Best practices in 2024 for booking a flight?
February 25, 2024 2:40 PM Subscribe
(Help - I haven't flown in 14 years, and I haven't booked a flight for myself in over 20.)
Yes, to some this must seem unusual but I haven't flown in that long. I anticipate not only wanting to travel for pleasure but also potentially for emergency travel to visit a future sick relative.
1. How do you start searching for a flight (and evaluate what good prices for a flight are?) Google? The website of the airline you prefer? A travel site? For a simple one - pretend for this scenario I am traveling from like Chicago to Boston either leisurely or with haste, but I'm interested in how you start to book for international leisure travel too.
2. What are the secrets to getting a cheap flight? I am VERY keen on traveling on off peak times or literally the middle of the night if it's easier. I have a nervous flier I will likely go with - nervous to the point of needing a prescription or an edible or breathing exercises to keep them calm.
3. Any other tips/tricks to make the entire thing easier? Airport security? What the heck is a cheap flight LIKE these days? What to expect when you're expecting...to fly.
Thanks!
Yes, to some this must seem unusual but I haven't flown in that long. I anticipate not only wanting to travel for pleasure but also potentially for emergency travel to visit a future sick relative.
1. How do you start searching for a flight (and evaluate what good prices for a flight are?) Google? The website of the airline you prefer? A travel site? For a simple one - pretend for this scenario I am traveling from like Chicago to Boston either leisurely or with haste, but I'm interested in how you start to book for international leisure travel too.
2. What are the secrets to getting a cheap flight? I am VERY keen on traveling on off peak times or literally the middle of the night if it's easier. I have a nervous flier I will likely go with - nervous to the point of needing a prescription or an edible or breathing exercises to keep them calm.
3. Any other tips/tricks to make the entire thing easier? Airport security? What the heck is a cheap flight LIKE these days? What to expect when you're expecting...to fly.
Thanks!
Best answer: I was also going to say Kayak. They have access to all of the airline's websites except for Southwest and they have a good filtering system that will highlight the cheapest options.
posted by metahawk at 2:57 PM on February 25 [2 favorites]
posted by metahawk at 2:57 PM on February 25 [2 favorites]
Best answer: 1. I personally (like the other commenters so far) start searches at kayak (note that "cheapest" and "best" are different tabs). Check Southwest Airlines flights separately, if they fly to the airport you're looking for.
2. The airlines with the lowest sticker prices will charge you for everything (potentially even your carry-on luggage), and even the bigger and stodgier carriers will charge you extra for the privilege of picking your seat ahead of time. Think through how you'll handle luggage and so forth ahead of time, and check the fine print for the specific type of ticket you're looking at.
3. You can make security in US airports significantly easier to handle if you're willing to pay for TSA Precheck. Precheck gives you access to a shorter line and lets you leave your shoes on most of the time.
posted by yarntheory at 3:03 PM on February 25 [2 favorites]
2. The airlines with the lowest sticker prices will charge you for everything (potentially even your carry-on luggage), and even the bigger and stodgier carriers will charge you extra for the privilege of picking your seat ahead of time. Think through how you'll handle luggage and so forth ahead of time, and check the fine print for the specific type of ticket you're looking at.
3. You can make security in US airports significantly easier to handle if you're willing to pay for TSA Precheck. Precheck gives you access to a shorter line and lets you leave your shoes on most of the time.
posted by yarntheory at 3:03 PM on February 25 [2 favorites]
Best answer: What are the secrets to getting a cheap flight?
I signed up for the premium version of Going.com, which lets me select a home airport and destination airport (up to nine) and it'll alert of deals between those airports. I think it was $40 for year when I signed up and well worth it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:19 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
I signed up for the premium version of Going.com, which lets me select a home airport and destination airport (up to nine) and it'll alert of deals between those airports. I think it was $40 for year when I signed up and well worth it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:19 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Also use Kayak. I don’t believe Kayak has access to Avelo Airlines flight info either, so I presume Kayak just avoids all of the super-budget airlines. You can find out which budget airlines fly to your destination of choice by reviewing either your airport’s website or your destination airport’s website. Then, you can check the budget airline’s website for pricing information.
If reasonable, for domestic flights, consider whether you can choose a regional airport vs the larger airport. The regional airports are typically smaller, less crowded, and less stressful (although have fewer amenities such as restaurants, and can sometimes feel more crowded if a flight is delayed and suddenly two flights-worth of people are waiting). Parking and rental cars are also typically (but not always) easier at regional airports.
For example, when I fly out of the Los Angeles area, I actually start my searches by deciding which regional nearby airports (Burbank, Ontario, Orange County, or Long Beach) I might consider.
I also prefer to fly direct. So, I will do a google search for “AIRPORT NAME direct flights” and see which airlines fly directly to the city I’m interested in. This helps me narrow my search. Personally I will pay a premium to fly direct from a regional airport, but it’s all just a cost/benefit analysis.
posted by samthemander at 3:26 PM on February 25
If reasonable, for domestic flights, consider whether you can choose a regional airport vs the larger airport. The regional airports are typically smaller, less crowded, and less stressful (although have fewer amenities such as restaurants, and can sometimes feel more crowded if a flight is delayed and suddenly two flights-worth of people are waiting). Parking and rental cars are also typically (but not always) easier at regional airports.
