With checked bag fees on the rise, flying carry-on only has become the number one hack to keep travel costs low. Squeezing the essentials into an overhead-bin-approved suitcase saves you money, lets you skip the check-in desk, and avoids the crowds at baggage claim. 

Though it varies by airline, most carriers stick to a reasonable 22 x 14 x 9 inch maximum for carry-on bags, with some international carriers adding a weight limit. However, a few run a much tighter ship when it comes to the luggage they allow on board. Chronic overpackers will want to avoid these seven airlines with some of the strictest carry-on policies. 

Jetstar

Jetstar Airways, a subsidiary of Qantas, includes a fairly standard 22 x 14 x 9 inch carry-on with its Starter Fare. The catch? The combined weight of a passenger’s carry-on and personal item must not exceed 15.4 pounds (in case you were wondering, your average pair of sneakers weighs in at about 2 pounds alone).

Iberia

Iberia’s luggage limits are standard at first glance, limiting cabin bags to 21.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 inches. However, while many international airlines limit carry-on bags to 22 pounds, Iberia restricts the cumulative weight of your carry-on and personal items to 22 pounds total. Split 75/25, that’s just 16.5 pounds for a carry-on with 5.5 pounds left for a personal item. 

RyanAir

RyanAir’s carry-on policies are so notorious that even their own social media can’t resist calling them out. Many passengers who book with RyanAir will try to skate by with their Basic Fare hand luggage, limited to one 15.7 x 7.9 x 9.8 inch bag that must fit beneath the seat in front of you. For the small price of a Regular Fare upgrade, passengers gain the privilege of overhead bin space but are limited to 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.9 inches. And trust me, they will measure at the gate.

EasyJet

EasyJet passengers in the Standard Class must limit their carry-on cases to 17.7 x 14 x 7.8 inches, including handles and wheels. The cabin bag weight limit, however, is a generous 33 pounds, so go ahead and try to stuff as much as you can into that tiny space.

Singapore Air, Emirates, and Qantas

Singapore Air limits its carry-on luggage to 45 total linear inches, meaning individual dimensions can be any length as long as they total no more than 45 inches. This means that the usual 22 x 14 x 9 inch suitcase would be acceptable. Emirates and Qantas have similar carry-on policies, coming in at 22 x 15 x 8 inches and 22 x 9 x 14 inches, respectively.

What do these airlines have in common? Firstly, they all offer carry-ons free of charge in Economy class. Secondly, they all limit these free carry-ons to just 15 pounds, so although a standard carry-on will pass muster, it’s in your best interest to pack in a smaller, lighter bag.

The post These 7 Airlines Have the Strictest Carry-On Size Limits appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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.

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

Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

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

Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

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

Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts

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

Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan

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

Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia

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

Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland

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

La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala

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

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York

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

Wellington International Airport, Wellington, New Zealand

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

John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California

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

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

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

The post 10 Scariest Airports in the World appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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

What Is Valet Check?

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

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

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

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

How Is Valet Check Different Than Gate Checking a Bag?

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

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

Editor’s Note: Fares are accurate at time of publication.

French bee

Launched in 2018, low-cost carrier French bee operates out of four major airports around the US—Miami (MIA), New York (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX). Destinations include Paris, Tahiti, and Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean just easy of Madagascar. Guests can book a standard ticket from New York to Paris for as little as $288 roundtrip or can upgrade to Premium Economy for a fraction of the cost of a Premium Economy ticket on traditional carriers. 

About the Fleet: French bee’s fleet is made entirely of Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, which are one of the most fuel-efficient models available and produce four times less noise pollution than the previous generation. 

Who Should Book French bee: Travelers looking to explore Paris or to use France as a homebase for a larger EU trip. Climate-conscious travelers may also appreciate the airline’s Green Pilot Certification—the first airline in the world, alongside its sister company Air Caribe, to receive the status.

