Flight Buzz
How a viral post led to Juurnee, a travel site matching passengers with helpers | Consumer affairs
It started as a cry for help that went viral. Rachel Crampton was facing a 23-hour flight with three children under the age of five. Unable to recruit a family member or friend to help out, she took to social media and offered a sizeable cash payment – A$1,000 (about £560 at the time) – to someone who would accompany her on the epic London-to-Sydney flight.
Crampton, a Briton based in Sydney, was inundated with responses and found an “amazing Aussie girl” living in London who was homesick but could not afford the flight back to Australia.
She has since turned that experience into a business which has just launched in the UK after success in Australia. Her website, Juurnee, matches those who want help on a flight with people willing to be their travel companion.
Those needing help could include a parent travelling solo with toddlers, an older person requiring some assistance, someone with a disability, an unaccompanied child, or a nervous flyer.
The companion receives a payment that will cover part, or all, of the cost of their flight.
At the time of writing there were 30 live requests for help on the site. These included a London-to-Switzerland return flight, where the full cost is offered to someone who can help an older passenger who uses a wheelchair; and a London-to-Sydney return trip, with 50% of the flight cost paid, for someone who can help a mother with her one-year-old (there is an option to help just one way).
Crampton says more than 12,000 people have signed up to be a companion and many are qualified teachers, nurses, midwives, childcare workers and others who have clearances to work with children, or qualifications to assist people with disabilities.
But she adds: “You don’t need to be a nanny or nurse – just a decent person willing to lend a hand.”
People seeking a companion can post their offer for free and don’t pay for a successful match. They list the route, the date, the flight details and the sum they are willing to pay someone to travel with them.
They can choose their own payment amount, although the website recommends 50% to 100% of a companion’s flight cost.
Companions sign up for free and can view the offers, but pay a £15-a-year subscription to be able to message people directly to offer their services. They buy their own flights, so, to that extent, the person who needs help is not responsible for them.
Once a companion has applied for an offer, the person requesting help has 14 days to accept and match with them. If selected, the companion will be put in touch with the individual needing help.
Crampton recommends companions get paid at the end of the trip, and that an escrow service is used to hold the payment from when the agreement is struck until 48 hours after landing. “At the moment we are recommending our matched travellers use Escrow.com,” she adds.
There is no official “contract” between the two parties provided by the site – for example, outlining what is expected of the companion – but Crampton says users are free to create one themselves. The website does provide a guide that covers different scenarios.
What if the companion doesn’t turn up at the airport? “We haven’t had this situation crop up just yet,” says Crampton.
If, say, the companion rearranged their flight, they would not be paid their fee. “Hopefully, they would inform Juurnee, or the person they were meant to be helping, in advance, and then we can find another companion,” she says.
Flight Buzz
Major Airlines in the USA, Along with Canada See Over 85 Cancelled Flights: United, Delta, Air Canada Cause Travel Chaos to New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver
Published on
August 8, 2025 |
Recent disruptions have impacted several major airlines, with 85 total flight cancellations affecting travelers across the USA and Canada. United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and WestJet Encore have all experienced significant operational issues, primarily disrupting both domestic and international routes. These cancelled flights have left many passengers scrambling to adjust their travel plans. Below is a breakdown of the affected routes and airlines.
USA: Widespread Flight Cancellations Across Major Airlines
Several airlines in the USA have experienced widespread cancellations, particularly affecting both domestic and international routes. United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have been among the hardest-hit carriers. Below is a closer look at the routes most affected by these cancellations, along with the number of cancellations.
United Airlines
United Airlines faced 20 cancellations, impacting both domestic and international routes. The most affected routes include:
- Chicago O’Hare to Philadelphia: A key domestic route for business and leisure travelers was severely disrupted by multiple cancellations.
- New York (LaGuardia) to Chicago: This heavily traveled route was impacted by cancellations, leaving many passengers with no alternative flight options.
- Los Angeles to Sydney: Several trans-Pacific flights from Los Angeles to Sydney were canceled, causing disruptions for travelers heading to Australia.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines experienced 8 cancellations, particularly affecting routes between key West Coast cities. The most disrupted routes included:
- Seattle to Kahului (Hawaii): Flights between Seattle and Hawaii faced multiple cancellations, affecting travelers heading to a popular vacation destination.
- Salt Lake City to Seattle: This route saw multiple cancellations, disrupting travel for passengers in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West.
- Los Angeles to Seattle: Flights between these two major hubs were canceled, causing inconvenience for business and leisure travelers.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue experienced 4 cancellations across both domestic and international routes:
- Boston to Palm Beach: This route, connecting New England with Florida, saw significant cancellations.
- Pittsburgh to Boston: Affected by multiple cancellations, this route caused delays for passengers trying to get between these northeastern cities.
- Piarco (Trinidad) to JFK: International travelers faced disruptions with cancellations between Trinidad and New York City.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines had 9 cancellations across both domestic and international routes. The most affected routes included:
- Tampa to Atlanta: Flights between these two key cities were canceled, causing issues for travelers.
