American Eagle Flight 5342 collided midair Wednesday evening with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on its approach to Reagan National Airport (DCA), with 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. Officials believe that there were no survivors, making this the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.

The plane and helicopter went down into the Potomac River, where the water temperature was around 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The Associated Press reports the body of the aircraft was found upside-down in three sections in the water and that the helicopter’s wreckage has also been found.

“The initial briefs were that everything was routine going into the approach for landing for American Airlines Flight 5342 and that, in fact, contact had been made with, of course, the military helicopter as well,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. “But of course, it clearly wasn’t routine, and we had two aircraft in the river with 67 fatalities.”

American Airlines has established a toll-free hotline for individuals concerned that a loved one may have been on board: 800-679-8215.

All takeoffs and landings from Reagan National Airport were stopped until 11 am Thursday. Several airlines have issued travel waivers allowing passengers flying to or from the airport to make itinerary changes.

The post No Known Survivors in American Airlines Crash Near Washington, D.C. appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Cirium is an aviation analytics company that combines data and analytics to assist the global travel industry. Founded in 1909 (initially launching the world’s first weekly aerospace magazine), it has evolved into a leading aviation industry insights and analytics provider.

Platinum Award for Operational Excellence 

Delta received the Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for the fourth year in a row, with an 83.46% on-time performance across over 1.7 million flights. The airline demonstrated remarkable resilience when faced with a significant setback in July 2024 due to a global CrowdStrike software disruption. Delta quickly recovered and returned to industry-leading performance levels by August with an 80.9% on-time rate, followed by an even stronger 87.81% in September. 

Global On-Time Award 2024

Aeromexico achieved an outstanding 86.70% punctuality rate across nearly 200,000 flights. Aeromexico’s achievement reflects its strategic investments in fleet modernization and technological advancements, including the expansion to 113 aircraft with an average age of just 7.1 years.

Regional Airline On-Time Winners 

North America

Unsurprisingly (thanks to its Platinum status), Delta Air Lines dominated the North American market, maintaining exceptional service standards despite operational challenges. Delta continues to excel thanks to its comprehensive training programs and culture that prioritizes safety and punctuality. 

The top ten North American airlines were: 

1. Delta Air Lines  83.46% 
2. United Airlines  80.93% 
3. Alaska Airlines  79.25% 
4. American Airlines 4 77.78%
5. Southwest Airlines 5 77.77% 
6. Spirit Airlines 6 76.05% 
7. JetBlue 7 74.53% 
8. Frontier Airlines  71.57% 
9. Air Canada  71.36%
10. WestJet 70.99%

Asia 

Japan Airlines led the region with an 80.90% on-time rate, demonstrating Japanese efficiency and precision in aviation operations. 

Europe

Iberia Express topped European carriers with an 84.69% on-time rate.

Central America

Copa Airlines achieved an impressive 88.22% on-time performance.

Middle East & Africa

FlySafair emerged as the regional leader with a remarkable 93.82% on-time rate.

Airport Excellence

While airlines have a lot to do with how punctual their flights are, the airports themselves also play a significant role in punctuality.  These are the winners for airport excellence in on-time flights. 

Riyadh King Khalid International Airport – Saudi Arabia 

The inaugural Airport Platinum Award went to Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, recognizing its exceptional performance in maintaining high punctuality standards, with an 86.65% on-time performance rate. 

US Airport – Honolulu International Airport

The airport in the US with the highest on-time performance rate was Honolulu, with an impressive 85.45% rate, followed by Salt Lake City, with an impressive 83.80% rate. 

Medium Airport – Panama City Tocumen International Airport 

Medium-sized Panama City Tocumen Airport had an outstanding 90.34% punctuality score. 

Small Airports: Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport – Ecuador

Smaller airport Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport achieved an impressive 91.38% on-time rate.

The post The World’s Most Punctual Airlines appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Are your days of flying domestically using only your driver’s license numbered? They could be if you don’t have a new type of license. As the deadline for the REAL ID Act looms, it’s vital for you to know if your current driver’s license doesn’t meet the new criteria.

If you’ve been procrastinating getting a REAL ID, it’s time to stop putting it off. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has just announced that all travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID by May 7, 2025, to board commercial airplanes.

Here’s a quick and easy primer with everything you need to know about the REAL ID Act, about when to use a REAL ID vs. a passport, and about the Department of Homeland Security’s hard deadline on the changes.

What Is the REAL ID Act?

The REAL ID Act “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” says the DHS. This Act applies to state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting IDs that do not meet the new standards.

This means that when the REAL ID ACT is in place, only driver’s licenses issued under REAL ID standards will be accepted at airports.

REAL ID Changes Timeline: When to Worry About Invalid IDs for Flying

In 2005, the REAL ID Act established nationwide requirements for state IDs as a post-9/11 security measure. States had well over a decade to make the changes, but the deadline to complete the transition has been extended multiple times. Some states struggled to make the switch to issuing the new, compliant licenses, having trouble finding the budget for the new licenses or lacking other logistical means to enact the changes.

