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☆ Airlines are mad about 'skiplagging.' They have themselves to blame.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Airlines hate the practice of skiplagging, which lets passengers strategically get cheaper flights. The airlines also don't guarantee you'll make your connecting flight, so why should you be required to take it? Instead of heading on to point C, they just stop in point B, skipping the last leg of the booked trip. If you engage in skiplagging, or miss one leg of your flight, they can cancel your entire booking — including your return flight. All things considered, it seems airlines have themselves to thank for skiplagging.

Persons: Henry Harteveldt, It's Organizations: Research, BBC

☆ 'Skiplagging' to save money on plane tickets is only possible because airlines are breaking one of the basic laws of geometry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Andy Kiersz | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That means buying cheaper tickets with a layover in their actual destination city instead of a direct flight. This only works because air fares violate the "triangle inequality," one of the basic laws of geometry. One of the most basic laws of geometry is something called the "triangle inequality." But that clearly is not always the case, and that violation of the triangle inequality is what makes skiplagging possible. If airlines want to fight skiplagging, a good first start would be making airfares into a geometrically-accurate metric.

Persons: skiplagging, Brian Hayes Organizations: Flyers Locations: layover, New York, Amsterdam, London

☆ Dozens of federal lawmakers are pushing for more flights to a DC-area airport, a move that would drastically improve some of their commutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A bipartisan group of lawmakers want major flight changes at Reagan National Airport in Virginia. Many lawmakers want to see the 1,250-mile perimeter restriction for round-trip flights relaxed. But some members of Congress argue that Reagan National is already under immense strain. But members of Congress also have a huge personal motivation for increasing the number of flights at Reagan National: the location. The prime location makes Reagan National the preferred airport for most lawmakers, but any route alterations would require changing a law which currently blocks long-haul flights of over 1,250 miles to or from the airport.

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Democratic Sen, Jon Tester, Montana, Tester, Blake Moore of, Virginia aren't, Abigail Spanberger, I'm Organizations: Reagan National Airport, Reagan, Service, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Reagan National, Capitol, Washington Metro, DC, Washington Dulles International, Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation Administration, The New York Times, Democratic, Times, Great Falls International, Washington DC, GOP, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines, The Times Locations: Virginia, Wall, Silicon, Ronald Reagan Washington, Arlington , Virginia, Washington, Baltimore, Montana, Great Falls, Great Falls , Montana, Denver , Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Blake Moore of Utah, Maryland, Austin , Texas, Seattle

☆ One of Philadelphia’s top chefs met her future husband on a plane. And then they traveled the world together
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon still remembers the moment she first saw Ziv Katalan in vivid detail. Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan visit Barcelona in 2010. Courtesy Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan“It’s kind of an attraction of opposites,” says Katalan. Courtesy Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan“That’s how we maintained a global relationship for 1.5 years. Named after the chef’s mother, Kalaya showcases the complexity and vibrancy of the food Suntaranon grew up eating in Trang, a small city southeast of Krabi in southern Thailand.

Persons: Ziv, Suntaranon, “, Katalan, Ziv Katalan, ”, Katalan didn’t, “ Nok, –, David Bouley, ” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Michael Perisco, ‘, ’ ”, ’, didn’t, Milan –, ” Katalan, New York –, Georges, Titi, “ Ziv, Sutaranon, Bella, Mike Prince Suntaranon’s, James Beard, Mike Prince, Kenya – Organizations: CNN, Thai Airways, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, CNN Travel, New York City, Museum of Modern Art, MoMa, Times, Time Warner Center, Katalan, of Culinary Education, French Culinary Institute New York, Jean, Wharton Locations: Bangkok, New York City, New York, Southern Thailand, Rome, Barcelona, Philadelphia, Mexico, Italian, Midtown, York, Thailand, Masa, Central, Trang , Thailand, Asia, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Nha Trang, Los Angeles, London, Tel Aviv, Frankfurt, Paris, Ireland, SALA, Thai, France, Trang, Krabi, “, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Baltic, India, Colombia

☆ How the Internet Made Flying, Flight Delays, Hidden Airline Fees Worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Gad Allon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Comparing airline prices, fees, and schedules on your own has become standard procedure. And they've introduced a complex system of additional fees, often hidden, for services that used to be included in the ticket price. In order to give that flight the appearance of being on-time, the airline might list the flight duration as three hours. This practice allows airlines to improve their on-time performance and reduce the risk of delays while ultimately boosting cost efficiency. Since everyone became their own travel agent and airlines began fiercely competing over price and on-time performance, airlines have shifted their focus.

