Travel Dispatch: How the Trump Administration Is Eroding Airline Passengers’ Rights

October 10, 2026

An adult and two children wearing backpacks stand facing a blue display at an airport.

The Transportation Department has created more exceptions for flight disruptions that would not require passenger compensation. Olga Pankova/Getty Images

Dear Travel Fan,

This week we brought you a different twist on long-distance train travel: a 1,200 mile trip from Singapore to Bangkok, using a series of shorter-haul trains (starting with a five-minute shuttle) with plenty of stops to eat and sightsee. It’s quite an adventure.

We also journeyed to St. Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf, to play a few rounds and explore the town’s fascinating and often violent history. And we headed to upstate New York, visiting the Finger Lakes for our 36 Hours column, and the Adirondacks, where crowds have been flocking to the town of Tupper Lake to see the giant trolls created by the self-proclaimed “garbage artist,” Thomas Dambo.

If you’re a fan of llamas and alpacas, we’ve got a roundup of places where you can interact with the woolly animals, whether you want to hike with one or just take a selfie.

On the advice front, trying to get a refund on the Value-added Tax when traveling overseas can be confusing. We walk you through the process.

There was a lot going on in the world of air travel this week:

We took a look at why holiday airfares are so high this year, focusing especially on the impact of the demise of Spirit Airlines. There is also advice on how to find some lower fares.
We examined what has been happening with airline passenger rights during the Trump administration, which has pushed back on policies put forward during the Biden presidency and earlier.
We brought you news about American Express’s plans to supersize its new Centurion lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport.
And we had reports on both an American Airlines flight that had to make an unscheduled stop because six of its eight bathrooms were not working, and an Avianca flight that got diverted after it hit severe turbulence, injuring nine people.

Finally, Hurricane Isaias could disrupt travel in the coming days. You can check in with the news from Times Travel and our colleagues on other desks this weekend for updates.

Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

How Giant Trolls Are Helping Transform an Adirondack Mill Town

Thomas Dambo, the acclaimed Danish sculptor, unveiled his first permanent troll in New York State. Will it offer a lasting economic boon in the town of Tupper Lake?

By Ryley Ober

1,200 Miles by Train, From Singapore to Bangkok

A writer takes a weeklong journey, from the island city-state to the Thai capital, in the final days of a historic rail connection.

By Nicholas Yong

Peering between gently sloping rows of vineyards, which look out onto a large, deep-blue body of water. A sailboat is faintly visible in the distance.

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours in the Finger Lakes, N.Y.

Enjoy peak foliage season in this upstate New York region, which offers waterfall hikes, farm-to-table restaurants and a famous wine trail.

By Lauren Matison and Tony Cenicola

Within a fenced-in area, a cream-colored llama with curved ears that stand straight up, long wavy hair, and dark eyes and nose, stares into the camera. In the background another darker llama stands on a small hill, looking on.

George Caldwell

How About a Visit With Llamas? Or Alpacas (or Both)?

If you’re looking for something a little different on your next road trip, stop by a farm where you can commune with these fan-favorite animals.

By Jennifer A. Kingson

Owen Richards for The New York Times

Teeing Off in the Birthplace of Golf

In St. Andrews, Scotland, history and golf intertwine, on and off the famous courses.

By John Atwood and Owen Richards

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

Ampuero Leonardo/Getty Images

What Travelers Need to Know as Hurricane Isaias Nears the Gulf Coast

The storm, which has already closed airports and canceled trains along the Gulf, could have impacts on major hubs like Atlanta and Charlotte.

By Ryley Ober

Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto, via Associated Press

9 Injured After J.F.K.-Bound Flight Hits Severe Turbulence

Avianca Flight 42 was en route to New York from Medellín, Colombia, when it “encountered unexpected turbulence” and was diverted to Miami.

By Gabe Castro-Root

An illustration shows a person walking in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, laden with shopping bags, and wearing a pink hat and green boots, both of which have price tags attached to them.

Philip Lindeman

Travel 101

How to Get a Refund on That Pesky Value-Added Tax

Here are the steps to get your money back on VAT taxes, which are widespread in Europe and are bundled into the costs of certain items that travelers take home with them.

By Elaine Glusac

A luxurious airport lounge has cream-colored chairs and green sofas in a double-height room with large windows. There is a gnarled tree growing from a planter bow in the middle, and the ceiling is decorated with copper-colored disks hanging from cables.

Business Wire/Associated Press

Amex Supersizes Newark Airport Lounge Before It Even Opens

To meet skyrocketing demand, lounge operators like American Express are racing to build bigger, and the Centurion in Newark’s Terminal A will be a giant.

By Christine Chung

Barbed wire in the foreground. Many yellow planes with "Spirit" on their tails are parked on a tarmac before a building.

Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

Frugal Traveler

Airfares Have Spiked. Is the Death of Spirit Airlines to Blame?

In the wake of the ultra-low-cost carrier’s closure, and with the cost of fuel and labor rising, domestic fares have become less competitive. But there are ways to parry higher prices.

By Elaine Glusac

A white airplane in flight with "American" visible on its side. The aircraft's red, white, and blue tail fin and extended landing gear are prominent.

Marta Lavandier/Associated Press

6 Broken Bathrooms Force Flight to Make an Urgent Landing

An American Airlines flight was diverted to New York on Tuesday because of an “inadequate number of operational lavatories” — two, on a plane that normally has eight.

By Ryley Ober