Traveling with a baby comes with countless questions—especially about fares, seating, and safety. We’ll cover: How infant fares work domestically and internationally The rules around lap children When airlines offer discounts if you buy a seat for an infant Bassinets and which airlines provide them Safety tradeoffs: lap vs. car seat Use cases when…
Skip the Shoe Shuffle: TSA Goes Touchless and Shoeless This August Major upgrades are reshaping the TSA’s airport screening process—making travel smoother and more efficient this summer. From facial recognition lanes to dropping the dreaded shoe removal rule, here’s everything you need to know for your next TSA experience. 1. TSA’s New Touchless PreCheck…
Labor Day Weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Airports fill up, flights are packed, and the stress of navigating crowds can test even the most seasoned traveler. With record levels of air travellers expected, 2025 is no exception. But with a little preparation and strategy, your trip can be smoother…
What Went Wrong—and How to Prevent It A routine call to United Airlines customer service after a flight cancellation turned into a nightmare for Denver passenger Dan Smoker—who ended up losing $17,000 to a scammer posing as a United-affiliated agent. What exactly went wrong, and how can airlines and call centers avoid similar catastrophes? The…
Bereavement Flights in 2025: Which Airlines Still Offer Them When FlightWisdom first covered bereavement fares back in 2006, 2008, and 2010, they were already fading. Even when more airlines offered them, the value was questionable. Today, they’re almost gone — a quaint vestige of another era, not unlike the onboard lounges of the past.…
In the complex world of air travel, passengers often seek creative ways to navigate the system and find cost-effective solutions to reach their destinations. One such strategy that has gained notoriety is “skiplagging.” In this article, we’ll delve into the concept of skiplagging, explore how it works, and unravel the reasons why airlines are keen…
Embarking on a family adventure by air can be a thrilling experience, but it often comes with unique challenges when traveling with young children. In this blog post, we’ll uncover valuable tips to help make your air travel with little ones not only manageable but an enjoyable journey filled with smiles and cherished memories. Early…
Jet lag is a common woe for travelers, disrupting sleep patterns and leaving you feeling groggy and disoriented. Jet lag can ruin your trip- or your return, Whether you’re a frequent flyer or embarking on a long-haul adventure, conquering jet lag is essential for making the most of your travels. In this guide, we’ll explore…
Air travel, with its intricate web of schedules and logistics, is susceptible to a variety of disruptions. While many disruptions fall under the umbrella of terms like force majeure, extraordinary circumstances, and controllable irregularities, understanding your rights is crucial for both passengers and airlines. We’ll delve into the complexities of these concepts and how they…
Throughout Asia, many cities are redeveloping their airport areas into vital centers for trade and commerce, while in the West airports are often viewed as noisy and polluting nuisances to be avoided. But as air travel becomes more central to the needs of individuals and businesses to stay competitive in the 21st century, is the West’s attitude towards airports due for a change?
Rule 240 was a Civil Aeronautics Board rule which was eliminated during deregulation in the late 70s. It did require rebooking on other carriers, something airlines do not wish to do. Why would you wish to give your money to your competitors? After deregulation ended, Rule 240 was still a term used, but it is…
In April of 2007, we wrote on the subject of Involuntary Reroute, in response to an article in the Consumerist. Now, popular advice site Lifehacker has picked up on the Rule 240. They reference our friend over at the Cranky Flier, Brett Snyder, and another short article on the subject. So, let’s revisit the…
We received another letter this week, with a not so pleasant story about Air France.
We don’t get much reader mail, but this came in this weekend and we wanted to open it up to the Internet for feedback
Today, while we are stuck in our homes in the snow, our thoughts are with those stuck at the airports. In preparation for this storm, airlines around the Northeast United States preemptively cancelled flights, airports were closed for hours, and some people are being told it might be days before they get home. At least 800 flights were cancelled in the New York Area alone. We don’t have the magic bullet that will solve all of these problems.
Overbooking is annoying. With the exception of Jetblue, which does not, airlines typically overbook by 33%. Find another industry where, with the approval of the government, a company is allowed to knowingly sell more of a product than they know they have. What reaction would this have if it were done at the theater, for…
As USAToday reminded us, new government regulations will take effect this week, requiring all individuals, including US citizens, to have a passport in order to enter the United States. Previously, a birth certificate or driver’s license was acceptable. Next year, passports will also be required at land and sea crossings, although for regular travellers of…
It has been a while since we checked in with the blogging community. Upgrade Travel’s mailbag features yet another reader question…The airline changed my schedule, what are my rights? Airlines waive themselves of liability in the event they change your schedule. That means they don’t consider themselves responsible for secondary fallout from their change…losses caused…
As we’ve mentioned before, Farecast is an intriguing product that uses statistics and historical data to predict trends in fares. Now, the company if offering to lock in ticket prices against an increase for one week for $1 during the initial release. It will eventually increase to $10. The product, Fare Guard, guarantees that if…
In a press release today, the employees of US Airways provided their tips for Thanksgiving holiday travel. We summarize them below with some of our elaborations. Do not bring your turkey or other dishes to the airport. You can make them there. Travel lightly…overhead space is limited. Do not wrap your gifts prior to travel…
We were honored when Jeff Hoyt commented on our post directing people to his podcasts. We hope he continues to entertain us with podcasts relevant to our subject matter(we’ve already referred to him twice). He inquired about the Knee Defender, a device designed to stop the seatback in front of you from reclining. It retails…
With legroom in coach at a premium, fighting with your neighbor in the adjoining seat for the area you are meant to share may be something you’d opt to do. Wired provided this advice on how to capture the armrest from the person who, due to his or her proximity and the amount of space…
Effective today, for all flights originating in airports in the European Union, liquids will be allo wed in limited quantities. The rules match very closely the the US rules. To reiterate the new rules and best practiceseffective both there and in the US: Liquids and gels are permitted in 3oz/100mL bottles. No more will be…