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Airports hate these sneaky hacks that can save travelers money this summer, experts say

Airports hate these sneaky hacks that can save travelers money this summer, experts say

New York Post17-06-2025
Airports can seem over the top with their food and beverage prices — but according to travel experts at eShores, sometimes splurging will save you money in the long run.
The experts claimed that travelers are wasting their money on 'unnecessary' add-ons for flights, such as early boarding and seat selection, when they should be allocating their money elsewhere.
Instead of shelling out money on these frivolous options, the specialists advise spending on extras that will enhance the overall travel experience.
Here are the expert-backed add-ons that are worth the splurge and the ones that should be avoided.
The experts told the Daily Mail that lounge passes are worth the extra money.
3 Access to a lounge would cost about $40 to $60, but it's a good bang for your buck.
Viacheslav Yakobchuk – stock.adobe.com
The eShore team claimed that the pricey cost of airport lounge access might end up being less money travelers would eventually spend on meals and drinks at the terminal.
An airport meal can range from around $20 to $50, while access to a lounge can cost approximately $40 to $60 per person and includes so much more.
Another pricey add-on worth looking into is fast-track security, which allows passengers to get their belongings checked in a separate private lane with a reduced wait time.
Investing in a program like TSA Pre-Check or CLEAR, or sometimes even third-party services, will help passengers get to their lounge or gate faster.
3 The experts advise spending on extras that will enhance the travel experience.
Adamov – stock.adobe.com
Day trip excursions are also worth the money, according to experts. Rather than paying for separate flights and accommodations while traveling, globetrotters can save a buck by booking an organized day trip.
An excursion can offer benefits such as visiting multiple destinations at a cheaper price, which can also include meals and transport.
While some perks are worth the money — many others aren't, such as early boarding.
The eShore experts claim that paying extra for early boarding is 'rarely' an advantage, especially if a traveler already has an assigned seat.
'Early boarding doesn't guarantee faster departure times; you'll still disembark in the same order,' the experts told the outlet.
'Unless you have mobility needs or are travelling with very young children, it's money better spent on your actual holiday.'
Some budget airlines charge passengers to choose their seats on a plane.
But the experts claim this isn't worth the money — especially for short flights.
3 According to travel experts at eShores, sometimes splurging will end up saving you money at the airport.
Jacob Lund – stock.adobe.com
'For short-haul flights under two hours, for many people, being separated isn't the end of the world (and might even mean a bit of quiet time),' they explained.
'Unless you're flying with young children or sitting with your travel companion is a must, this is an easy cost to skip.'
Unless you're going on a longer trip, paying for checked luggage might be a waste of money.
The experts advise travelers going on a weekend getaway or trips that are just a few days long to skip checking a bag and instead utilize carry-ons.
'With smart packing techniques (think compression cubes and versatile outfits), everything you need for a long weekend or week-long city break can easily fit in hand luggage.'
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DIA opens new east security checkpoint and closes busy south lanes
DIA opens new east security checkpoint and closes busy south lanes

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time12 hours ago

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DIA opens new east security checkpoint and closes busy south lanes

Denver International Airport's brand new 17-lane east security checkpoint opens Tuesday, replacing the heavily trafficked south checkpoint. Why it matters: The move marks a major milestone in the airport's $2.1 billion Great Hall renovation project, set to wrap in 2027. How it works: Travelers will now be routed through either the east or west checkpoints, both on Level 6. After screening, travelers can take the new triple escalator to catch the train — or reach Concourse A by crossing the A-Bridge, which reopens Tuesday after an eight-month closure during construction. Zoom in: The new checkpoint — a mirror image of the west security checkpoint, which opened in early 2024 — has three separate entrances categorized by traveler group: East security 1: For standard passengers East security 2: For restricted access, including DEN Reserve, military, passengers with disabilities and Clear customers without TSA PreCheck East security 3: For TSA PreCheck and Clear customers with TSA PreCheck What they're saying: The new checkpoint "will improve the safety and security of the screening process and provide a more efficient experience for passengers," Douglas Cruz, TSA's federal security director for Colorado, said in a statement. The fine print: South PreCheck lanes will remain open intermittently based on TSA staffing and passenger demand through Sept. 2 before permanently closing, DIA spokesperson Ashley Forest told Axios Denver. All equipment will remain in place through that date in case it's needed. The big picture: DIA is now the third busiest airport in the U.S. and sixth worldwide. Its $2 billion renovation is aimed at scaling up for continued growth. What's next: Eight more security lanes are slated to open on the north end of Level 5 in late summer 2026.