For example, when I fly out of the Los Angeles area, I actually start my searches by deciding which regional nearby airports (Burbank, Ontario, Orange County, or Long Beach) I might consider.
I also prefer to fly direct. So, I will do a google search for “AIRPORT NAME direct flights” and see which airlines fly directly to the city I’m interested in. This helps me narrow my search. Personally I will pay a premium to fly direct from a regional airport, but it’s all just a cost/benefit analysis.
posted by samthemander at 3:26 PM on February 25
Best answer: I'm putting off a chore, so you're getting the rundown right now. Google will have the prices for all airlines except Southwest. You will have to check Southwest's own website to find their prices. If you have the time and patience, you can set Google alerts for price dips, and it's also pretty good at showing timing options for cheaper flights if you're flexible. It's also easy to sort into direct, 1 stop, and 2 stop or more options.
The easiest way to get a cheap flight within the US/to some popular Caribbean and Mexican vacation destinations is to fly a budget airline--Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, possibly JetBlue. You will have to pay extra for both carry-on and checked luggage and because it's a budget airline, if they do cancel the flight on you the next option may be available in hours or it may be available in days. You're in Chicago, right? Sometimes these airlines fly out of the most inaccessible airports but I think that they're Midway/O'Hare in Chicago, so that doesn't really make a difference.
Your regular carriers (American, Delta, United) will cost more but will include a carry-on bag in the basic fare and have slightly better amenities on board, such as cookies and a free soda. Because everyone wants to take a carry on aboard, you will have a good chance of checking your bag at the gate for free if that's what you prefer. (Or even if you don't prefer, because the bins will be full.) They are also a safer choice if you must be at your destination at a certain time or on a drop-dead date, because they fly more routes and if one flight is cancelled, they may be able to get you onto another routing.
Whether you're flying budget or major carrier, choosing a preferred seat will come with an extra cost. Choosing at all will cost you on a budget airline, if you're going with a major carrier you'll have to pay extra for seats with more legroom or closer to the front of the plane. If you're not paying, expect to sit in back.
As for international travel, if you're searching for flights online, many flights will be codeshare flights and come up as "American," "Delta," or "United" but be really operated by that airline's foreign alliance partner. This is absolutely fine unless you are playing around with mileage options--and these airlines may even have better service. All the big international players will have good English-language websites, too. No need for a travel agent to get a flight unless you're going somewhere well off the beaten path, but remember to check whether you need a visa because you want to be able to get out of the airport!
When you get there, you will need to take off your shoes, jackets, and take certain electronics out of your bags unless you have enrolled in a fee-based security program. If you have enrolled, you will still need to go through an x-ray machine or scanner and you will still have your bag scanned, but you don't have to take anything out or take anything off. Yes, some security will still take any liquid over 3 ounces if it's in a carryon. Yes, they still want you to fit all those 3-ounce bottles into a quart-sized bag. If you have certain toiletries that are a must have, portion them into 3 oz bottles or check your bag. Buying your toiletries when you get there is also an option if you're not picky and have the time to hit a drugstore or grocery.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's any guarantee of a half-empty flight even if you fly very early or late. Plan for a full flight no matter what time you fly. Once you're on the plane, there may or may not be seatback entertainment. Delta tends to have it, American does not, I'm not sure about United. Some major airlines (American) provide a streaming service for your phone or tablet, so you can watch entertainment without paying for WiFi. WiFi may be available for a fee, although it's often broken. I suggest downloading a podcast or book before the flight just in case.
I think I've covered a lot, if not everything, so the last thing I'll say is bon voyage! You should be fine, the actual experience hasn't changed that much in 15 years because... it's been that longer than that since 9/11.
posted by kingdead at 3:29 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
The easiest way to get a cheap flight within the US/to some popular Caribbean and Mexican vacation destinations is to fly a budget airline--Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, possibly JetBlue. You will have to pay extra for both carry-on and checked luggage and because it's a budget airline, if they do cancel the flight on you the next option may be available in hours or it may be available in days. You're in Chicago, right? Sometimes these airlines fly out of the most inaccessible airports but I think that they're Midway/O'Hare in Chicago, so that doesn't really make a difference.
Your regular carriers (American, Delta, United) will cost more but will include a carry-on bag in the basic fare and have slightly better amenities on board, such as cookies and a free soda. Because everyone wants to take a carry on aboard, you will have a good chance of checking your bag at the gate for free if that's what you prefer. (Or even if you don't prefer, because the bins will be full.) They are also a safer choice if you must be at your destination at a certain time or on a drop-dead date, because they fly more routes and if one flight is cancelled, they may be able to get you onto another routing.
Whether you're flying budget or major carrier, choosing a preferred seat will come with an extra cost. Choosing at all will cost you on a budget airline, if you're going with a major carrier you'll have to pay extra for seats with more legroom or closer to the front of the plane. If you're not paying, expect to sit in back.
As for international travel, if you're searching for flights online, many flights will be codeshare flights and come up as "American," "Delta," or "United" but be really operated by that airline's foreign alliance partner. This is absolutely fine unless you are playing around with mileage options--and these airlines may even have better service. All the big international players will have good English-language websites, too. No need for a travel agent to get a flight unless you're going somewhere well off the beaten path, but remember to check whether you need a visa because you want to be able to get out of the airport!
