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Plane etiquette expert warns against standing immediately after landing

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Standing up immediately after a plane lands has become a common activity on flights these days — and it has raised questions about airline etiquette and common courtesy in crowded cabins.

The behavior has created a long-running debate among travelers, particularly when passengers move into the aisle as soon as the aircraft comes to a stop.

Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital the issue has become a source of frustration for travelers.

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“With long flights, people are anxious to stand up and stretch their legs,” Gottsman said. 

“They also want to get their suitcases out of the bins and be prepared to efficiently walk out of their aisle.”

Many airplane passengers stand up immediately after landing — and it’s making some travelers wonder about common courtesy on packed planes. (iStock)

Problems arise, she said, when passengers step into the aisle too early, blocking others and encroaching on the severely limited personal space in the cabin.

“Moving into the aisle and trying to push is a definite etiquette faux pas,” Gottsman said.

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The behavior can also create safety concerns, she said.

For safety reasons, it’s best to remain seated unless there is room to comfortably move about.”

Passengers standing in a crowded airplane aisle while loading carry-on luggage into overhead bins.

Many people argue that they need to stand up to stretch their legs because they’ve been sitting too long. (iStock)

Gottsman said flight attendants should handle the situation.

Travelers have also weighed in online, with some saying standing immediately after landing is unavoidable.

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One commenter on Reddit said leg cramps make it necessary to stand as soon as possible.

Many online commenters said they stand early to avoid missing their next flight when they have a tight connection.

A man and woman sitting in their seats on the airplane, looking at their electronic devices.

Problems happen when passengers step into the aisle too early, getting in the way of others and taking up the limited space in the cabin. (iStock)

Others criticized the behavior as impatient, with one traveler saying some passengers “have no patience.”

FOX Business previously reported that other countries have taken a firmer stance on the issue.

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Last year, Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation sent a notice to airlines instructing crew members to report passengers who stand up immediately or who access overhead bins before the seatbelt sign is turned off, according to reports.

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Passengers who ignore the rule may face fines.

Pilar Arias contributed reporting.

Oceania Cruises goes adults-only for all new bookings starting early January

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A major cruise line is officially going adults-only, joining a growing group of brands betting that travelers are seeking tranquility over kid-friendly activities.

Oceania Cruises, a Miami-based company that operates eight luxury ships sailing across Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia, announced this month it will begin welcoming only guests age 18 and older for new reservations.

“Our guests have consistently shared that the tranquil environment aboard our ships is one of the primary reasons they return time and time again,” Jason Montague, chief luxury officer of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement. “By transitioning to an adults-only experience, we are enhancing the very essence of the Oceania Cruises journey — one defined by sophistication, serenity and discovery.”

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The company said that the policy shift reflects its commitment to providing a “relaxed atmosphere of genuine hospitality and meaningful connection.” 

All bookings made before Jan. 7, 2026, that include guests under 18 will still be honored, the company added.

The luxury cruise line cited demand by its customers for a quieter, more tranquil onboard experience. (iStock)

Many guests already thought Oceania was only for adults because there were so few kids aboard many of its ships, Chief Commercial Officer Nathan Hickman told USA Today.

The average Oceania passenger is in his or her mid-60s — and Hickman joked that the extent of their kids’ programming had been a “ping-pong table on the pool deck.” 

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“We’re not trying to be all things to all people,” Hickman told the outlet. “We’re going to be very narrowly defined, and we’re not even changing who our target guest is. It’s the same person.”

The change will help the cruise line “manage expectations,” he added.

Oceania Allura cruise ship sails down the Tagus River after leaving the cruise terminal on September 16, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Oceania Cruises operates eight luxury ships sailing destinations around the world. (iStock)

The new policy also further differentiates Oceania from its luxury sister line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises — which still welcomes travelers under 18, the website Cruise Critic noted. 

Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, along with Norwegian Cruise Line, all operate under the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrella.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Oceania Cruises for comment.

