The process of earning and spending airline reward miles can often be a daunting one. You have to pick a credit card, try to game out how to build up miles, and then find the best deals to take you to your dream vacation.
05.09.2024 - 01:22 / travelandleisure.com
Choosing which airline to fly can often make (or break) your travel experience from the moment you check in, but it turns out that luggage allowance is the top priority for most passengers when booking flights.
This insight comes from a new study from Travelport, a well-known online travel retail platform, which examined the most important onboard perks valued by travelers. The options given ranged from legroom to complimentary Wi-Fi to seat selection, among other factors.
“Despite tight wallets, almost a third (29.3 percent) of people aren’t willing to give up traveling to save money,” the company shared in a statement with Travel + Leisure. “While they might be cutting back on some pieces of their travel experience to make it more affordable, new research from Travelport has identified the top three flight perks that are most important to travelers.”
The study, which surveyed approximately 1,700 travelers who had flown at least once in the past 12 months, revealed that 63 percent of respondents said the number of free carry-on or checked bags was the most important factor when booking a flight. Additionally, 50 percent indicated that flexible change and cancellation policies, along with free seat selection, were also key decision-making factors.
These top three factors ranked higher than other options like legroom, Wi-Fi, and inflight entertainment, suggesting that travelers prefer to have these essential needs covered in the cost of their airfare.
It’s a notable trend, as many low-cost carriers — infamous for their à-la-carte pricing and extra fees beyond the base ticket — are adapting to these evolving preferences. In recent months, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have eliminated change fees and launched new fare classes that include these amenities, such as seat selection and baggage.
Similarly, JetBlue has introduced free carry-on bags with basic economy tickets, which previously were limited to a personal item no larger than a backpack. Southwest Airlines, which was already offering flexible changes and a generous luggage allowance, is set to replace its open-boarding policy with assigned seating in the near future.
The process of earning and spending airline reward miles can often be a daunting one. You have to pick a credit card, try to game out how to build up miles, and then find the best deals to take you to your dream vacation.
At age 21, my frigid home state of New Jersey was pretty much all I knew. That is, until I downloaded Tinder.
New York City is home to the most connected airport in the United States, bridging the gap between the country and the rest of the world.
Sep 10, 2024 • 5 min read
There's a brand-new iPhone on the block — and travelers may want to consider upgrading. On Monday, Apple unveiled the suite of iPhone 16 phones, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which the company said are the fastest and smartest phones it's made to date.
When you’re heading through airport security, it’s always a bit stressful when you can’t quickly find your ID to present to the TSA agent. Luckily, those days may soon be behind you—if you’re an iPhone user.
I realized I was obsessed with the best Madewell tote ever made when I spent an August in Italy with friends a few years ago. A friend and I rented a villa for a month and hosted rotating groups of our besties in the Florentine suburbs, in the town of Marcialla, population: 300. With that as our home base, we drove to see the Palio di Siena, dined at Michelin-starred Linfa in San Gimignano, posed with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and many other activities that, as I think about it now, make me dearly miss the rolling hills of Tuscany and those cypress trees that pierced the pale blue sky. But there’s one thing I remember most clearly about that trip, mainly because it was featured in almost every single photo my friends took of me: a bulging yet fabulous leather satchel attached to my right hip: The Madewell Zip-Top Transport Tote.
One of the best ways to learn more about a place and its people is by traveling there — but when you can't do that, books are your next best bet.
Sep 7, 2024 • 5 min read
It's the scourge of travellers who fly long haul for business and pleasure alike, but jet lag is an inevitability for many.
The opulent mansions of the Gilded Age's wealthiest families once required exclusive invitations to visit. Today, many of them are museums open to the public.
From the moment my husband and I got engaged in 2021, we knew we wanted to honeymoon in Italy. After all, our shared Italian heritage really bonded us during our early days of dating.