Tag: Flight

These 5 U.S. Airlines Are Most Likely To Experience Flight Delays Right Now
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The holidays are just around the corner, leading to some of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Flight delays are extremely common at this time of year, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Flying can already be a stressful experience, but delays can make it even more of a hassle.

Some of the best ways to avoid flight delays are to book with an airline with a high rate of on-time flights and to book a flight early in the morning — statistically speaking, it’s much less likely to be delayed than one later in the day.

According to new data from UpgradedPoints, these are the U.S. airlines that are most likely to experience flight delays right now.

1. Frontier Airlines

The worst airline for flight delays right now is Frontier Airlines. Flights with this budget carrier have a 31.9% chance of being delayed.

Rather than roll the dice and risk an almost 1-in-3 chance of having your flight delayed, it’s better to choose a more reliable airline for flights this winter.

Frontier is also currently facing other issues, including a class-action lawsuit over the airline’s $599 “unlimited flight” pass that was launched earlier this year.

2. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines had a massive meltdown last year right around Christmas, leading to thousands of flight delays and cancellations.

Many travelers questioned whether booking with Southwest was safe in light of the total operations failure. And while it’s likely that Southwest will be working extra hard to avoid a repeat incident this winter, you may not want to take your chances.

And according to historical data, Southwest flights still have a 31.8% chance of being delayed, making the airline almost as unreliable as Frontier.

3. JetBlue

Another less-than-reliable airline with a high chance of delayed flights is JetBlue. This New York-based carrier does not have the best track record when it comes to on-time flights.

Although it’s not quite as bad as Frontier or Southwest, flying on JetBlue means that you still have a whopping 30.8% chance of flight delays when you travel.

4. Allegiant Air

Next up on the list of airlines likely to have delays is Allegiant Air. This budget airline is not particularly reliable, so even though you may save money booking your flight, you might also have to contend with unexpected delays.

Allegiant Air flights have a 29.2% chance of being delayed.

5. Spirit Airlines

Finally, we have Spirit Airlines. Although this budget carrier is the butt of many jokes for being a less-than-ideal way to travel, it’s actually not as bad as some other U.S. airlines when it comes to delays.

When flying with Spirit, you have a 28.1% chance of experiencing a flight delay.

Which Airlines Have The Least Delays?

So now that you know which airlines are most likely to experience flight delays right now (and which airlines to avoid!), here are the airlines with the least delays.

Although you might be tempted by ultra-low fares with an airline like Frontier or Spirit, it can be worth the extra money to book with a more reliable airline.

Here are the top three airlines with the least delays right now:
- Alaska Airlines: 20.3% chance of delay
- Delta Air Lines: 19.1% chance of delay
- Hawaiian Airlines: 15.6% chance of delay
Flights can be delayed for many reasons, including problems with the aircraft, staffing issues, weather, and more, but these three airlines experience the fewest delays.

There’s no surefire way to avoid flight delays (as nice as that would be!), but you can check out this guide for some more tips on how to escape the dreaded delay or cancellation.

Read More:

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November 23, 2023
Cancun Sold Out? Try Cozumel Instead! Here’s Every Direct Flight From The U.S. And Canada This Winter
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Fall may not be behind us just yet, but the popular beach retreat of Cancun is already expected to reach up to 95% occupancy in the high season – in other words, it could sell out any day now. If you’re on a low budget at the minute to book your vacation package right away, yet you’re still dreaming of the Mexican Caribbean, perhaps you should consider the beautiful, paradisaical island of Cozumel instead.

In this article, you’ll find an updated round-up of all direct flights to Cozumel this winter and why it may be a better pick than Cancun in the end:

Full List Of Direct Flights To Cozumel From The U.S. And Canada

Direct flights to Cozumel (CZM) leave from multiple cities in the U.S. and Canada, and the full list, including frequency during the peak season and starting prices for one-way Economy fare tickets can be found below:

UNITED STATES

Austin (AUS)
- Airlines: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines*
- Flight time: 2 hr 32
American
- Starting price: $169.43
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Southwest
- Starting price: $151.00*
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
*Southwest flights to Cozumel begin only on March 11, 2023

Charlotte (CLT)
- Airline: American Airlines
- Flight time: 3 hr 13
- Starting price: $305.70
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
- Airline: American Airlines, United Airlines
- Flight time: 3 hr 45
American
- Starting price: $253.19
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
United
- Starting price: $251.73
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- Airline: American Airlines
- Flight time: 2 hr 36
- Starting price: $297.02
- Frequency: M | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Denver (DEN)
- Airlines: United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
- Flight time: 3 hr 50
United
- Starting price: $207.00
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Southwest
- Starting price: $153.00
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Houston (IAH + HOU)

Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Airline: United Airlines
- Flight time: 2 hr 18
- Starting price: $137.00
- Frequency: M | T | W | Th | Fr | Sa | Su
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Airline: Southwest Airlines
- Flight time: 2 hr 18
- Starting price: $157.00
- Frequency: M | T | W | Th | Fr | Sa | Su
Miami (MIA)
- Airline: American Airlines
- Flight time: 1 hr 57
- Starting price: $161.37
- Frequency: M | T | W | Th | Fr | Sa | Su
Minneapolis/St Paul (MSP)
- Airline: Sun Country
- Flight time: 4 hr 02
- Starting price: $302.00
- Frequency: x | x | W | x | x | Sa | x
CANADA

Montreal (YUL)
- Airline: Air Canada
- Flight time: 4 hr 55
- Starting price: $272.85
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Toronto (YYZ)
- Airlines: Air Canada, WestJet
- Flight time: 4 hr 20
Air Canada
- Starting price: $249.36
- Frequency: x | x | T | x | Th | x | Su
WestJet
- Starting price: $332.00
- Frequency: x | x | x | x | x | Sa | x
Direct flights to Cozumel are also available from within Mexico, leaving from Merida and Mexico City

Starting prices above may refer exclusively to seats: Economy fares do not necessarily include hold luggage, in-flight meals, or entertainment, even on international routes. They may also oscillate as we enter the peak season, subject to demand and availability. We would suggest you read our five tips for scoring cheap flights this winter amid the volatile scenario.

Why Should You Pick Cozumel Over Cancun?

After spending years in the shadows as a secondary destination or day trip option, Cozumel is climbing the tourism charts as one of the best islands, not only within Mexico, but in North America. This year, it was proclaimed the continent’s fifth most popular island by Condé Nast Traveler, behind only Holbox and Mujeres and two other Canadian destinations.

Although it has certainly seen its share of development in recent years, following the arrival of various resort brands, top-notch seafood restaurants, and even beach clubs, the once-sleepy island has merely a small fraction of Cancun’s arrival figures. While it does have its own airport, it is served by fewer cities compared to the latter.

This has helped Cozumel retain some of its Mayan mystique, an attribute that has long been lost in other overtouristed Riviera towns. Moreover, its unspoiled nature and historical sights are iconic Mexican postcards: here, you’ll find sandy white beaches and crystal clear oceans, marine parks, lagoons with underwater caverns, and of course, ancient ruins.

Naturally, Cancun Airport remains the main entry point into the Riviera Maya, but we value honesty first and foremost and will not skirt around the harder topics: due to its accessibility, it can be chaotic at times, and this will be particularly true this winter, with millions of Americans set to scramble for any seats left on sold-out Cancun routes.

If you’re worried Cancun might sell out and packed beaches are not your idea of fun, flying direct to Cozumel is simply a great alternative to enjoy all the perks of vacationing in the Mexican Caribbean.

Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!

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November 19, 2022
Canada Finishes Summer With The 2 Worst Airports In The World For Flight Delays
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Canada has had a rough relationship with travel this summer and just finished off the season with two of its airports ranking as the worst in the world for flight delays. The overwhelming increase in flight demand this summer has strained the aviation sector all over the globe, but Canada was hit especially hard. Staff shortages have led to all manner of chaos this summer. Cancellations, delays, and lost luggage have become the norm, and travelers have had to accept this as their new reality. Problems are so rampant that only 1 out of 5 travelers in June made it to their destinations without issue.

With the new reality of rampant flight disruptions, travelers may find it helpful to avoid airports and airlines experiencing the worst delays. Currently, Toronto Pearson International and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport rank as the 1^st and 2^nd worst airports worldwide for flight delays. Both airports performed quite poorly, with nearly half of their total flights from May 27^th to September 5^th being delayed.

To make things worse, Canada also claimed another spot in the top 10 worst airports in the world for delays. Vancouver International Airport was the 10^th worst airport in the world for flight delays this summer.

Airport Stats

#1 Worst Airport In The World:
- Toronto Pearson International Airport – 51.9% of Flights Delayed
#2 Worst Airport In The World:
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport – 47.8% of Flights Delayed
Special Mention, #10 Worst Airport In The World:
- Vancouver International Airport – 37.8% of Flights Delayed
Canadian Travel Troubles

Canada certainly separates itself from the rest of the world for having immense amounts of flight delays this summer. Claiming 3 out of 10 slots for the top 10 worst airports in the world for flight delays is certainly a way to stand out, but it isn’t the only way Canada has drawn attention this summer. As the rest of the world began to open back up by shedding pandemic-era restrictions, Canada drew attention by becoming the only country in the world to add travel restrictions in July.

