There’s a new scam that’s ripping off thousands of travelers. Here’s how you can stay safe, in one minute.
Travel pro tip: How to skip the line at the airport for free
When it comes to travel, there’s a lot to stress about. First, you have to make sure you pack everything. Next, you always have to brace yourself for last-minute cancellations, storms and other curveballs.
Thanks to the lingering effects of the pandemic, travel can feel more chaotic than ever before. Tap or click here for eight ways to stay safe while traveling. Plan ahead to survive the swarm of travelers trying to cure their pent-up wanderlust.
You can also take advantage of high-tech tricks. For example, you can use Whyline to skip TSA lines — for free. Here’s all you need to know.
Zip through the airport with this travel hack
If you’ve never heard of it before, Whyline is a virtual queuing technology company. Its software lets you see live wait times so you can find the best time to show up in person.
Say you have a flight coming up. Before you head to the airport, visit the Whyline website. Of course, you can also whip out your phone, open the app on iOS or Android and secure your place in a virtual line.
Select your date of departure, destination airport, airline and flight number. Book your reservation for up to 10 travelers. Afterward, you’ll get a confirmation and a QR code via email.
It’s pretty versatile: You can book spots in virtual lines at certain banks, restaurants, museums, airports, hospitals and more. Say you live in Phoenix and you plan to fly soon. If you want to skip the security line, make an appointment at phx.whyline.com.
As more flights are canceled, scams are spiking - How to protect yourself
The combination of the omicron COVID-19 variant and severe weather conditions has led to many flights being canceled. Tap or click here for details on fraudulent COVID tests being offered by robocallers.
By Tuesday afternoon, airlines canceled 1,400 more flights around the country. This has left many travelers stranded and frustrated, as more than 20,000 flights have been canceled since Christmas Eve.
Give yourself extra time before your next flight: After attacks on Hezbollah, aviation authorities in Lebanon banned travelers from boarding planes or checking luggage with pagers and walkie-talkies. Expect the TSA to increase their screening for explosives (paywall link).
About 75% of travelers agree cleaning before a trip is at the top of the to-do list. Is the No. 1 priority … A.) Doing the dishes, B.) Laundry, C.) Mopping the floors or D.) Emptying the fridge?
Have an iPhone? New way to save your digital driver's license coming to 8 states
Apple’s Wallet app is handy to store and quickly retrieve many things, like airline tickets, reservations or digital passes. It also makes Apple Pay possible, as your bank card can be stored there.
But while you can’t store your COVID-19 vaccination card on it (yet), there has been another striking omission — your driver’s license. But Apple is about to change that. This new feature could be a game-changer for travelers.
🌪️ Going out for a spin: Travelers are shelling out big bucks to chase dangerous storms in “Tornado Alley,” which stretches through the central U.S. and into the Canadian Prairies. For $2,000 to $4,500 per trip, tour guides bring folks as close as safely possible to hail the size of baseballs and winds that can sweep you off your feet. Yes, you’ve got to sign a waiver.