

READ MORE: October travel rule change warning as ‘families could miss flights’READ MORE: Common items you’re not allowed in hand luggage — and they’re not even liquids

From now on, passengers are required to remove power banks from their carry-on luggage prior to boarding and keep them in a visible location throughout the flight.

That said, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air passengers are still permitted to carry power banks on to aircrafts in limited quantities. But power banks are strictly prohibited in checked luggage.

The ban is a result of growing concerns over the safety of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries onboard aircrafts. These batteries are highly sensitive to heat, impact and rapid changes in air pressure.

Because of this sensitivity, there is a heightened risk of battery malfunctions, including short circuits, overheating, and in severe cases, fire or explosion.

These dangers are amplified when batteries are stored in the cargo hold, which is less closely monitored and where temperature and pressure can fluctuate dramatically. This is why power banks are banned outright from checked luggage.

Devices with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours (Wh) are allowed in quantities of up to ten per passenger. For larger power banks, with capacities between 100 and 160 Wh, the limit is two per person.

Any power bank that exceeds 160 Wh is not permitted on board under any circumstances. Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet insist passengers check the specifications of their devices before travelling.

In addition to the new ban, the airlines also introduced new heat-resistant gloves and fire- containment bags onboard.

Air Busan banned the use of power banks onboard after a fire broke out on one of their flights this past January. The Air Busan plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport on January 28—causing three people on board to sustain minor injuries.

Following the incident, South Korea’s transport ministry said that interim investigation results indicated the fire may have started because insulation inside a power bank battery had broken down.

Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Singapore Airlines and multiple other airlines have also introduced new power bank regulations over this year.

Business and leisure travel are showing signs of a pick-up after a weak start to the year.

Scott Kirby, chief executive of United Airlines, told the Los Angeles Times that, with some easing of uncertainty surrounding tariffs, the economy and global politics, more people and businesses are gaining the confidence to hit the road again.

The airline industry is perhaps the best real-time indicator of the U.S. economy, as travel is one of the first things that businesses and consumers cut back on when they sense difficult times ahead.

Since June, however, United’s orders suggests there is more certainty as consumers know what to expect and booking demand since Labor Day has surged, Kirby said.

In an interview, Kirby took a swipe at ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, discussed artificial intelligence and explained why he thinks the 2028 Olympics might not be such great news for the airline industry.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity

How are United Airlines operations changing in L.A.?

In Los Angeles, we have 21 gates. We have about 140 flights per day here. I think it’s our highest gate utilization airport. We’d love to have more flights, but there aren’t enough gates in Los Angeles. So the constraint in Los Angeles is gates.

Our constraint on growth in Los Angeles is the gates. Essentially, if we want to add a new route, we have to cancel our current route. We just don’t have enough gates yet.

In California, Spirit has slashed the number of airports it serves. What is the issue with the low-cost airline model?

Ultra low-cost carriers, I don’t think they work. Primarily because their business model was based on bait and switch with customers. It is based on a low headline fare and it’s really hard to figure out what all the other fees are going to be. Then you show up at the airport and get charged $99.

When your business model is based on screwing the customer, that business model is not going to work in any industry. It didn’t work here, and I never thought it would work and now that’s what happened.

Don’t people want cheaper flights?

People want good value. They get good value at United. They don’t want a cheap flight that gets delayed, that gets canceled, or where they can’t trust the airline.

It has been a tough summer for tourist traffic from some countries. What have you seen?

At the end of June, it was like a light switch got flipped back on. It had been very slow to start the year, but demand has come back. It’s been even stronger post Labor Day.

I think the economy is in better shape than most people think. A lot of the economic statistics are trailing. We’re a good real-time indicator. The economy was weak to start the year — for the first five, six months — but it is much stronger coming into the third quarter.

There was a big drop-off in Canadian travel. There was a drop in European travel. Those bottomed out in about May, and they’re still down, but they’re not down as much. It is coming back.

How have the immigration raids impacted travel?

Those are so tactical that they’re not big enough for us to see in our macro statistics. I just look at the overall demand, and the overall demand is strong. Maybe it would be a little bit stronger without that.

What is United doing to help with travel to L.A. for the Olympics?

The Olympics, interestingly for airlines, lead to less demand. When the Olympics come to town, business travel shuts down.