Having already separated themselves from much of the world by continuing to bar non-vaccinated visitors, they reinstated a random Covid testing policy. One of the benefits of being vaccinated that many travelers from other countries enjoy is being able to travel without having to take a Covid test. However, Canada’s strict border rules continue to punish travelers regardless of their vaccination status. Interestingly, Travel Off Path recently reported that the province of Ontario ended its requirement for residents to quarantine for five days after testing positive. Therefore, this begs the question, are Canada’s travel restrictions even reliable at this point?

Canadian Airports Claiming More Chaos

In July, Travel Off Path reported Toronto Pearson was the worst airport worldwide for delays, a title it still claims. However, neither Montreal-Trudeau International Airport nor Vancouver International Airport made the top 10 in that instance. Summer has not favored Canada as it now claims three slots out of the top 10. Canada has had an especially turbulent summer compared to the rest of the world. The full list of the ten worst airports in the world for flight delays over the summer is as follows:

1) Toronto Pearson International Airport – 51.9% of Flights Delayed

2) Montreal-Trudeau International Airport – 47.8% of Flights Delayed

3) Frankfurt International Airport: 44.5% – Flights Delayed

4) Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon) – 43% of Flights Delayed

5) London Gatwick Airport: 42% – Flights Delayed

6) Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – 41.6% of Flights Delayed

7) Munich International Airport – 40.1% of Flights Delayed

8) Manchester Airport – 39% of Flights Delayed

9) Athens International Airport – 38.5% of Flights Delayed

10) Vancouver International Airport – 37.8% of Flights Delayed

Will It Get Better?

Time will tell whether or not Canada can get things under control, but travelers should be prepared for more delays as summer comes to a close. Air Canada recently reported that its operations are improving, but Canadians may still have reason to worry. The data in this article looked at flights from the end of May to September 5^th, and peak travel chaos was witnessed during June and July. So, if things were improving, surely August would show better results? Unfortunately, singling out August doesn’t do much for Canada’s benefit.
- In August, Toronto Pearson had 51.8% of its flights delayed, almost identical to the percentage of delays from the entire summer.
- Montreal-Trudeau International had 51% of its flights delayed in August, performing worse than it did compared to the whole summer.
- Vancouver International Airport also performed worse in July than it did compared to the entire summer, with 38.4% of its flights delayed.
Air Canada themselves say that they are showing improvements. However, they have to deal with these three airports regardless of their own attempts to improve.

This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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September 10, 2022
You’re Most Likely To Get Bumped From Your Flight On These U.S. Airlines
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You planned your important trip in advance, bought your tickets for the exact dates you wanted, you have everything ready, you head to the airport, you check in and all you have to do now is wait, but, surprise! the airline oversold the flight and you are not allowed to board your flight.

A traveler’s nightmare, especially if they have to give up their seat against their will.

It’s not new that airlines oversell their flights and many travelers are usually offered good —and even very attractive— compensation for giving up their seats and rescheduling their trips. But that’s not always the case.

As we reach the end of summer, air travel chaos seems to be gone, but statistics and relevant data are out there to provide valuable information for travelers, especially for those planning to travel during the fall or winter season.

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection of the US Department of Transportation has recently published the quarterly Air Travel Consumer Report with relevant data from the industry.

The document includes an Oversales section with data on passengers who were bumped from flights, voluntarily and involuntarily. The report considers the most important carriers in the United States such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.

By learning more about the airlines where they are more likely to get bumped and considering the most reliable US airlines amid travel chaos, travelers will be able to make smarter decisions, especially for important trips during the next season.

Airlines More Likely To Deny Boarding

The study considers only passengers with confirmed reservations whose flights departed without them due to overselling. The section doesn’t consider delays, flight cancellations, or diverted flights. Those who were accommodated on another flight within an hour or failed to comply with the airline rules were also excluded.

The results do consider the number of passengers that voluntarily accepted compensation or flight rescheduled and those who did it unwillingly. Usually, when flights are overbooked, it is announced and some passengers are happy to readjust their plans, but when this doesn’t happen the airline has a system to randomly choose passengers.

In different tables, the study shows results for the last quarter, the data from January, a comparison with last year’s results, and the information provided by the marketing or reporting carrier.