“Adults-only cruising is appealing to a wide range of travelers — and that goes for travelers who don’t have kids, as well as those who do,” Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, told Parade. 

“Adults-only cruise lines are consistently some of the highest-rated among reviewers on Cruise Critic, and the adults-only experience is often the most-praised part of the cruise for those travelers.”

Colorful pool deck on cruise ship sailing at sea.

While cruises can be great for families, travelers say they sometimes need “a break,” according to experts. (iStock)

“Sailing with families is a wonderful part of cruising, but our cruisers tell us [that] sometimes, they’re just looking for a break,” McDaniel added.

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Only a handful of cruise lines are completely adults-only, including Virgin Voyages and Viking Cruises. The concept is expanding both through new adult-exclusive policies such as Oceania’s, as well as designated adult-focused sailings on mainstream lines.

Carnival Cruise Line recently announced it will add more adults-only sailings in 2026 through its SEA (Sailings Exclusively for Adults) program, which features invite-only cruises reserved for guests 21 and older with expanded casino access and themed parties, according to multiple reports.

A couple sitting on deckchairs on the balcony of the cruise ship smiling and enjoying their drinks with seas in background.

The policy shift reflects a broader trend toward adult-focused cruising experiences. (iStock)

Some cruise lines also restrict certain areas of their ships to adults.

That includes Carnival’s Serenity Deck, which is open to guests 21 and older; Royal Caribbean’s Solarium, an adults-only oasis with pools, hot tubs and loungers for passengers typically 16 and up; and Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers designated adult-only areas on its ships.

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Even Disney Cruise Line caters to adults, offering designated adults-only pools, upscale lounges and fine-dining restaurants separate from kid’s spaces.

Massachusetts approves on-site cannabis consumption at licensed businesses

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On-site marijuana consumption has received the green light in the Bay State, allowing hospitality businesses to offer cannabis to consumers.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (MCCC) unanimously approved the decision in a 4-0 vote on Dec. 11. Under the new rule, non-cannabis businesses such as yoga studios and movie theaters can obtain a cannabis license to host consumption areas.

“The first new cannabis business models to be introduced to Massachusetts’ regulated industry in five years will allow adults ages 21 and older to buy and consume cannabis on-site at licensed Marijuana Establishments (MEs), sanctioned events and non-cannabis businesses that partner with licensees,” the MCCC press release notes.

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Chair Shannon O’Brien said Massachusetts residents have been “eagerly” waiting to socially consume marijuana, according to the release.

“We look forward to the economic opportunities these new license types will offer to small businesses and entrepreneurs who have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs,” said O’Brien.

Non-cannabis businesses such as yoga studios and theaters will be able to obtain licenses to host consumption areas in Massachusetts. (iStock)

The regulations take effect immediately. Social consumption licenses, however, are not yet available.

The commission will be working on an implementation plan to create new consumption establishment applications along with guidance and vendor training, the release noted.

MCCC recently praised President Donald Trump for his executive order in December reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

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Marijuana previously was labeled a Schedule 1 drug under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations — the same category the agency uses for drugs including heroin, ecstasy and LSD.

Under the new Schedule III classification, marijuana is now in a category alongside drugs like Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids, which the agency claims arethe  ones with a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

Austria Germany Cannabis

Under the new rule, non-cannabis businesses such as yoga studios and movie theaters can obtain a cannabis license to host consumption areas. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

“President Trump’s Executive Order expediting rescheduling of cannabis marks a significant step forward for public health and patient care in the United States,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy in a press release at the time.  

“By aligning federal policy more closely with science, this action will help remove long-standing barriers to medical research and open the door to safer, more effective treatments for people living with chronic and debilitating conditions,” Roy added.

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In a recent study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana.

The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, with the study finding that cannabis users were found to have “decreased vascular function,” comparable to those who smoke tobacco.

Purchasing cannabis

The commission in Massachusetts will be working on an implementation plan to create new consumption establishment applications along with guidance and vendor training. (iStock)

Their blood vessel function was roughly half compared to those who did not use cannabis, with the side effect linked to a higher risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, the researchers noted.

