Author: Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY

Consumer Reports, which has been pressuring the U.S. DOT to take action on family seating, is now appealing directly to airlines.

Consumer Reports, which has been pressuring the U.S. DOT to take action on family seating, is now appealing directly to airlines.

United Airlines, which is following the lead of JetBlue Airways, said travelers will be able to avoid the increase if they prepay for bags in advance.

The addition to Southwest Airline’s pre-flight safety briefing comes amid high-profile claims of sexual assault on airlines.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report says a flight is on time if it arrives within 14 minutes of schedule.

Southwest has had a more liberal flight change policy than competitors, enabling savvy travelers to benefit even if they weren’t on a Max.

The airlines, which had the grounded plane scheduled to return in early June, have each pushed back the return to August and September.

Southwest says it “adamantly disagrees” with the picture the audit paints of the airline’s safety culture.

The plan to expand screening efforts in the U.S. to 15 additional airports comes as the CDC warns against all nonessential travel to China.

“The thought being, it’s actually going to be the safest plane out there with all the scrutiny,” Southwest President Tom Nealon told reporters.