Considering combined results from January to June, these were the airlines with the highest ratio of involuntary denied boardings per 10,000 passengers according to reporting marketing US Airlines:
- Frontier Airlines: Out of almost 11 million passengers, 5,986 voluntarily agreed to give up their seats and 4,151 did it against their will.
- Southwest Airlines: Out of over 72 million passengers, 33,601 willingly did not board, and 4,364 involuntarily stayed while their plane left.
- American Airlines: Out of 88 million passengers, 32,438 voluntarily accepted to stay and 4,995 passengers did it unwillingly.
- Spirit Airlines: Out of 17 million passengers, 8,797 didn’t board voluntarily and 772 were bumped involuntarily.
The following airlines were Alaska Airlines, Jetblue Airways, United Airlines Network, Delta Airlines Network, Hawaiian Airlines, and, in the first place of the 10 main airlines ranked, the least likely to involuntarily denied boarding is Allegiant Air.

Delta Airlines is the carrier with the highest voluntary denied boardings. Out of 77 million passengers, 56,877 passengers —the highest number of denied boards on the table— voluntarily accepted to let their flights depart without them and only 2 travelers did against their will. The reason is that Delta Airlines has one of the best compensation programs.

In June this year, Delta offered passengers $10,000 in cash for those who voluntarily gave away their seats on a flight from Michigan to Minnesota. Of course, that compensation easily convinced a few travelers to reschedule their flights.

Read More:

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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September 8, 2022
Viral TikTok Flight Attendant Shares Vital Safety Tips For Your Hotel Room
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There’s probably no better travel experts than flight attendants. Most are on the road and up in the air for over half of the year, staying in new hotels in different cities along the way.

For travelers, one of the most important aspects of your trip is staying safe, whether you’re out and about or in your hotel room.

That being said, ever wonder if your hotel room stay is completely safe? A flight attendant shares her top tips on keeping your hotel room safe while traveling.

TikTok Video On Hotel Safety Tips

This flight attendant has gone viral on TikTok recently with one of her videos on hotel safety. She frequently posts videos featuring top travel tips and hacks under the account name CiCi_inthesky – sharing everything from packing tips, how to use air tags, and the importance of using hydration stations at the airport.

The viral video currently has over 6.6 million views on TikTok, where she shares her top tips on how to know if your hotel room is safe and how to keep it that way. Here’s her expert advice:

How To Make Your Hotel Room Safe In Less Than 2 Minutes
- Keep the door open and check the closet(s), shower, and behind the curtains: CiCi says that when she first enters a hotel room, she props her door open with her bag and checks all main areas of the hotel room to make sure they are free of intruders.
- Check if the phone works: Once the hidden spots in the hotel room have been checked, she recommends checking to make sure that the hotel room phone works (you want to dial out if necessary, of course).
- Cover the peephole: After that, close the hotel room door and check to make sure to cover the little spy hole on the door. If your hotel room peephole may not have a cover, CiCi says not to worry. Just use a piece of tissue paper to cover up the peephole so that people can’t see into the room from outside.
- Put the ‘Privacy’ sign outside the door: Even if you leave the room, keeping the privacy sign on the door is another way to keep your hotel room safe.
Try A Washcloth To Secure The Side Lock
- Put a washcloth through the side lock: Once you’ve locked your room from the inside, you’ll also want to add a layer of security by using the side lock. To make sure it’s secure, CiCi recommends in the video to put a washcloth through the bar on the side lock before shutting it so that someone can’t disengage the lock from the outside. She explains why here in this video.
- Leave your bag or suitcase in front of the closed door: Whenever you’re inside the hotel room, CiCi recommends putting your suitcase on the ground right in front of the door. This will help avoid someone from using a hanger or wire to unlock anything from the outside. It also adds that noise factor for extra protection.
More Hotel Safety Tips From A Flight Attendant
- Keep the hotel TV on with the volume up: When leaving her room, CiCi keeps the TV on with the volume up, “not loud enough to disturb people, just a normal volume I would watch TV on regularly.”
- Check the fire exits: Also, she mentions that it’s important to know where all of the fire exits are in the hotel. The map of fire exits should be taped to the back of the room door.
Don’t Reveal Your Room Number At Check-In

Another recommendation that CiCi offers is about staying safe during check-in. When you are checking in, make sure the front desk person doesn’t say your room number out loud and that you don’t say your room number, either.

And when going up to your room, CiCi says that it’s important to “always be situationally aware as you go to your room. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong, follow your gut.” This doesn’t mean you have to look paranoid all the time but to just be mindful of what’s around, which is typically the best way to stay safe when traveling in a hotel or anywhere else.