33 Things That Frequent Travelers Use While Traveling
33 Things That Frequent Travelers Use While Traveling

Buzz Feed

timea day ago

  • Buzz Feed

33 Things That Frequent Travelers Use While Traveling

A membership to TSA PreCheck and Global Entry to help make getting through airport security and returning home from international trips a breeze. If you travel frequently for leisure or work (especially abroad), then you probably don't want to feel like you're spending the majority of your time on these trips standing in lines at the airport! Plus a CLEAR membership, which will allow you to skip the whole song and dance of digging through your carry-on to find your license or passport to prove your identity. Thanks to this helpful program, physical features such as your eyes and fingerprints will help get you to your gate in less time. Elizabeth is also a big fan of Clear! Here's what she has to say about it:"I recently finally gave in to getting Clear after enjoying Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for 2.5 years. The hook (pricey) annual fee is covered by my American Express Platinum every year! You can do most of the work online for an application and just spend a few extra minutes at a Clear kiosk in an airport terminal before you go through the security line. So the application is more convenient than Global Entry (no need to go in for an official interview) and gets you through the security line much faster than TSA PreCheck. I travel about 10x a year and have always been put off signing up for Clear because of the annual fee. Though, I (and so should you) take advantage of every single credit card membership benefit that I possibly can, so that was the clincher for me. Is it worth it if you only fly a few times a year? Unlikely. And if your main airport doesn't have the kiosks, it's even less worth the money. But if your credit card or someone else (like, ahem, your job that makes you travel) will foot the bill, go for it!"Sign up for $189/year from Clear or visit American Express to learn more about credit card rewards, including the paid annual fee for Clear through AmEx Platinum. A set of three TSA-approved clear cases perfect for holding your travel-sized beauty products and/or toiletries. You can use one case for your shower products/shampoo, another for your skincare items, and another for your cosmetics! A pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones whose noise-canceling capabilities are so impressive, you won't even flinch at the sight of crying babies at the airport gate before boarding. Not to mention, these make listening to your favorite songs, podcasts, audiobooks, shows, and movies SO crisp and clear, you might just forget you're sitting in the middle seat of a 12-hour flight and not at the center of a Taylor Swift music video. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you can connect your wireless headphones to the airplane entertainment system. Watching your favorite shows/movies with clear sound is a heck of a lot better than the static that comes with the junk headphones the airline tries to sell you. A pair of compression socks for potentially bringing sweet relief to feet that tend to swell during air travel. A shampoo bar so you can wave goodbye to the days of having to pour your shampoo into tiny bottles that you could get through TSA. Not only are these so easy to toss into your carry-on or suitcase for your next trip, but they're also a good choice for those looking to cut down on their plastic use. A set of packing cubes that'll not only make packing feel less overwhelming (because all your stuff will have a place!!!) but will also make unpacking a breeze because you'll actually know where your stuff is! Think about how nice it's gonna be to open your suitcase and see some order rather than an overflowing mess! A phone mount so you can watch your favorite downloaded shows/movies on your flight — because sometimes the airline doesn't offer your comfort characters on their entertainment menu or no television at all. A portable door lock that'll provide some extra security and peace of mind in hotel rooms, hostels, and Airbnbs. A contoured sleep mask you're gonna be really happy you have with you next time you're on a flight, and it's too bright to attempt to take a nap because the person next to the window refuses to close it. How's that for planning ahead? A stroller that *actually* folds up small enough to fit as a carry-on in the plane's overhead compartments. Let's be real: You and your kiddo who has been screaming their head off since takeoff do NOT wanna wait to retrieve a checked stroller, and now you won't have to. A carry-on garment duffel bag you'll be grateful to travel with for your next business trip or even an adventure to a destination wedding. Keeping your suit and/or dress and fancy shoes neatly stowed away in here versus crinkled in your suitcase is a much better option. An acupressure anti-nausea wristband that claims to ward off motion sickness and nausea, minus the drowsiness side effect found in most nausea medications. An Anker charging station complete with SIX USB ports — now you'll be able to travel with the peace of mind that all your devices can be juiced up all at once without taking up every. single. outlet in the hotel room. Promising review: "This is a great product! I travel frequently, and I am always challenged with the number of USB ports I can get with the number of outlets available (and where) in hotel rooms. 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The wallet has a passport pocket, a boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, a slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a zippered coin pocket, a key holder, and a pen holder. Promising review: "This wallet is durable, chic, and spacious. The lining is very soft and feels expensive. From the design to the material to the zippers and snaps, it's well-made. I ordered it in rose gold, and it's a beautiful color. I travel frequently and love the boarding pass pocket. I recommended it to my sister and mom, who also love theirs! They ordered in yellow and bronze and were also happy with the color." —Brianna grahamGet it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 20 colors). An ultra-supportive Trtl neck pillow that'll make the whole "falling asleep while sitting upright" thing possible (and comfy). Is there any better way to pass the time on a plane than with a nice, long nap? I don't think so. Promising review: "I love this travel pillow! 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Don't even get me started on dirt from the bottom of your shoes getting over all of your other belongings!!! An electronic accessories organizer because traveling in modern times means having to pack chargers, and flash drives, and cables, and whatever else you could possibly think of. Instead of having to go on a scavenger hunt for each of these items in your suitcase as you unpack, just keep them all in this handy spot! A foldable jewelry organizer that'll take up less space in your bag than a clunky jewelry box, AND also serves as a better method than just tossing your jewelry into your bag and having to untangle it once you reach your destination. A silicone makeup brush cover because while it would be great, chances are you're not going to thoroughly wash and dry your brushes before packing them. If you want to avoid your smoky eyeshadow from mixing with your rosy pink blush brush and leading to a makeup disaster when you're in a rush to go to dinner, stock up on a few of these. 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Plane passenger tries to outsmart airline's luggage rule by doing the unthinkable with her suitcase: ‘She's so real for that'
Plane passenger tries to outsmart airline's luggage rule by doing the unthinkable with her suitcase: ‘She's so real for that'

