April 13, 2022

Greetings! It's been a busy week in the travel industry and it's only going to get busier as summer travel nears. The biggest topic today is the breaking news that the CDC is reportedly extending the federal mask mandate. Here's what you need to know. 

Today's Travel Tip
If an Airline Severely Delays or Cancels Your Flight, Are They Obligated to Cover Your Hotel Accommodations?
In response to my story JetBlue Falls from Grace After Horrendous Customer Service, Lies and the Gall of Their Spirit Airlines Bid, I received a question from follower Meg R. on Twitter asking me: “Per DOT rules, don’t they owe pax refunds if the airline cancels? Of course, pax need to know and insist.”

If you read the story above, you can tell that along with thousands of others, I’m really ticked off at JetBlue and the other airlines for not being able to manage their operations lately, even though they received billions of dollars from the government to do so. And then there’s the fact that they were blaming the weather, when in reality, that was just a small part of a bigger problem.

The real problem is not enough staff. I believe that JetBlue and other airlines are blaming the weather so they don’t have to cover hotel stays. To add insult to injury, a few days earlier, JetBlue made a $3.6 billion bid to buy Spirit Airlines, while stranding thousands without accommodations. Here’s what Meg R and other concerned travelers need to know.


VIDEO: Passenger Does Laundry Mid-Flight at Her Seat – What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Seen?
Now, I've seen a lot of crazy things in my time up in the air and I'm sure you have, too. But this one you really do have to see to believe. Watch the crazy video here.
 

Why You Shouldn’t Pay Extra for American Airlines' Preferred Seats
Almost every traveler will tell you, legroom in coach is getting tighter and tighter. The airlines have started squeezing more seats into planes to make more money and the result is less room for you. But don’t get suckered into paying extra for a “Preferred Seat” on American Airlines. Here’s why.


Video: Cops Pull Over a Driverless Car in San Francisco and it’s Hilarious
This weekend, Twitter user Seth Weintraub posted a unique video with the caption: “Welcome to the future. Cop pulls over driverless car (because no lights?) Then Cruise goes on the lamb.” Here's the video. 


Hotel Review: 14 Reasons to Stay at Town and Country in San Diego
My family and I took a mini getaway last week to San Diego. We took the kids to the newly opened Sesame Place theme park (more on that in the coming days) and stayed at a family-friendly resort in San Diego called Town and Country. It was a pleasant surprise for a number of reasons. Read our review here.

Travel Product of the Week

Universal Plug
Planning an international trip? Well, if you read last week's tip on how to figure out which electrical adaptor you need, then you know one of the many items, I always keep in my carry-on bag is a universal plug. They're only $11 and will save you a lot of aggravation. Here's the one I recommend.

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— BREAKING: CDC Extends Federal Mask Mandate  
— Frontier Airlines is celebrating spring with 50% flights across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and more
— Unruly woman on American flight to Charlotte duct-taped to seat, hit with largest FAA fine
— Airfare surged 20% over pre-pandemic levels in March as inflation hit vacations
— JetBlue is trimming summer flight schedule due to ‘industry challenges’
— Southwest pilots' union says fatigue is a safety problem
— Inflation and weak business and international travel are hurdles for major U.S. airlines as earnings season kicks off
— Jet Airways plots a return to the skies by October 2022
— Delta loses $940 million in Q1, but bookings, revenue, surge
— A mentalist sets a Central Park running record by running 116 miles in a single day
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
(Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from the past seven days!)

Travel Quote of the Week
"Be sincere, be brief, be seated." – Franklin D Roosevelt 

Travel Tweet of the Day
@DrLeanaWen: I'm with Dr. Schaffner on this--Biden admin should remove testing requirement for international travel. It's not required for domestic & "we’ve got oodles of covid here; it’s here already, it’s in every community in the US, what are we trying to prevent?”  

Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
-Summer will be here before you know it, and there's a new offer to help get an edge on earning miles. New United Club℠ Infinite Card cardholders earn 120,000 bonus miles (after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months). We think this is one of the best United credit cards. It comes with United Club membership, free first and second checked bags, Premier Access services (preferential treatment at airports), and IHG Platinum Elite status. Hurry, though—this United Club Infinite signup bonus is only available for a limited time.  