Read More:

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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August 19, 2022
These Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly To Avoid Flight Disruptions
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Traveling this summer has been overrun with a whirlwind of flight delays and cancellations worldwide. Much of the chaos was brought on by overwhelming travel demand in the face of staffing shortages. Airlines have had to make do with the staff that they have, which often leads to delays, cancellations, and lost luggage. As the summer comes to an end, many travelers have held out hope that things will go back to normal, but it doesn’t seem likely. Recently, a collection of U.S. airlines announced they would cut over 30,000 flights this November.

With no end to chaotic travel conditions in sight, it can be helpful for travelers to know how to lessen their chances of getting caught up in a mess. Luckily, a recent study found that there are specific days of the week that have a smaller chance of flight disruptions.

What Factors Drive Flight Cancellations?

According to the study, an airport’s size is one of the main driving factors of cancellations. Airports with higher traffic will be the ones most likely to be plagued with cancellations, with the worst culprits being LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. However, airport traffic isn’t the only factor. The study found that the time of day can have a significant impact on cancellations as well. Most cancellations occur towards the end of the day, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

What Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly?

The study analyzed 37,000 cancellations from 400 different airports in the United States. Data collection occurred between May 27^th and July 15^th amid peak travel chaos. Using this information, the best and worst days of the week for avoiding flight disruptions were as follows:

Worst
- Thursday
  
  3.6% of total flights canceled
  
  28% of total flights delayed
- Friday
  
  3.2% of total flights canceled
  
  31% of total flights delayed
Decent
- Saturday
  
  2.7% of total flights canceled
  
  27% of total flights delayed
- Wednesday
  
  2.7% of total flights canceled
  
  25% of total flights delayed
- Sunday
  
  2.5% of total flights canceled
  
  27% of total flights delayed
Best
- Monday
  
  1.9% of total flights canceled
  
  23% of total flights delayed
- Tuesday
  
  1.8% of total flights canceled
  
  22% of total flights delayed
As the study showed, the day of the week can significantly impact flight disruptions. Travelers are twice as likely to have a flight canceled flying on Thursday as opposed to a Tuesday, according to the data. Tuesday was the clear winner with the least cancellations and the least flight delays, with Monday close behind. According to the study, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Monday, and the worst days of the week to fly are Thursday and Friday. If travelers have the flexibility to choose which days they can fly, they should aim for the start of the week.

Other Factors To Consider

The day of the week is clearly not going to be the main factor driving cancellations and delays, though it does seem to play a significant role. When travelers fly definitely contributes to potential flight disruptions, but who they fly with and where they fly from can also make a big difference. Recently, we determined the top five U.S airlines with the most delays in July. Allegiant Air was the worst airline for delays, with nearly 40% of their flights being delayed. JetBlue ranked second with 35%, and Southwest was third with 32%.

Where travelers fly to or from can also have significant impacts on flight disruptions. Between May 27^th and July 15^th, the five worst airports for cancellations were:
1. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)- 7.7% of total flights canceled
2. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – 7.6% of total flights canceled
3. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) -5.9% of total flights canceled
4. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – 4.1% of total flights canceled
5. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – 4% of total flights canceled
Travelers should make every effort to investigate their chances of running into flight disruptions this summer and fall. If the summer travel season has shown us anything, it is how chaotic flying is right now. Knowing your passenger rights, the best days and times to travel, and the best airlines and airports to travel with can all help make sure your trip goes as planned.

This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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August 14, 2022
Flight Costs Are Soaring But This Trick Will Find International Tickets For Under $200
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This summer has seen a massive increase in travel demand as the world continues to shed Covid-era restrictions. As a result, airfares surged by more than 50% when demand was skyrocketing. Although there may be some reprieve for flight costs this fall, prices remain high, leaving some travelers wondering if it is even worth booking a trip. However, for those not locked in on any particular travel dates, there is a simple trick to find international fares for under $200. The tool used is likely familiar, but the method and feature used may not be. Using a feature of Google Flights and some helpful filters, travelers can find an international flight to many destinations at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.

Requirements
1. In order for this method to work, the number one requirement for travelers is flexibility, either with their intended destination, their trip dates, or both. Maximum flight savings will trend with maximum flexibility.
2. While not a set-in-stone requirement, traveling out of a larger airport hub will net the most savings. For example, international flights from New York City are almost always cheaper than those from smaller, less-connected airlines. If travelers live near a larger airport, it may be worth the drive to save on fares.
3. Time. Travelers will have to spend a bit more time researching with this method, but the savings can be worth it. In particular, it’s worth investigating what hidden fees may be lurking behind a cheap fare, such as extra baggage fees.
The Feature & Methods Used

The first step will be heading over to the Google Flights landing page. From here, rather than punching in destinations and dates, click on the “Explore” tab. From here, travelers can find flights and trip ideas that will fit their criteria and, hopefully, a great deal! As mentioned above, this method is most useful for travelers who either don’t have a particular destination in mind, don’t have specific travel dates in mind, or both. This article will outline best practices for each circumstance.

