Money-saving guru Clark Howard is here, sharing his top-secret strategies to land the cheapest flights imaginable — and trust me, the airlines do not want you knowing these tricks. We talk about clever booking hacks, algorithms, hidden deals, and the perfect time to strike.
A travel money mistake way too many people make
I’m going to Japan in March and have looked up flights on a few different sites. Roundtrip prices vary as much as $900 depending on where you look. Oof!
Here’s the twist
One place I checked was my credit card rewards site. I get points and perks, so total no-brainer, right? Not so fast. Do a little digging and you may find that it’s not the bigger, better deal.
Lots of credit card companies offer fancy booking tools as a perk to justify the hefty annual fee, but they’re not always as … perky as you’d think.
The long and short of it: Prices through your credit card company are often higher than booking directly. Airlines and hotels want to drive customers to book through them, so you’re way more likely to snag a deal through their sites.
Nope, it’s not ‘free’
You probably spent a ton of money to get those points in the first place. When you put it that way, it doesn’t seem so free. And if you don’t have enough points to cover the entire trip, you’ll still have to shell out some cash to settle the bill.
Pro tip: I often cash in credit card points for gift cards to places where I’m already shopping or want to buy someone a gift.
Pricing predicament
Your credit card company doesn’t set hotel room or plane ticket prices through their portals. Most don’t even manage the travel booking features at all.
- Expedia is behind the American Express travel site.
- The popular Hopper tool manages Capital One’s offering.
Keep in mind, too, that hotel and flight prices fluctuate, and websites don’t update their pricing at the same time. If you don’t check around, you could wind up paying the older, more expensive rate.
Money-saving secret your cable and internet provider doesn't want you to know
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What about a travel pro tip if you prefer to fly to your destination? You can see which flights include the most legroom with the right tools. I tell all my tall friends about this trick. Tap or click here for the secret — it’s No. 5 on the list.
✈️ This new rule is so fly: Woohoo! U.S. airlines now have to give you a cash refund if your flight is significantly delayed or canceled. The best part? It’ll happen automatically; you won’t be required to ask for a refund. Airlines will have to pay you back within seven business days if you paid by credit card or 20 calendar days for other payment methods. See ya, vouchers.
36 flights canceled
Because of some missing scissors. An airport in Japan completely shut down for two hours after a pair of scissors went missing. Authorities had to make sure they weren’t headed for a flight. In the end, the scissors were found … in the shop where they were left originally.
Traveling soon? 5 smart tech steps to take before you hit the road
Travel now means your tickets, maps, hotel, rental car and more are all stored on your phone. But what happens if that goes missing? Here’s how to find your phone when it’s lost — even if the battery is dead.
The other big phone emergency? Your battery is dying and you have to leave for the airport. Whoops. Tap or click for smart ways to get more life out of your battery.
Save big bucks if you book your flight this day of the week
There’s no doubt about it. Flying is rough these days. Rules and delays aside, flights are way more expensive, too.
If you want to save, what’s the best day to book a flight? For years, the answer was Tuesday. Not anymore. Plus, it pays to know what day of the week is best to fly along with how far in advance to purchase a ticket. Keep reading for money-saving travel tips.
✈️ It’s been over 10 years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared: Researchers have a new idea to solve the mystery — throw a Boeing 777 flaperon (part of the wing) strapped with sensors into the Indian Ocean. They’ll monitor how the flaperon moves in the sea and compare marine growth to what washed ashore from flight MH370. This guy told me he knows exactly where the wreckage is.
Toxic chemicals found in Temu products
Officials flagged sandals with 11 times the legal lead limit! Google’s forcing your site to train its AI if you want it searchable. Plus, the FTC is cracking down on fake reviews, and a hack to find cheap flights online.
Go to Greece? Feta late than never! Book international flights online at least 60 days in advance for a deal. “Shoulder season,” aka off-peak times, will save you even more. A September Europe trip means good weather without high prices and summer crowds. We’re talking a roundtrip for under $400!
New travel term to know: Some men are bragging about “rawdogging” flights. This means they forgo all forms of entertainment while in the air. For some, it’s a form of meditation; for others, it’s a challenge to deprive themselves of all creature comforts, including free snacks. Movies and champagne for me, please.
$12,000 in flights
To one winner in Frontier’s free-airfare-for-a-year contest. Another 100 folks will win a $1,000 voucher. You have until July 2 to enter. Hope you win!
Most annoying people on planes
Are you doing what pesters folks the most on flights? In this short podcast, here’s how not to be that guy or gal.
Steve Jobs' $175K note, Airbnb host threats & Google Meet AI tools
Plus, can your smart thermostat be controlled by the power company? Dennis from Myrtle Beach wants to know, and I give him the answer. I explore why Siri and Alexa falter with CPR, the best times to buy flights and cruises, and how tech pros use hotel TVs.
10 best travel apps to plan your next adventure
Some things may have changed since your last excursion if you haven’t traveled in forever. You might even run into sticker shock regarding airfare and hotel accommodations. Tap or click here for the best budgeting apps to help get your finances in order.
Google will pay you the difference if your flight price drops
When you’re looking for a hotel, travel discount sites like Kayak, Expedia and Hotels.com are good places to start, but you won’t always find the best prices there. There’s one more step to take that’ll help you undercut even the lowest price you find online. Here’s what you need to do.
Want to know where a product was manufactured? Check this site
During the pandemic, virtual travel gained traction when flights were restricted, and countries implemented quarantine or outright bans to travelers. You can go online and take virtual tours around the world without leaving your home.
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