Should I Worry About Airline Bankruptcies and Safety Incidents?

Start with what's in your control. AirBaltic's Chapter 11 filing is a restructuring, not a liquidation — they have debtor-in-possession financing and plan to emerge by July 2027. But the airline is also cutting its fleet by a third, and as the article notes, downsizing into profitability is very difficult. If you have AirBaltic tickets or miles, don't panic, but do consider booking future travel with a credit card that offers trip cancellation or default protection, and avoid tying up large sums in prepaid nonrefundable fares or mileage purchases until the restructuring is further along.

On the safety front, the KLM power bank incident is a vivid reminder that lithium-ion batteries are no joke. KLM already prohibits charging or using power banks during flight, and many airlines have similar rules. The takeaway: keep your power bank in your carry-on, not your checked bag, and do not plug it into the seat's USB or AC outlet during the flight. If you need a charge, use the seat's outlet directly for your phone or laptop, not for a power bank. And if you're flying with a device that shows any swelling or damage, leave it home.

As for delays, American is finally testing a more honest approach to rolling delays in Charlotte — estimating boarding time based on when the inbound aircraft actually arrives, rather than kicking the can down the runway. That's progress, but it's a pilot program. Until it rolls out systemwide, your best defense is still the same: use FlightRadar24 or your airline's app to track your plane's inbound status, and if you see a pattern of small pushes, don't wait at the gate — ask the gate agent or rebook proactively if you have a tight connection.