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“Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms,” the researchers wrote.

“This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Health for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy and Diana Stancey contributed reporting. 

Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ children find 2,000-year-old coins in West Bank

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The children of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders are now archaeologists in training.

Sanders, her husband and her children made a recent discovery during an archaeological tour of a previously unknown cave in the West Bank, Israeli news agency TPS-IL reported Tuesday.

The finds were first announced by the Yesha Council, an umbrella organization for Jewish communities in the West Bank.

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The cave sits near the community of Na’ela in the Binyamin region. The family was taking a guided tour of the area, which included visiting Shiloh, the ancient biblical capital.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee was accompanying his family during the trip when the coins were unearthed. The children were accompanied by professional archaeologists and had metal detectors on hand.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family participated in an archaeological tour in the West Bank that led to an exciting discovery. (Yesha Council/TPS-IL)

The five coins — which may date to the Bar Kokhba Revolt period, between 132 and 135 A.D. — sent the children screaming.

“Grandpa, look what we found!” the grandchildren said, per TPS-IL.

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The family also found fragments of a second-century jar in another cave.

In a statement, Ambassador Huckabee said he has “a special place in my heart for ancient Shiloh.”

“Watching my kids uncover and hold coins buried for more than 2,000 years was unforgettable.”

“It’s amazing to come to a place that proves that miracles can happen, 3,000 years ago and even today,” he said.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Gov. Sanders said her family’s experience was one she will not forget.

“Watching my kids uncover and hold coins buried for more than 2,000 years was unforgettable,” the governor said. 

Children in a cave

The children used metal detectors during the guided exploration. (Yesha Council/TPS-IL)

Sanders added that the experience was “another reminder that the Holy Land isn’t just a place we see on the news — it’s foundational to the Christian and Jewish faiths alike.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for additional comment.

This isn’t the first time that children have made significant historical discoveries while exploring Israel.

Sanders family listening to presentation in West Bank

Gov. Sanders described the experience as a reminder of the Holy Land’s importance to both Christian and Jewish faiths. (Yesha Council/TPS-IL)

Last December, a 12-year-old girl was hiking with her family when she discovered an ancient Egyptian amulet in Hod Hasharon.

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At Tel Azeka, a little girl found a 3,800-year-old amulet tied to the Canaanite people.

Networks are fine with demonizing ICE but don’t cover attacks against them

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Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz pulled out the smears last May at a law-school graduation. The agents of Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) were “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo,” “scooping folks up off the streets.” It had been Joe Biden’s ICE just four months earlier. How quickly can an agency descend into fascism? 

The national broadcast networks never found that objectionable or newsworthy. The “independent fact-checkers” yawned. Comparing President Donald Trump to Hitler is 24/7 Democrat messaging. Comparing law-enforcement agencies to storm troopers is perfectly fine – when the Democrats aren’t in charge of them. 

It’s become clear that Democrats from Walz on down don’t just oppose mass deportation. They oppose any deportations. They don’t welcome cooperation with ICE. They push resistance against ICE. 

Because ICE is now relentlessly demonized, it shouldn’t be surprising that they’ve been on the receiving end of violence. The broadcast networks yawn. In September in Chicago, an illegal alien ran over and dragged an ICE agent in Chicago until the alien was shot dead. But there was no sympathy for the dragged agent on ABC, CBS, NBC or PBS.

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Jimmy Kimmel holding a shirt that reads, “GET THE F**K OUT OF MPLS.” (Screenshot/ABC)

Last December in St. Paul, Minn., an illegal alien allegedly ran over an ICE agent and bit another agent when he was apprehended. The national networks showed they don’t care. They didn’t bring that up after the latest incident. 

The death of Renee Nicole Good when she threatened to drive into an ICE agent is a tragedy. If activists like Good wanted to protest ICE by showing up wherever they seek to enforce the law and film it on their phones, that’s in our First Amendment tradition. But it’s a crime to get involved in trying to impede law enforcement activity. 

