Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
How to land the best flight deals
Spring break is around the corner, and Sundays are the best day to book trips, so let’s talk travel hacks. My dad worked for United Airlines, so I grew up on airplanes. I’ve explored 38 countries (and counting!) with plenty more on my bucket list. Let’s get you the best deals!
How to land the best flight deals
✈️ Check for 24-hour price drops: Booked a flight? Some airlines let you cancel within 24 hours for free. If you find a lower price, cancel and rebook. Easy savings.
🔔 Set up price alerts: Google Flights and Kayak will email you when prices drop. The best time to book? One to three months ahead for domestic flights and four to six months out for international. (Note to self: This means next week.)
📅 Fly on the cheap days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Red-eyes and early morning flights also cost less and are less likely to be delayed or canceled.
🛫 Be flexible: Try Google’s Explore feature to spot budget-friendly dates. Skyscanner’s Cheapest Month tool is neat. Instead of choosing a date, click Flexible Dates and watch the prices fluctuate.
🛑 Hidden-city ticketing (use with caution): Skiplagged finds flights where your destination is a layover, which can save you cash. Just don’t check a bag. It won’t follow you.
VIP experience secrets
If “budget” is not in your lexicon, you can bypass many airport hassles.
PS (Private Suite) at LAX and ATL
- Get private TSA screening and a terminal with no lines. Think velvet couches and chilled champagne. Board via a private car on the tarmac and have a similar arrival service.
- PS costs about $4,000 for the first passenger. It’s an Amex Centurion cardholder perk, and that’s how I get to use it. I saw Kanye West and his wife about a month ago on my way back from Paris. Fortunately, she was clothed. I couldn’t bare it.
Airport Butler/Royal Airport Concierge fast-track service
Every American's Social Security number could be up for grabs
📐 Big iPad energy: Apple might drop a nearly 19-inch(!) folding iPad in 2027 or 2028, alongside a folding iPhone. Apple’s largest tablet is about 13 inches. The pricing is under wraps, but some estimate between $2,100 and $2,500. Tagline? Apple’s foldables: finally, tech that collapses under pressure just like you.
CNN’s deja vu: It’s launching a streaming service with live news, original shows and documentaries (paywall link). No word on pricing yet. Ahem, remember CNN+ from three years ago? That one flopped in a few days.
📱 Need a tough phone or tablet? Samsung just announced the rugged Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro. They’re water- and dust-resistant and can survive drops from up to 1.5 meters (that’s 5 feet for people like me who never understood the metric system). As for performance, both run the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with 6GB RAM. Oh, and the batteries are removable. Pricing is still TBA.
✈️ Traveling abroad? Starting Feb. 27, Uber is rolling out a Preferred Currency Pricing feature that quietly tacks on a 1.5% conversion fee. It keeps prices in your home currency, but you’re just paying extra. Here’s how to turn it off: Open the Uber app > Account > Wallet > Preferred Currency > No preferred currency.
America's drinking water is under attack
Water systems in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania have already been hit by hackers in China, Russia and Iran. Plus, clothes that block 5G waves, AI coming to Alexa, and Walmart’s new digital pricing. We also chat with Joseph Cox about his book “Dark Wire,” which is about Anom, the FBI’s secret app used by criminals.
TVs this year are more expensive than ever
Black Friday is now less than three weeks away. Traditionally we get special pricing and dramatic discounts on big-screen TVs. Listen now to find out why this year might be different.