Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Hidden fees are costing U.S. consumers billions of dollars every year. And airlines and hotels are among the prime offenders. That’s according to the National Economic Council’s new report, “The Competition Initiative and Hidden Fees” (.pdf file here). Why should you care? Three reasons, as cited by the Council: First, there is a systematic transfer […]
The post Is It Time to Put the Kibosh on ‘Hidden Fees’? appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Caroline Morse @ SmarterTravel
Crossbody bags are the ideal daypack for travel—they’re more secure and foil pickpockets better than over-the-shoulder purses or backpacks, and they don’t immediately mark you as a tourist. The best ones are ultra-lightweight or have anti-theft features, like these ten we’ve rounded up. Best Crossbody Bags More from SmarterTravel: 11 Ingenious Travel Bags We Love […]
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Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
According to Airlines for America, the trade group representing the interests of most U.S. airlines, this holiday travel season extends over a full 21 days, from December 16, 2016, through January 5, 2017. That’s a long time to endure the indignities and discomfort of crowded airports and overstuffed planes. A4A expects U.S. carriers to transport […]
The post Good to Know: Best and Worst Days for Holiday Travel appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. These Are America’s 10 Best […]
The post Recap: The Week’s Biggest Stories and Best Deals appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
As any road warrior worth his rollaboard will tell you, the country’s airports are no friendlier than its skies. Ancient terminal buildings, threadbare carpets, stinky restrooms, poorly designed crowd control, sparse seating, unappetizing food concessions… the list of travelers’ gripes is a long one. But according to J.D. Power’s newly released 2016 North America Airport […]
The post These Are America’s 10 Best Airports. And 10 Worst appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by CF @ Cranky Flier
Cranky Flier: The Low Cost Transatlantic Airlines You May Never Have Heard Of – liligo.com Cranky Flier: The Rise Of … Read More
Written by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
It has been a publicly stated goal of the Department of Homeland Security to sign up 25 million members of the PreCheck and Global Entry prescreening programs. A big number, with a big payoff. Increasing the numbers of travelers routed through the expedited screening lines would have multifold benefits. Most obviously, the prescreened flyers themselves […]
The post The Case for Making PreCheck Free appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
New York Senator Chuck Schumer has looked into United’s Basic Economy fares, set to launch early next year, and he doesn’t like what he sees. He’s particularly outraged that the new ultra-low-priced fares will restrict customers to a single small carry-on, leaving the overhead bins for the exclusive use of those paying higher fares. Here’s […]
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Read MoreWritten by Sandra MacGregor @ Frugal Travel Guy
As baggage fees get higher, it pays to invest a little time into finding out how to avoid them.
Written by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel
Delta has taken a big step toward its goal of cutting down on delayed bags: Launching the industry’s first bag tracking feature on its app. “With the airline’s new $50 million technology, travelers will be able to keep an eye on their luggage, from the moment they check their bags to the minute the bags arrive at […]
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Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
It goes without saying that the Thanksgiving holiday is among the year’s most stressful travel periods, not least because of the airport experience. Long lines, chaotic gate areas, more toddlers and teens, fewer road warriors. Another holiday travel irritant, flight delays, is a double whammy, both dialing up the anxiety level and prolonging it. There’s […]
The post The 20 Airports with the Most Thanksgiving Flight Delays appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel
Give thanks! Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, American and United have launched automated security screening lanes at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Two of American’s 18 lanes have been converted, and United has added three automated lanes of its own. These new security lanes could reduce wait times by an estimated 30 percent, and […]
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Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
If so-called basic economy fares aren’t yet a pervasive fact of travel life, they soon will be. The stripped-down fares, which Spirit famously refers to as Bare Fares, are designed to appeal to the most price-sensitive consumers, who are willing to forego such niceties as seat selection, boarding priority, changeable tickets, and so on in […]
The post United’s New Basic Economy Fares – How Low Can You Go? appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Ashley Rossi @ SmarterTravel
If you’re worried your carry-on could be gate-checked on your next flight, check out these 10 top-rated underseat carry-on bags. Whether you’re a chronic over-packer or tried-and-true business traveler, there’s an option for every type of flyer. Top-Rated Rolling Underseat Carry-On Luggage More from SmarterTravel: The Best Carry-On Bags for Every U.S. Airline 10 Ultralight […]
The post 10 Underseat Carry-On Bags You Can Take on Any Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel
Did you feel that? Did the earth just move below our feet? It’s true: Southwest, struggling to meet its 2016 revenue goals, is considering adding ancillary fees to bring in additional cash. according to a USA Today report. The good news? Bag fees are off the table. “We have a unique and beloved position in […]
The post As Revenue Declines, Southwest Mulls New Airline Fees appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel
On the heels of news that it will debut “bare fares” in early 2017, USA Today reports American will also add a seating class at the other end of the spectrum. The airline will launch premium economy on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in February, making it the “first U.S. airline to officially offer a true international-style premium […]
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Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. A new report paints a […]
The post Recap: The Week’s Biggest Stories and Best Deals appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Tim Winship @ SmarterTravel
In what will likely be one of its final major moves under the current Obama administration, the Department of Transportation this week revealed a new set of rules governing various aspects of airline behavior. Here’s how DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx described the new rules: Airline passengers deserve to have access to clear and complete information […]
The post New DOT Rules Aim to Spur Competition, Protect Travelers. Do They? appeared first on SmarterTravel.
Read MoreWritten by Carl Unger @ SmarterTravel
After more than 100 incidents of the now-discontinued Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding, popping, and generally being a fire hazard, the Department of Transportation has officially banned them from all flights. The “emergency order” went into effect at noon on October 15. The phones may not be shipped as cargo. “We recognize that banning these […]
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Read MoreWritten by Christine Sarkis @ SmarterTravel
A broken suitcase doesn’t automatically have to go in the trash bin. That’s because suitcase technology has come a long way in the last century. When I was a kid, my grandmother—who was born in 1919—told me the story of packing her cardboard suitcase to go on vacation. She strapped the suitcases to the back […]
The post How to Fix a Broken Suitcase appeared first on SmarterTravel.
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