Everyone knew how the broadcast networks would cover this death, with massive energy and outrage. That didn’t happen for women killed by illegal immigrants. We can guess the elitist media would say these murders were atypical for illegal immigrants. But using that logic, apparently ICE shooting a protester is typical for them?

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The broadcast networks didn’t care about 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray being raped and murdered, or the rape and murder of Maryland mom Rachel Morin. When they gave 20 minutes to the trial of Laken Riley’s illegal-immigrant killer last November, it paled in comparison to the 78 minutes the networks gave a little-known comedian at a Trump rally last October calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage.” They were all trying to get former Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz into the White House.  

Not everyone let Democrats rant without a challenge, like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanding ICE “get the f— out of Minneapolis.” Newly minted “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil asked Frey: “The rhetoric we just heard, other things you have said, you’ve now got protesters in the streets saying things like ‘Nazis go home.’ How are you helping the situation calm down?” Frey basically said he won’t: “What I appreciate about this situation right now is we in Minneapolis are all singing with one accord, which is, one, we are going to stand up for our immigrant community. Two, we are going to keep people safe.” 

Democrats routinely call illegal immigrants “our neighbors,” our “immigrant community,” and describe opposing deportation as “keeping people safe.” Frey and the others say ICE isn’t stopping crime, it’s engaged in crime, it’s “sowing chaos.” Radicals impeding ICE activity aren’t engaged in chaos, but in “keeping people safe.” All of that sounds Orwellian. 

But don’t call activists like Good “radical.” The press pretends she was “just a mom.” On NBC’s “Today, reporter Maggie Vespa broke out the “without evidence” claim:  “The Trump administration defending his actions, including Vice President JD Vance in a rare appearance in the White House Briefing Room saying without evidence that [Renee] Good was radicalized … white local officials, including the city’s mayor, dispute the Trump administration’s narrative.”

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Whenever these networks say “without evidence,” it’s because they didn’t look. The New York Post reported Good was an anti-ICE “warrior” who sent her son to Southside Family Charter School, a K-5 academy opened in 1972 that from its inception has been “unabashedly dedicated to social justice education.” 

Everyone knew how the broadcast networks would cover this death, with massive energy and outrage. That didn’t happen for women killed by illegal immigrants.

The broadcast networks didn’t just rant against Trump and ICE on the newscasts. Speaking of Venezuela, ABC “comedian” Jimmy Kimmel brought out a red T-shirt, “They’re trying out a new slogan: ‘DONALD J. TRUMP IS GONNA KILL YOU.’ Pretty good, right?” Moving on to Minneapolis, Kimmel retorted, “This maniac, he isn’t just killing people overseas. An ICE agent today shot and killed an unarmed 37-year-old woman during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, who were there under the guise of protecting us.”

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On ABC’s “The View,” they took their loathing of Trump to a new level, scaring their own audience after the Minneapolis shooting. Cohost Whoopi Goldberg asserted, “That young lady could have been anybody in this audience. It doesn’t matter what — forget color. Forget everything. It could have been anybody and if they can do this to her, they can do it to you, too.” 

You can count on these networks to avoid left-wing rhetorical excess – when they’re not engaged in it. Accounts on X circulated video of a protest in New York’s Foley Square where they chanted “Kristi Noem will Hang!” and “Save a life, kill an ICE!” You might call it the spirit of the post-George Floyd riots of 2020 and the networks won’t disparage it. They’ll use it to announce “growing outrage tonight” against ICE and Trump. 

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Massive iceberg larger than New York City from Reagan era now disintegrating

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An iceberg that broke off from Antarctica 40 years ago and is one of the largest ever tracked by scientists is on the verge of “complete disintegration,” NASA said on Thursday.

A-23A was twice the size of Rhode Island when it first detached from Antarctica in 1986 — during a year when “Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, and the movie ‘Top Gun’ was setting box office records,” the space agency noted.

It is now floating in the South Atlantic between the eastern tip of South America and South Georgia island.