We’re going to add flights and we’re going to be a participant. It’s not a big deal, but it actually is a net negative for airlines when the Olympics come to town.

How is United using AI?

There are a lot of tactical places, like call centers or reading contracts, where it works. But AI is not good at everything. I am in the camp that believes AI in many industries is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

Our digital technology team thinks that they’re 30% more efficient on a lot of the coding work. We’re testing getting AI to use all the data we have to tell customers what’s going on with flights. To be able to take uncertainty out for customers, that’s an exciting example.

The ‘pillowcase hack’ has been a popular way for travellers to avoid paying for checked luggage – but experts have warned that airlines are now ‘cracking down’ on the trick

If you’re looking to save a few quid on your upcoming holiday, chances are you’re flying with hand luggage only. As any seasoned traveller knows, cramming all your essentials into a small suitcase can be a right faff.

However, there are always those who try to bend the rules. One such method is known as the ‘pillowcase hack’.

This involves stuffing an empty pillowcase full of clothes and taking it on board your flight along with your bag.

Airlines can slap passengers with a £75 fee for travelling with an oversized carry-on bag, meaning travellers could end up shelling out £150 for a return journey due to overpacking.

In response to this, travel experts at Netflights have shed light on whether passengers should risk trying the pillowcase hack, and why cramming your clothes into a pillowcase could save you hundreds if you’re a frequent flyer, reports the Express.

Amanda Parker from Netflights has issued a warning to travellers that, despite numerous success stories, the pillowcase hack isn’t always a surefire win.

“Airlines are cracking down on sneaky flight hacks, so you might want to think twice about testing this hack on your next flight.

“An overly stuffed pillowcase bursting with clothes can raise suspicion, and if you’re already boarding the plane with maximum baggage, then your pillow can be flagged as extra.

“What works for one airline or crew might be refused by another, as different airlines’ cabin baggage rules vary.

“By risking the pillowcase hack, you could risk holding up the boarding process or being denied boarding entirely if you can’t pay the fee.

“Some low-cost airlines state that any item used to carry belongings, even if disguised, must be treated as luggage.

“Before jetting off, always check the baggage allowance rules to ensure you’ll be boarding your flight with the correct baggage and belongings.”

A flight attendant immediately took action when she heard the rude passenger, and confronted the woman before kicking her off the flight, which was travelling to Dallas

A passenger has learnt the hard way what happens when you tell a flight attendant to “shut up”.

A traveller on American Airlines got into an argument with a flight attendant during a safety demonstration. In a video shared to social media, a woman could be heard telling the flight attendant “she should shut up” during the flight from Costa Rica to Dallas, Texas.

The flight attendant can be approaching the passenger and bluntly asking: “Do you want to get off the plane?” while directing her peers to turn off the address system. She continued: “Because I don’t feel comfortable with you if you’re not going to follow instructions.”

In response, the passenger tries to claim, “I can’t hear” – but the flight attendant shut her down by saying: “You’re not on my list as someone who can’t hear. So I’m going to ask the pilot to remove you because you’re not complying. You know what you did, right?”

READ MORE: ‘I’m a flight attendant – you should avoid one thing if you want a first class upgrade’READ MORE: ‘I’ve never paid for a flight upgrade and neither has my partner – here’s how we do it’

The footage, uploaded to Instagram with the caption “ever wonder what happens if you tell a flight attendant to shut up?”, also showed the passenger being called out for not switching her phone off. The clip then cuts out when the passenger agrees to comply with orders, but resumes to show the woman claiming she is being harassed by the airline employee.

The woman was escorted from the plane, according to the footage and her seatmate, who filmed and posted the video with the caption: “empty middle seat is a win for me”.

Jay Crenshaw, who had been sitting next to the woman and saw the ordeal unfold, told The New York Post: “She was having a bad morning and was obviously disturbed or irritated about something she was on the phone talking about.

READ MORE: ‘Drunk’ Brit woman forces Jet2 flight to Cyprus to land early after ‘attacking crew’

“The flight attendant might have caught a stray. I think the passenger knows she was wrong. She mentioned that she also lost her phone and had to borrow one.

He continued: “I’m definitely not excusing her behavior [but] we’ve all had bad days and have said bad things because of it, but we weren’t filmed. I hope people can remember this and give her a bit of grace.”