When you get there, you will need to take off your shoes, jackets, and take certain electronics out of your bags unless you have enrolled in a fee-based security program. If you have enrolled, you will still need to go through an x-ray machine or scanner and you will still have your bag scanned, but you don't have to take anything out or take anything off. Yes, some security will still take any liquid over 3 ounces if it's in a carryon. Yes, they still want you to fit all those 3-ounce bottles into a quart-sized bag. If you have certain toiletries that are a must have, portion them into 3 oz bottles or check your bag. Buying your toiletries when you get there is also an option if you're not picky and have the time to hit a drugstore or grocery.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's any guarantee of a half-empty flight even if you fly very early or late. Plan for a full flight no matter what time you fly. Once you're on the plane, there may or may not be seatback entertainment. Delta tends to have it, American does not, I'm not sure about United. Some major airlines (American) provide a streaming service for your phone or tablet, so you can watch entertainment without paying for WiFi. WiFi may be available for a fee, although it's often broken. I suggest downloading a podcast or book before the flight just in case.
I think I've covered a lot, if not everything, so the last thing I'll say is bon voyage! You should be fine, the actual experience hasn't changed that much in 15 years because... it's been that longer than that since 9/11.
posted by kingdead at 3:29 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It might be a recent development, but with Delta, their cheapest option does not include the ability to choose your seat. I don't know if other major carriers have made that change as well.
It's only happened once, but in the past year my security screening was partially handled by dog, so in the course of the line I had to walk through an area where a VERY GOOD boy or girl would walk by me and personally ensure that I was NOT A THREAT (basically just walking one by one through a larger line area where a dog passes by quickly) and didn't have to remove my shoes or take my laptop out of my bag.
posted by LionIndex at 4:58 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
It's only happened once, but in the past year my security screening was partially handled by dog, so in the course of the line I had to walk through an area where a VERY GOOD boy or girl would walk by me and personally ensure that I was NOT A THREAT (basically just walking one by one through a larger line area where a dog passes by quickly) and didn't have to remove my shoes or take my laptop out of my bag.
posted by LionIndex at 4:58 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Assuming that they fly between the two cities that you care about, sign up for the mailing lists for Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, and any other small carriers. They do random short term sales (Frontier had one the other day that was 4 hours) pretty often and it's easier to keep track of them via e-mail than checking their website to see if there's something all the time.
Assuming that Frontier covers your emergency travel needs, you might consider signing up for their GoWild! pass. Basically you pay something like $100/month and in exchange, you can do next day travel for $19/leg. (literally only the next day - so if the flights are filled, you can't get a spot.) But it's the cheapest way to do last minute travel. Frontier is definitely one of the least comfortable companies to fly on but if it's a reasonably short hop, it's sometimes worth it.
What the heck is a cheap flight LIKE these days?
Expect to get nickel and dimed on everything and to have a lousy position in the seating.
fly a budget airline--Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, possibly JetBlue. You will have to pay extra for both carry-on and checked luggage
Southwest does not charge for luggage, so keep that in mind when comparing to the others.
To get a decent seating position on Southwest, other than paying extra, you must check in precisely 24 hours before the flight.
posted by Candleman at 5:39 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
Assuming that Frontier covers your emergency travel needs, you might consider signing up for their GoWild! pass. Basically you pay something like $100/month and in exchange, you can do next day travel for $19/leg. (literally only the next day - so if the flights are filled, you can't get a spot.) But it's the cheapest way to do last minute travel. Frontier is definitely one of the least comfortable companies to fly on but if it's a reasonably short hop, it's sometimes worth it.
What the heck is a cheap flight LIKE these days?
Expect to get nickel and dimed on everything and to have a lousy position in the seating.
fly a budget airline--Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, possibly JetBlue. You will have to pay extra for both carry-on and checked luggage
Southwest does not charge for luggage, so keep that in mind when comparing to the others.
To get a decent seating position on Southwest, other than paying extra, you must check in precisely 24 hours before the flight.
posted by Candleman at 5:39 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
Best answer: or an edible
No-one mentioned this but absolutely positively do not take these with you on an international flight or if you're taking a cruise. Domestic flights are maybe OK? Depends on the state, some are legal cannibis states and don't enforce anything WRT it and some might just for shits and giggles. Technically it's not legal to transport but if the user is a nice White lady they might not care. My DH used to get pulled for extra screening regularly before he got TSA precheck so assess your risk profile accordingly.
posted by fiercekitten at 6:01 PM on February 25 [4 favorites]
No-one mentioned this but absolutely positively do not take these with you on an international flight or if you're taking a cruise. Domestic flights are maybe OK? Depends on the state, some are legal cannibis states and don't enforce anything WRT it and some might just for shits and giggles. Technically it's not legal to transport but if the user is a nice White lady they might not care. My DH used to get pulled for extra screening regularly before he got TSA precheck so assess your risk profile accordingly.
posted by fiercekitten at 6:01 PM on February 25 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh absolutely was talking about edibl-ing an edible before arriving at the airport but good looking out. Thank you for the answers so far! You make this sound casual which I absolutely do not feel yet but want to.
