According to a new study by QR Code Generator, which analyzed flight cancellation data from August 2023 to July 2024, Frontier Airlines had the highest cancellation rate, with 2.22 percent of its scheduled flights being canceled. 

Endeavor Air and Mesa Airlines follow closely behind, ranking second and third with cancellation rates of 2.21 percent and 2.10 percent, respectively.

If you’re looking for the airlines that are the least likely to cancel your flight, you might want to book on regional carrier Piedmont Airlines, which canceled just 0.51 percent of flights. For a major carrier, Southwest Airlines had the best track record, canceling 0.81 percent of flights. 

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 U.S. airlines with the highest flight cancellations between August 2023 and July 2024:

The post The Airlines Most Likely to Strand You with a Canceled Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.

But rest assured: “There’s no such thing as a scary or dangerous airport. Each airport has its own idiosyncrasies,” emphasizes pilot Patrick Smith, author of the Ask the Pilot blog. So buckle your seatbelt, and prepare for an adrenaline-filled ride. We’ve asked a couple of pilots, along with SmarterTravel readers, for their insights and experiences with difficult takeoffs and landings.

Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Getting through the mountains is only one hurdle to overcome for a safe landing in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. During descent, planes need to make a 45-degree bank to effectively reach the 7,000-foot runway located in a valley. Due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, passengers will experience a quick drop in altitude in order for the plane to line up with the runway. Frequent winds complicate matters, as pilots are forced to make several last-second adjustments.

Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

As if having the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Bay of Gibraltar to the west of the airport weren’t enough to complicate a landing, the main road to Spain also intersects the runway. You may be thankful if your plane gets diverted to a nearby airport due to weather, though you’ll still have to brave the runway when you walk over it to get from Spain to the British overseas territory. Because of this, traffic must be stopped when planes are using the airport, and pilots must take care when landing to quickly engage the brakes, as the 6,000-foot runway doesn’t leave much room for error.

Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts

The U.S. Army Air Corps specifically chose Nantucket, or the Grey Lady, as a training base in World War II because of the frequent fog and low ceilings that make navigation a challenge, forcing pilots to rely solely on instruments to fly. “In a matter of minutes, fog can roll in and turn clear, blue skies gray,” says pilot Andrew Sitarz. “Sometimes you can’t see anything until the last second; you break out of the fog, and the plane is landing.” According to Smith, “[Nantucket] has more low-visibility instrument approaches than the average airport.” Nevertheless, both pilots cite parameters, such as minimum visibility and ceiling regulations, that prevent planes from landing in poor conditions.

Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan

If you want to visit Bhutan, chances are you’ll have to fly into Paro, the only international airport in the country. “Anywhere where there’s mountainous terrain there’s a challenge,” says Captain Sitarz. And Paro is no exception. Soaring through 16,000-foot Himalayan Mountains with whipping winds gets your adrenaline pumping as you approach the roughly 7,400-foot runway, located in a deep, tree-lined valley. According to the website of Drukair, one of the only two airlines serving Paro, “each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the kingdom.” But fear not: Pilots are specially trained to fly into Bhutan, and accessing the airport is entirely dependent on good weather conditions.

Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia

Located on Coonskin Ridge in Charleston, West Virginia, Yeager Airport’s cliff face, at an elevation of 982 feet, can be intimidating, especially when you only have 6,715 feet of runway (the closed secondary runway is a mere 4,750 feet). When we asked our Facebook followers about their scariest airport experiences, Chris Randall noted Yeager, saying, “It’s a flattened mountaintop, so if they overshoot the runway there’s nowhere to go but down.” Of course, a takeoff or landing is the same whether you’re on a mountaintop or on the ground, but for those flying into Yeager for the first time, it can be a nervous landing until you’ve come to a complete stop.

Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland

Touching down without a paved strip may seem like a crash landing for unsuspecting passengers, but in Barra, Scotland, it’s a normal experience. When the airport isn’t in service, the beach is a popular spot for locals to hunt for cockles, but when the wind sock is flying, you’ll do well to observe from afar. On Loganair, the only airline that flies there, passengers can expect to arrive safely on one of the three runways (marked by concrete poles) formed when the tide goes out. As one of the only airports in the world where beach landings still occur, you shouldn’t miss this unique experience.