Persons: They've, Itai, Eugene Orlov, it's, Orlov, Vinayak Deshpande, Mazhar Arıkan, Jan, Van Mieghem, Yuval Salant, Dennis J, Zhang, Louis, Gad Allon, Jerome Fisher Organizations: Google, Airline Industry, Tel Aviv University, Spirit Airlines, Ryanair, University of North, University of Kansas, Northwestern University, Washington University, Jerome Fisher Program, Management, Technology, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Locations: Ater, US, Ireland, University of North Carolina, St

☆ From selecting the perfect seat on a plane to carpooling with colleagues, 4 experts share how they get work done while traveling
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Mariette Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

To find out how to make the most of downtime during work travel, Insider spoke to four experts about how they maximize their commutes. Voiceover artist Vanessa James said, "I use lounge access as a strategic part of my travels. If you don't have airport lounge access, buying a day pass is a good option if your wait time is going to be long. Business law professor Robert Bird says he doesn't opt for lounge access when he travels, and he only needs a quiet corner to be productive. Long car rides with colleagues to a work event or conference can also be a good time to brainstorm or collaborate.

Persons: —, Vanessa James, Kristin Marquet, Robert Bird, Ryan Matzner, James, Matzner, Marquet, Bird Organizations: Service, Marquet Media Locations: Sedona, Phoenix

☆ Travel experiences you can only enjoy while you’re young
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But if you’re still in your teens or 20s, it’s worth knowing about some of the amazing discounts, experiences and adventures only available to those under 30. From discount air fares to working vacation visas, we’ve rounded up some of the best travel experiences to enjoy while you’re young. “It’s 100% worth using the pass whilst you can get the youth discount,” Landon tells CNN Travel. Thurman absentmindedly Googled working working holiday visas, and to her surprise, realized the scheme “was so straightforward to apply for.”“I realized that the only barrier was me and my decision whether or not to apply,” Thurman recalls. If you’re not enrolled in college but you’re still under 30, the International Youth Travel Card could be an alternative.

Persons: CNN —, you’re, There’s, Kofi Landon, Kofi Landon Kofi Landon, Landon, he’d, Landon reckons, ” Landon, “, ”, Tammy Thurman, don’t, –, jetted, Thurman enviously, Thurman absentmindedly, ” “, ” Thurman, Thurman, it’s, she’s, who’s, you’ve, doesn’t, Markus Mainka, Gideon Hagström Lung, He’s, Hagström Lung, Lung Organizations: CNN, EU, Travelers, CNN Travel, Canada, Walt Disney World, Cathay Pacific, Eiffel, SAS, Emirates, Scandinavian Airlines Locations: Europe, Paris, Berlin, Venice, there’s, Prague, Czech Republic, Manchester, Lake Bled, Slovenia, Australia, Tasmania, South Korea, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, France, Ireland, Sydney, London, Melbourne, Emirates, Florence’s Uffizi, Helsinki, Finland, New York City, New York, Stockholm, Copenhagen

☆ TikTokers are using this Google Flights trick to book cheap airfare — here’s how it works
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Jasmin Suknanan | Jason Stauffer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

However, TikTokers recently found a way to lower some of those travel costs, particularly when it comes to booking flights. The Google Flights "trick" is simple, but does require some flexibility in terms of where and when you're willing to travel. Here's how the feature works: Step 1: Open up your browser and type in Google Flights. Some TikTokers who posted about this trick have shown themselves finding flights to Cancun for $270 and Las Vegas for $94. Consider booking a flight with a layover While direct flights are convenient, flights with a layover often cost less.

Persons: it's, there's, TikTokers, You'll, you'll, Chase, Airfares Organizations: NerdWallet's, Google, Labor, New, Las, Chase, American, American Express, CNBC, Card, Delta, U.S . Supermarkets, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter Locations: New York, New York City, Atlanta, Toronto, Cancun, Las Vegas, U.S, Italy

☆ 'Skiplagging' doesn't always save money — and there could be serious consequences if you're caught, travel expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A travel expert said that "skiplagging" didn't guarantee travelers would save money on flights. The travel hack known as "skiplagging", or "hidden city" ticketing, doesn't guarantee that you'll save money on your airfare, according to a travel expert. But Gilbert Ott, the founder of travel site God Save The Points, warned that skiplagging can save money, but depended on your departure point and final destination, he told Insider. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Lufthansa are among a growing list of carriers taking action to combat the practice. United Airlines and travel site Orbitz also tried to sue Aktarer Zaman, the CEO of travel site Skiplagged, in 2014, accusing him of "unfair competition" and "deceptive behavior."