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:05 PM on February 25
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:05 PM on February 25
Best answer: 1. How do you start searching for a flight
In addition to Kayak I would also try out the search options on Google Flights. If there's cities you're interested in I suggest setting up a google alert for when flights are cheap to this destination, then you can choose the date and times that are cheapest.
2. What are the secrets to getting a cheap flight?
Definitely don't take the face fare as the full expense. People like Southwest because they offer free bags, but if you want to save and are okay just bringing something that fits under the seat some of the legacy carriers can be cheaper on some routes. Flying out of Chicago you're going to have more flights available to you on United and American (they have more gates). Also keep in mind the cost to get to the airport—I will pay more to fly out of O'hare because it will take more time and cost for me to get to Midway, negating a the cheaper carriers that fly out of Midway. Southwest now has some flights out of O'Hare (I fly United 99% of the time so I can answer United questions).
Fares don't always make sense these days. Sometimes far in advance is cheaper, sometimes not. Often smaller cities/airports cost more than large ones. Overall though, planes are FULL. If not being in a middle seat or in the back is important to you then you will have to pay for it, unfortunately. Internationally, if you're looking in advance I think Google alerts are your friend. You have to fly off times to get deals—Paris in the Spring or during the Olympics will be expensive.
3. Any other tips/tricks to make the entire thing easier?
Go early. Give yourself to the process. Just know that security can be a long line but it's chill because you will get through it. Giving yourself too much time before your flight will make it less stressful. Checking your bag may make it feel less stressful for you navigating airports. This chill mantra goes for getting on the plane as well. Since you don't have status you won't be in the first half of boarding. It's okay. Go with the flow. You have a seat. If there's not room for you carryon when they get to your boarding group then it will be checked for free. They're not going to leave without you. If you don't fly a lot it's probably not worth it to pay for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry but if you will be then it's worth it.
Bring headphones and music you like. Bring (non-liquid) snacks if you don't want to spend inflated airport prices. You can bring an empty water bottle and refill it once past security. Download the airline's app—you can usually get a boarding pass on it, access in flight entertainments, etc. depending on airline. Sometimes when I'm in an especially busy airport I like to stand and look around and think about how cool is it that I could fly anywhere in the world right now—not stress, excitement!
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:14 PM on February 25 [7 favorites]
In addition to Kayak I would also try out the search options on Google Flights. If there's cities you're interested in I suggest setting up a google alert for when flights are cheap to this destination, then you can choose the date and times that are cheapest.
2. What are the secrets to getting a cheap flight?
Definitely don't take the face fare as the full expense. People like Southwest because they offer free bags, but if you want to save and are okay just bringing something that fits under the seat some of the legacy carriers can be cheaper on some routes. Flying out of Chicago you're going to have more flights available to you on United and American (they have more gates). Also keep in mind the cost to get to the airport—I will pay more to fly out of O'hare because it will take more time and cost for me to get to Midway, negating a the cheaper carriers that fly out of Midway. Southwest now has some flights out of O'Hare (I fly United 99% of the time so I can answer United questions).
Fares don't always make sense these days. Sometimes far in advance is cheaper, sometimes not. Often smaller cities/airports cost more than large ones. Overall though, planes are FULL. If not being in a middle seat or in the back is important to you then you will have to pay for it, unfortunately. Internationally, if you're looking in advance I think Google alerts are your friend. You have to fly off times to get deals—Paris in the Spring or during the Olympics will be expensive.
3. Any other tips/tricks to make the entire thing easier?
Go early. Give yourself to the process. Just know that security can be a long line but it's chill because you will get through it. Giving yourself too much time before your flight will make it less stressful. Checking your bag may make it feel less stressful for you navigating airports. This chill mantra goes for getting on the plane as well. Since you don't have status you won't be in the first half of boarding. It's okay. Go with the flow. You have a seat. If there's not room for you carryon when they get to your boarding group then it will be checked for free. They're not going to leave without you. If you don't fly a lot it's probably not worth it to pay for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry but if you will be then it's worth it.
Bring headphones and music you like. Bring (non-liquid) snacks if you don't want to spend inflated airport prices. You can bring an empty water bottle and refill it once past security. Download the airline's app—you can usually get a boarding pass on it, access in flight entertainments, etc. depending on airline. Sometimes when I'm in an especially busy airport I like to stand and look around and think about how cool is it that I could fly anywhere in the world right now—not stress, excitement!
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:14 PM on February 25 [7 favorites]
Response by poster: Bunglegirl this info is particularly helpful, thank you, especially "give yourself to the process." !
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:22 PM on February 25
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:22 PM on February 25
Best answer: As far as the flight itself, most airports now have water bottle filling stations so bring an empty one, especially if you're flying on a budget airline. If you need to eat at an airport, I've found Eater's guides to the options to be reasonably accurate. Don't expect to get anything more substantial than a snack on short flights. My last two hour flight had nothing available other than some crackers, even if you wanted to pay. I always bring jerky/trail mix/fruit/snack bars etc. in case there's a delay.
There will be several people coughing around you in the waiting area and on the flight. Besides Covid, there's a ton of influenza, RSV, and colds going around this year. If you are traveling to see someone who's already sick, I would personally wear a quality mask. The most risky times will be after boarding but before takeoff and after landing.
This was true the last time you flew as well, but if you're checking your main luggage, make sure you have at least one day's worth of clean clothes and other necessities in your personal bag (e.g. the one that goes under the seat in front of you - if you have a bad seat, they may force you to gate check your larger bag), just in case the checked bags go missing.