The iceberg was just over 1,500 square miles in 1986, and the U.S. National Ice Center estimates it has dwindled to 456 square miles early this year, after several sizable pieces broke off last summer as it moved to a warmer climate.

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A photo of A-23A taken from the International Space Station on Dec. 27, 2025.  (NASA)

Despite its dwindling size, the berg remains one of the largest in the world, larger than New York City.

A-23A, which is turning blue as it’s soaked with meltwater, was captured by a NASA satellite the day after Christmas.

A NASA scientist aboard the International Space Station took a close-up photo of the berg a day later that showed an “even more extensive melt pool.”

The blue and white stripes visible on the iceberg are likely related to striations that occurred hundreds of years ago when it was part of a glacier dragging across Antarctic bedrock.

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Farther away shot of a23a

A satellite photo taken of A-23A on Dec. 26, 2025.  (NASA)

“It’s impressive that these striations still show up after so much time has passed, massive amounts of snow have fallen, and a great deal of melting has occurred from below,” retired University of Maryland Baltimore County scientist Chris Shuman told NASA.

The iceberg also appears to have “sprung a leak,” with the weight of the water pooling a the top creating enough pressure at the edges for a “blowout,” NASA said.

The iceberg could be between days and weeks from disintegration, scientists say. 

a23a in September north of South Georgia Island

The iceberg north of South Georgia Island in September 2025.  (NASA)

“I certainly don’t expect A-23A to last through the austral summer,” Shuman said, referring to summer in the Southern Hemisphere, which lasts from December to February.

“Even by Antarctic standards, A-23A has had a long, winding journey full of unexpected chapters that have improved scientists’ understanding of the ‘megabergs’ occasionally released into the Southern Ocean,” NASA said.

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The iceberg sat in the shallow water of the Weddell Sea in teh Southern Ocean for more than 30 years, before breaking free in 2020 and into an ocean whirlpool for several months.

It then moved north, nearly colliding with South Georgia Island, east of the Falklands, before heading out into the open ocean where it rapidly began to break apart last year.

UAE cuts UK university funding over radicalization fears: report

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is removing funding for its citizens to study in the United Kingdom, citing concerns they could be radicalized abroad. 

The move means the UAE has removed British universities from a list of higher education institutions eligible for state scholarships amid growing tensions over London’s decision not to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, The Financial Times reported. 

“[The UAE] don’t want their kids to be radicalized on campus,” a person directly involved with the decision told the outlet. 

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A “Welcome to the People’s University for Palestine” banner at King’s College at the University of Cambridge May 11, 2024, in Cambridge, U.K.  (Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)

Since then, Emirati students who have applied to their government for scholarships to study in the U.K. have been denied. 

The move also means that the UAE will not recognize qualifications from academic institutions that are not on its accredited list, rendering degrees from U.K. universities less valuable than others, according to the report. 

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UAE skyline

The skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where funding for its citizens to study in the United Kingdom has been halted.  (Vidhyaa Chandramohan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“All forms of extremism have absolutely no place in our society, and we will stamp them out wherever they are found,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said in a statement. “We offer one of the best education systems in the world and maintain stringent measures on student welfare and on-campus safety.”

The UAE has taken a hardline approach to Islamist movements abroad and at home. 

During the 2023-24 school year, 70 students at U.K. universities were reported for possible referral to the government’s deradicalization program, the report states. 

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UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has repeatedly questioned the U.K.’s decision to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. 

Starmer’s administration last year said the matter was under “close review.”

American Airlines is offering free Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members on flights

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American Airlines travelers will soon be able to browse, stream and work online for free on most flights.

Beginning this month, AAdvantage members can access free satellite-based Wi-Fi on more than 2 million American Airlines flights this year, the airline announced.

The Wi-Fi service is sponsored by telecommunications company AT&T.

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The rollout will happen in phases, starting with its narrowbody and dual-class regional fleets, the company said. 

By the spring, the airline expects free high-speed Wi-Fi to be available on nearly every flight.