Completely Flexible Travelers
1. Head to the Explore Tab on Google Flights.
2. Put your departure city in & change the trip to “one way” to find the best deals.
3. The default search parameter for dates is a “Trip in the next months”. Completely flexible travelers can feel free to leave this setting untouched.
4. Suggested Filters
  
  Price – Less than $200.
  
  Travel Mode – Flights only
  
  Stops – 1 stop or fewer. Travelers ok with more layovers can adjust accordingly.
Now the world is yours! Drag the world map around to find destinations that interest you and enjoy the savings. An example with the above parameters using New York City as the departure city and Europe as the region of interest lies above. As you can see, there are several European cities with fares that are less than $200, including Rome, Athens, Milan, Berlin, Lisbon, and London. Dragging the map over to the Caribbean and South America also yields favorable fares, with many closer to $100 than $200.

Travelers With Specific Dates Or Destinations

While travelers with less flexibility will not be able to find deals as good as those with complete flexibility, this method is still worth using to find savings. Depending on the criteria for the trip, travelers only need to change one setting in the search to match their needs.
- Specific Dates – For travelers with particular dates, click on the box that, by default, reads, “Trip in the next 6 months.” Click “Specific dates” and enter your departure date.
- Specific Destinations – For travelers with particular destinations, click the box that says “Where to?” and input your destination. The “Trip in the next 6 months” box should remain unchanged.
Travelers with specific dates and destinations are less likely to find fares for under $200, but it isn’t impossible. If no results show, prices and the number of stops may need to be adjusted to find the lowest pricing. Similarly, suppose there is a better-connected airport within driving distance. In that case, it may be worth checking to see what deals can be found by switching departure airports.

Final Tips

The Explore tab is a great way to find flight deals when you can be flexible with destinations or dates. A good rule of thumb is more flexibility means more savings. However, travelers can filter by month, specific dates, non-stop vs. multiple stops, continent, country, or city. A new and exciting place could be waiting that you’d never considered before, and this is a method to use to find it.

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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August 11, 2022
Southwest Eliminates Flight Credit Expirations: What Travelers Need To Know
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Passengers who fly Southwest Airlines are in for much more freedom when their trip doesn’t work out as planned. Travelers who need to change or cancel their plans with Southwest have not had to pay any fees to do so for some time. Even travelers who book a non-refundable fare can cancel; they will simply receive a flight credit rather than a refund. The only downside to this was that the flight credit expired after one year, until now. Southwest announced on Thursday that there would no longer be an expiration date for customer’s flight credits, effective immediately.

Flexibility Is King

For Southwest, flexibility for their customers has always been a priority. For years the company has set itself apart by allowing customers to check two bags with no additional fees and allowing passengers to change or cancel their flight up to ten minutes before departure. “Flight credits don’t expire aligns with the boldness of a philosophy to give our Customers definitive simplicity and ease in travel, just like Bags fly free, just like No change fees, just like Points don’t expire—they’re a first-in-our-industry combination of differentiators that only Southwest offers,” said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan in a press release.

Flight Credits Don’t Expire

The new ‘flight credits don’t expire’ policy was implemented as soon as it was announced. Any flight credits that were not already expired by July 28^th, 2022, will be included in the new policy. The airline is going to work on its technology systems later this year in order to remove expiration dates from flight credits completely. Until then, customers will see an expiration date of December 31^st, 2040, on their flight credits.

Why The Change?

Southwest has been working on overhauling the passenger experience since its announcement in May that it would be spending two billion dollars on a transformation plan. In May, the airline promised to deliver on several fronts, including:
- Adding fast Wi-Fi to every plane
- Adding charging capabilities to every seat
- Making overhead bins larger
- Introduce their new Wanna Get Away Plus fare category
- Enhance onboard entertainment
- Add new self-service options for customers to use
According to Senior Vice President Ryan Green, the airline never intended to stop there. The company says they are constantly looking for ways to improve on items customers care about most. The flexibility to cancel up to ten minutes before a flight and receive a credit that will never expire is undoubtedly high on the list for most travelers. Life happens, and sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Being able to cancel a trip without worrying about monetary loss or expiring credits is a huge stress reliever for many.