Norse Atlantic Airways

If you’re planning a trip to the UK, Norse Atlantic Airways is for you. Launched in 2021 and based in Norway, Norse Atlantic operates flights between the US and the UK, Greece, Norway, Italy, Germany, and France. This long-haul carrier flies out of New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), Los Angeles (LAX) and, as of September of this year, has launched a new route to London Gatwick (LGW) departing from Las Vegas (LAS).

About the Fleet: Norse Atlantic operates their flights with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which produce 25% lower CO₂ emissions than the previous generation of aircraft.

Who Should Book Norse Atlantic: Travelers looking to get to London on a budget. 

IcelandAir

While not technically transatlantic, IcelandAir offers several flights from the US to Europe connecting through Reykjavik. It operates from eighteen US airports across the country, with service expanding to include Detroit Metropolitan Airport beginning May 18th. With a wide network of US departure airports spanning coast to coast, travelers from anywhere in the country will be able to find an option that works for them. 

About the Fleet: IcelandAir operates its long-haul flights on Boeing 757-200, 767-300 ER, and 737 MAX models. In an effort to increase fuel efficiency and accomodate its expanding flight service, the airline introduced the Airbus A321LR to the fleet beginning December 2024, which will eventually phase out the previous Boeing 757 aircraft.

Who Should Book IcelandAir: Savvy travelers who want to take advantage of the airline’s  “Add a Stopover” offer to explore Iceland.

Condor

Condor is a low-cost carrier based out of Frankfurt, Germany that has been in operation since 1955. The airline flies out of thirteen US airports, including New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Anchorage (ANC), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA), San Antonio (SAT), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Minneapolis (MSP), Portland (PDX), and Phoenix (PHX). The airline expanded frequency of service as well as added new routes from Miami this past summer to accomodate high travel demand.

About the Fleet: Condor operates its long-haul flights on Airbus A330neo aircraft.

Who Should Book Condor: Travelers flying from the West Coast and Pacific Northwest.

PLAY Air

PLAY Air, founded in 2019 by former WOW Air executives, is another relatively new budget airline on the scene. Operating from just four East Coast airports—Boston (BOS), Washington (IAD), Baltimore/Washington (IAD), and New York (SWF)—PLAY air flies to over thirty destinations across Europe, including France, Spain, Ireland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

About the Fleet: PLAY Air operates its itineraries on Airbus A320 and A32 aircraft. It is the two-time recipient of the award for Youngest Aircraft Fleet in Europe, with an average aircraft age of below four years.

Who Should Book PLAY Air: East Coasters looking for a quick and easy flight.

Worldwide by easyJet

EasyJet itself does not operate transatlantic flights, but through their Worldwide by easyJet program, travelers can book multi-leg journeys through their many partners, including PLAY Air and Norse Atlantic. Through Worldwide, travelers can book flights from New York, the Los Angeles Area, Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando to European destinations like Rome, Barcelona, Edinburgh, and more.

About the Fleet: EasyJet has one of the “youngest” airfleets in the world, with the average age of their aircraft being just under 7 years. Flights operate on Airbus A319, Airbus A320CEO, Airbus A320NEO, and Airbus A321NEO. Note that when connecting to a partner airline through the Worldwide initiative, flights will be operated on the partner airline’s fleet.

Who Should Book easyJet: Travelers who want to browse easyJet’s extensive roster of destinations and let the best deal guide their trip.

JetBlue

It may be surprising to see a bigger brand name on this list, but JetBlue does technically fall into the low-cost carrier category. Rivaling traditional major carriers in both reputation and brand recognition, JetBlue flies out of 74 airports across 29 states plus seven airports in Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. They also partner with a wide network of airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and AerLingus, furthering their reach.

Passengers can fly Blue Basic for optimal savings or opt to fly Mint, Jetblue’s business class which offers extra comfortable lie-flat seats with aisle-access and plenty of legroom.

About the Fleet: Jetblue operates flights on a wide range of aircraft, including models that burn less fuel and models that reduce engine noise. Check Jetblue’s list of plane names to find the unique—and often pun-laden— name of your aircraft before departure.