The service is being rolled out in partnership with AT&T. (iStock)

The airline said the move reflects years of investment into connectivity on flights as demand from travelers continues to grow.

“Free high-speed Wi-Fi isn’t just a perk — it’s essential for today’s travelers,” said Heather Garboden, American Airlines’ chief customer officer in a statement. 

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AT&T said the sponsorship is focused on improving the in-flight experience for customers.

“By sponsoring free in-flight Wi-Fi for American Airlines AAdvantage members, we’re making it easier for people to stay productive, entertained and in touch from takeoff to landing,” AT&T said.

Passenger wearing headphones and using a smartphone while seated in an airplane cabin.

The airline plans to expand free high-speed Wi-Fi to nearly all flights by the spring. (iStock)

To access the free Wi-Fi, passengers must be AAdvantage members. 

The airline’s loyalty program is free to join.

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Several airlines have expanded free or low-cost Wi-Fi offerings in recent years, particularly for loyalty members, as competition grows to keep passengers connected in the air.

Man using a laptop while seated in an airplane cabin during a flight.

The free Wi-Fi is available to AAdvantage members, and enrollment in the loyalty program is free. (iStock)

United Airlines offers Wi-Fi on most flights, with standard access costing $8 for MileagePlus members and $10 for other passengers on many domestic routes, according to the airline’s website.

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Delta offers free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on most flights, presented by T-Mobile — though coverage may vary, the airline’s website says.

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Fox News Digital reached out to American Airlines for further comment.

Trump administration issues travel ban on Antigua and Barbuda over ‘golden’ visas

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“Golden” visas have been popular among America’s wealthiest over the past year or so.

While Americans are increasingly seeking second citizenship residencies as an “insurance” against global uncertainty, U.S. officials are taking actions against countries with such programs amid security risks.

U.S. officials say citizenship-by-investment programs can allow individuals from restricted countries to obtain new passports and bypass U.S. travel, financial or banking restrictions.

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In a proclamation posted on Dec. 16, President Donald Trump reinstated an executive order, as well as a proclamation related to restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals to protect U.S. security. 

A slew of travel bans were named, specifically noting that Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda have citizenship by investment (CPI) programs with relaxed residency and screening requirements.

Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda are listed in a new travel ban citing citizenship by investment concerns. (iStock)

“A foreign national from a country that is subject to travel restrictions could purchase CBI from a second country that is not subject to travel restrictions, obtain a passport in the citizenship of that second country, and subsequently apply for a United States visa for travel to the United States, thus evading the travel restrictions on his or her first country,” the proclamation says.

“United States law enforcement and the Department of State have found that, historically, CBI programs have been susceptible to several risks,” it added. “These risks include allowing an individual to conceal his or her identity and assets to circumvent travel restrictions or financial or banking restrictions.”

Those seeking “golden passports” only need to have five days of their physical presence within the first five years after citizenship is granted. 

The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) is an Antigua and Barbuda government body established to administer all applications.

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Those seeking “golden passports” only need to have five days of their physical presence within the first five years after citizenship is granted, according to CIU.

“Golden passport” holders are granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 countries — including the Schengen Area — to allow applicants to retain their original nationality by gaining dual citizenship, according to CIU.

Aerial view of Jolly Harbour Beach, Antigua

“United States law enforcement and the Department of State have found that, historically, CBI programs have been susceptible to several risks,” according to a new proclamation.  (iStock)

Antigua and Barbuda also offers tax advantages, with no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax — and citizenship is granted for life.

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The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) found that 7,700 individuals, including war crime figures related to Russian and Iran, obtained Dominican citizenship, according to OCCRP’s 2023 investigation.

“Responsibility sits with every stakeholder, including service providers, who conduct their own thorough due diligence before onboarding clients.”

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit reiterated in a statement posted on Facebook that his country enacted comprehensive CBI legislative reforms back in October related to background checks and financial transparency.

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“Dominica values its strong and long-standing relationship with the United States, including close cooperation in maritime security and regional stability,” Skerrit wrote. 