Nearly 50% of travelers said that flexible cancellation and rebooking policies were a significant factor in their travel plans for 2022, and Southwest seems to have heard them loud and clear. Southwest is now the only major airline in the United States that offers flight credits with no expiration date. If Covid has proven anything, it’s that travelers should always be prepared for plans to change. This newest policy update from Southwest ensures that travelers will have no problems changing plans for any reason.

What It Means For Travelers

To sum it up in one word, flexibility. Southwest was already one of the most flexible airlines in the U.S. to fly when it came to rebooking or canceling, and now they might be the most flexible. Airbnb host canceled on you at the last minute? Now you can cancel your flight without ever losing your credit. Another benefit to credits that never expire is that travelers looking for the best deal can now virtually guarantee they will get it. Notice that the fare went down in price substantially for an upcoming trip? Now you can cancel your flight, rebook at the lower rate, and save your credit indefinitely for a future trip.

Southwest has certainly been listening to customers, and its latest move to get rid of flight credit expirations is just one example of how it aims to continue adding flexibility and simplicity to its business model. Travelers can rest assured knowing their bookings with Southwest offer the best flexibility of any major U.S. airline.

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July 30, 2022
Germany’s Busiest Airport Is The Latest To Add Flight Limits To Combat Travel Chaos

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Shortly after Amsterdam and London’s airports announced they would add a capacity cap in order to help air traffic operators cope with the surging travel demand, Germany’s busiest airport has announced it will be joining them in limiting daily flights. If you’re due to fly via Frankfurt International in the coming weeks, we advise you to check your flight status ASAP.

Since summer started, European airports have been under severe pressure as passenger numbers skyrocket unexpectedly, at a time when staffing constraint is widespread, directly impacting operations and resulting in other operational issues. Now, yet another airport, one of Europe’s best equipped, has reached a tipping point:

Europe’s Summer Of Travel Chaos Has No End In Sight

The lifting of Covid rules has opened the travel floodgates after they remained shut for the better part of two years. Travelers again have unrestricted access to the world’s top tourist destinations, from the sunny Caribbean to the History-packed Europe. One major downside? The industry wasn’t at all prepared for what turned out to be its busiest summer in years.

It seems like the mass redundancies both airlines and airports resorted to at the peak of the pandemic has come to bite them. Even though confidence in travel has been reinstated and millions of people are now looking forward to flying again, there simply isn’t enough pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers and even border officers to manage the unprecedented influx of passengers.

As a result, two thirds of European airports are experiencing some kind of disruption, whether it’s multiple flights delayed or cancelled or logistical challenges. Not even Europe’s busiest hubs, which were supposed to be better prepared for such events, have come out unscathed. They are, in fact, among some of the worst for delays in the whole continent.

This is why Frankfurt has been forced to take urgent action. Since July 19, Germany’s main international airport has a new flight limit in place. The number of take-offs and landings is limited to 88 per hour, meaning airlines will not be allowed to increase frequency on Frankfurt routes for the time being, and will be forced to trim down their schedule with immediate effect.

To put it simply, a series of cancellations is due.

Frankfurt Hopes The Hourly Cap Will Help Stabilize The Situation

Jens Ritter, Lufthansa’s CEO, praised the move, stating that Frankfurt Airport still suffered from reduced staff and resources even after an increase in capacity for ground handling services, and multiple schedule reductions. Flight cancellations will, of course, be a byproduct of that, but that is a price the airport is willing to pay to normalize the situation.

Those will help ‘stabilize’ things and contribute to an ‘even reduction’, in Ritter’s words, with the revised flight schedule better reflecting the new reality. Right now, passengers traveling into or out of Frankfurt International are advised to check their flights have not been axed, or changed to a later time or date, following the introduction of the hourly cap.

Not all airlines will be happy with Frankfurt’s short-term solution to the problem, though. Just last week, Emirates publicly rebuked a similar decision by London Heathrow, being one of several major airlines whose summer plans were disregarded after a 100,000-daily flights limit started being enforced.

Emirates defiantly opposed Heathrow, stating it planned to operate as scheduled and calling the airport ‘unreasonable’. The rhetoric has since changed, and the UAE’s flag carrier have agreed to cooperate over the next couple of weeks in smoothing operations, but the news coming from Frankfurt will surely not go down well with them – or any other more critical airlines, for that matter.