La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Surrounding mountains, a high altitude, and a steep drop at the end of the runway make flying into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City a fun ride, even from a pilot’s point of view. According to Smith, “Passengers find [landing here] startling because you weave your way through a series of volcanoes,” including the active Pacaya Volcano that has been a cause of airport closures in the past, before flying low over the city and approaching a runway situated at the edge of a valley. But despite the unusual landing, Smith notes that based on weight and weather, the types of aircraft that can attempt a landing must be guaranteed to stop within a certain amount of time.

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York

The main, 7,000-foot runways at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were extended back in 1967 over water. In case gliding over Flushing and Bowery bays isn’t enough of a thrill, pilots have to avoid interfering with flights from two other extremely busy airports nearby: JFK and Newark. Plus, the airport is located a mere eight miles from Midtown Manhattan, sometimes creating the illusion that the plane is skimming rooftops. Smith cites LaGuardia’s shared airspace, climbs, and twists and turns as reasons why it is a more challenging airport. “On one approach to runway 31, the plane makes a steep, continuous low-altitude turn around what was Shea Stadium, now Citi Field, from south to northwest; it’s very low to the ground and a short final approach.”

Wellington International Airport, Wellington, New Zealand

With a single, short, 6,351-foot runway that appears to begin and end in crystal blue waters, it’s easy to see why flying into Wellington may make you uneasy. Plus, as SmarterTravel Twitter follower @trickericke says, “They don’t call it ‘windy Wellington’ for nothing,” noting the strong crosswinds that seem to attack landing planes. Plus, the northern approach descends between hills and over trolley lines.

John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California

Strict noise reduction requirements may not seem scary at first, but if you’re not expecting engine cutbacks during takeoff you might be spooked. According to Jenny Wedge, former public relations manager at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, “Due to its close proximity to nearby communities, JWA has one of the most stringent aircraft access and noise monitoring programs in the United States, if not the world.” Pilots begin their takeoffs at close to full power, then “incline quickly and steeply” before reducing engine power.

“It’s like a space shuttle liftoff,” says Facebook follower Elizabeth Conrad. Smith notes that passengers contact him about this airport all the time, some even claiming the pilots turn off the engines after take off. But although the procedure seems unusual, he says “there’s nothing that the plane does that is not within its capabilities.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2010. It has been updated and verified for accuracy.

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However, on certain flights, some airlines will require passengers to “valet check” a bag instead.

What Is Valet Check?

Valet check is sometimes offered on regional flights using smaller planes that have limited overhead bin space. In these planes, the overhead bins are too small to fit standard carry-on-sized rolling suitcases (they’re typically only big enough for backpacks or duffle bags). 

For example, if you’ve booked a flight on American Airlines that is operated by the smaller American Eagle carrier, the airline says, “Regional flights on American Eagle® planes have limited overhead bin space. If your carry-on is larger than the personal item dimensions, you must valet your bag before boarding. We’ll tag and check your bag at the gate for you free of charge. When you arrive, you’ll receive your bag on the jetbridge after exiting the plane.”

Typically, the gate agent will make an announcement before starting the boarding process stating that passengers with rolling carry-on suitcases must valet check their bag. Flyers will have to take a luggage tag to attach to their carry-on and drop off their suitcase in a designated area when boarding the plane. 

After landing, passengers will need to wait on the jetbridge for the valet checked bags to be delivered. 

How Is Valet Check Different Than Gate Checking a Bag?

Valet Checking is a faster and safer way to check a carry-on bag. Typically, passengers will only have to wait a few minutes to receive their bag on the jetbridge, and they will not have to leave the secured area and go to baggage claim (like they would with gate checking) to pick up their luggage. If you have a tight connection to make, you’ll have a better chance of catching your next flight with valet check than you would with a gate-checked bag. 

The post What Is Valet Check and How Is It Different Than Gate Checking a Bag? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

So, it’s clear you can’t count on the TSA to reimburse you for such losses; the agency denied more than half of the claims. Are luggage locks the answer?

The Benefits of Luggage Locks

Locking your suitcase doesn’t just make it more difficult for opportunistic baggage handlers or security officers to root through your stuff at the airport. A lock can also help hold your bag’s zippers together so they don’t work their way open while in transit, leaking socks and underwear all over the baggage carousel.

You might also want to lock your bag if you’re staying in a hostel with strangers or while traveling on a crowded bus or train. Some travelers even lock their suitcases during the day at hotels to deter theft by housekeepers.