May 7, 2025: According to the DHS website, by this date, “every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel,” as well as to enter federal government buildings. If by this date your state license is not a REAL ID compatible one, you will need to bring another form of ID to the airport, like a passport.

How Do I Get a REAL ID?

The process for getting your REAL ID is a little more difficult than the last time you renewed your license: You’ll probably have to visit a DMV and provide paperwork, like proof of residency and proof of lawful presence in the United States. You can, however, submit this paperwork (which you’ll still need to bring with you) online ahead of time for approval. Check your state’s DMV requirements online for more information.

If you’re a non-citizen or you think getting your ID might be more complicated for any other reason, check the Department of Homeland Security’s DHS REAL ID FAQ page for more information on your particular case.

REAL ID vs. Passports

If you’re unable to obtain a REAL ID by May 7, 2025, you’ll need to bring a passport or another TSA-acceptable document with you to the airport in order to pass through security. The DHS reminded travelers often of the looming deadline, in part because if everyone rushes to get a REAL ID at once, there could be long wait times in many states.

Does a REAL ID Replace a Passport?

The short answer is no. You’ll need a REAL ID at minimum for domestic travel come May 2025, and your passport can work in place of a REAL ID for domestic travel—but a valid passport will still be required for international travel. So whether you have a REAL ID or not, a passport will always get you through airport security. And whether you have a REAL ID or not, a passport will always be required for international travel.

The post Everything Travelers Need to Know About the REAL ID Act appeared first on SmarterTravel.

However, choosing the wrong group tour company can quickly turn your dream vacation into a disappointment. It’s critical that you select a tour operator that aligns with your travel style and goals. Do you prefer a small, intimate group or a larger, more social setting? Does the price match your expectations—luxury or budget-friendly? Is the itinerary packed with the destinations you’re eager to see?

We’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best group tour companies for 2025, tailored to every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Adventure Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Adventure Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to off-the-beaten-path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Adventure Travels to a friend).

These small group tours operate with only 8-16 people per trip and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Adventure Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by activity (walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) and type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all,” European wilderness, and more) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. 

Exodus Adventure Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 
Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Adventure Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour.

Best Bucket List Group Tours: EF Adventures

In 2024, the renowned tour operator EF World Journeys launched a new brand: EF Adventures. True to its name, this division focuses on adventure travel, offering a variety of biking, hiking, walking, and multi-sport tours across Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands.

EF Adventures makes planning complicated tours easy, taking care of flights, transfers, guides, equipment, optional tour extensions, and more—so all you have to do is show up.

After an action-packed day of outdoor exploration, guests can unwind in luxurious accommodations, ranging from 3-star to 5-star properties, each selected to reflect the unique charm of the destination. Whenever possible, EF Adventures chooses hotels with pools or spas, ensuring travelers have the perfect place to relax and recover.

Want to stay motivated in your fitness goals pre- or post-trip? Join EF Adventures’ Strava Group for some friendly competition.

Top Trip: Connections mean everything on a good tour group, and EF Adventures has the ultimate hookup—the brand’s parent company owns a men’s and women’s pro cycling team. Experience the behind-the-scenes perks on EF Adventures’ Tour de France trip, in which participants will get to ride iconic sections of the Tour de France, experience insider access to the EF Pro Cycling team, and watch the thrilling race finish from a VIP section on the Champs-Élysées.

Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave the communities and places where it operates tours better than it found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight-day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route. 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

G Adventures offers cheap group tours for travelers on a budget, making dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $979, crisscrossing India’s Golden Triangle for $594, or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $700.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers, as most trips don’t have a single supplement. You can share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler or pay extra for a private space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals and making certain activities optional (for an additional fee). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

Best Private Group Travel: Vaya Adventures

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Vaya Adventures will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. Vaya’s team of experts has spent years living and working in the destinations that they handle, so they have the insider knowledge to make a trip truly special. 

On a Vaya Adventures trip, you won’t find yourself stuck in a soulless chain hotel—accommodations are thoughtfully selected to showcase the local culture and include boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and historic homes. 

Top Trip: Hike the Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela, recovering each night in beautiful boutique hotels or traditional Paradores. 

Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours. EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers and feature unique educational experiences. EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing for a bucket list trip, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers, where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification earned by companies demonstrating social and environmental responsibility.

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company’s own charity, The Intrepid Foundation, has donated over 10 million dollars to over 160 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-35. (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience a foodie trip of a lifetime on Intrepid Travel’s South Korea Real Food Adventure, which includes time in three cities and an overnight temple stay.

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Arctic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for trips to the polar regions, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination. For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina).