So far, no major carrier has rebelled against this new flight limit. Additionally, as things stand, Frankfurt is enjoying its busiest month since Covid was declared a pandemic: in July, a total of 5 million passengers used it for travel, still 24.1 per cent lower than pre-pandemic figures, but a whopping 181 per cent increase year over year.

Flying Abroad This Summer? You Better Get Insured

Worried about cancelled flights? You can always get insured ahead of traveling. We may not be able to predict which routes will be cut and which will not, but we can minimize our own risks of being left with no compensation, or without assistance if we’re affected.

You can find out more about comprehensive insurance policies covering flight delays, cancellations, lost luggage, Covid and other health-related concerns clicking here.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

This Is Europe’s Most Reliable Airline Right Now

U.S. Dollar & Euro Hit Parity But It Wont Save You Much On Your Next Vacation

Americans are Waiting Months for Passport Renewals as Travel Demand Skyrockets

Don’t Book Those Flight Tickets Just Yet – Wait Until Summer’s Over

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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July 22, 2022
Flight Delayed? Here Are 10 Ways To Pass The Time

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With travel ramping up to pre-pandemic levels for summer 2022, so have flight delays across the US. Since May, US air travelers have experienced an increase in flight delays by approximately 25% compared to last year. While the delays and cancellations are due to a myriad of factors, they also don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. What’s a stranded traveler to do?

To make those dreaded flight delays a little more bearable, here are some easy and fun ways to pass the time at the airport.

Hit Up The Lounge

This may seem like an obvious one, but don’t rule out the option to check in at the airport lounge if you’re flight is delayed by a few hours or more. Whether you’re a frequent flyer with lounge access already or are thinking about splurging on a day pass, airport lounges can really help ease the stress of travel delays.

Before your trip, we recommended checking the lounge amenities of where you’ll be flying out of so that you can gauge if your splurge will be worth it. Many lounges come with free food, drink, showers, nap pods (!), workout equipment, and even a spa – a stay here is practically a vacation in itself.

Catch Up On Your Podcasts

Addicted to podcasts? Who isn’t nowadays. In case of a flight delay the next time you travel, make sure you download the latest episodes of some of your favorite podcasts to your phone before setting off to the airport so that you’ll have plenty of entertainment to fill those hours at the airport.

Chill Out

Sometimes there’s really nothing you can do about a flight delay, so might as well make the most of it. So, why not use this time to pause from your busy life? Once you’ve gone through security, find a restaurant or coffee shop to relax at in your terminal and take a beat.

Research Your Trip

Another major part of travel is trip planning, and unless you’re a travel wizard, there’s probably some aspects of your trip that you haven’t researched yet. A great way to be productive at the airport in case of a big delay is to research your destination.

Look up the do’s and don’ts section in your guidebook and inform yourself about the local culture and customs and read up on any hidden gems to be found that can make your trip that much more meaningful.

Work

There’s no better time than an airport delay to start taking care of those daunting work tasks you’ve been putting off. Stay on top of the game by getting ahead of those emails and other important work things as you relax in your airport terminal before your flight.

Remember, if you plan on using your laptop, phone, or tablet at the airport make sure you have a VPN installed beforehand. Airport WiFi is public, so a VPN will help to hide your IP address from potential hackers.

Browse The Duty Free

You don’t need to spend big money if you don’t have the budget, but it’s always fun to window shop at the airport. Duty Free shops are also a great place to find big brands without the tax added on, so if you need to replenish that bottle of perfume or cologne, the airport is the place to do it.

Play A Card Game

Pack a deck of cards with you on your next trip and bring back this lost art in case of an airport delay. Set up camp with your travel buddies near your gate or find an available table and enjoy a few hours of classic, quality time playing a new card game.

Work Out

What better time to get your step count up than when you have a few hours to kill and plenty of walking space? It’s super important to keep moving when you can while traveling, especially before a long plane ride. Use your flight delay time to wander the airport and even do some lunges and squats while you’re at it.

For some tips, check out these ideas for simple exercises to do at the airport.

Journal

In transit is one of the best times to reflect on life’s larger questions. In case of an airport delay, take out your journal and start writing down your thoughts. Journaling is a great way to calm your mind, so you’ll board your flight practically stress-free and ready for the adventure ahead.

Check Out The Airport Art

Lots of airport revamps mean a better passenger experience, and many new spaces in airports are being built to keep travelers inspired. For instance, LaGuardia’s most recent upgrade in Terminal C features work by local NY artists that is definitely worth a look.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

These Are The Top 5 Destinations For Camping In The US This Summer

Hawaii Is Quickly Losing Popularity: Here’s Why Many Travelers Say They Won’t Return

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The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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July 13, 2022