New York Post

time5 days ago

  • New York Post

Plane passenger tries to outsmart airline's luggage rule by doing the unthinkable with her suitcase: ‘She's so real for that'

They told her to check the bag — she checked them instead. A fierce flyer is going viral for muscling her suitcase into a carry-on sizer at a European airport — leaving airline staff stunned when the bag actually fit. The now-legendary shove came courtesy of TikTok user Arina (@summermken_official), who posted a video of herself forcefully wedging her luggage into a metal bag checker at the Vueling counter during a recent flight from Paris to London. 'Never give up, at least not on the sake of €200,' she wrote in the caption — and the internet agreed. The clip has racked up more than 10 million views since it was posted on July 22. 'They asked me to place my bag in the checker to confirm it met size requirements,' Arina told Newsweek. 'It seemed that they were just suspicious of the size of my bag since it didn't seem like carry-on luggage.' The Spanish low-cost carrier, like many budget airlines, has earned a reputation for eagle-eyed enforcement of size rules — and for slapping on sky-high baggage fees. Vueling charges up to €88 (about $96) at the airport if your bag doesn't fit their requirements. 'I was 100% sure that it would fit […] plus I measured it before buying and it fit the standards of the company,' she told the outlet. What followed was a now-iconic suitcase showdown: Arina is seen in the clip straining to push her bag into the checker — and then yanking it out with just as much effort. The Vueling employee? Gobsmacked. 'She seemed quite surprised that the suitcase actually fit,' Arina said. 'She said, with genuine shock, that I must be very strong… she clearly didn't expect it to fit at all.' TikTokers applauded her persistence — and side-eyed the airline. Spain's stingy sky carrier is notorious for hawk-eyed bag checks and nickel-and-diming travelers with sky-high luggage fees. Viacheslav Yakobchuk – 'Her face, that's 'I told you' face,' wrote one viewer in the comments section. 'She's so real for that,' another chimed in. 'Bro that's small carry-on too, I hate airlines,' added an additional user. As previously reported by The Post, one Ryanair passenger broke down in tears this week at Sofia Airport after being denied boarding when her bag wouldn't fit the airline's size limits. Despite shoving it into the sizer, she refused to pay extra, pleaded with border police, and ultimately collapsed to her knees sobbing as staff looked on. Overall, when it comes to budget flights, it's bend or break — and these women did both.

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