The Mirror has contacted American Airlines for comment.

It comes after a man revealed how a family attempted to lie to a flight attendant so that they could take his plane seat from him – until he scuppered their plans.

In a post on Reddit , the man explained he decided to book business class on a recent flight because he could bag himself a window seat while guaranteeing that the middle seat remained vacant, meaning he’d have a bit more room.

READ MORE: Pilot explains what uncomfortable ‘sinking’ feeling really means during take-off

After boarding his flight, he took his seat across from an older man sitting in the aisle seat on the other side of him. Moments later, however, the other man’s wife and son came in and asked if he would switch seats with them to allow the family to sit together.

But there was one problem – the wife and child were in economy class, so swapping seats would have meant a downgrade.

The man refused this unfavourable offer, and the family made a counteroffer in which the son would sit in the free middle seat with his dad while the mum went back to economy. It turned out they lied to flight attendants on board the plane to make this deal happen.

In his Reddit post, he wrote: “His wife and son came in, asking me to switch (business for economy) so they could all sit there. Then, [they] told me that if I didn’t switch with the wife, the son would sit in the middle at least. [The dad] reasoned that I didn’t need an empty seat next to me and claimed the stewardess allowed it.

“Turned out, [the flight attendant] said it was possible if the other passenger agreed, to which they replied that I was family, so I would 100% agree.”

The man refused to move and told the flight attendants the truth, and the family were eventually made to go back to the seats they had been assigned.

He added: “I didn’t budge. The son and wife had to stay in the economy, and his father spent almost four hours muttering passive-aggressive comments. Whenever I took off my headphones, he was still going…”

A baggage cart passes by a Southwest 737 Max 8 airliner after arriving from Los Angeles at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport on March 13, 2019. Over the Labor Day weekend, Southwest became one of the first U.S. carriers to take delivery and fly a plane with a “secondary barrier” to protect pilots from cockpit intrusions. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 1 (UPI) — Southwest Airlines has become one of the first U.S. carriers to take flight with an added barrier to protect pilots from intrusions when they exit the cockpit.

Southwest took delivery of the Boeing 737 Max 8, with the added retractable gate-like feature, and put it into service over the Labor Day weekend. The change comes nearly 24 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

“For Southwest this was the right decision,” the airline said in a statement. “We have a robust safety management system that takes a proactive approach when it comes to enhancing safety wherever possible.”

The additional flight deck barrier is designed to prevent cockpit invasions, like those during the 2001 terror attacks when hijackers took control of four jetliners. The secondary gate is closed to provide added protection for pilots when they open the cockpit door to access the lavatory.

Before the barriers, flight attendants have routinely blocked access to the front of the plane, using themselves or a drink cart, whenever a pilot leaves the flight deck. While existing planes cannot be retrofitted with the barriers, newly delivered planes will come with the barrier installed.

Last week, a 2023 Federal Aviation Administration regulation required Boeing and Airbus to begin delivering its new planes with the secondary barriers.

According to the final rule, the new barrier “will be deployed, closed and locked whenever the flight deck door is opened while the airplane is in flight.”

While Southwest has decided to take immediate delivery of planes with the secondary barriers, other airlines have opted to wait until July 2026 after the FAA granted a one-year exemption.

Alesandra Dubin has flown business class with six airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic but her favourite is one you might never have heard of

For the majority of us, jetting off on holiday means squeezing into an economy seat. The luxury of Business Class is often just a pipe dream due to its hefty price tag.

Yet not all business class experiences are equal. Travel expert Alesandra Dubin has sampled the business class services from six top airlines and has singled out one as particularly exceptional.

Speaking to Business Insider, one of her favourites wasn’t one of the big guns like Etihad, British Airways or Virgin. Instead, it was Fiji Airways‘ business class service. She said: “Flight attendants were attentive from the start, offering pre-flight drinks and warm towels, and there was even complimentary WiFi, a rare perk.”

Following a scrumptious vegetarian meal, Alesandra managed something almost unheard of on long-haul flights – a solid seven hours of sleep.

She attributes this remarkable feat to the Airbus A350’s ultra-comfortable seats that fully recline. She elaborated: “The seat, with direct aisle access, a 17-inch screen, ample storage, and lie-flat recline, was super comfortable.”

