Newark Airport Is in Crisis — Here’s What Travelers Need to Know

Read today's edition of Gate Access • May 5th, 2025

Happy Cinco De Mayo. The REAL ID Act officially takes effect this Wednesday, introducing a new layer of ID requirements for domestic air travel. If you're flying this week, plan to arrive early. It's still unclear how the rollout will affect security wait times, especially at major airports.

I'll share more insights next week once there's real-world data on how the transition is impacting travelers.

---

🚨 On The Radar

🟢 JetBlue is reportedly in talks with United Airlines to form a domestic partnership that would focus on frequent flyer benefits and improved connectivity without coordinating schedules or fares.

🟢 ​United Airlines has canceled 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport due to severe air traffic control staffing shortages and repeated FAA technology failures.

🟢 Frontier Airlines is reducing its flight schedule on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, citing economic uncertainty and a significant drop in demand during March.

🟢 ​Domestic airfare prices are trending downward ahead of summer 2025, with March fares falling over 5% year-over-year due to softer demand and economic uncertainty.

The cheapest week to fly this summer? I reveal it in today’s extended version.

---

😳 Wild TSA Bag Checks

Yes, you can bring food through TSA checkpoints, but not everything belongs inside it. In a now-infamous 2022 incident, TSA officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport discovered a firearm hidden inside a raw chicken.

Credit: TSA

---

🍩 Free Doughnuts at Krispy Kreme on May 7th

Krispy Kreme is taking advantage of the REAL ID Act with this sweet twist. The donut shop is offering a free Original Glazed doughnut to all guests this Tuesday, May 7th, no ID or purchase required. Just stop by any participating shop or drive-thru and enjoy a stress-free treat while supplies last.

---

✈️ What You Need to Know About United's Basic Economy Baggage Policy

gateaccess

A post shared by @gateaccess

If you're flying on a United Airlines Basic Economy fare, the baggage policy is strict and expensive if you misstep. Here's a quick guide so you don't get caught off guard.

What’s Allowed (U.S. Domestic & Short-Haul Int’l Flights)

One personal item only (must fit under the seat)
Examples: small backpack, purse, laptop bag
Size limit: approx. 17 x 10 x 9 inches

❌ Not allowed: Full-sized carry-on bags (unless you're on certain international routes or have elite status or a United credit card)

If Your Personal Item Is Oversized

If United decides your personal item is too large:

• ❌ You can’t pay to bring it as a carry-on

• ✅ You’ll be forced to check it at the gate

• 💸 You’ll pay TWO fees:

  • ✔️ Checked bag fee

  • ✔️ $25 gate handling charge

🔒 Want to avoid surprise fees at the gate?
You might be following the rules and still get charged. That’s because of the fine print, which I outlined in today’s extended edition.

---

Become a paid subscriber and never miss a Gate Access real-time alerts & digital downloads like:

🔓 New Tech Coming to TSA

How to Travel Through TSA With Duty-Free

---

👀 The Newark Meltdown is Serious

If you’re flying in or out of Newark Liberty, brace yourself—or better yet, make alternate plans.

The airport is in the middle of a full-blown operational crisis, with delays now stretching into an unprecedented seventh consecutive day. It’s not just bad luck or rainy weather—this is the clearest signal yet that the U.S. air traffic control system is buckling under years of neglect.

A massive staffing shortage, a partial walk-off by air traffic controllers, and a system so outdated it's still running on floppy disks and copper wires. No, seriously. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the FAA’s current technology is “incredibly old”—and the ripple effects are crushing operations at one of the country’s busiest hubs.

Here's what I discovered: