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CNET
02-07-2025
- CNET
The Best Time to Book Summer Flights, According to Google Flights
If you're looking to save some money on your next flight, check with Google before you hit the buy a vacation is stressful and it can get pricey fast, especially if you're traveling during high-traffic seasons like the Fourth of July weekend. The good news is our CNET experts have compiled and explored a ton of travel tips on how to find affordable flights and properly prepare like a travel pro. This exploration includes reviewing key Google Flights data to help you make smarter decisions when reviewing airfare. Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. I have reviewed this report thoroughly and highlighted the most important takeaways below to help you find a flight in your budget and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money. For more key travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET's roundup of the best headphones for travel. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 9:29 Loaded : 6.27% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 9:29 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro What days are the cheapest to fly? CNET If you're planning to book a flight, you're likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data. Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly. Do layovers on flights save you money? It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight. Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights? There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren't really cheaper days to book. "There's not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week," according to the Google report. Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday. Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance? To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel. For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip -- with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, "Average prices don't meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself" for international travel from the US. Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again./Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET When is the best time to book a flight in every season? Here's what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations. Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book. Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest -- meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October. Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It's best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October. Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average. When is the best time to book a flight to Europe? International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean? International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That's because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest. For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Couple traveling with toddler won't fly United again after long wait on hot O'Hare Airport tarmac
A Maine family said their whirlwind 10-day vacation turned into a scorching nightmare during a layover at O'Hare International Airport over the weekend, as they used an ice pack to keep their 15-month-old son from overheating. The Kinnan family says they were so concerned by what they experienced Sunday that they're not flying with United Airlines anymore, canceling their premium credit card, and sharing their story in hopes others won't experience the same thing. Angered by a recent flight from O'Hare to their home near Portland, Maine, Corey Kinnan posted his experience online, gaining more than 100,000 views and 17,000 likes. Corey and his wife, Andrea, said they sat on the plane with no air conditioning for an hour while the temperature rose, and became so concerned about their infant son they had to use a bag of ice to keep him from overheating. "We boarded early because we had the lap infant, and so then the plane just, like, it's like slowly boiling the frog," Corey said. The last leg of their family vacation had them worrying about the safety of their 15-month-old son. The temperatures were already high when they boarded their flight, but after pulling away from the gate, they sat on the tarmac as their takeoff was delayed more than half an hour. It was 90° at O'Hare at the time, with a heat index of 95°. "If I left my child in a hot car for over an hour, I would be in jail. Why is it okay for United to do this to my son?" Corey said. Travel experts said the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation have no federal temperature requirements, leaving it up to the airlines. "You know, the pavement is incredibly heated. You have air-conditioning systems aren't often at full power, and it could have been a very uncomfortable situation. So, I do see why this has caused some alarm," DePaul University transportation professor Joe Schwieterman said. The Association of Flight Attendants said they've received more than 4,800 extreme temperature reports since they launched an app to track the issue in August 2018, averaging two per day – the vast majority of those complaints, nearly 82%, happening before departure. Schwieterman said smaller regional flights are more likely to heat up. "Those planes are lower to the ground. The air-conditioning systems have less power to them. There's more need to conserve before takeoff," he said. The Kinnans have been left rethinking their future travel plans. "We're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for every single passenger that they do this to on a daily basis," Corey said. The Kinnans say their son is now home, happy and healthy. United Airlines said, when they looked into it, their crew didn't note any unusual temperatures or medical concerns on board. "Our Customer Solutions team has been in close contact with the customer regarding his family's travel experience. The flight taxied for 30 minutes after pushing back from the gate and our crew was not made aware of any unusual temperatures or medical concerns on board. We provided the customer with travel certificates and miles as a gesture of goodwill," a United spokesperson said in an email. Corey said they did not accept that offer, hoping to get the attention of government regulators for this issue.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Warning issued to travellers over common over-the-counter painkiller - it could get you ARRESTED
Holidaymakers have been warned not to take certain popular painkillers to popular summer hotspots, as they could land themselves in jail abroad. According to travel experts, packing medications containing codeine, such as Nurofen Plus, without prior approval, could get you detained at customs in countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE). Meanwhile, Japan and Thailand consider codeine and tramadol controlled substances, requiring you to seek prior permission from embassy officials to bring them. In a new alert, travel experts frrom the advice service Which warned of 'serious consequences' of travelling with drugs that are banned or restricted in the country you're visiting. 'You could be questioned or have your medication destroyed, and some holidaymakers have even ended up in jail,' the report said. Other medications that require permissions or are banned in some nations include sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication (including diazepam), ADHD medication and cannabis oil, Which warned. Many countries have strict regulations on these medications, but bringing a prescription, doctor's letter and keeping them in original pharmacy packaging could reduce the chance of being detained, according to experts. The Government advises the rules will depend on the type of drug, length of your trip and the amount that you take with you. In many cases, particularly for those bringing syringes or EpiPens, the country will require a letter of proof from a doctor, a personal license, or other evidence. Greece, Japan, Mexico and the UEA have particularly strong rules on medications, the travel experts warned. If you're travelling to Greece, you're allowed up to five different prescribed medications for personal use, but no more than two boxes of each. Those with more may be required to ask for permission from the Greek National Organisation for Medicines upon arrival. The UK Government warned: 'Pharmacies across Greece stock a good supply of medicines, but there are strict rules around dispensing certain medicines, including antibiotics'. Meanwhile, if you're bringing more than a month's personal supply of non-narcotic medicine to Japan, you need to get a certificate before you travel. Those bringing drugs Japan classifies as narcotics, of any amount, need to get permission from the relevant Narcotics Control Department. A narcotic is a drug that affects mood or behaviour and is consumed for non-medical purposes, often illegally. Drugs they consider narcotics include codeine, diazepam and pseudoephedrine, an ingredient that's found in some nasal decongestant sprays like Sudafed. If you're travelling to Mexico you can bring any medication for personal use, but there is a fair bit of paperwork involved. This includes a letter from your GP stating total amount you need during your stay, the daily dose, and a prescription that must be translated into Spanish. The UAE is thought to have the strictest regulations regarding medication. It is important to check their Ministry of Health website and seek permission to bring in any medication on its list of controlled drugs. This includes the stop-smokin mint lozenges NiQuitin. Oils containing CBD, codeine, and even poppy seeds are on the list. It comes years after a British woman was jailed in Egypt for three years after being found guilty of taking prescription drugs into the country in 2017. Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull was arrested after she was found to be carrying 290 Tramadol tablets in her suitcase, a painkiller legal in the UK but banned in Egypt. Her family, who have described her as 'naïve', said she was taking them for her Egyptian partner Omar Caboo, who suffers from severe back pain. But judge at a preliminary court sentenced her to three years' imprisonment and ordered her to pay a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (£4,205). Ms Plummer's family went on TV and revealed she was struggling to cope in jail—describing her as looking 'unrecognisable'. Eventually, the young woman, who at one point faced the death penalty, was freed from the Egyptian jail in 2019, after serving 13 months of her sentence.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- New York Times
The Secret to Finding the Best Travel Bargains
To save the most on travel, resist the mainstream. Instead, think in every way — including where to go, how to go and when to go — like a contrarian. I call this frugal secret the off-travel mind-set, a willingness to chart your own course to savings and possibly a better experience. The following are a few off-travel strategies I rely on. Off-Peak Travel Off-peak travel, or going when everyone else isn't, generally gets you the best prices on costs that change with demand, including flights and accommodations. Kayla DeLoache, the U.S. travel expert for the travel search site Kayak, said midweek flights tend to offer the best value while Fridays and Sundays are the most expensive thanks to the weekend surge. 'Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays are generally where we see airfare around 20 percent cheaper than other days of the week,' said Katy Nastro, of a membership service for cheap airfare. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
I'm a travel expert - how paying extra for lounge access could actually SAVE you money at the airport
Airport expenses can quickly blow through travellers' budgets before the trip has started - from inflated food and beverage costs, parking and drop-off charges, and even terminal user fees. But according to travel experts at eShores, you could be forking out more on one meal and drinks in the terminal than on a single pass for lounge access. The specialists say holidaymakers are wasting money on 'unnecessary' flight add-ons, including early boarding and seat selections. Instead of splurging on costly add-ons, they advise travellers to instead splash out on extras that will improve their travel experience, such as lounge access and fast-track security. From pre-booked airport transfers to seat selection fees that might not be worth the extra cost, here's what holidaymakers should prioritise when catching flights this summer. The travel add-ons to buy 1. Lounge pass According to experts at eShore, many travellers spend an eye-watering amount on a main meal and a couple of drinks at the terminal, which averages just over £38 at Heathrow. According to travel experts at eShores, you could be forking out more on one meal and drinks in the terminal than on a single pass for lounge access. However, access to an airport lounge typically costs around £30 to £45 per person - with some providers offering luxe for less from just £26. Holidaymakers who are partial to an airport coffee, meal and drinks can save a substantial amount by investing in a lounge pass - and enjoy extra perks, such as free-WiFi, charging points and snacks, too. 2. Fast track security Fast-track security is a dedicated, private lane that offers a reduced wait time at security checkpoints, allowing passengers to make their way to the departure lounge quicker. During peak summer travel, security queues at major UK airports, such as Heathrow or Manchester, can cost travellers 45 to 60 minutes of their time. At Manchester Airport, travellers who invest in fast-tracking security can reduce their wait time to under 10 minutes for around £7 per person, which is especially beneficial for those flying with young children or during school holidays. 3. Day trip excursions Booking organised day trip abroad, especially in nations with close borders, offers several benefits, such as the opportunity to visit multiple destinations for less. Access to an airport lounge typically costs around £30 to £45 per person - with some providers offering luxury for less from just £26 Some guided tours start as low as £50 and can include meals and transport, which offers a way to experience another country without forking out on separate accommodation and flights. 4. Pre-booked airport transfer Pre-booking airport transfers saves time, money, and hassle, as it offers fixed pricing, guaranteed availability, and peace of mind. In major European cities, a taxi on arrival can exceed £100, while pre-booked options, whether it's a shuttle or public transport, can cost around £5 to £15 per person The travel add-ons to ditch 1. Early boarding According to eShore experts, early boarding 'rarely' offers a real advantage, as holidaymakers are essentially shelling out up to £10 per person to sit on a stationary plane for longer. They add: 'Early boarding doesn't guarantee faster departure times; you'll still disembark in the same order. 'Unless you have mobility needs or are travelling with very young children, it's money better spent on your actual holiday.' 2. Seat selection Budget airlines can charge up to £25 to choose where you sit on the plane - but these fees are one of the many ways low-cost carriers make money while keeping flight fees as low as possible. Some airlines will make a conscious effort to seat people on the same booking together, but others may randomly place travellers on near-opposite ends of the plane unless they cough up the cash. They added: 'But 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). 'Unless you're flying with young children or sitting with your travel companion is a must, this is an easy cost to skip.' 3. Checked bag for short breaks For days-long trips or weekend breaks, paying £25 to £50 for checked baggage is likely to be a waste. In fact, many travellers will find they overpack for short breaks and end up paying for luggage they don't really need. The experts add: '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.' It comes after.