Speaking of checked bags, depending on the airport and airline, you may be able to pay a few dollars to check your bag outside the terminal. I know you're trying to keep it cheap but $3-5 to instantly check your bags vs. standing in line for 20+ minutes can be well worth it for the stress reduction. Make sure that all of your bags are tagged with your name and contact info and if you have generic looking black suitcases or whatever that you're checking, use some stickers or a dollop of paint to make it easy to spot on the conveyer.
Bring a USB battery to charge your personal devices. Some airports have lots of functional outlets/chargers but some have limited supply or they're flat out broken.
If you're not using the airline's app for your boarding pass, either screenshot it ahead of time on reliable internet or print a physical one. I've had both airport wifi and cell networks flake out at inconvenient times. If you're using your phone for the boarding pass, raise the brightness to 100% before you get to the scanner.
If you intend to take an Uber/Lyft/cab to the airport, do some test requests ahead of time to see how much lead time you need to leave with them. My wait time can vary between 5 and 30 minutes depending on the day and time. If you have 24+ hour lead time, consider scheduling ahead. In my city, cabs are nightmarishly bad to try to get to the airport with but the fastest way to get home. A few searches on the city specific subreddits might give you an indication what your home and visiting city's transit is like. I'm generally in favor of using trains/subways/etc. when the option is available but with a nervous companion whose nerves will be shot from the flight, a nice, straight shot via a car is probably the best option.
nervous to the point of needing a prescription
If you expect to have to do this at the last minute, have them talk to their doctor and get a prescription for Xanax or whatever now. Unless your traveling companion is experienced with edibles and never gets a paranoia side effect, I wouldn't advise using it when already anxious and in a metal tube in the air that won't land for hours or when a flight might get delayed for hours.
Consider whether good noise canceling headphones/earbuds will help your traveling companion. Anker's lines of them are startlingly good for the money, particularly if you catch them on sale. Also consider a sleeping mask and good neck pillow for them.
posted by Candleman at 7:35 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
There will be several people coughing around you in the waiting area and on the flight. Besides Covid, there's a ton of influenza, RSV, and colds going around this year. If you are traveling to see someone who's already sick, I would personally wear a quality mask. The most risky times will be after boarding but before takeoff and after landing.
This was true the last time you flew as well, but if you're checking your main luggage, make sure you have at least one day's worth of clean clothes and other necessities in your personal bag (e.g. the one that goes under the seat in front of you - if you have a bad seat, they may force you to gate check your larger bag), just in case the checked bags go missing.
Speaking of checked bags, depending on the airport and airline, you may be able to pay a few dollars to check your bag outside the terminal. I know you're trying to keep it cheap but $3-5 to instantly check your bags vs. standing in line for 20+ minutes can be well worth it for the stress reduction. Make sure that all of your bags are tagged with your name and contact info and if you have generic looking black suitcases or whatever that you're checking, use some stickers or a dollop of paint to make it easy to spot on the conveyer.
Bring a USB battery to charge your personal devices. Some airports have lots of functional outlets/chargers but some have limited supply or they're flat out broken.
If you're not using the airline's app for your boarding pass, either screenshot it ahead of time on reliable internet or print a physical one. I've had both airport wifi and cell networks flake out at inconvenient times. If you're using your phone for the boarding pass, raise the brightness to 100% before you get to the scanner.
If you intend to take an Uber/Lyft/cab to the airport, do some test requests ahead of time to see how much lead time you need to leave with them. My wait time can vary between 5 and 30 minutes depending on the day and time. If you have 24+ hour lead time, consider scheduling ahead. In my city, cabs are nightmarishly bad to try to get to the airport with but the fastest way to get home. A few searches on the city specific subreddits might give you an indication what your home and visiting city's transit is like. I'm generally in favor of using trains/subways/etc. when the option is available but with a nervous companion whose nerves will be shot from the flight, a nice, straight shot via a car is probably the best option.
nervous to the point of needing a prescription
If you expect to have to do this at the last minute, have them talk to their doctor and get a prescription for Xanax or whatever now. Unless your traveling companion is experienced with edibles and never gets a paranoia side effect, I wouldn't advise using it when already anxious and in a metal tube in the air that won't land for hours or when a flight might get delayed for hours.
Consider whether good noise canceling headphones/earbuds will help your traveling companion. Anker's lines of them are startlingly good for the money, particularly if you catch them on sale. Also consider a sleeping mask and good neck pillow for them.
posted by Candleman at 7:35 PM on February 25 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Of the discount airlines, Southwest was most reliable, and simplest with checked bags. For Spirit they will charge for many, many items and only one carryon (smaller than standard) is allowed free-best if you and your pal have a short trip and will pay a fee to reserve a seat to sit next to each other. Frontier seemed okay in kayak, then when they shifted the flight by 18 hours a week later out of the blue we had to refund that and buy more expensive tickets (holiday travel) so I skip them entirely.
I also check kayak flights with the airline site and sometimes save $20 or so if I book on the airline site. Sometimes, and it won’t work if multiple airlines are involved.