Who Should Book Jetblue: Travelers who want the familiarity of a well-established domestic carrier for their long-haul experience.

The post The 7 Most Affordable Transatlantic Carriers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Monitor Prices

If you want to book a flight or hotel yourself, monitoring the price can help you determine if what you’re seeing is really a deal or not. Have you ever walked into a place to buy something to find it conveniently on sale? Businesses are always running a “sale,” but is that sale really a good deal? The only way to know if you’re getting a good deal is to know your prices. Keep an eye on the average price of hotels and flights to help you realize when costs drop.

Flexible With Your Dates and Destination? Use the Explore Function in Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Momondo

When you’re looking for somewhere to go and just want a deal, you can use the explore function on Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Momondo to find the best prices on airfare. You can search with no destination in mind, or narrow it down to a region like Europe. 

If you can be a little flexible with the time you take your vacation, you’ll be rewarded with very low fares and prices for the travel you want to do. Prices vary widely from day to day and the flexible search on Google Flights allows you to see which days are the cheapest to fly. To use this tool, simply leave the date fields blank after selecting a destination (or leave the destination blank for even more versatility). The search will default to a 1-week trip any time in the next six months. Momondo and Skycanner have similar functions, letting you search for trips within a given month or range of months.

Just be sure the routing you pick works for your schedule and use filters to narrow down your trip based on number of stops, arrival time, or departure time. There’s nothing worse than buying a $300 ticket to Paris that requires multiple transfers and 27 hours of travel time. 

Sign Up for Marketing Materials From Your Favorite Travel Companies

Your favorite travel brands love to advertise to you. Every now and then, they’ll send incredible deals for their email list subscribers. These are different from the run-of-the-mill “We’re having a sale!” emails. You’ll get those, too. But if you’re checking prices to your desired destination often, you’ll know when a sale is much, much better than normal. 

This is how I booked two tickets to Tahiti for a great price. I clicked on an email from United Airlines advertising a fare sale using points. I tried some dates and destinations, and found an incredible points sale to Tahiti at about 40% off. I booked it immediately, knowing I could cancel within 24 hours without penalty. We ended up taking that vacation and saved a lot of money in the process. It never hurts to check prices when you receive those marketing emails!

Getting these promotions is easy. If you love the airline Southwest, for example, you would want to sign up for their email list from a button on their website. When you’re on the email list, you get the information about a sale first. Southwest recently had a 40% off sale and you would know about it sooner than everyone else if you were on their email list. 

Set Fare Alerts

If you’re looking at a particular destination and a specific time, toggling on Google Flights handy track price button is the way to go. If you’re signed into your Google account, you can get these fare alerts automatically when you do this. When the price changes significantly (either up or down), you’ll get an email from Google about the change in price. A flight to Italy I was looking at started around $800. I set my Google alert and got an email when the price dropped to $307. 

You can also sign up to be alerted to the best prices on routes of interest at SmarterTravel’s sister site Airfarewatchdog, which sends out low fare email alerts to subscribers.

Let Someone Else Find the Deals for You

There are countless services that work to find deals for you. They eliminate the need to sit at your computer and see if that email you received has really good deals or is just another marketing tactic you need to wade through. 

Some examples include:

• Travelzoo, an aggregator of travel deals with stellar prices
• NextVacay and Scott’s Cheap Flights, which send out fare drop alerts similar to those listed above
• Facebook groups focused on travel
• Online travel agencies, such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Cheap Caribbean, Kayak, or Funjet Vacation. 
• Warehouse travel agencies, such as Costco or Sam’s Club
• Travel agents

The post 5 Secret Tips for Finding Travel Deals appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution to this problem—a Bluetooth audio transmitter. This tiny gadget plugs into the headphone jack on most planes and then connects to your wireless headphones to play audio from the in-flight entertainment system. All you have to do is plug the transmitter into the headphone jack (usually found on your armrest or at the bottom of the TV screen) and pair your Bluetooth headphones.

