✈️ PSA for if your holiday flight is canceled: You’re entitled to a full refund or compensation for any controllable cancellation caused by the airline, like a maintenance or crew issue. The weather, though, is a wholly different beast. Be sure to download your airline’s official app for alerts and notifications about flights and gate changes.
Get the best vacation deals, without getting scammed
Aloha! I’m so excited. I just booked a trip to Hawaii. I scored a great hotel, a fabulous room and a knockout price (hello, extra night free!), so I figured there’s no better time to share my tricks.
And, because cyber creeps are everywhere, I have travel scams to warn you about, too. Let’s book your summer vacay or upgrade the one you have the right way.
Ask and you shall receive
Booking a hotel online is easy, but don’t do that. The best way to find a deal and score the perfect room is to drop by the hotel’s website, look for specials, then pick up the phone. Call the hotel — not the main reservations number, but the specific property.
I saw a “get the fourth night free” promotion on the website. I always ask for the room number that gets the most requested. I want no elevator sounds, no pool noise, no ballroom music and no long hike to get to my room.
Now, this is interesting. I first called Amex to book the room. They couldn’t get the free night from the hotel, so I booked directly. Then, I called Amex to take over the reservation. That means I got the credit card amenities — free breakfast, free room upgrade, late checkout and $100 credit during my stay. Mahalo!
🌴 Pro tip: When you book on the phone instead of through a website, you’ll probably get a better deal than online (and better customer service).
Keep tabs on your stuff
Lost luggage will ruin your trip. Lots of major airlines, including United, American, Delta and Air New Zealand, let you track your luggage in real time through their official app, so download that before you hit the road.
🌴 Pro tip: Searching the app stores can lead you to copycat apps. Go to your airline’s official website and look for a link to their app in the header or footer.
I throw an Apple AirTag in checked bags for extra peace of mind.
- AirTags are ideal if you have an iPhone, Mac or iPad.
- The Tile Essentials four-pack comes with enough tags for your keys, wallet, luggage or whatever else you want to track. Nice option for Android.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The art of the upsell
Did you hear United Airlines is going all-in on a new, premium, expensive business class? Private check-in, a fancy lounge with sit-down dining, nice pajamas and a mattress pad, extra food on the plane, and (my favorite) press a button and someone will whiz over with champagne. Cha‑ching.
How to get cheap flights with expert Clark Howard
Money-saving guru Clark Howard is here, sharing his top-secret strategies to land the cheapest flights imaginable — and trust me, the airlines do not want you knowing these tricks. We talk about clever booking hacks, algorithms, hidden deals, and the perfect time to strike.
✈️ This new rule is so fly: Woohoo! U.S. airlines now have to give you a cash refund if your flight is significantly delayed or canceled. The best part? It’ll happen automatically; you won’t be required to ask for a refund. Airlines will have to pay you back within seven business days if you paid by credit card or 20 calendar days for other payment methods. See ya, vouchers.
$6,000 per ticket
To fly BarkAir. The dog-first airline sounds like a joke, but it’s totally real. It’s a private charter where you and your best friend are treated like royalty. Routes are super limited, but you can request one if you and the pup need a getaway. Hmm … How do I get them to sponsor Abby and me?
How to find and stop hidden fees
When I’m booking air travel, it seems like the price goes up with every click. By the time I pay to check a bag or two, that “great deal” isn’t looking so, well, great.
So of course airlines are fighting the Biden administration’s “junk fees’” rule, which would make them show their fees upfront for checking bags, carrying on a bag, and changing or canceling a reservation.
The worst airlines for losing luggage
I bet you or someone you know has a luggage horror story. Here’s mine: On one trip to Paris, everyone got their luggage when we landed … except for Barry. I called British Airways at least a dozen times, asking when he’d get his bag. They couldn’t find it.
Traveling soon? Track your luggage with your airline’s app. Open the app’s Menu > Track my bags. The naming will vary depending on the airline. Enter your reservation or tag number, and you’ll get updates along its journey. If you’re an Apple fan and have an AirTag, toss that in, too. On an Android? Try Chipolo.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
A canceled or delayed flight is the worst: Before I leave for the airport, I look up my trip on FlightAware. If your plane is stuck in another city, you’ll see it there before your airline updates its app.
Scammers in the skies: Crooks scan social for posts complaining about flight delays and then pose as airline customer service. They’ll DM you about your booking or send you to a fake site to harvest your info. Only contact customer service using the airline’s official website or phone number.
Calling all planners: Get the nitty-gritty details of your seat on your next flight with SeatGuru’s seat map tool. On your airline’s website, you just see the seat; it’s especially helpful to get more info for the tall and/or claustrophobic among us.
✈️ I download the official app for every airline I fly: Here’s a pro tip. Look for the live activities feature in your app of choice. This generally gives you a countdown until boarding time and a real-time view of your gate and seat info in case anything changes at the last minute. Nice.
✈️ This is so sad: A 79-year-old Florida woman missed her husband’s funeral after falling for an airline ticket scam. She dialed 411, asked for Allegiant Air and was directed to a scammer. When she got to the airport, she was told the “ticket” she bought didn’t exist. Always book direct, folks. Use the airline’s official site or number.
✈️ Emotional baggage: A man at Orlando International Airport was banned from his flight after trying a TikTok “packing trick.” He stuffed a pillowcase with his belongings to dodge carry-on fees. After a heated argument with airline staff, police escorted him out. Yeah, skip that one.
WWDC 2024 recap: AI, iOS 18, and VisionOS 2
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is here. We have the latest updates on iPhone, Mac, and more. Plus, Richard Godfrey says he knows where the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is, thanks to HAM radio operators.
Secret customer service numbers: Head to this site to find the correct number to call. They list everything from airlines to theme parks to electronics. Let me tell you, you need to bookmark that website right now. Here are 15 more handy sites I’ve rounded up.
Just plane awesome: Ever miss a connecting flight? Airlines are using AI to schedule planes to wait for late passengers, knowing everyone will still arrive on time. Those aboard? You’ll get real-time text messages about what’s happening. Plus, the AI pre-plans the most efficient routes, saving millions of gallons of fuel … and tons of pissed-off passengers.
Spies want in on your router
Is yours at risk? Hackers’ new side hustle is charging Chinese and Russian spies and scammers for access to old home routers so they can launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Plus, Google blocks romance writer, worst airlines for luggage, and Microsoft gets hacked.
Soon, airlines will have to refund you in cash or directly to your original payment method if they cancel or delay your flight. Same goes for if you paid for checked bags or in-flight Wi-Fi. These rules will roll out over the next six to 12 months.