Zach Wichter
@zlwichter.bsky.social
Travel reporter and Cruising Altitude columnist for USA TODAY zwichter@usatoday.com ✡️🏳️🌈✈️🗒
If you're flying in the next few days, keep an eye out for updates from your airline as Airbus A320s face a required technical fix before their next flights www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Flyers could see delays as Airbus orders fixes for A320 flight controls
A solar radiation–linked software flaw in Airbus A320 jets triggered urgent global fixes, causing possible delays but no safety risk for travelers.
www.usatoday.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
If you're flying in the next few days, keep an eye out for updates from your airline as Airbus A320s face a required technical fix before their next flights www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Reposted by Zach Wichter
I tried to use (approved) AI for such a simple task at work today and it failed me so many times! My company has Microsoft Copilot, and I needed a transcript of an audio file. So I asked Copilot if it could transcribe the file for me and it said yes, just upload the file 1/
November 27, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I tried to use (approved) AI for such a simple task at work today and it failed me so many times! My company has Microsoft Copilot, and I needed a transcript of an audio file. So I asked Copilot if it could transcribe the file for me and it said yes, just upload the file 1/
Wondering what to do if your Thanksgiving flight plans don’t go off without a hitch? Check out Cruising Altitude for what to do if you face delays or cancellations this holiday weekend. Remember to be nice to the people who are working to get you to your destination. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
November 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Wondering what to do if your Thanksgiving flight plans don’t go off without a hitch? Check out Cruising Altitude for what to do if you face delays or cancellations this holiday weekend. Remember to be nice to the people who are working to get you to your destination. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Ever wondered how mixed-airline itineraries on partner carriers work? Cruising Altitude this week takes a deep dive on airline codeshares, how they benefit travelers and what some of the drawbacks can be when you fly more than one airline on the same trip. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Ever wondered how mixed-airline itineraries on partner carriers work? Cruising Altitude this week takes a deep dive on airline codeshares, how they benefit travelers and what some of the drawbacks can be when you fly more than one airline on the same trip. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
I know it’s frustrating, but there’s just not enough overhead bin space for everyone on a plane. Just because you have a ticket doesn’t mean you automatically get to stow your stuff in the cabin. Cruising Altitude this week looks at how we got here.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
November 12, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I know it’s frustrating, but there’s just not enough overhead bin space for everyone on a plane. Just because you have a ticket doesn’t mean you automatically get to stow your stuff in the cabin. Cruising Altitude this week looks at how we got here.
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Cruising Altitude this week is all about one of my favorite little quirks of (some) international travel: customs preclearance. So much better than going through on the U.S. side. Read the column and learn how it works. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Cruising Altitude this week is all about one of my favorite little quirks of (some) international travel: customs preclearance. So much better than going through on the U.S. side. Read the column and learn how it works. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Reposted by Zach Wichter
Everyone needs to stop worrying about “disruptions” in air service and start caring about flight safety and how wrong it is to demand that people work unpaid & exhausted at one of the most stressful jobs in the world.
Politics continues to endanger ATC and it needs to stop. Now.
Politics continues to endanger ATC and it needs to stop. Now.
Nearly a month into the shutdown, pressure is mounting on air traffic controllers, who are required to work without pay.
In the 2019 shutdown, a staffing shortage of controllers led to major disruptions at airports on the East Coast — and may have hastened a funding deal to reopen the government.
In the 2019 shutdown, a staffing shortage of controllers led to major disruptions at airports on the East Coast — and may have hastened a funding deal to reopen the government.
Air traffic controllers helped end the last government shutdown, and may again
A shortage of air traffic controllers may have played a role in ending the last government shutdown in 2019. U.S airlines are once again bracing for possible delays in commercial aviation.
n.pr
October 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Everyone needs to stop worrying about “disruptions” in air service and start caring about flight safety and how wrong it is to demand that people work unpaid & exhausted at one of the most stressful jobs in the world.
Politics continues to endanger ATC and it needs to stop. Now.
Politics continues to endanger ATC and it needs to stop. Now.
Sometimes people fly because they have to, but some trips happen just because an airline offers an attractive new route. This week’s Cruising Altitude looks at how airlines can induce demand for new passenger traffic. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Sometimes people fly because they have to, but some trips happen just because an airline offers an attractive new route. This week’s Cruising Altitude looks at how airlines can induce demand for new passenger traffic. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Me every time Microsoft updates and I have to toggle through six menus to turn off text predictions in Word. Let me do my job, computer! You deal with the beep boops and assorted 0s and 1s.
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Me every time Microsoft updates and I have to toggle through six menus to turn off text predictions in Word. Let me do my job, computer! You deal with the beep boops and assorted 0s and 1s.