Alesandra also enjoyed the novelty of watching the plane’s landing gear via external cameras displayed on her seat-back screen.

Although it was her first time flying business class with Fiji Airways, she expressed eagerness to repeat the experience.

British readers will be pleased to know that Alesandra also spoke highly of UK-based airline British Airways in her international travels.

She lauded the “exceptional” meals on board and was particularly impressed with the beverages, noting: “The wine selection was well-curated, and I opted for a glass of delicious port with my cheese plate.”

Although British Airways didn’t offer complimentary wifi, she considered the £20 charge for in-flight internet to be “fairly priced.”

Virgin Atlantic also received praise but fell slightly short in Alesandra’s view due to the food being “a bit less plentiful” than desired on a 10-hour journey, and the 22-inch seat felt somewhat snug and tricky to adjust.

However, she acknowledged that Virgin’s onboard bar area made it an excellent choice for larger groups flying together.

When it comes to domestic flights within the United States, the travel guru was unequivocal in her preference. She stated: “If you ask me, there’s no superior US airline to Delta, and the competition doesn’t even come close.”

In her opinion, Delta One, which is marketed as business class, actually rivals first-class offerings with its private mini-cabins.

Delta’s perks include free wifi and lie-flat seats that are not only extremely comfortable but also simpler to adjust than those on Virgin, despite being slightly narrower.

Following an exclusive transfer from her plane to a connecting flight via Porsche, Alesandra expressed that Delta’s VIP treatment solidified its position as her top airline choice.

A money expert has claimed a few simple air prompts saved him more than £700 on flights after using ChatGPT as his personal travel agent

ChatGPT is getting smarter and smarter, and while AI still might be a terrifying part of technology for many, it might be able to save you some money on your next trip. Getting a good deal on your holiday can be a hard and often time-consuming task.

Hours can be spent refreshing Sky Scanner, Google Flights or Kayak, trying to find the cheapest flights, trying different airport connections and times, all trying to save you a few pounds.

But after your hundredth tab has been opened and you lose track of where you actually heading to the first place, many just give up and head to the travel agents.

But all that faff could be saved, as ChatGPT might be able to act as your very own travelling personal assistant, with one finance expert claiming it saved him as much as £700 on his flights.

Casper Opala, known as Casper Capital online, has more than eight million followers online and shares cost-saving tips, especially when it comes to saving you on travel, and his latest tip, using the popular AI, he claims, got him a flight for around £70 that originally cost more than £700.

His tip follows just seven different steps that you can copy and paste, which will save you time from having to dig around the internet across several different sites.

Although some of these methods have been around for years, and certain travel websites even wrote about them before ChatGPT was even dreamt up, the AI bot can collect all the data for you in a matter of seconds – saving you hours in the process.

Casper’s seven prompts:

1. Find the cheapest way to fly from [City A] to [City B] next month, include hidden routes + alternate airports.’
2. ‘Which budget airlines operate this route that aren’t listed on Google Flights or Skyscanner?’
3. Suggest layover cities that cut the price, even if it requires two separate bookings.’
4. Any mistake fares, flash sales, or unusually cheap flights departing [my airport] this month?’
5. ‘Compare this flight across all platforms, where is it cheapest right now?’
6. ‘Monitor this route for 4 days, alert me if the price dips below $95.’
7. ‘Can booking two one-ways beat the round-trip price? Check both.’

While the tool can be a great place to start for guidance, and the prices are often correct, the tool is still in it’s early days and can be prone to some pricing errors. Writing for TravelBook, Laura Pomer warns: “On the downside, however, is the AI’s susceptibility to errors.

“They are programmed to always provide reliable answers. Users would do well to thoroughly check results. ChatGPT does not access live flight booking data. Information on supposed current prices can be inaccurate.”

However, Laura does suggest a few methods for still using the AI tool, but stresses that there is no guarantee. The writer advises people to be as specific as possible with prompts, such as adding time frames, widening the search to desired areas rather than specific airports, or naming more inventive options such as budget airlines, split-ticketing options, etc.

SMALL details can sometimes lead to the biggest headaches when it comes to air travel.

And when it comes to passenger names on a booking, getting these right is key if you want everything to go smoothly at the airport.