Wishing you safe travels and a great experience!
posted by childofTethys at 7:44 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
I also check kayak flights with the airline site and sometimes save $20 or so if I book on the airline site. Sometimes, and it won’t work if multiple airlines are involved.
Wishing you safe travels and a great experience!
posted by childofTethys at 7:44 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Good point, to reiterate childofTethys comment above, while I may search on Kayak or Google I always buy directly from the airline. This is also true of hotels. When things happen (delays, cancellations, changes, refunds) it is 1000% easier to deal with the source directly than a 3rd party.
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:54 PM on February 25 [8 favorites]
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:54 PM on February 25 [8 favorites]
Best answer: So many ways to book flights. I actually still sometimes use Expedia. A word about cheap airlines such as frontier or spirit. They appear cheap at 1st glance but as others have said they often charge for every little thing so it doesn’t always work out cheaper. I prefer to fly the major airlines and get the Best up front rate. Getting a good price is all about patience. If you’re willing to go online and keep checking prices at different times of day you can often see prices that are waaay different. And they might change from day to day or week to week. I’d say booking in advance is smart but you will see prices fluctuate. Don’t wait too last minute as it’s harder to get a good price. If possible fly direct with no change over…of course that’s not always possible. Hope this helps!
posted by ljs30 at 9:01 PM on February 25
posted by ljs30 at 9:01 PM on February 25
Best answer: It's fine to research on Kayak or Google Flights, but always buy direct (this goes for hotels, too). If there is ever a problem, using an OTA triples the odds of its being a real problem.
posted by praemunire at 9:17 PM on February 25 [4 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 9:17 PM on February 25 [4 favorites]
Best answer: If you are looking for first cut travel options and outline itineraries then don't overlook sites using ChatGPT (bing.com for example). This will (or at least should on the basis of my tests) tell you all the airlines which fly the route with links to them directly or to the most appropriate search sites. It will also give you some suggestion of what to visit, where to stay, what to eat on the basis of your stated criteria.
posted by rongorongo at 3:11 AM on February 26
posted by rongorongo at 3:11 AM on February 26
Best answer: For your nervous companion:
I was a very nervous flyer, crying and shaking before takeoff even with benzos and tense throughout the flight. I took a multi-day train trip to avoid a 3 hour flight. I read this book and did the exercises and now fly about half a dozen times a year with no issues. I was skeptical but desperate when I picked it up 5 years ago, and the combination of practical information about planes and somatic exercises made a huge difference.
posted by jeoc at 4:32 AM on February 26
I was a very nervous flyer, crying and shaking before takeoff even with benzos and tense throughout the flight. I took a multi-day train trip to avoid a 3 hour flight. I read this book and did the exercises and now fly about half a dozen times a year with no issues. I was skeptical but desperate when I picked it up 5 years ago, and the combination of practical information about planes and somatic exercises made a huge difference.
posted by jeoc at 4:32 AM on February 26
Best answer: For international flights, and possibly domestic ones, there's one site that I use for research that hasn't been mentioned: Wikipedia. Go to the Wikipedia page for the destination airport. It will list all the airlines that fly there. From there, you can work backwards to your starting point. Pick the larger, more familiar airlines, and go to their own websites to search for options. In many cases, even if they don't fly to Chicago (quite a few will), they'll include options with partner airlines such as United, American, Delta, JetBlue.
I research international flights on Google Flights, too, I get a good overview there. However, Google Flights isn't comprehensive, they might not show all airlines, and sometimes their algorithm comes up with wacky itineraries that clutter up the results. Or, if a flight to a destination only happens twice a week, Google Flights won't prompt you that it exists unless you know or guess that day of the week in advance.
posted by gimonca at 4:38 AM on February 26
I research international flights on Google Flights, too, I get a good overview there. However, Google Flights isn't comprehensive, they might not show all airlines, and sometimes their algorithm comes up with wacky itineraries that clutter up the results. Or, if a flight to a destination only happens twice a week, Google Flights won't prompt you that it exists unless you know or guess that day of the week in advance.
posted by gimonca at 4:38 AM on February 26
Best answer: ^ That’s why I click on the link that shows a month of fares since I don’t necessarily need to travel on a certain date. It also allows for flexible length, ie 5-7 days, since some cheaper fares kick in the longer you stay.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:46 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:46 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Best answer: So much good info in this thread! I do want to reiterate that when flying with the budget carriers, you run the risk of your flight being cancelled entirely with no same-day option to re-book. This happened to me the last time I flew Spirit. My outbound flight was cancelled with no explanation at 2 AM when I was scheduled to fly out at 8 AM and they didn't offer a replacement flight until the next day. If you can't afford to lose a day out of your trip, I wouldn't risk it.
If you are masking at the airport (very few do these days, but I'd rather spend my risk budget elsewhere, so I do), TSA will want you to take it off briefly when they check your ID and boarding pass.
posted by merriment at 5:59 AM on February 26
If you are masking at the airport (very few do these days, but I'd rather spend my risk budget elsewhere, so I do), TSA will want you to take it off briefly when they check your ID and boarding pass.
posted by merriment at 5:59 AM on February 26
Best answer: I use matrix.itasoftware.com as a starting place. I then book what I find, directly with the airline. This makes dealing with anything unexpected MUCH easier than having booked through a third-party like Kayak or Travelocity.