The Limitations of Luggage Locks

Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe. Do a quick search on YouTube, and you’ll find a trove of videos explaining how to open a combination lock without the code or how to break into a locked suitcase with nothing but a ballpoint pen. Nor is it difficult to slice through a soft-sided bag. Locks discourage casual thieves, who will move on to easier targets, but they’re flimsy protection against those who are truly determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. As noted above, the TSA is unlikely to pay you back if something is stolen from your checked bag, and airlines typically don’t accept liability for the loss of expensive items such as jewelry, electronic equipment, or fragile souvenirs.

TSA-Approved Locks

If you do decide to secure your suitcase, choose one of the many TSA-approved locks available, such as these combination locks from Master Lock or TravelMore. You can also buy keyed luggage locks such as these from Lewis N. Clark, though it’s worth considering how likely you might be to lose track of a tiny key while traveling. You can even purchase suitcases with built-in TSA-approved locks.

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks if they determine that your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll simply cut it off your bag. Note that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys, so even a TSA-approved lock could be cut off if you’re traveling internationally.

Alternatives to Luggage Locks

Some travelers prefer to wrap their suitcases in plastic, which makes bags harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from bursting open if a zipper fails. This bagging service is offered at select airports by companies such as Seal & Go and Secure Wrap. Though security agents will cut off the plastic if they need to inspect your luggage more closely, some wrapping services offer a complimentary rewrap post-security. One disadvantage to this method: By generating so much plastic, it’s the least environmentally friendly way to protect your bag.

Looking for Luggage With a Lock?

“Sold separately” isn’t statement when it comes to the carry-on from Away. While including a TSA-approved lock in its design, this bag also comes with 360° spinning wheels, and a super hard exterior shell—this bag is built to be your last.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Luggage Locks: Should I Lock My Suitcase When I Fly? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

First, one quick note: This day is not to be confused with the year-round hashtag #TravelTuesday, a longtime social media mainstay more focused on sharing photos, stories, and other travel information (and sometimes deals) online. The Travel Tuesday we’re discussing here is strictly about the post-Thanksgiving day for deals.

Travel Tuesday only arrived on the scene around 2017, but since then airlines and major travel providers like Orbitz, Travelocity, and CheapTickets have joined in. Those are established ticket sites, but are there actually good deals compared to the rest of the year, or is it just another marketing pitch?

The Psychology of Travel Tuesday and Other Shopping Holidays

Shopping holidays like Travel Tuesday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day exist for one simple purpose: To persuade people to spend money they would not otherwise spend. That’s not to say there aren’t good deals—there usually are. But the goal is to hook you with a good deal for something you already want in the hopes you’ll buy a few things you didn’t want, too.

“The key to sales is that people think they’re getting something,” Robert Schindler, a professor of marketing at the Rutgers School of Business Camden, told Vox. “And so it’s in the interest of the [seller] to reinforce that idea that this is a gift to customers.”

The added urgency of a finite purchasing window compounds the issue because it limits our ability to comparison shop. If you weren’t thinking of buying something but suddenly you’re staring at it for a pretty good price, it’s hard to know if the deal is truly too good to pass up. FOMO (fear of missing out) takes over, and suddenly you’ve bought something you don’t need and didn’t budget for.

Of course, there’s a difference between buying consumer goods and booking travel. It’s much easier to impulse-buy a rice cooker than a trip to Paris; the latter of which requires multiple purchases (hotel, airfare, etc.) and at least some logistical planning. But in either case, the psychology is the same: You may not really have the budget for a trip to Paris, but you’ve always wanted to go! And look how cheap the airfare is! And … **click.** Bon voyage.

Two Tips for Getting the Most Out of Travel Tuesday

You may be wondering if Travel Tuesday really out performs its famous predecessors, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when it comes to flights. While Travel Tuesday is not a guaranteed savings slam dunk, according to Skyscanner it does have an edge when it comes to cheap airline deals. 

“Why the spike on Travel Tuesday? By then, most people have their holiday plans set, and after a shopping marathon from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, they might not be thinking of next year’s trips,” says Laura Lindsay, Global Travel Trends Expert with Skyscanner, “This lull is when airlines and hotels swoop in with tempting travel deals and offers to get folks planning their next adventure.”

That is to say, there are deals out there for travelers with the patience to find them. So how can you take advantage? Here are two tips for getting the most out of Travel Tuesday.