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $6,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll adore For the Love of Travel. All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and, of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekend trips to closer destinations like Mexico or Costa Rica—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your stuff from point to point.) The solution: DuVine Cycling, a luxury small group tour company specializing in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure—no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name-brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises.

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families, and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife & Nature: Around the World by Private Jet trip.

The post The 11 Best Tour Group Travel Tour Companies for 2025 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Through the end of December, Lyft is partnering with DoorDash to give DashPass users up to 50% off four scheduled rides to the airport, with a maximum discount of $25 per ride. To take advantage of this perk, simply link the two accounts to have the discount automatically applied on your next scheduled ride. 

Pro-Tip: Maximize your chance for savings by trying out the Lyft Price Lock feature, which lets you “lock in” lower ride prices during off-peak hours. Although Price Lock can’t be combined with the holiday promotion, a spokesperson at Lyft let us know that “whichever promotion results in a better price for you will be the one applied to your airport ride.”

The post How to Get 50% Off Lyft Rides to the Airport This Holiday appeared first on SmarterTravel.

In a statement released Monday, Apple explained that those using AirTags in their luggage will get a link generated in the Find My Item app. “Recipients of a link will be able to view a website that shows the location of the item on an interactive map. The website will automatically update when a new location is available and will show a timestamp of the most recent update.” You can then share the location with the airline, allowing them to find your luggage and reunite you with it. Currently, only the traveler can see the location, and Airlines are helpless when it comes to locating it. 

If you’re worried about privacy (and who isn’t these days), you don’t have to. Once passengers are reunited with their item, the shared location will automatically be disabled, and the owner can also disable it at any time. 

The airlines currently participating in include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling. The technology will first work at select airports of the airlines, with system-wide usage in 2025. 

More airlines are also expected to follow. Apple’s statement also said that “additionally, SITA, a leader in air transport technology, will build support for Share Item Location into WorldTracer, the baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers at more than 2,800 airports around the world.”

AirTags can be bought in packs of one or four, and are only compatible with iPhones.

The post Apple and Airlines Team Up to Track Lost Luggage appeared first on SmarterTravel.

One of my biggest pet peeves when I am flying is people who cannot follow the rules when it comes to boarding (and disembarking, for that matter). I was thrilled to see that American Airlines is on my side and is testing a new boarding process technology that will crack down on people who try to board earlier than their assigned boarding group. 

The new technology will create an audible alert to the boarding agents, letting them know the passenger is boarding earlier than their boarding group. Agents will then (presumably) ask the passenger to step aside and wait for their correct boarding time. According to a report by CBS News, “gate agents still retain some discretion over the boarding process.” In other words, if they get the alert, it is up to them to decide whether you must wait to board. If you are traveling with a group and have a later boarding group than everyone else, they may let it slide (but they may not!) 

After testing the new protocol at three airports (Albuquerque International, Tucson International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National), they are expanding to 100 airports nationwide before the Thanksgiving travel rush. Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations and Service Recovery said in a statement that they’ve heard from their customers “that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase,” and that “the initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.”

The airline states that “the new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team.” 

Airports included in the expansion are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which is the busiest airport in the country.

The post American Airlines is Cracking Down on Boarding Group Cheaters 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.

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.

“We issue a Travel Advisory for each country of the world largely based on safety and security conditions that could affect the lives and interests of U.S. citizens abroad,” says the State Department. “This analysis is undertaken without regard to bilateral political or economic considerations.”

These warnings offer information about dangers in destinations that could impact your trip.

What do Travel Advisory Levels Mean? 

The State Department says it considers several factors when setting the Travel Advisory for each country, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, the likelihood of a natural disaster, and current events.

This is how the State Department defines its different Travel Advisory levels:

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest Travel Advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.       

Level 2:  Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides more advice for travelers to these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Reconsider travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

Level 4: Do Not Travel. This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of lifethreatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance, including during an emergency. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. We advise that you write a will prior to traveling and leave DNA samples in case of worstcase scenarios. See Travel to HighRisk Areas.

Varying Levels: Levels of advice may vary for specific locations or areas within a country. For instance, we may advise U.S. citizens to “Exercise increased caution” (Level 2) in a country, while also advising them to “Reconsider travel” (Level 3) to an area within the country.

Countries With Current Travel Advisories

Travel Advisories are reviewed regularly. Level 1 and 2 Travel Advisories are reviewed at least every 12 months. Level 3 and 4 Travel Advisories are reviewed at least every six months. These are the countries that currently have Travel Advisories in place.

