So many sites ask for permission to send notifications that have zero reason to do so. Why would I want push notifications from a shopping or news site?
Communication platforms; messaging apps (Slack, Discord etc); email sites (gmail and co.) also make sense. Financial platforms (banks, Stripe etc)
Once you start getting out of these two categories, then yeah, it gets silly. No way should an airline website even be allowed to ask to send push notifications.
Google does have a way for Chrome users to not show the notification window (https://yespo.io/blog/google-chrome-will-now-block-abusive-b...) by default (https://support.google.com/webtools/answer/9799829?hl=en) but I really wish that this was flipped, so that Google would first need to approve sites to use notifications, similar to the Public Suffix List.
Your flight is delayed/now boarding/etc?
Your phone needs a web browser or an app. An app for every airline you ever use? You already have a web browser.
They could SMS but its more expensive to send, often even more so for customers on roaming to receive.
Nothing else is universal.
I think there are much better possible solutions. An open notification standard or reasonable pricing of bulk sending SMS would do it.
If browser notification permissions would have a TTL, I'd might considering it. But until this happens I won't allow anyone to send me browser notifications. And even then I'd be very picky.
And yet I’m sure airlines will push you towards the app every time!
Generally, the recommendation is that you get to the airport at least two hours before your flight departs. Ideally, you shouldn't be rushing to try to get your plane.
Granted, the world has changed since that was first a recommendation, but even in today's connected world, it's still a good idea to get there two hours before departure, in my experience.
A lot of delays are known much earlier than that. For example if a flight gets seriously delayed taking off and the plane is going to turn round and return, then the return flight will be delayed.
In any case, once at the airport delays will be announced and shown on screens. Once you get there you do not need phone notifications.
Many airlines now more or less force you to install their bespoke apps, which could have just as well been websites, just to board their planes. I'm less than happy to install them.
Financial data or travel info is something I'm actively watching, when I travel, just like car traffic. Otherwise, why would I need to know? That's a good question to ask anyway anytime you come across an inbox. I have been in management really long now and designing your information flow strategically is crucial to being effective.
It seems that companies like this can't help but abuse the permissions I grant them, so the result is that they don't get any permissions at all.
I don't understand why people would want that, but neither do I understand the people who actually enter their email address in those "subscribe to my newsletter" popovers.