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Airlines have a right to deny boarding to anyone who’s ticket doesn’t match their ID, and some travellers have been denied boarding for failing to correct this ahead of their flight.

So whether you need to correct a typo or transfer a ticket to a different person entirely – here are the name change rules for different airlines, made simple.

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Ryanair

Low-cost airline Ryanair allows changes to names up to 24 hours before a flight’s departure time if processed online, and two hours before if done at the airport desk.

Both of these options will incur a name change fee: £115 on the website and £160 through an agent.

If you notice a minor mistake within 48 hours booking you can correct up to three characters in a name free of charge – but more substantial or later changes will carry a price tag.

Maiden and married names are the exception here.

Ryanair will amend a name at no extra cost if your surname has changed on the document you are using for travel.

Editing a booking to be in someone else’s name is also possible, but not if one of the flights on the booking has already departed (for example, if you are already abroad and trying to make changes for your return flight).

Those name changes that fall within 48 hours of booking and over 24 hours before flying can be made on the Ryanair website or app by clicking ‘Manage this booking’ and selecting ‘Change a name’.

But if you’re already checked in, you’ll need to contact the airline and pay the slightly higher price.

easyJet

easyJet also allows name tweaks, letting passengers correct titles and spelling mistakes of up to three letters without any fee.

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The airline is slightly more lenient than Ryanair with this, as it does not have a time limit of 48 hours after booking.

You can do this on either its website or app under ‘View Bookings’.

Changes of more than three characters or a whole name can also be made, but a fee will be applied per passenger, per flight.

The cost is £60 for online amendments and £65 for going through the customer service team.

And in the event of needing a very last-minute change, easyJet gives you a little more time than Ryanair by allowing requests at the airport desk up to 90 minutes before departure.

Jet2

British airline Jet2 has a more restrictive policy when it comes to name changes.

Only the lead passenger can make edits and absolutely no changes are allowed after check-in.

It does have the same three letter rule as easyJet and Ryanair – allowing minor tweaks for free – but the fee that applies for more major changes can end up being higher.

While amendments made 14 days or more ahead of the flight time only cost £50, changes made after that will cost £150 plus any fare difference since the booking was made.

This means that if the price of your flight has gone up and you request changes just days before your trip, it could be significantly more costly than £150.

Jet2 also does not allow for any name changes within 48 hours of flying, so you have less flexibility.

If you are within the permitted window and wish to go ahead with a change it’s easy to do this through the ‘Manage My Booking’ function on its app or website.

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Vueling

Vueling is fast becoming a popular choice for budget-friendly flights, with many European destinations on its roster.

It also offers different fare options from Basic to Flex.

Name change fees for Vueling are dependent on which you have purchased – if you have a Basic plane ticket, a full name swap will cost you €50 (roughly £43).

And similar to Jet2, you may also be charged the difference if the price of your flight has increased.

However, if you paid for a Flex ticket the total price might be lower as you will only be asked to pay the set change fee, not the fare difference.

Small spelling errors can be corrected at no extra cost up to two hours before flying providing none of the flights in the booking have already been taken.

Adding middle names or second surnames is also free of charge.

This is very important to check as some airlines don’t require middle names for a booking, but Vueling’s policy is that passenger tickets must match their identity documents exactly.

Wizz Air

Passengers can access their Wizz Account and go to ‘Make changes’ if they wish to change a name for their upcoming flight.

Typos of up to three letters are free, while ticket transfers to a new completely name cost €70 (around £61).

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This is allowed up to three hours before departure.

Wizz Air‘s call centre is also on hand for anyone who would prefer to make these changes by phone.

The airline is accommodating when it comes to changing surnames after marriage or divorce and will amend these for free for any passenger that provides the required documentation.

However, its website states that responses to such emails can take up to 30 days, so get in contact as soon as you can if you wish to request this.

British Airways

British Airways differs slightly compared to more budget airlines.

Its tickets are non-transferable, meaning passengers are not able to change an entire name on a booking and will instead need to cancel and re-book the ticket.

This will likely cost significantly more than any flat fee.

However, unlike other carriers, BA has a 24-hour grace period.

Customers have one day to completely cancel their flight free of charge, giving them the option to get a full refund and make a new booking in this time frame.

Free spelling corrections of up to three characters can be made by contacting the BA customer services team.

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