The Best Bluetooth Audio Transmitters for Flying

Eppfun Bluetooth Audio Transmitter

Most modern airplanes use single-prong, 3.5 mm audio jacks, but some aircraft still have the old two-prong style plugs. 

The Eppfun is one of the few transmitters that will work on both styles—it has two prongs, one of which can be folded down to use in single prong jacks. 

Twelve South AirFly Pro Bluetooth Transmitter

Concerned about using an off-brand product with your headphones? You can buy a transmitter directly through Apple. Designed for AirPods or Beats wireless, the AirFlys can pair with two sets of headphones so you can watch a movie with your seatmate. 

The AirFlys can also be used with a car’s AUX IN to wirelessly connect to speakers that don’t have Bluetooth built-in. 

1 Mii Bluetooth Audio Transmitter and Receiver

The transmitter from 1 Mii is one of the easiest to use, thanks to a simple on/off switch that automatically enters pairing mode. You can just plug it in and start watching. This product functions as a 2-in-1: You can plug it into your device and use it as a Bluetooth transmitter or plug it into your wired speakers/devices to instantly give them Bluetooth connectivity.

The 1 Mii also has a longer battery life (15 hours) than some other comparably priced models.

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

The post How to Watch in-Flight Entertainment With Your Wireless Headphones appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The airline created a website dedicated to informing the public along the way of its restructuring. 

What If I Have Already Booked on Spirit? 

The good news is that Spirit will continue services, so if you have already booked on the airline, you can still fly. This is good news for thousands of travelers planning to fly Spirit for the holidays. You can also continue booking Spirit flights- the airline will operate normally. 

What If I have Spirit Points or Credit? 

Customers with loyalty points and credits can use them as usual. Similarly, anyone who utilizes Spirit’s Saver$ Club perks or loyalty program can continue to use those benefits. 

Spirit is a budget airline servicing North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. 

The post Major Budget Airline News Causes Panic Just Before Holiday Rush appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Here are seven things you should never do on a plane—or you’ll face fines, getting kicked off the flight, or, at the very least, judgment from other flyers.

Drink Your Own Alcohol

Although it’s perfectly legal to bring your own alcohol aboard a plane (as long as it’s under 3.4 ounces or purchased in the airport after security), it’s actually against the law to consume it. Passengers can only drink alcoholic beverages served to them by flight attendants, who are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and cut off flyers who have had too much to drink. With alcohol-fueled in-flight incidents on the rise, many flight attendants are cracking down on passengers who attempt to serve themselves alcohol onboard. 

Penalties for drinking your own alcohol on a plane can be severe—the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can and will pursue legal enforcement action against any unruly passengers. Flyers who ignore the rules can be fined up to $37,000 per violation in civil penalties.

Behave Inappropriately to Flight Attendants or Passengers

We hope we don’t have to remind you to behave kindly toward flight attendants and other passengers on your flight, but you should know that if you lose your temper on board, there’s a no-tolerance policy for aggressive or inappropriate behavior on planes.

The FAA has referred 43 unruly passenger cases to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for criminal prosecution review this year alone. “Dangerous passengers put everyone at risk—and the Biden-Harris Administration has been clear that those who disrupt flights will be held accountable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Unruly travelers face stiff fines from the FAA and possible criminal prosecution too.”

Wear Something Inappropriate

It may surprise you to learn this, but airlines actually have dress codes, which can usually be found by reading the Conditions of Carriage. For example, American Airlines’ dress code specifies, “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.”

Plenty of people have learned this the hard way by being kicked off of a plane for wearing clothing that the airline deemed too revealing or otherwise inappropriate.

Introduce Strong Smells Into the Cabin

Those same Conditions of Carriage that define what you shouldn’t wear on a plane also have an important note about odor. American Airlines’ specifies, “Be respectful that your odor isn’t offensive (unless it’s caused by a disability or illness),” and many other airlines have the same clause. 

In addition to making sure that your personal odor isn’t offensive, be respectful when choosing what food to bring on a plane (maybe leave the tuna fish at the gate) and what activities to engage in—now is not the time to paint your nails, and a seatback tray table is not a diaper-changing area. 