I also keep an eye on secretflying.com.
posted by droomoord at 6:39 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
I also keep an eye on secretflying.com.
posted by droomoord at 6:39 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Re: cheapness, definitely check any of your credit cards to see whether you may have points for an airline!
Also while I'm typically fine with budget airlines I would just give Spirit a miss altogether if you can; they're a mess.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:09 AM on February 26
Also while I'm typically fine with budget airlines I would just give Spirit a miss altogether if you can; they're a mess.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:09 AM on February 26
Best answer: In case you were considering using the AARP-Expedia travel site, I would avoid it. I have had nothing but problems there. In exchange for small discounts, you get clueless customer service (they're unaware of simple info you could have got from the airlines themselves); and inconvenience when trying to tweak something later on, after the initial reservations have been made.
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:52 AM on February 26
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:52 AM on February 26
Best answer: I travel/fly a fair bit. Over the holidays, we had nine flights through seven countries on five airlines.
To the very nice tips above, I would add this:
By all means look for flights using Kayak, but do not actually book through any of the discount third party services (Booking, Priceline, Travelocity, Kiwi etc.) unless the difference is exorbitant. Book directly through the airline. They will treat you far better if you run into complications.
Airlines famously do not give a shit about their customers anymore, but if you have booked through a third party, somehow, miraculously, they care even less. Flight gets canceled? Do not call the airline or ask their staff at the airport. They do not know you or care about you. You will need to call Priceline/Kiwi/etc. and hope for the best. Need to move or cancel your flight? Oh boy. Good luck with that.
Airlines see people who bought tickets directly from them as their customers and people who buy through third parties as parasites, or at best as someone else's customers. I cannot stress this enough.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on February 26 [7 favorites]
To the very nice tips above, I would add this:
By all means look for flights using Kayak, but do not actually book through any of the discount third party services (Booking, Priceline, Travelocity, Kiwi etc.) unless the difference is exorbitant. Book directly through the airline. They will treat you far better if you run into complications.
Airlines famously do not give a shit about their customers anymore, but if you have booked through a third party, somehow, miraculously, they care even less. Flight gets canceled? Do not call the airline or ask their staff at the airport. They do not know you or care about you. You will need to call Priceline/Kiwi/etc. and hope for the best. Need to move or cancel your flight? Oh boy. Good luck with that.
Airlines see people who bought tickets directly from them as their customers and people who buy through third parties as parasites, or at best as someone else's customers. I cannot stress this enough.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on February 26 [7 favorites]
Best answer: FWIW, when I had a health issue that required a last minute rebooking on Southwest two weeks ago that I couldn't do through the website, the customer agent I spoke to immediately resolved the issue and made sure that there were no fees without me even asking. I fly on them about 40% of the time and the only bad customer experience I've had with them since the pandemic was one baggage agent.
posted by Candleman at 9:36 AM on February 26
posted by Candleman at 9:36 AM on February 26
Best answer: To make it easier to go through security, prepare your bag beforehand. Basic checklist for the US is 1) have your ID and boarding pass (on your phone or paper) ready to go, 2) all liquids are under 3oz and in a quart size bag (make sure any other water bottles are empty), 3) electronics and that quart size bag of liquids are easily accessible and you can pull them out and put them in a bin easier, 4) you can take off your shoes easily, 5) your pockets are empty or can be emptied easily.
Many airports have 'slow lanes' at security now for people who have kids, move slower, or don't fly as often. They're a good resource if you get flustered easily. If they don't have those lanes, then just do the best you can and don't stress about it - they'll get you through.
This was true 14 years ago to, but just in case, about 24 hours ahead of your flight, you'll get an email telling you to check in which will get you your boarding pass. Unlike 14 years ago, most people now just get their boarding pass sent to their phone and show that at TSA and the gate. You still can print it out at home or in the terminal, but paperless is much more common.
Overhead bin space is hotly contested. Pack your bag so that your most essential essentials can fit under the seat in front of you (think a 18x14x8ish inch backpack), including electronics, medication, snacks, etc. That way, if you bring a carry on and gets gate checked because they're out of space in the overhead bin, you don't have to do any repacking.
posted by oryelle at 10:13 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Many airports have 'slow lanes' at security now for people who have kids, move slower, or don't fly as often. They're a good resource if you get flustered easily. If they don't have those lanes, then just do the best you can and don't stress about it - they'll get you through.
This was true 14 years ago to, but just in case, about 24 hours ahead of your flight, you'll get an email telling you to check in which will get you your boarding pass. Unlike 14 years ago, most people now just get their boarding pass sent to their phone and show that at TSA and the gate. You still can print it out at home or in the terminal, but paperless is much more common.
Overhead bin space is hotly contested. Pack your bag so that your most essential essentials can fit under the seat in front of you (think a 18x14x8ish inch backpack), including electronics, medication, snacks, etc. That way, if you bring a carry on and gets gate checked because they're out of space in the overhead bin, you don't have to do any repacking.
posted by oryelle at 10:13 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Best answer: One more quick item that I don't think anyone's mentioned: the dreaded layover. Beware the short layover, they add to stress and increase the need for everything to go "exactly as planned", which may or may not happen.
I try to get two hours minimum for domestic layovers, but you can set your tolerance level to longer if you like. You'll see 45 minute layovers in search results when you search for flights, that would stress me out.
