On September 2, 2008, United Airlines has reported it will stop all service at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport...along with the Palm Beach International Airport. The case? Fuel costs. All the big airlines are slashing their fleets and seats and the 'leisure' airports will be the ones to get cuts. Miami International Airport will still have 'United' service...but 'trimmed down'.

When I first heard about this...I thought "wow...this is getting pretty bad for South Florida". Then I began to get some details. Bottom line? It won't be THAT bad. United only has 4 flights daily from Ft. Lauderdale and one in Palm Beach. That's really nothing when you compare to the other 'big guys' like Delta and American. Also, while United is pulling out...the low-cost carriers like Spirit, Southwest and Jet Blue appear to be adding flights (or talking about adding them). If you have already booked a flight on United and it's after September 2 flying into or out of Ft. Lauderdale or Palm Beach...you should call your travel agent or United immediately. 

Cruise lines will have the biggest challenge trying to keep up with all the changes. You also should be checking your flight itinerary quite often to make sure your flights have not been canceled. While there usually isn't major changes...your schedule can be thrown off if you booked a direct flight..and now it's a stop-over.

In a few years air travel is going to be much different than we know it today.  Lets hope it will all work out for both the airlines and us passengers.