Tagged: air-travel

You Paid for a Specific Seat on a Flight. The Airline Changed It. Now What?

As far as modern air travel grievances go, involuntary seat swaps and downgrades are more of an annoyance than a trip destroyer. You still get to your destination, more often than not…

TSA Makes Leap Toward Privatization with TSA Gold+

Fresh off a monthslong partial government shutdown that led to chaotic airport checkpoint lines, staff working without pay for 44 days, and more than 1,000 agents walking off the job…

First-of-Its-Kind "Remote Terminal" Lets You Go Through TSA Before Arriving at the Airport

For the first time, some air travelers will soon be able to complete the Transportation Security Administration screening process at a remote location, before arriving at the…

Spirit Airlines Has Ceased Operations. Here's What Travelers and Ticket Holders Need to Know

If you're holding a ticket for a future flight on Spirit, it's important that you move quickly to start the refund process. In situations where a carrier in bankruptcy stops…

4 Things Travelers to Europe Can Do to Prepare for Long EES Airport Delays

As we predicted, the implementation of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing extended delays at airports across the continent. The system requires incoming non-EU…

Another Major U.S. Airline Is Restricting This Common Device on Flights

Due to safety concerns, American Airlines has tightened its rules for traveling with portable chargers that run on lithium batteries. Effective Friday, May 1, each passenger is limited…

Will Travel Insurance Reimburse You if the Looming Fuel Shortage Wreaks Havoc on Travel to Europe?

We’re living in uncertain times, and that means you have to take more precautions when booking travel for the upcoming months.Case in point: summer travel to Europe. Every major news…

Everybody's Least Favorite U.S. Airline Named Best U.S. Airline in New Ranking

One U.S. carrier sometimes seems less like an airline than a punchline. If you're making a joke about crummy service, outrageous fees, or uncomfortable seats in the skies, it's highly…

Checked Luggage Fees Have Gone Up Again. Here's What You'll Pay, Airline by Airline

The war in Iran has sent jet fuel prices soaring, and you can bet the airlines will pass along as big a share of those costs as possible to the consumer. That means higher airfares…

United Airlines Introduces Basic Business Class, Making Free Perks Cost Extra. Yay?

In 2026, shrinkflation spares nothing—not even United Airlines’ luxurious Polaris business class.  In a statement released last week, the airline announced a new basic fare tier…

Southwest Airlines Further Restricts Portable Chargers on Flights

Southwest Airlines is establishing one of the strictest policies on lithium portable chargers in the U.S.According to an internal message that was posted for employees this week and…

Did You Know This Airline Shows You Ahead of Time if You'll Be Seated Near an Infant?

In keeping with the mysterious cycle by which old news stories resurface on social media, an airline feature introduced a while back has gained some renewed interest online…

7 Lesser-Known Reasons Your Passport Can Be Rejected: Check Yours Now!

Most international travelers know by now that it’s unwise to head to the airport with a passport that expires in less than 6 months. Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, and Fiji are just some…

Some Airports Have Suspended Wait Time Reporting Online Due to Shutdown Chaos

Remember how we advised you last week to consult the website of the airport you're flying out of in order to find reliable estimates for security wait times? The Transportation…

Traveling to the Caribbean? Don’t Get Scammed Into Paying for This Free Entry Form

It’s not just the sandy jet blasts from ultra low-flying planes above Maho Beach that visitors to the Caribbean island of St. Maarten should keep an eye out for.  The government of the…

The Oscars of Airports Were Handed Out, and the U.S. Did About as Well as You'd Expect

Those of you reading this on your phones while stuck in a seemingly endless TSA line will probably not be surprised to learn that the U.S. didn't do so hot on the latest ranking of the…

The Best Way to Check TSA Wait Times in Advance (It's Not the TSA App)

As the partial government shutdown continues to drag on, many U.S. airports have reported extended wait times for passengers at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. TSA…

You Could Get Banned from This Major Airline for Not Wearing Headphones

A major U.S. airline is going further than ever toward muting passengers who engage in the irritating, bordering-on-sociopathic practice of watching videos or listening to music at…

This Airport Says "It's Time to Ban Pajamas" on Passengers

"We've seen enough. We've had enough. It's time to ban pajamas at Tampa International Airport," a tongue-in-cheek social media post from the Florida facility decreed this…

If Your Flight Is Delayed, When Should You Go to the Airport?

These days, most airlines recommend showing up at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and at least 3 hours before an international one. But what if your flight is…

Best Strategies for Getting a New Flight When Severe Weather Leaves You Stranded

Full disclosure: I'm writing this while stranded in Chicago. I waited too long to make a move on a flight that I knew, in the back of my mind, would be canceled by a snowstorm hitting…

How Private Jets Are Making Flying Costlier and More Delay-Ridden For the Rest of Us

Picture this. You're on a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A321 at New York's LaGuardia Airport at 4 pm on a rainy afternoon. Your flight was scheduled to depart at 2 pm but due to weather,…

More Airlines Restrict Power Banks: Is Your Battery Allowed?

Last year portable chargers, a commonly packed item that provides extra power for electronics, began appearing on the no-no lists for flyers. Lithium batteries can be lifesavers for…

Here’s What Happens When You Have a Medical Emergency During a Flight

According to a recent study, medical emergencies happen on 1 in every 212 flights, with nearly 2% of those events causing the plane to divert, usually in the case of cardiac issues.…

A Dodgy Travel Hack for Tricking Airport Luggage Scales—and What to Try Instead

When you're trying to keep your luggage under airline weight limits, traveling with gifts around the holidays can be a real hassle—unless, of course, you and your loved ones wisely…