First of all, focus. If you are planning a trip, focus on that trip and that trip only, ignoring the rush of the deal. If there are no deals for trips you’ve planned or budgeted, move along. However, some level of flexibility in your travel plans can maximize potential savings. If you have wiggle room in your travel dates, try browsing flights with Skyscanner’s Flexible Date Search or Google Flights Explore function. Both features allow travelers to search for the best deals to a destination within a given range of months. For example, a Google Flights search for a 1-week trip to Miami in February may yield deals that would otherwise be hidden by a specific date search.

This leads us to the second tip: Prepare. If you have a trip you want to take, or even a list of destinations and time periods you would consider, start tracking prices ahead of time. This allows you to develop a baseline for a good deal so you’ll know one when you see one. “Travel deals for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday are not as straightforward as sales on TVs and clothes,” says Lindsay, “There can be huge savings, but not all flights have the same discounts.” As SmarterTravel readers no doubt know, this is good practice any time you’re traveling, but especially when navigating the hype and noise of Travel Tuesday.

The post Should You Book a Trip on Travel Tuesday? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Air Travel Secret #1: Airlines Lie About Flight Times

Ever been on a flight that’s listed on your itinerary as two hours long, yet when the pilot is about to take off, she announces that the flying time will be an hour and a half? Padding flight time estimates is an increasingly common tactic that airlines use to improve their on-time arrival statistics—that way, even if they’re late taking off, they may still technically be on-time when they land.

The Telegraph and aviation analyst OAG conducted a study which found that, “over the last couple of decades, despite new technology, scheduled flight times—ie. how long an airline estimates it will take to complete a journey—have actually increased by as much as 50 percent”.

Air Travel Secret #2: There Are Tens of Thousands of Flights in the Air Each Day

According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, an average of 27,000 airline flights take place each day, with about 5,000 flights in the sky at any given peak time (click here to see a live map of all flights). Want to travel when it’s less crowded? Avoid Thanksgiving Weekend, FlightAware says, as its forecasted that upwards of 3.2 million passengers will be passing through the terminals. New Year’s Day, however, tends to see fewer crowds at the airport than the average travel day.

Air Travel Secret #3: Airlines Don’t Have to Track Planes in Real Time

Ever wonder how entire commercial jets can go missing for years, like Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370? Following that accident, the United Nation’s aviation agency announced new regulations that would require airlines to track their planes every 15 minutes, as well as require all aircraft to be equipped with an automated tracking device that will transmit the location every minute during distress. These regulations officially went into effect in 2022.

Air Travel Secret #4: That’s Not Duct Tape Holding Your Plane Together

It can be alarming to look out your window seat and see what appears to be duct tape on the wing, but don’t worry, that’s not what’s holding your plane together. It’s a high-tech adhesive (approved by the FAA) that will stay in place even at speeds of over 500 mph, and is rightfully nicknamed Speed Tape. It’s used as a temporary fix for smaller repairs that need to be completed quickly, so don’t worry, you won’t see a roll of tape securing the engine to your plane.

Air Travel Secret #5: The World’s Shortest Commercial Flight Is a Minute Long

Don’t expect drinks service on the jaunt from Westray to Papa Westray (part of the Orkney Islands in Scotland), which is the world’s shortest scheduled passenger flight. The flight, operated by Loganair, takes just about one minute, although it has been flown in as little as 53 seconds.

Air Travel Secret #6: Airplane Air Is as Dry as a Desert

Ever wonder why you’re so dehydrated when you get off of a long flight? The humidity in aircraft cabins is only around 20 percent, which is less than in the Sahara Desert’s average of around 25 percent. This is because the air outside the plane has minimal humidity at 30,000 feet, so it has to be added back in.

Air Travel Secret #7: Air Traffic Controllers Are Highly Paid

The people on the ground responsible for making sure that planes don’t crash into each other are paid accordingly, with a median yearly salary of over $137,380. It makes sense—this job requires intense concentration while working in a semi-dark room (no slacking off on the internet allowed here), as well as weekend, night, and holiday shifts.  Air traffic control is such a stressful job that employees are required to retire at 56.

Caroline Morse Teel would love to hear your air travel secrets. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

The post 7 Air Travel Secrets You Didn’t Know appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Winter Travel Tips for Flying

Always Fly Direct

The worst winter travel problems frequently occur at connecting airports. If your first outbound flight is canceled and you end up returning to your own home from your local airport, that’s not too bad; if you are stuck in your vacation hotel hoping to get a flight home, that’s a bit worse. But when you’re stuck in a connecting airport in Texas calling hotels and praying for a place to stay, you’re in what I would call your worst-case scenario.