- Atlanta to Boston: This crucial route for business and leisure travelers was severely impacted by cancellations.
- Seattle to Salt Lake City: Delta’s route between Seattle and Salt Lake City, serving both business and leisure travelers, faced disruptions.
- Naples to New York: International connections were affected, with cancellations disrupting passengers traveling from Italy to the U.S.
American Airlines
American Airlines faced 12 cancellations across both domestic and international routes. The most affected routes included:
- McGhee Tyson (Tennessee) to Charlotte: This important regional route saw cancellations, impacting travelers within the southeastern U.S.
- Dallas-Fort Worth to McGhee Tyson: Flights on this route, connecting Tennessee to Texas, were canceled, affecting numerous travelers.
- Edinburgh to Philadelphia: Transatlantic flights were affected, disrupting passengers traveling between the U.S. and Europe.
- Tokyo to Los Angeles: American Airlines’ long-haul flights between Japan and the U.S. were also impacted, causing disruptions for international passengers.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines saw 1 cancellation, affecting primarily domestic routes:
- Dallas-Fort Worth to Denver: This route, connecting two major U.S. cities, faced cancellation, creating inconvenience for passengers traveling between Texas and Colorado.
Canada: Air Canada and WestJet Encore Affected by Cancellations
In Canada, Air Canada and WestJet Encore experienced significant disruptions, particularly impacting domestic and international travel. The following sections cover the affected routes and the number of cancellations.
Air Canada
Air Canada, Canada’s largest carrier, faced 8 cancellations, impacting both domestic and international routes. Some of the most disrupted routes included:
- Toronto to Vancouver: One of the busiest domestic routes in Canada, it faced multiple cancellations.
- Montreal to Frankfurt: Several long-haul flights between Montreal and Europe were canceled, causing disruptions for international travelers.
- Toronto to Calgary: This domestic route, connecting Canada’s major hubs, was impacted by multiple cancellations.
- Montreal to Los Angeles: Flights between Montreal and Los Angeles also faced cancellations, disrupting travel between Canada and the U.S.
WestJet Encore
WestJet Encore, primarily operating regional routes, experienced 7 cancellations, affecting key connections within Canada. The most disrupted routes included:
- Calgary to Nanaimo: This regional route, connecting Calgary with Nanaimo, was affected by cancellations.
- Vancouver to Victoria: Flights between Vancouver and Victoria saw several cancellations.
- Edmonton to Grande Prairie: This important regional route within Alberta was affected, with travelers stranded due to cancellations.
- Vancouver to Fort St. John: Regional flights between Vancouver and Fort St. John were also disrupted, causing inconvenience in northern British Columbia.
Conclusion
The latest round of United, Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, Air Canada, and WestJet Encore airline cancellations seems to be the result of operational triggers. As domestic and international flights are affected, United, Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, Air Canada, and WestJet Encore are forced to cancel or reschedule flights. Informational updates and tailored communication are highly recommended.
As the weather, demand surges, and operational challenges create an endless web of cancellations, it becomes impossibly difficult to steer clear of the busy travel season. Waiting hours to check in and mulling for hours to board triggers a cascading domino effect. With United, Alaska, Delta, and JetBlue demand surges, local flights enable connectivity of international flights. It is of utmost importance to remain vigilant about the ongoing changes for airports and flights.
Key Points
- International airlines are reporting decreased demand for U.S. flights, citing stricter U.S. immigration policies.
- Several countries have issued travel advisories for the U.S., and visits from top tourism markets are down.
- Some airlines are shifting capacity away from the U.S. to other markets, such as China, in response to softer demand.
Summary
International airlines are experiencing a decline in demand for U.S. flights, attributing it to the Trump administration’s tightening of immigration policies and increased scrutiny at U.S. borders. Travelers, including international students, are reconsidering or postponing trips, and several countries have issued travel advisories warning about potential risks when visiting the U.S. In response to reduced demand, some airlines are reallocating capacity to other destinations, while overall international visits to the U.S. have dropped notably in 2025.
American Airlines is set to resume its non-stop transatlantic service between Budapest and Philadelphia from May 2026.
The flight was previously suspended during the pandemic.
It restarts from 21 May 2026 as a summer service and follows more than a year of preparatory work by the airport.
The flight will operate daily until 5 October 2026 on 234-seater Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
With the resumption of the flight, American Airlines will offer 3200 seats per week between the two cities, as well as connections departing from Budapest to more than 100 destinations in North America and the Caribbean.
François Berisot, CEO of Budapest Airport, said: “The direct flight to Philadelphia is of huge significance for tourism and trade, and I am proud to welcome American Airlines back among our airline partners.”
“Budapest Airport is continuing to work hard to develop more and more destinations from Budapest, including transatlantic flights.”
“This new direct service further strengthens Budapest’s position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing and most exciting city destinations,” said Olivér Csendes, the CEO of Visit Hungary.
Tickets for the 2026 summer season go on sale starting 11 August 2025 on the American Airlines website and mobile app, as well as through official travel partners.
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