Air travel has always been a little like jazz. There’s a structure, a rhythm, and then a whole lot of improvisation when something goes sideways. Lately though, the airlines have been rewriting the sheet music while the band is already playing.

Dress codes are suddenly a thing again. Wheelchair services are under scrutiny. Longstanding perks are quietly evaporating. Seating systems are changing. Miles are getting harder to earn. WiFi, finally, is improving, but on wildly different timelines. Lounges are packed to the rafters and sometimes politely shut in your face.

If you travel blind or low vision, this isn’t just industry noise. These changes directly affect predictability, dignity, and how much mental energy it takes to get from your front door to your destination.

So let’s walk through what’s actually changing, what’s confirmed, what’s messy, and what it all means in real-world terms for BlindTravels readers.

Dress codes are back, and enforcement is inconsistent at best

Several airlines have tightened or clarified their appearance policies, most publicly Spirit Airlines, which updated its rules to explicitly prohibit see-through clothing and exposed private areas. While Spirit is the loudest about it, other airlines already had similar language buried in contracts of carriage and are now enforcing it more visibly.

That shift alone would have been notable, but it collided with social media in predictable fashion.

The Florida-bound pants incident

In early 2026, a passenger on a United Airlines flight bound for Florida reportedly removed his pants during boarding and remained in his underwear. Photos circulated online, and mainstream travel coverage picked it up shortly after. There is no evidence this was an organized protest, but it became a lightning rod moment in the larger conversation about dress codes, enforcement, and passenger behavior.

Why this matters if you’re blind or low vision

Dress code rules tend to rely on subjective words like “appropriate” or “offensive.” Subjectivity is where accessibility starts to wobble.

Lighting changes between home, rideshare, terminal, and jet bridge. Fabrics behave differently in bright airport lighting. A shirt that felt opaque at home can suddenly become “see-through” under terminal LEDs, and if you can’t easily verify that visually, you’re at the mercy of someone else’s judgment.

Practical travel move:
Carry one neutral, gate-safe layer in your personal item. A lightweight overshirt or zip hoodie can instantly solve a problem without turning it into a confrontation.

If you are stopped, simple language works best:
“I’m blind. I’m happy to adjust. Can you tell me what specifically needs changing?”

“Jetway Jesus,” wheelchair misuse claims, and the uncomfortable middle ground

The term “Jetway Jesus” has entered the travel lexicon, referring to passengers who request wheelchair assistance to board and then appear to walk off the plane on arrival. Major outlets, including business and travel press, have documented the frustration around this phenomenon.

Here’s the critical nuance.

Yes, some people abuse systems. That happens everywhere humans are involved. But many disabilities are non-visible, situational, or fluctuate. Someone may not be able to stand in a TSA line for 45 minutes but can walk a short distance later. Airlines are legally restricted from demanding proof, and those restrictions exist to protect disabled travelers, not inconvenience gate agents.

Why blind travelers should care deeply about this narrative

When staff are trained, formally or informally, to “watch for fakers,” the fallout rarely lands on the people gaming the system. It lands on people who actually need accommodations.

That can look like:

• extra questioning,
• visible skepticism,
• slower service,
• or a subtle shift from “how can I help?” to “prove it.”

If you’re blind and requesting assistance, you are not cutting corners. You are asking for safe navigation in a complex, fast-moving environment.

Language that holds the line without escalating:
“I’m blind and need assistance for safe boarding.”
“This is a standard accommodation request.”

Repeat calmly if needed. You do not owe a medical explanation.

Southwest changed its DNA, bags now cost real money

For decades, “bags fly free” was practically synonymous with Southwest Airlines. That era is over.

Most travelers now face:

• $35 for the first checked bag
• $45 for the second checked bag

Higher fare classes and elite status can still include free bags, but for many people, especially budget-conscious travelers, this is a meaningful shift.

Why this hits blind travelers harder than average

Blind and low vision travelers often carry redundancy by necessity. Backup cane tips, tactile labels, extra chargers, guide dog gear, medications packed separately for safety. When bag fees rise, the pressure to jam everything into a carry-on increases, and carry-on space is already a competitive sport.