For this reason, you should fly nonstop whenever possible. To find nonstop flights, do all your initial flight searches with the “Nonstop Flights Only” button checked on your favorite booking engine. If you also use search options like “Show Nearby Airports” and “My Dates Are Flexible,” you’ll have a very good sense of how best to get from Point A to B without any Point C for connection.

Beware of Layover Times

If you absolutely must fly with a connection, watch your layover times carefully. If a weather delay causes you to miss your connection, you might be out of luck; the airline is not necessarily obligated to find you a seat on the next flight, and often cannot logistically do so if flights are full or unavailable. If you have a really tight connection time and your flight is running late, tell a flight attendant who may be able to make arrangements to hold your next flight, or at least get you off your first flight quickly.

Watch Out for Bad Weather

Check the weather at your connecting cities as well as at your departure and destination airports. You’ll want to know what the weather is like for the departure and arrival airports (particularly if we’re traveling on vacation), but for the same reasons stated above you’ll want to know what is going on at your connecting airport as well. If the weather looks threatening, contact your airline to see if it can reroute you; it may be in its best interest to do so, and save you a lot of grief. Your chances of getting on a different flight will be greatly enhanced if you’ve already done the research yourself to determine which alternate flights might work best. Don’t count on a gate agent to know about or search the schedules of other airlines.

Connect Through a Warm-Weather Destination

Try to book your connection through a southern city where weather shouldn’t be an issue. There are no guarantees here, as northern airports tend to be better equipped to deal with winter conditions, and a snowstorm can almost wholly shut down an airport that more often suffers from too much sun. However, your odds are better in places that rarely see ice or snow.

Book an Early Morning Flight

Choose a morning flight. For two reasons: First, you are far less likely to have your flight affected by problems at other airports. Second, if your flight is canceled or badly delayed, your options for alternate flights are greatly increased, improving your odds for getting on a different flight by the end of the day.

Route Through Smaller Airports

Consider alternative airports. Very often the problem is not solely weather, but also the overall volume of passengers and flights. In places like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Houston, second-tier airports aren’t too far out of town and are tied into the transportation grid.

Prep for Airport Security Ahead of Time

Get ahead of the game at security. Before you even get in line, put all your gear and spare coins into a pocket of your carry-on bag. With so much valuable stuff getting dumped into plastic bins all day, every day, it’s inevitable that stuff gets left behind, dropped, damaged, broken, or even stolen. If you take 15 seconds to stow everything, you’ll make the time up twice over on either side of the security gate, and won’t risk losing cell phones, wallets, keys, and other essentials. Find more airport security tips in our TSA Frequently Asked Questions guide.

Save the Gift Wrapping for Your Destination

The annual holiday travel rule: Don’t wrap gifts—security will have to rip them open. With the TSA searching checked bags as well as carry-ons, this applies to all of your luggage; not just what you bring onto the plane with you. Consider shipping your gifts ahead of time or wrapping them once you get to your destination. Our complete guide on flying with gifts will help you navigate any holiday packing issue. 

Avoid Peak Travel Dates

Finally, avoid peak travel dates as best you can, particularly holiday weekends. Find out the ideal (and not do ideal) dates to book holiday flights in our handy guide.

Winter Travel Tips for Driving

Stock an Emergency Kit

Put some extra clothing and emergency items into your vehicle; these will come in handy if you break down in cold weather. Assemble a basic kit including a pair of gloves, weather-resistant pants and/or coat, maybe an old pair of boots, a blanket, jumper cables, a flashlight with some extra batteries, and a windshield scraper (and maybe a de-icer), and you should be in good shape. You might also toss a few nutrition bars in as well; things that won’t spoil, are packed with calories, and can bail you out in a pinch.

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Weather

Make sure your car is checked over for winter weather readiness. In particular, you or a mechanic should inspect your tires before the first big winter storm.

Prioritize Visibility 

Once your vehicle is inspected and equipped, follow this advice I heard a while back from a Montana snowplow driver: “See and be seen. Keep your headlights and taillights clean, especially in stormy weather. Keep windows clean and make sure defrosters work well. If snow has built up on your vehicle overnight or after a break from driving, clear it away so it doesn’t blow off and obscure your windows.”

