Forget the myths about cheap flights. Google Flights crunched billions of bookings and found the real hacks: book five weeks ahead, fly Wednesday, and skip the Tuesday ticket myth. Here’s what you need to know.
Flight delayed or lost luggage? Airlines owe you money
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You finally made it to your gate, overpriced coffee in hand, sprinting like your vacation depends on it, only to be greeted by those two soul-crushing words: Flight Delayed. Maybe it starts with 30 minutes … then an hour … then four.
No apology, no update, just your suitcase sunbathing alone on the tarmac like it’s on vacation without you.
Here’s what the airlines don’t want you to know: You might be owed money. A lot of money. But you usually have to ask, and that’s where tech know-how (and me) saves the day.
💰 International flights
Flying to Canada or anywhere in the EU? You might be owed $300 to $700 if your flight is delayed over three hours. The U.S. doesn’t mandate airlines pay out for delays, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope.
Don’t spend hours combing through airline policies. AirHelp does it for you. Just enter your flight number and date, and it checks your eligibility. If you’re owed money, they’ll file the paperwork and deal with the airline.
They take a cut (about 25%) if you win.
🧳 Bag checks
In the U.S., airlines are required to reimburse passengers for reasonable expenses due to delayed or lost luggage. Think clothing, toiletries, chargers, even a change of shoes if your bag’s gone for days.
Toss an Apple AirTag (21% off) or Tile tracker ($24.98) in your bag. This way, you can see your bag’s location in real time.
Airlines love to tell you your luggage is “in transit” when it’s clearly stuck in Milwaukee. Show them proof, and get your expenses covered faster.
💼 Credit card perks
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The truth behind airplane mode (no, it’s not a myth)
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You know the drill. You find your seat, wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin like it’s a CrossFit challenge, and then, ding! The flight attendant reminds you to switch to airplane mode.
So … what happens if you don’t? Are you going to crash the plane? Trigger the emergency slide midair?
🛬 iPad turbulence: When a Spirit Airlines flight flew too close to Air Force One over Long Island the other day, air traffic control urgently warned the pilots to turn and finally snapped, “Get off the iPad!” The FAA says the planes maintained a safe distance. Read the entire exchange here. It’s interesting.
17.75
The average turbulence score on America’s bumpiest flight. The eddy dissipation rate (EDR) is basically a nerdy way to measure how violently the air’s shaking you around. Albuquerque to Denver nails it, turning a short hop over the Rockies into a midair mechanical bull ride. Expect seat belt signs, coffee spills and a nervous chuckle from the flight attendant.
✈️ 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.
🌕 Sign me up, Scotty: You could help track Artemis II, the first crewed moon mission in 50 years. The 10-day flight (set for April 2026) will loop astronauts around the moon. If you’ve got the gear to spot Orion, NASA wants your help. Basically, if you’re into backyard stargazing and unpaid work, this is right up your alley.
🚁 Trash takes flight: Everest is outsourcing its garbage problem to drones. $20K DJI FlyCart drones hauled 660 pounds of waste (beer cans, oxygen tanks and, yes, frozen poop) down the mountain. Drones can move in 10 minutes what would take humans six hours. Everest might look majestic from a distance; just don’t zoom in on base camp.
The travel scam no one wants to fall for
Dan from Denver lost $17,000 to a flight rebooking scam that felt all too real. Plus, smart glasses that are always watching, a plane that can land itself, and why paper résumés and face-to-face interviews are making a comeback.
This free site lets you eavesdrop on pilots
Wonder what’s going on mid-flight? Now you can hear it all! Here’s how to listen to cockpit chatter like a pro.
🧳 Travel warning: Here’s something I never even thought of. Then again, I’m not a thief. Scammers are hanging around baggage claim areas grabbing the luggage tags you throw away. Why? The tags contain your name and flight info, which can be used to file fake missing item claims and get cash from airlines. Folks, keep those tags on until you’re home.
🧲 Planes ditch GPS (kinda): Scientists are turning to the Earth’s crust for next-gen flight nav. Turns out, underground magnetic quirks can help planes figure out where they are, no satellites needed. It’s called magnetic anomaly mapping, and it could be a game changer when GPS gets jammed, spoofed or quiet-quits midair.
$10 million
That’s what someone paid for the original Hermès Birkin prototype. Yes, just the prototype Hermès crafted in 1984 after Jane Birkin sketched it on an airline barf bag when complaining about basket bags on a flight. Oh, after an intense 20-minute bidding war? A two-minute standing ovation.
How to start your own newsletter — July 12th, Hour 4
Super-smart eighth grader Gagan from Washington calls in asking how to start his own tech newsletter for his pals. So cool! I cover a new bitcoin ATM scam, today’s most vulnerable jobs, and how to get cheap tickets on your next flight.
🥶 Antarctica said, “Not today”: This kid has guts. A teenage solo pilot TikToker trying to fly to all seven continents landed in Antarctica without telling anyone. Authorities in Chile were like, “That’s illegal,” detained him for filing a fake flight plan and now, he’s ice-o-lated.
Mach 3.5
The speed of the world’s first supersonic artillery shell, the Sceptre TRBM 155HG. It can hit targets up to 100 miles away with 5-meter accuracy. That puts it well outside the reach of most jamming systems. How? AI, sensors and GPS help it correct its path mid-flight. It’s like Call of Duty, but real.
Leavin’ on a jet plane? Don’t wait in line for a bad passport pic. Head to Passport Photo Online and follow a few steps to take the perfect shot at home. This site shows you exactly what to do, so your photo won’t get rejected. I used a publicity photo for my passport. I’m always relieved when a customs officer holds up the photo to my face and passes me through after a long flight.
2 bags
That’s how many you used to check for free on Southwest. Now? That’ll be $80, unless you’ve got status or a branded credit card (paywall link). The “bags fly free” era has been unceremoniously grounded. I’ll never forget when I was on a Southwest Airlines flight. A hard landing was quite jarring. As we pulled up to the gate, our flight attendant announced, “Well, folks, that wasn’t my fault, and it wasn’t the captain’s fault, but it was definitely the asphalt.”
Power banks on blast: Starting May 28, Southwest Airlines wants your power bank out and visible while charging. Lithium batteries are tiny arsonists with 19 in-flight incidents already this year. Portable chargers are the second most flammable vibe onboard after e-cigs. Reminder: “Unattended fire” is not a boarding group. Pro tip: Buy a reputable portable charger like this one (21% off)!
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Right place, right time: A man started having heart attack symptoms mid-flight, but luckily, a cardiologist was on board. Even better? The doctor had all the tools to help, including a pocket-size electrocardiogram to monitor abnormal heartbeats. He gave the man medication, stabilized him and saved his life. Wow.