(If you're flying out of Chicago, you may have enough direct flights that this is less of a concern.)
posted by gimonca at 10:54 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
I try to get two hours minimum for domestic layovers, but you can set your tolerance level to longer if you like. You'll see 45 minute layovers in search results when you search for flights, that would stress me out.
(If you're flying out of Chicago, you may have enough direct flights that this is less of a concern.)
posted by gimonca at 10:54 AM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Best answer: One change in 14 years is that airlines no longer have enough overhead storage space to handle one carryon suitcase per person. This means that if the flight is full and you are in the last boarding group, they will require you to gate check your bag - which means that it goes with checked luggage and you have to pick it up at baggage claim. This make boarding priority stressful in ways that it didn't used to be. (But no charge the way there usually is for regular checked bags)
In addition, some small planes have very flat overhead compartments that won't fit a stardard roller-board carry on. These usually force almost everyone to gate check but then they have the suitcases available on a special cart as you come off the plane instead of forcing you pick them up at baggage claim. Yet another reason to be prepared to not have your carryon with you during the flight.
So, plan to have large purse or medium backpack that you can place on the floor in front of you with everything that you need on the flight so you will be prepared if you have to gate check your carryon suitcase.
posted by metahawk at 10:58 AM on February 26
In addition, some small planes have very flat overhead compartments that won't fit a stardard roller-board carry on. These usually force almost everyone to gate check but then they have the suitcases available on a special cart as you come off the plane instead of forcing you pick them up at baggage claim. Yet another reason to be prepared to not have your carryon with you during the flight.
So, plan to have large purse or medium backpack that you can place on the floor in front of you with everything that you need on the flight so you will be prepared if you have to gate check your carryon suitcase.
posted by metahawk at 10:58 AM on February 26
Best answer: Speaking of using the space under the seat in front of you: if/when choosing your seat at the airline's website, make sure that space exists and is accessible to you. (Seats behind the bulkhead, for example, lack this storage. And sometimes even a curtained divider between classes means the first economy row will not have access to that floor space.) You can also cross-reference a specific airline seat configuration at SeatGuru's Seat Map, or get a sense of fleets generally -- Delta Planes and Seat Maps example, with seat width, pitch, seat [standard vs. recliner vs. flat bed]; video type; power ports; and wifi availability.
TSA PreCheck; an explainer at NerdWallet; US map for TSA PreCheck Airports and Airlines. Having a known traveler number is handy, and the initial PreCheck fee is $78 for the first 5 years. (If you have any international travel coming up, Global Entry is $100 for the first 5 years. NW Precheck vs. Global.) Some credit cards reimburse these fees; a recent Forbes round-up.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:35 PM on February 26
TSA PreCheck; an explainer at NerdWallet; US map for TSA PreCheck Airports and Airlines. Having a known traveler number is handy, and the initial PreCheck fee is $78 for the first 5 years. (If you have any international travel coming up, Global Entry is $100 for the first 5 years. NW Precheck vs. Global.) Some credit cards reimburse these fees; a recent Forbes round-up.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:35 PM on February 26
Best answer: It is extremely unlikely that there will be many empty seats on any plane at this point. Airlines would rather cancel a half empty flight and rebook everybody on the next flight than operate a half empty flight. So don’t try too hard to find the cheapest/emptiest/most undesirable time. The price differences are also much less than they used to be. Pick a route and times that make sense for your itinerary and your preferences and go with that. I personally find middle of the night/early hrs travel stressful in a way that middle of the day isn’t. There are enough aspects to air travel that can make it stressful. I don’t need to add to that by getting up at 3 am or by having a two hr layover at 1am.
I also try to stay clear of the last flight because you get stuck for the night if anything goes wrong. If that is the case and your flight may be cancelled go online and book an airport hotel while sitting at the gate waiting for the cancellation announcement…the first you hear about a cancellation may also be an sms or email…airlines no longer have enough ground staff to help you in person. So the internet is your friend to get rebooked and to get a hotel for the night.
Because flights get cancelled, it is always preferable to book directly with the carrier because that makes it easier to sort get rebooked, get refunds etc. The same goes for hotels.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:11 PM on February 26
I also try to stay clear of the last flight because you get stuck for the night if anything goes wrong. If that is the case and your flight may be cancelled go online and book an airport hotel while sitting at the gate waiting for the cancellation announcement…the first you hear about a cancellation may also be an sms or email…airlines no longer have enough ground staff to help you in person. So the internet is your friend to get rebooked and to get a hotel for the night.
Because flights get cancelled, it is always preferable to book directly with the carrier because that makes it easier to sort get rebooked, get refunds etc. The same goes for hotels.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:11 PM on February 26
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Personally, I prefer (and have the ability) to pay a bit more for less hassle, so I want a reserved seat and I'm going to check a bag if I'm going somewhere for a week, and I don't want to fly through O'Hare, so I don't mess with Spirit or Frontier or Allegiant and frequently just book through Delta from the start for the flight I do most (2 round trips a year).
For 3., make sure you're following the regulations on allowable liquid and stuff, maybe wear slip-on shoes to make getting through security easier, but I haven't found security to be anything worth really stressing about if I get to the airport 2 hours before departure like recommended.
posted by LionIndex at 2:54 PM on February 25 [1 favorite]