Drive Slow

Slow down. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends slowing down by about 50 percent in bad weather. Also leave extra space between you and the car in front of you in case of slippery roads.

Watch Out for Icy Conditions

Remember that not all stretches of road are created alike. For example, many recently built small bridges and overpasses have been designed to blend into the surroundings, with a gradual or nonexistent change in elevation. These bridges nonetheless remain susceptible to icing over much more rapidly than regular blacktop. Look out and look ahead for these short stretches of road when temperatures approach or drop below freezing. If you don’t know the ropes of driving on icy surfaces, here’s how to drive on black ice.

Skip the Cruise Control

Some features of modern automobiles may actually serve you poorly in bad conditions. In some SUVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles, for example, you may have better traction when the vehicle is under way, but the four-wheel drive won’t help you stop any faster. Also, skip the cruise control; your cruise control feature may accelerate when you least want it to, such as when you are climbing an icy bridge.

Keep Cat Litter On Hand

Some safety experts recommend putting a bag of kitty litter in the trunk, both for added ballast to offer better traction, and to put under the wheels if you need to get yourself out of a slippery spot.

Stay Safe If Stranded

If you’re stranded and have to stay in your car, you can run the engine for heat, but make sure the exhaust pipe is not obstructed by snow or mud. If you prefer not to have the engine running the whole time, close the windows to keep heat in, and run the car for 10 minutes every hour, cracking open a front window when you do so.

Park Indoors When Possible

If you are parking at your hotel or near attractions in bad weather, opt for a spot in an indoor parking garage when available.

The post 18 Winter Travel Tips for Flights and Road Trips appeared first on SmarterTravel.

TSA Rules for Flying with Gifts

Here’s how to avoid having to toss your special gift or souvenir whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, and a few alternative items to consider purchasing instead.

1) Avoid Toys That Look Like Weapons

This might seem like a no-brainer when it comes to TSA rules, but airports intercept a lot of toy or replica weapons that appear to baggage scanners to be the real thing. At the security line, there’s a fine line between toys, sports equipment, and weapons: Toys resembling guns, swords, and explosives are sure to spook your security screener; but sporting equipment like bats and lacrosse sticks that could be used as a weapon will be snagged as well.

What to Do Instead: Your best bet is to check all sporting items, and to avoid packing anything resembling a weapon. “In general, it’s best to avoid packing toy or replica weapons in carry-on luggage,” TSA Spokesman Michael McCarthy told me. “These items should be placed in checked luggage or left at home when possible.”

2) No Alcohol Over 140-Proof

A lesser-known item that’s banned from both checked and carry-on bags, strong liquors over 140-proof (70 percent alcohol) like absinthe or 151-proof rum are prohibited from planes by the Federal Aviation Administration. Don’t plan on gifting a bottle of absinthe you got in Amsterdam or bringing back some 151-proof liquor from a distillery visit; TSA can confiscate it on behalf of the FAA, regardless of which bag you packed it in.

What to Do Instead: Your souvenir doesn’t have to be jet-fuel strong—try grabbing a less flammable local spirit, or opt for a subscription service to enjoy wine varietals from around the world without having to pack them: Vinebox delivers wines tailored to your tastes starting around $80 per month, and makes a great gift.

3) Skip the Gift Wrap

Getting a jump on wrapping isn’t a good idea if you’ll be flying with gifts. Anything wrapped in paper, like presents or food items like pies (which are allowed, but subject to extra screening) are likely to be unwrapped for inspection if agents can’t tell through the scanner if it violates TSA rules.

What to Do Instead: Use gift bags instead of wrapping gifts. Gifts wrapped in festive, easy-open gift bags can be easily rewrapped if necessary and won’t violate any TSA rules.

4) Leave Toy Holiday ‘Crackers’ Behind

I’m not talking about snacks: Those English-style cardboard Christmas crackers that pop and explode with tiny gifts like paper crowns are prohibited from planes and therefore against TSA rules. While they’re a fun tradition and could seem like a great souvenir if you’re returning from the U.K., they’re banned from aircraft, meaning they’ll likely be tossed from your checked or carry-on bags.

What to Do Instead: These can usually be purchased online or back home, if you’re really set on having them for your holiday celebrations.

 5) Minimize Carry-on Liquids

Don’t forget that 3-1-1 TSA rules also apply to traveling with gifts. Bottles of wine or spirits will have to be checked unless they’re under 3.4 ounces, and the same goes for cologne and perfumes that are over the liquid limit. Also remember to avoid aerosol items that could be considered flammable.