“The government reiterates that a threat to the United States is also a threat to Dominica and the wider Caribbean, and remains fully committed to cooperation, transparency and shared security objectives.”

antigua harbor aerial view

Those seeking “golden passports” in Antigua and Barbuda only need to log five days of being physically present within the first five years after citizenship is granted. (iStock)

Mo Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, a global financial advisory and consultancy firm, told Fox News Digital he is surprised to see Antiqua listed.

“The country has continuously increased its due diligence and applicant vetting to a very rigorous level, using the same types of international security firms applied across the industry,” he said. 

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“Today, responsibility also sits with every stakeholder, including service providers, who conduct their own thorough due diligence before onboarding clients,” Bennis added.

“This appears to be more a reflection of evolving border control policies than a failure of Antigua’s standards, particularly as similar golden visa and residency programs exist in both the U.S. and Europe,” he added.

Mel Robbins shares tips for lessening flight anxiety for nervous travelers on planes

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Author and podcast host Mel Robbins recently opened up about her experience with flight anxiety, sharing a simple mental technique she says helped her manage it.

She discussed the approach on a recent episode of the “Delusional Diaries” podcast with hosts Halley Kate and Jaz.

Flight anxiety isn’t always about the plane itself, Robbins said during the conversation. Instead, it’s about the thoughts people spiral into while flying — particularly fears about crashing, turbulence in the air or the loss of control.

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“The reason why you have anxiety is you are thinking about the plane crashing and dying and your life being over,” Robbins said.

To help manage that anxiety, Robbins detailed a strategy she calls an “anchor thought,” which involves visualizing a specific, positive moment that will happen after the flight.

Mel Robbins said flight anxiety comes from spiraling thoughts about uncertainty and loss of control — and that a simple mental technique may help manage it. (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images)

The technique works by giving the mind something concrete to focus on when fear starts to take over, she said. 

In the episode, Robbins asked Kate — who was preparing to travel to Venice — to picture something she was excited to do once she arrived.

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Robbins then encouraged Kate to make the image as detailed as possible, focusing on sights, sounds and physical sensations.

She said engaging the five senses helps lock the image into the brain — making it easier to return to when anxiety spikes during a flight.

Mel Robbins on stage, wearing a black blazer and tee shirt, with blue jeans, holding her arm out to the side.

An “anchor thought,” which involves visualizing a positive moment that will happen after the flight, may help people manage flight anxiety, Robbins said. (Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images)

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and that anchor thought,” Robbins said.

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Robbins said having that mental image ready gives the brain something else to focus on when fear starts to rise, rather than spiraling into worst-case scenarios.

Woman seated by an airplane window, looking outside during a daytime flight.

That mental image helps redirect the brain’s attention as anxiety builds, preventing it from drifting into worst-case thinking. (iStock)

Robbins added that the technique doesn’t eliminate anxiety altogether, but can help reduce how intense it feels over time.

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Jonathan Alpert, a New York–based psychotherapist and author of “Therapy Nation,” told Fox News Digital that fear of flying is usually less about the actual safety of the plane. 

“Most people aren’t reacting to the actual safety of flying.”

It’s more about uncertainty and a perceived loss of control, he said. 

“Most people aren’t reacting to the actual safety of flying,” Alpert said. “They’re reacting to the ‘what ifs,’ and this is what drives their anxiety.”

He added that the culture of flying itself has made anxiety worse for many travelers.

Woman sitting on the airport floor beside a suitcase, covering her face in distress.

The culture of modern air travel may have made anxiety worse for many travelers. (iStock)

“Crowded gates, delays, viral clips of passengers melting down, arguments over seats or bins.  By the time someone gets to their row, their nervous system is already dialed up,” Alpert said.

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He explained that many of his patients are more afraid of the experience of flying than the flight itself.

Alpert recommends practical steps to help keep anxiety manageable.

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“What helps most is bringing the focus back to what they can control: simple routines, breathing that brings the heart rate down a little, limiting doom-scrolling before boarding, and reminding themselves that discomfort isn’t danger,” he said.