Persons: Gilbert Ott, Ott, skiplagging, Orbitz, Aktarer Zaman, Zaman Organizations: Google, American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, CNN Locations: Germany, Berlin, Illinois, New York City

☆ California investigators suspect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis planned the flight carrying 16 migrants who were 'dumped' outside Sacramento church
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sixteen migrants arrived in Sacramento, California, over the weekend. California Gov. They'd first had a layover in New Mexico before arriving in Sacramento on Friday evening and being "dumped on the doorstep of a local church without any advance warning," California Gov. In an interview with Insider in April, Newsom called DeSantis' actions on numerous topics, including immigration, "performative" and "very destructive." DeSantis is scheduled to go to Sacramento for a fundraiser on June 19, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, DeSantis, —, they'd, They'd, Newsom, Rob Bonta, Karine Jean, Pierre, Monday, didn't, Joe Biden's, hadn't, Nikki Fried, Donald Trump Organizations: Gov, California Gov, Democrat, Service, Florida Gov, Vertol Systems Company, New York Times, Associated Press, California Department of Justice, CNN, Florida's Department of Emergency Management, Florida Democratic, Sacramento Bee Locations: Sacramento , California, Florida, California, Sacramento, Colombia, Venezuela, El Paso , Texas, New Mexico, San Antonio , Texas, Vineyard , Massachusetts, Mexico

☆ I tried 'skiplagging' to save $200 on flight tickets but it was a nightmare experience — and I'll never use this travel hack again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Jesse Collier | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I did the latter and tried hidden city ticketing via Skiplagged. That's when I saw an ad for Skiplagged, which championed its hidden city ticketing hack. In my case, the trip was from Los Angeles to New York City to Buffalo. Neither of those options were how I wanted to spend my first couple of days in New York City. Hidden city ticketing is positioned in the travel community as a "travel hack," but I'll tell anyone who asks that it's rarely worth the hassle.

Persons: Jesse Collier, Collier, Becky, you've, Skiplagged, Jess Organizations: Morning, LAX Locations: layover, Los Angeles, New York City, Buffalo, NYC, New York, Central Park

☆ This frequent flyer who's been 'skiplagging' for a decade says she has 'no remorse and no angst'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A frequent flyer who's been "skiplagging" for more than a decade said she doesn't feel guilty because airlines have a "chokehold on prices." "Ultimately I have no remorse and no angst about using hidden-city tickets," she told Insider. Partlow recently paid $71 for a "hidden-city" flight from New York to Savannah, Georgia with a connection in Charlotte, North Carolina. Partlow said she's never been caught or faced any backlash for skiplagging, but as a frequent flyer, she's aware that airlines are trying to clamp down on it. "They really try to get you if you're getting a hidden-city ticket," she said.

☆ How to book a skiplag flight to save money — and why you shouldn't
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Skiplagging" is the practice of booking an airline ticket with the layover city intended as the destination. The strategy involves booking a flight with a layover intended as the destination city and then skipping the second leg. Founded by computer scientist Aktarer Zaman in 2013, the website helps customers find "hidden city" fares based on their preferred airports and destination. This did not bode well with Lufthansa, which identified the itinerary as hidden city ticketing and then requested about $2,400 from the customer as additional payment, according to court documents. American Airlines, for example, added new tools in 2021 to help agents recognize a hidden city ticket.

☆ Flyers are 'skiplagging' to try and save money on flight tickets. Airlines hate it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This means booking a flight with a layover at the intended destination and skipping the second leg. The practice is sometimes cheaper than booking a regular nonstop flight, but airlines hate it. For example, Google Flights said a roundtrip flight from New York to Amsterdam in late June on the Dutch flag carrier KLM cost from $2,850. A price comparison of a flight from New York to Amsterdam and a multi-city trip from New York to London with a layover in Amsterdam. United Airlines and the travel website Orbitz sued Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman in 2014.

☆ Quito: Ecuador’s underrated capital city was the first to become a UNESCO site
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Sandra Macgregor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It’s hard not to feel a little sorry for the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. Singular churchesInside the Spanish colonial church of San Francisco in the city center of Quito. The museum even puts on a variety of shows, including a karaoke night of traditional Ecuadorian song. It’s especially busy at lunchtime when it fills to capacity with locals looking to indulge in affordable traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. Guided toursMetropolitan Touring’s “Live Quito Like a Local” walking tour is great for visitors with only a day or two to explore Quito.

☆ How Close Is Too Close for a Flight Connection?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Another record summer travel season looms, and with it the ultimate airport endurance test: sprinting to the gate for your connecting flight. Stefanie Plumley, a high-school theater teacher in Claremont, Calif., isn’t flying to Europe until mid-June. She’s already sweating her 90-minute layover at London Heathrow. She says she worked herself into a tizzy asking other travelers if that was enough time. The conflicting answers left her shrugging her shoulders.