Travel Contests
-Win a $5,000 credit toward a cruise or a resort getaway (April 17)
-Win a Trip to Iceland (April 30)
-"Share Your Story" Writing Contest for Outdoor Adventurists (April 30)
-Win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two (Nov 14) 
See all contests here.

In Case You Missed It
How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
The last thing any tired and frustrated traveler wants to do is spend hours upon hours trying to reach an airline agent when you need immediate assistance. But that's what's been happening to travelers across the country this weekend. If you were traveling and were caught up in the chaos or if you're traveling anytime soon, these tips will help you reach an agent more quickly. Read the story here. 

We're All Done With Covid But Covid Isn't Done With Us - Here Are 3 Things You Should Still Do
I know, I know. We’re all sick of hearing about Covid, reading about Covid and dedicating any more brain space to Covid. Unfortunately, just because we’re done with Covid doesn’t mean that Covid is done with us. In fact, British Airways just canceled 78 flights today due to staff being sick with COVID. If you’re planning to travel (and even if you’re not), there are a variety of ways to mitigate your risk. Here are 3 things we should still be paying doing and paying attention to, to keep ourselves and our communities safe.

How to Get the Exit Row For Free
Here are four ways you might be able to score the most coveted seats on the plane for free. Read the story here.

10 Ways to Find Cheap Flights This Summer
Here are 10 ways to find cheap flights this summer.

Why American Travelers Should Book International Travel on US Carriers ✈
Many international air carriers offer a superior product and service but there are two significant reasons why American travelers should book international travel on US carriers, especially during these uncertain times. Read the story here.

The First Thing I Do When I Check into a Hotel Room
The First Thing You Should Do When You Check into a Hotel Room to Ensure a Good Night's Sleep.

RELATED READING
-The Blackout Sleep Mask Travelers Need
-Never Sleep Through Your Alarm Again
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
-How to Sleep Better in a Hotel Room

Hawaii Trip Reports 
Last month I returned from 10 days in Hawaii with my family. To get there, we flew on one of United’s plush 777-300 in business class. We spent the first four nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the last five nights at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki. To get home, we flew economy on one of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody A330 planes, which you can read about here >> Here’s my HNL-LAX trip report.
 
Good To Know
-The Best Coach Seats To and From Hawaii
-All of Your 2022 Cruise Questions Answered by a Cruise Expert
-Here Are 9 Ways to Save Money on Gas
-The Flight Tracking App That Pilots Use
-How to Avoid Long Lines When You Travel ... And at Home
-Should You Still Travel to Europe This Summer? Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg Weigh In
-Can You Travel With the Lithium Ion Batteries Found in Phones, Tablets and Chargers?
-How to Prevent In-Flight Thefts 


Air Travel Tips
-Alaska Airlines Launches First-Ever Flight Subscription Service
-How to Track Airfares by Signing Up for Fare Alerts
-Warning: Watch out for This Email Phishing Scam Pretending to be American Airlines
-Travel hack that will let you use your wireless headphones to watch in-flight movies 
-Why Travelers Will Want to Book Future Flights on Delta
-How to Get Free Upgrades and Points on American Airlines
-A Simple and Genius iPhone Hack to Track Flights.
-Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports 
-8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn't Lose Your Bag ... And That You Don't Get Robbed or Stalked
-How to Speed Through Airport Security
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips

Lodging
-3 Ways to Get a Refund on a Nonrefundable Hotel Room


Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-DON'T Do This When You're Driving Because It's Just Not Worth It
-One of the Worst Decisions Travelers Can Make
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2022
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-Rick Steves' Solid Advice About Travel This Spring and Summer  
-Got Foreign Currency Lying Around? These Notes Are About to Be Worthless
-Can The US Government’s Free COVID Tests Be Used for Travel?
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know 
-All Your Passport and Visa Questions Answered by An Expert
-A New Vaccination Requirement All International Travelers Must Consider
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe

Safety
-ALWAYS Leave These at Home When You Travel
-Bet You Don't Know What an ATM Skimmer Looks Like.
-Don't Fall for These QR Code Scams
-How to Get Free N95 Masks Which Are Key to Safe Travels 
-How to Reuse your N95 and KN95 Masks
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-The Pocket Thermometer You Should Never Leave Home Without
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit
-The Most Dangerous Places to Be During a Lightning Storm
-Car Seat Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe
-Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks