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Week in Review

Last weekend, an air traffic control glitch caused major delays hitting Washington, D.C. and New York especially hard. GBTA called for a top-to-bottom review of the air travel disruption calling it an unacceptable outcome and pressing for a close examination of the long-term planning process.

In better news for consumers, Slate reports that airline ticket prices are getting cheaper. Alison Griswold writes that when the Consumer Price Index for July was released, it showed that the index for airline fares fell a striking 5.6 percent from June to July—the biggest one-month drop since December 1995.

The Washington Post reported on a new pilot program that will allow you give federal agencies feedback on how well they served you. In the coming weeks, passengers at Reagan National, LaGuardia, Los Angeles International and San Francisco International will see kiosks where they can give immediate feedback on their TSA experience.

JFK airport is trying to manage your expectations about waiting in lines by using beacons to monitor mobile phones so signage can display accurate wait times in hopes of reducing passenger frustration and to notifying staffing if areas in the terminal are becoming congested, so staff can identify and rectify bottlenecks before they escalate.

Curious about the U.S. government’s expedited screening programs for frequent fliers? Quartz breaks down the various programs and answers any questions you may have about the process and eligibility.

Danny King of Travel Weekly reports on a new study that shows more American consumers who book travel online are shopping those trips on their mobile devices, then booking them on the desktop websites for OTAs, hotels, airlines and car rental companies.

Marketplace asks why hotels are doing so well right now and writes that “life is sweet if you’re a hotel chain right now” reporting that demand is up and supply is short so hotels can charge more.

Finally, your lists for this week come from Business Insider with 16 packing tips every business traveler should know and CNN with 7 ground-breaking travel accessories you should have.