☆ Shopify tried to challenge Amazon in logistics. It never came within 100 miles. Was it all a waste?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Shopify is selling most of its logistics business to freight unicorn Flexport in an all stock deal. Though Shopify's logistics journey began in 2019 as Shopify Fulfillment Network, the current iteration is less than a year old, and investors had become wary of the level of investment that getting the outfit into competitive shape would take. The acquisition was previously considered key to Shopify's fulfillment ambitions, and its team has been involved in the company's efforts to develop fulfillment software. Derek Lossing, an Amazon Logistics alum-turned investment advisor with Cirrus Global Advisors, said an acquisition-driven strategy may have been the right course — especially when the alternative involved contracting with legacy logistics players, which can take months. To some, the question of whether Shopify's layover into logistics was a waste of talent, time, and resources, can't be answered until Flexport takes hold and Clark flexes the muscles he gained building Amazon Logistics.

☆ 2 brothers got stuck for 2 days after American Airlines canceled their connecting flight and didn't offer any vouchers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Derick Andrew and his brother were stranded in Dallas for two days after their flight was canceled. Two American Airlines passengers were left stranded for two days and had to pay for their own hotel and food after their connecting flight was canceled. The brothers, both 35, found out their flight got canceled when they got to Dallas Fort Worth International airport. "We were told unambiguously 'no,' that we would not get a refund for a flight canceled due to weather," Andrew told Insider. "I contacted AA through the app again and said regulation shows I should be reimbursed for the canceled flight and they said we could get a refund if we didn't rebook another flight."

☆ ‘I Noticed a Man Sitting Across the Room in a Booth’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

I was a Delta stewardess on a 24-hour layover staying at the Belmont Plaza Hotel at Lexington and 49th Street. I went on a marathon shopping spree, taking advantage of the after-Christmas sales. I noticed a man sitting across the room in a booth. I excused myself early as our crew had a 5 a.m. wake-up call. When it came, we were told our flight had been canceled until the next day.

☆ Oryx Hotel at Hamad International Airport: One of the world's most luxurious transit hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Passengers transiting through Hamad International Airport in Qatar’s capital can choose to leave the airport and join a free tour of some of the capital’s most famous attractions, including Souq Waqif and the Golden Masjid. Case in point: The Oryx lounge is just one floor (second) below the Oryx hotel (third), which means that a staff member is employed to hang out in the hotel lobby to run interference for lost travelers. “Hamad International Airport operates as a 24-hours, seven-days-a-week facility and therefore all the different passenger touchpoints follow the same timeline,” says Badr Mohammed Al Meer, chief operating officer for the airport. “We are constantly striving to offer the best and bespoke experiences for travelers, including our airport hotel offering. Considering that an average of 40 million people pass through Hamad International Airport per year, there is high demand for rooms at the Oryx.

☆ Some travel is 'off the charts' expensive, experts say. Here are 3 ways to cut some costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

D3sign | Moment | Getty ImagesInternational travel costs have hit record highsThe Eiffel Tower and Seine River at sunrise in Paris. The so-called "revenge travel" dynamic has helped to push up prices, perhaps most acutely for travel abroad. These are record-high prices, Berg said. People should be prepared not just for a busy travel season, but an expensive travel season. Sally French travel expert at NerdWalletThis summer is expected to be the busiest on record for international travel, the U.S. State Department said in March.

☆ The Amex Centurion 'black' card has a $5,000 annual fee and a long list of luxury perks, but you can get many of the same benefits with the Amex Platinum
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Anna Baluch | Angela Fung | Sarah Silbert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It makes premium credit cards like the Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Amex Business Platinum Card ($695) look downright affordable. Benefits of the Amex Centurion black cardThe Amex Centurion card isn't just a status symbol; it has some great perks, including some unique benefits like complimentary Delta elite status that you won't find on other cards. The Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott**, but not with IHG and Relais & Châteaux. Unsurprisingly, there's no comparable benefit on the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cards**. Once again, the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services.

☆ A woman left her AirPods on a plane and tracked them down to an airport worker's home, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A passenger left her Apple AirPods on a plane after landing in San Francisco from Tokyo. Alisabeth Hayden told CNN a police officer helped her trace the AirPods to an airport worker's home. Shortly after getting off the plane on a layover at San Francisco International Airport, she realized she'd left her jacket behind. Hayden told CNN she enlisted the help of a detective at San Mateo police force who was working at SFO. She told CNN United gave her $271 and 5,000 air miles after complaining about the condition of the headphones.

☆ How to Fight (and Win) When Airlines Change Your Flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Anyone who flies regularly dreads that email from airlines: The flight you booked isn’t the one you will be taking. Dynie Sanderson got one from Air Canada last week. Her October flight from London to Nairobi via Cairo on a partner airline was changed to include a second stop. The five-hour layover in Ethiopia would make her miss the start of a safari.

☆ Flight-Schedule Changes Can Infuriate Fliers. Here’s How to Push Back.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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