Listen, we all have to share space for our carry-on bags when we fly. Cruising Altitude this week looks at why the carry-on bag limit exists and why it matters that ALL passengers pay attention to them. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Listen, we all have to share space for our carry-on bags when we fly. Cruising Altitude this week looks at why the carry-on bag limit exists and why it matters that ALL passengers pay attention to them. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
British Airways recently announced a new flight from London to St. Louis. Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how airlines decide which routes to operate, and how that specific flight came to be. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 15, 2025 at 1:23 PM
British Airways recently announced a new flight from London to St. Louis. Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how airlines decide which routes to operate, and how that specific flight came to be. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Do you know the difference between first class and business class on a plane? Check out this guide I wrote for @usatoday.com to put your #avgeek knowledge to the test www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
What you get when you buy an upgrade: Premium economy, business and first class explained
Airline premium cabins, from premium economy to first class, can be confusing. Here's what to know.
www.usatoday.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Do you know the difference between first class and business class on a plane? Check out this guide I wrote for @usatoday.com to put your #avgeek knowledge to the test www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Desperately wish this had happened like two days ago so I could have included this wild story in my column about seat switching today www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Desperately wish this had happened like two days ago so I could have included this wild story in my column about seat switching today www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
I'm really proud of this doodle! Also, this week's Cruising Altitude is about why you can't just switch your airplane seat without asking. Yes, there's a revenue issue for airlines, but there's a safety one for passengers as well. Check it out. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I'm really proud of this doodle! Also, this week's Cruising Altitude is about why you can't just switch your airplane seat without asking. Yes, there's a revenue issue for airlines, but there's a safety one for passengers as well. Check it out. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
If you don’t have a seat assignment before your flight, is there anything you can do to boost your odds of a better spot? Cruising Altitude this week looks at your options, any why basically none of them are sure shots. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
October 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM
If you don’t have a seat assignment before your flight, is there anything you can do to boost your odds of a better spot? Cruising Altitude this week looks at your options, any why basically none of them are sure shots. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Most airlines are doubling down on investments to attract premium passengers. Cruising Altitude this week asks the question: as the economy softens, will travelers still pay the extra price? Here’s what experts say. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
September 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Most airlines are doubling down on investments to attract premium passengers. Cruising Altitude this week asks the question: as the economy softens, will travelers still pay the extra price? Here’s what experts say. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Airlines don’t have clear guidance on what to do if you need to evacuate your flight with a service animal or pet, but Cruising Altitude this week explores how you can advocate for yourself and some of the best practices in an emergency. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
September 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Airlines don’t have clear guidance on what to do if you need to evacuate your flight with a service animal or pet, but Cruising Altitude this week explores how you can advocate for yourself and some of the best practices in an emergency. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Reposted by Zach Wichter
Theres.... a new artist meme going around where you describe your style in detail with 3 samples and babes if that doesn't sound like training data i dont know what is
September 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Theres.... a new artist meme going around where you describe your style in detail with 3 samples and babes if that doesn't sound like training data i dont know what is
Reposted by Zach Wichter
Are you the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk?
Do you know them?
Have an idea who they are?
My DMs are open. Talk to me.
Do you know them?
Have an idea who they are?
My DMs are open. Talk to me.
September 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Are you the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk?
Do you know them?
Have an idea who they are?
My DMs are open. Talk to me.
Do you know them?
Have an idea who they are?
My DMs are open. Talk to me.
Wow a guest on MSNBC talking about this Charlie Kirk thing just said off-handedly that the first terrorists in history were a movement of Jewish zealots killing Romans, so that’s cool.
September 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Wow a guest on MSNBC talking about this Charlie Kirk thing just said off-handedly that the first terrorists in history were a movement of Jewish zealots killing Romans, so that’s cool.
Yesterday I got to join JetBlue's final Embraer E190 flight and had a chance to write about why the plane means so much to me in Cruising Altitude this week www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
September 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Yesterday I got to join JetBlue's final Embraer E190 flight and had a chance to write about why the plane means so much to me in Cruising Altitude this week www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Reposted by Zach Wichter
ok night night
November 12, 2024 at 10:56 PM
ok night night
As Southwest Airlines moves to restrict its industry-leading refund policy for plus-size passengers, Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how major U.S. airlines stack up and how passengers who need extra space can travel safely, comfortably and economically. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
September 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
As Southwest Airlines moves to restrict its industry-leading refund policy for plus-size passengers, Cruising Altitude this week takes a look at how major U.S. airlines stack up and how passengers who need extra space can travel safely, comfortably and economically. www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
I got a first look at Amtrak’s new Acela trains ahead of their entry into regular service tomorrow. Here’s what passengers can expect www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
First look inside Amtrak’s new Acela, featuring modern seating, faster Wi-Fi
Amtrak’s long-awaited NextGen Acela trains debut this week with faster top speeds, upgraded seating, improved accessibility and modern amenities.
www.usatoday.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I got a first look at Amtrak’s new Acela trains ahead of their entry into regular service tomorrow. Here’s what passengers can expect www.usatoday.com/story/travel...