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

•  Andorra
•  Angola
•  Antigua and Barbuda
•  Aruba
•  Argentina
•  Australia
•  Barbados
•  Bermuda
•  Bonaire
•  Bhutan
•  Brunei
•  Bulgaria
•  British Virgin Islands
•  Cabo Verde
•  Canada
•  Cambodia
•  Croatia
•  Curacao
•  Dominica
•  Estonia
•  Fiji
•  Finland
•  French Guiana
•  French Polynesia
•  French West Indies
•  Georgia
•  Greece
•  Grenada
•  Hungary
•  Iceland
•  Ireland
•  Japan
•  Kazakhstan
•  Kiribati
•  Kuwait
•  Latvia
•  Liechtenstein
•  Lithuania
•  Luxembourg
•  Malta
•  Malaysia
•  Micronesia
•  Mongolia
•  Montenegro
•  Nauru
•  New Zealand
•  North Macedonia
•  Norway
•  Palau
•  Paraguay
•  Poland
•  Portugal
•  Romania
•  Saint Kitts and Nevis
•  Saint Lucia
•  Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
•  Samoa
•  Sao Tome and Principe
•  Seychelles
•  Sint Eustatius
•  Sint Maarten
•  Slovakia
•  Slovenia
•  Suriname
•  Switzerland
•  Taiwan
•  Thailand
•  Togo
•  Tonga
•  Turkmenistan
•  Tuvalu
•  Uzbekistan
•  Vanuatu
•  Vietnam
•  Zambia
•  The Kyrgyz Republic

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

•  Albania
•  Algeria
•  Angola
•  Antigua and Barbuda
•  Aruba
•  Azerbaijan
•  Bahamas
•  Barbados
•  Belarus
•  Belize
•  Benin
•  Bolivia
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Botswana
•  Brazil
•  Brunei
•  Cameroon
•  Canada
•  Cabo Verde
•  Chile
•  China
•  Colombia
•  Comoros
•  Costa Rica
•  Cote d’Ivoire
•  Croatia
•  Curacao
•  Denmark
•  Djibouti
•  Dominica
•  Dominican Republic
•  Ecuador
•  Egypt
•  El Salvador
•  Eritrea
•  Estonia
•  Eswatini
•  Fiji
•  Finland
•  France
•  Gabon
•  Gambia
•  Georgia
•  Germany
•  Ghana
•  Greece
•  Grenada
•  Guatemala
•  Haiti
•  Honduras
•  Hungary
•  Iceland
•  India
•  Indonesia
•  Ireland
•  Italy
•  Japan
•  Jordan
•  Kazakhstan
•  Kenya
•  Kiribati
•  Kuwait
•  Laos
•  Latvia
•  Lebanon
•  Lesotho
•  Liberia
•  Liechtenstein
•  Lithuania
•  Luxembourg
•  Madagascar
•  Malawi
•  Malaysia
•  Maldives
•  Moldova
•  Mongolia
•  Morocco
•  Mozambique
•  Namibia
•  Nepal
•  Netherlands
•  Nicaragua
•  Oman
•  Panama
•  Paraguay
•  Peru
•  Philippines
•  Poland
•  Portugal
•  Romania
•  Republic of the Congo
•  Rwanda
•  Saudi Arabia
•  Senegal
•  Seychelles
•  Sierra Leone
•  Singapore
•  Slovakia
•  Slovenia
•  Solomon Islands
•  South Africa
•  South Korea
• Spain
•  Sri Lanka
•  Sweden
•  Switzerland
•  Tajikistan
•  Tanzania
•  Timor-Leste
•  Togo
•  Tonga
•  Tunisia
•  Turkey
•  Turkmenistan
•  Tuvalu
•  Uganda
•  United Arab Emirates
•  United Kingdom
•  United States
•  Uruguay
•  Uzbekistan
•  Vanuatu
•  Vietnam
•  Zambia
•  Zimbabwe

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

•  Bangladesh
•  Burundi
•  Chad
•  Colombia
•  Democratic Republic of the Congo
•  Egypt
•  El Salvador
•  Ethiopia
•  Guatemala
•  Guinea
•  Guinea-Bissau
•  Guyana
•  Honduras
•  Jamaica
•  Macau
•  Mauritania
•  Nicaragua
•  Niger
•  Nigeria
•  New Caledonia
•  Pakistan
•  Papua New Guinea
•  Rwanda
•  Trinidad and Tobago
•  Uganda

Level 4: Do Not Travel

•  Afghanistan
•  Belarus
•  Burkina Faso
•  Burma (Myanmar)
•  Central African Republic
•  Haiti
•  Iran
•  Iraq
•  Lebanon
•  Libya
•  Mali
•  North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
•  Russia
•  Somalia
•  South Sudan
•  Sudan
•  Syria
•  Ukraine
•  Venezuela
•  Yemen

Other

In addition to the four Travel Advisory levels, there is a non-specific “other” category for destinations with unique situations. For these areas, you will need to read the specific Travel Advisory for the destination to understand the risks fully.

These destinations are:

• Mexico
• Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza 
• China

The post All the Countries With Current US State Department Travel Warnings appeared first on SmarterTravel.