Joke About Threats

You might think it’s obvious that you’re joking if you make a sarcastic comment about having a weapon with you, but flight attendants have to take your remarks very seriously. For example, on an Air Canada flight, a passenger was asked about her bag, which did not entirely fit in the overhead bin. The passenger joked, “There’s a bomb in it”, which then triggered a flight delay of over two hours and a closure of the entire terminal while a bomb squad searched the premises. 

Keep any comments about weapons, fights, or anything else offensive to yourself aboard a plane.

Attempt to Vape or Smoke

Smoke from e-cigarettes might seem less noticeable than regular cigarettes, but it can still set off the fire alarms on planes, causing a flight to be diverted out of safety concerns. Or worse, cause an actual fire on the plane, like this malfunctioning e-cigarette did on an American Airlines flight. All forms of smoking, including e-cigarettes, are banned on planes. 

Passengers who attempt to sneak a smoke can face fines of up to $4,000, be removed from the plane, and/or be arrested.

Listen to Your Devices Without Headphones

We’ve all been there—you board a long flight only to discover that your headphones are dead. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give you the right to listen to your music, stream shows, or play video games with the volume on. The other passengers in your row didn’t sign up for your DJ set, so please keep your entertainment to yourself. 

Parents, this also applies to kids’ devices—we know you need to keep them entertained, but a child-size pair of headphones is a necessity in a shared space.

The post 7 Things You Should Never Do on a Plane appeared first on SmarterTravel.

This regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all airlines operating flights to, from, or within the United States to provide a full refund if passengers cancel their flight within 24 hours of booking. This applies even to non-flexible fares that normally don’t allow changes or cancellations.

Under the rule, airlines must refund the full fare to the original form of payment (not via a travel voucher or flight credit) if a ticket is canceled within 24 hours of purchase—even for nonrefundable fares.

How Can This Rule Save You Money?

Imagine you bought a plane ticket, and then the next day, the airline has a big flight sale and the price for your itinerary is now lower than what you paid. If it’s been less than 24 hours since you bought your ticket, you can simply cancel the ticket and then rebook at the lower price without worrying about change or cancellation fees. 

We recommend checking the price of your ticket a few times throughout the 24 hour period after you book to see if fares decrease—this strategy often pays off, and you’ll be able to rebook and save.

Knowing about the 24-hour rule can also give you peace of mind if you see an incredibly low fare that you want to jump on. Rather than waiting on approval from your boss for time off or for your travel companion to get back to you (and potentially missing out on that cheap flight), you can simply book the ticket, and if it doesn’t work out, cancel it within 24 hours for no penalty.

If you booked a ticket quickly, you can also take advantage of the 24-hour period to double-check the information on your reservation (like making sure you didn’t misspell a passenger’s name)—something that airlines could charge you to correct.

Important Exceptions to the Rule

There are three important exceptions you should know before taking advantage of the 24-hour rule.

1. This rule only applies if you’re booking directly with the airline. If you book through an online travel agency like Expedia, you’ll have to abide by the company’s refund policy (which is usually not as lenient.) 

2. Airlines can offer customers the ability to hold a fare for free for up to 24 hours instead of providing a refund within 24 hours. Be sure to check that the airline you’re booking with doesn’t offer this before you buy your ticket—for example, American Airlines offers a free 24-hour hold on select flights. If the airline does provide this service, you can still save money by putting the fare on hold and waiting to see if the price drops within 24 before you buy the ticket. 

3. The 24-hour rule only applies to flights booked at least seven days before departure, so know that you won’t be able to get a refund if you book a ticket less than a week before your flight.

How Do You Cancel Under the 24 Hour Rule?

You don’t need to do anything special to get your full refund when canceling a flight reservation within 24 hours. Simply cancel your booking as you normally would, and the airline should promptly refund your original form of payment. 

The post Everything You Need to Know About the 24-Hour Rule appeared first on SmarterTravel.