What to Do Instead: If you’re not checking a bag but want to purchase a gift bottle of perfume or wine, buying at the duty-free shop beyond airport security is your only option. Make the best of it by getting something you can’t at home, or that’s more affordable when it’s tax-free.

6) Declare Animal Products Like Cheeses with Customs

This one doesn’t fall under TSA rules—solid cheese is fine to pack for domestic travel. However, international food souvenirs like meats and cheeses could get tossed per customs and agriculture regulations on animal products if they aren’t declared or if they violate requirements. Splurging on fancy cheese or charcuterie to gift with local wine probably isn’t worthwhile if it won’t make it home.

What to Do: To be safe, make sure you declare all animal-derived food items at customs, and keep creamy or water-packed cheeses under 3.4 ounces if they’re in your carry-on bag. Or, if you don’t want to risk wasting money on international items that could easily get confiscated, sign up for a subscription service that will ship both your favorite international items and new ones to try, like Try the World, from $40 per month.

 7) Snow Globes

Even if you’re flying with gifts that aren’t necessarily meant to be opened, they can still be discarded under TSA rules if they contain liquid over the 3.4-ounce limit. TSA rules state that snow globes bigger than a tennis ball should stay behind.

What to Do Instead: If you’re not already shopping online, it’s the way to go.

The post Flying with Gifts: The TSA Rules You Need to Know appeared first on SmarterTravel.

You May Regret Being Cheap While Traveling

A cheap flight, inconveniently located hotel, or minuscule rental car may save you money, but they’ll likely still cost you plenty of regret and inconvenience. Want to avoid feeling the regret of being cheap when you travel? Then avoid these mistakes:

Waiting for the Shuttle to an Off-Airport Rental Car

You just survived a long flight and are ready to get to your final destination. Too bad you booked with a shady rental car company that’s located in an industrial area far from the airport. Now, instead of hopping in a car and driving off, you’re trekking to some forgotten corner of a far-off terminal and waiting for a rental car shuttle bus that may or may not come.

Getting up Before Dawn for an Early Flight

Hovering over the “book” button, you think to yourself, “I’m saving $50! I’m so frugal! I get up early for work every day, a 6:00 a.m. flight won’t be that bad!” Until the night before your flight when you’re calculating just how early you have to wake up to be at the airport in time … and realize that you’re going to be spending the first day of your vacation sleep-deprived. Plus, if you have to be up before public transit is running, you may end up spending what you saved on the flight to take a taxi to the airport.

Lying Awake at Night Listening to Your Hostel Roommates Snore

How bad can a 20-bed room in a hostel be? After all, you’ll only be there to sleep, so why bother spending more for a private room? If one of those 20 beds is booked by a loud snorer, a sleep-talker, or someone waking up early for a flight, pretty bad—and will defeat you being in there to sleep, since you won’t get any.

Settling Into the Middle Seat in the Back of the Plane

After spending too many hundreds of dollars on a bare-bones economy ticket, it can be hard to persuade yourself to give another penny to an airline. You’ll stuff everything into a small carry-on and be willing to board last… but when you settle into the non-reclining middle seat next to the bathroom, you will be cursing your past self for being cheap and not paying the fee to select your seat.

When Your Tiny Rental Car Might Not Make It

The economy rental car option seemed like a fine idea when you were looking at it on the website and trying to cut costs, but when your budget vehicle turns out to be comically toy-sized (especially compared to those semi trucks whizzing past you on the highway), you might start to have some regrets about being cheap. See also: that heart-stopping moment when you wonder if your car is actually going to make it up a hill/down that dirt road or if you’re going to figure out how roadside service works in a foreign destination.

Dragging Your Suitcase on Public Transit

Everyone on this packed train hates me, you’ll realize as you try to squeeze your way on with your suitcase while accidentally whacking a few commuters with your backpack. As you’re dragging your luggage up and down the stairs, through crowds, and off the train or bus, you’ll rue being cheap and not just splurging on a taxi.

Stressing Over Your Flight Connection

When you’re on the first leg of a plane journey with a tight connection, every minute your plane doesn’t board, or sits on the tarmac without taking off, feels like an eternity—the flight with the 50-minute layover was the cheapest option, but does that cost savings matter if you miss it?