Practical move:
Treat your personal item like an accessibility lifeline. Anything that would genuinely derail your trip if lost belongs there, not in a checked bag.

Southwest is also ending open seating, and assigned seats are here

Another major shift at Southwest Airlines is the end of open seating. Flights departing on or after January 27, 2026 use assigned seating with zone-based boarding.

For some travelers, this reduces anxiety. For others, it simply changes the math.

Accessibility implications

Open seating had its own chaos, but it also allowed blind travelers to use consistent strategies, like finding the first available aisle or settling quickly with a guide dog before overhead bins filled.

Assigned seating introduces new variables:

• seat selection may cost extra,
• fare class matters more,
• last-minute changes can be harder to negotiate at the gate.

Smart booking habit:
When you select a seat, choose based on function, not prestige. Aisle access, proximity to the front, and space for a guide dog curl matter far more than row numbers.

American Airlines is cutting miles on Basic Economy

As of December 17, 2025, American Airlines no longer awards AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points on Basic Economy tickets.

This is part of a broader industry trend, but it’s a particularly sharp cut.

Why miles still matter for accessibility

Frequent flyer status is not just about upgrades. It can mean:

• priority rebooking during disruptions,
• fewer fees,
• better seat options,
• more flexible customer service.

When earning pathways shrink, travelers with tighter budgets lose long-term stability, not just points.

Business class is being unbundled, and naming conventions are a mess

Airlines are experimenting with stripped-down premium fares, sometimes described informally as “basic business.” You get the physical seat, but fewer perks, less flexibility, and sometimes reduced benefits.

Delta Air Lines has been actively testing and refining fare families across cabins, reflecting a broader move toward selling the seat separately from the experience.

What’s consistent is inconsistency. Fare names vary wildly, and two tickets labeled “business” can have completely different rules.

Why this matters

For blind travelers, clarity is safety. If you don’t know whether your ticket allows seat changes, refunds, or miles, you’re booking blind in the worst possible way.

Five questions to check before purchasing any fare:

1. Is a carry-on included?
2. Can I choose my seat?
3. Are changes allowed?
4. Is any part refundable?
5. Do I earn miles or points?

If the answer isn’t clearly yes, assume no.

WiFi is finally improving, just not all at once

This is one of the rare areas of genuinely good news.

• Delta Air Lines has offered free WiFi for SkyMiles members on many domestic flights since 2023, with ongoing expansion.
• United Airlines began rolling out Starlink-powered WiFi on regional aircraft in 2025, with fleet-wide expansion underway.
• American Airlines announced free WiFi for AAdvantage members starting in early 2026, with broad availability expected by spring.
• Southwest Airlines began offering free WiFi to Rapid Rewards members in October 2025.
• JetBlue continues to offer free Fly-Fi to all passengers.

Why WiFi is accessibility infrastructure

In-flight WiFi is not a luxury for blind travelers. It enables:

• accessible entertainment through personal devices,
• real-time rebooking during delays,
• communication with travel partners,
• access to airline apps when announcements are unclear or inaccessible.

Reliable WiFi reduces dependency on hurried verbal announcements and overstressed gate agents.

Lounges are crowded, Priority Pass is diluted, and backup plans matter

Airport lounges used to be a reliable refuge when connections fell apart. Increasingly, they’re full, restricted, or temporarily closed due to capacity.

Priority Pass access, now bundled with many premium credit cards, has diluted the experience. Lounges fill up, lines form, and turn-aways are common.

Why this matters if you miss a connection

Lounges once provided:

• quiet space,
• seating you could count on,
• staffed desks,
• a calmer environment for rebooking.

Now, counting on lounge access as your Plan A is risky.

Better strategy:
Assume the lounge may be unavailable. Use WiFi and the airline app to rebook first, then look for physical comfort and quiet second.

The takeaway for blind and low vision travelers

None of these changes mean you shouldn’t fly. They do mean flying now rewards preparation more than ever.

Know your fare. Save your confirmations. Pack with intention. Ask for what you need without apology. And remember that accessibility is not a courtesy, it’s a right, even when the rules keep changing.

If the airlines insist on improvising, we’ll keep traveling with a plan.

See you at the gate!

Ted and Fauna