Waiting in Line to Buy a Ticket Instead of Paying the Booking Fee

This ticket site wants how much to book admission in advance? I’ll wait and buy it at the window, you think… until you arrive at the attraction and discover everything is sold out, or that the line is hours long. Is being cheap worth wasting your precious vacation time standing in line? If it’s a Ticketmaster-esque ridiculous fee, it can be a tough decision.

When You Reach Hour Five on the Slow Ferry or Train

The slow ferry/bus/train won’t be that much worse than the express, you think. Imagine all the scenery I’ll see. That sounds like a great, cost-saving measure until you’re trapped on an excruciatingly slow form of transport, experiencing fatigue and pain from sitting for so long, and thinking of everything you’re missing by not arriving sooner.

The post 9 Times You’ll Regret Being Cheap When You Travel appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Duty-Free Merchandise

Depending on your airport, it may be possible to snag a duty-free deal occasionally. But it’s important to know that duty-free in no way ensures a good buy. Although some items like cigarettes or alcohol might be cheaper if you live in a state with high taxes on these items, duty-free shops are usually more expensive for food items or electronic goods.

The solution? When making duty-free purchases, do a little homework. Go online ahead of time and do some cost comparisons, especially if you’re eyeing a big-ticket buy. 

Foreign Currency

Since currency exchange desks in airports often charge travelers sky-high transaction fees, the airport is probably not the best place to exchange money. 

A good alternative strategy is to get foreign currency by taking out money at an ATM in your destination; this way, you’ll likely get the best interbank exchange rate, which is usually much better than rates offered at airport exchange counters. Contact your bank before your trip for more information on any possible foreign transaction fees.

Bottled Water

Stop wasting $5 on bottled water and instead pack an empty reusable water bottle. Most airports have water bottle refilling stations where travelers can fill their bottles with filtered water after going through security. 

Souvenirs

Plan ahead and buy your souvenirs before you’re at the airport, waiting for your flight home. Airport souvenir stores usually sell severely marked-up merchandise that can be found elsewhere for a lot less. Plus, the wares tend to be quite unoriginal: trite T-shirts, boring mugs, and flimsy key chains that you can find anywhere.

There are exceptions to this rule, as some airports offer unique finds, like gifts crafted by local artisans. Our advice, as always, is to do your research before you get to the terminal so that you can compare prices. You could even take a quick look at what’s on offer when you land and then buy whatever you need when you return to the airport upon departure.

In-Flight Essentials

Trapped in their terminals, travelers are at the mercy of airport prices if they have to replace a forgotten essential like a neck pillow or an eye mask. To prevent paying for a last-minute replacement, keep a packing list on your phone and check off items as you prepare for your trip.

Restaurant Meals

You may have noticed that restaurants commonly charge higher prices for menu items in airport locations than they do elsewhere. There’s a reason for this: Restaurants’ operating expenses are generally higher at airports than at street locations. But food costs can vary even by the terminal, heightening the confusion for travelers who want to compare prices.

Pack your meal from home to sidestep the gouge–it will be tastier, cheaper, and more nutritious. For the return journey, pick up something from a local restaurant that’s easy to transport and can last a few hours without refrigeration or reheating. 

Wi-Fi

Although many airports offer free Wi-Fi, some hubs are still firmly entrenched in the dark ages, charging flyers to search the Web while waiting to depart. Before you enter your credit card number, see if you can get connectivity for free. Some ways to do this: Sit near the entrance of an elite flyer’s lounge or in an airport hotel lobby, both of which might offer free Wi-Fi that’s not password protected.

Or try your terminal’s Starbucks. Although all Starbucks stores offer free Internet, airport locations are sometimes the exception. Some offer free connectivity; some don’t. 

Magazines (While Abroad)

You’re not normally taking a big hit to your budget when you grab the latest copy of National Geographic at the terminal newsstand. But when overseas, watch out. Imported U.S. magazines cost much more than those sold at home and can sell for well over the recommended list price at overseas airports, even if they’re old (primarily due to taxes and shipping costs).

Instead, subscribe to your favorite magazine before heading out for your trip. Some libraries even offer digital access to magazines that you can download on your e-reader for free. 

A Parking Spot

You’ll frequently find a better price at off-site parking lots than at airport lots. Before arriving at the airport, do your research and compare off-airport parking through services like AirportParking.com. Just be sure to leave additional time to take a shuttle to the airport after parking.

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