Qantas’ “neighbor-free” seating option is now available on domestic and international flights when space is available. If eligible, passengers will receive an email invitation to reserve two seats together 48 hours before the scheduled flight departure time.

The price to purchase the empty seat varies by route but will typically range from $20-$40 for domestic flights and around $140 for international flights.

According to Qanta, “Neighbor-free seats are subject to availability and may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.” If you pay for an empty seat and the seat ends up being occupied, you will automatically receive a full refund of the fee. 

Reserving the additional seat will only give you access to extra space—it does not include additional baggage allowance or meals. You also won’t earn Qantas points on the purchase of an extra seat. 

Neighbor-free seats cannot be used for infant seating or to store carry-on baggage or musical instruments. 

The post This Airline Will Let Passengers Pay to Have an Empty Seat Next to Them appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Bookmark this page—we’ll be updating it frequently with can’t-miss Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 sales as they’re announced.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Travel Gear

Travel Gear Deals

Amazon: Amazon is having a mega-sale spanning from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, with great deals on travel gear including luggage, clothing, and electronics. 

Korres: Get 40 percent off sitewide and 50 percent off select items during this skincare sale (which includes travel-size).

Nordstrom: Nordstrom is heavily discounting traveler-favorite brands both in-store and online Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Target: You don’t have to wait for Black Friday to save on travel gear from Target! The retailer is offering a “holiday price match guarantee” and will offer a refund for the difference in price if something you purchased sells for a lower price. The match is valid on items purchased between October 22 and December 24.

Unbound Merino: Save up to 40 percent off sitewide during Unbound Merino’s only sale of the year, which runs November 28-29.

Travel Deals

Vacation Deals

Brendan Vacations:  Get up to $250 off per person for Private Chauffeur and Lux Self Drive trips or $200 off per person on Self-Drive and Locally Hosted Rail experiences in Ireland and Scotland.

Contiki: Get up to 25 percent off more than 60 trips across six continents. The sale runs from November 17 through November 30.

Costsaver: Save up to 15 percent off trips worldwide from November 16-December 5.

EF Go Ahead Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours’ Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale runs for more than a month, from October 24 through November 30. Various destinations will be discounted each week. On November 11, in honor of Singles’ Day, there will be free private rooms on limited departure dates and all solo tours will be on sale. EF will offer $100 off all tours on Black Friday, plus surprise lightning deals and extras including free excursions.

Insight Vacations: Get up to 15 percent off select 2024 itineraries when booked between November 16 and December 5.

Trafalgar: Save up to 15 percent on select 2024 departures during the sale that will run November 16 through December 5.

Cruise Deals

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises will offer 75 percent off a second guest plus up to $300 in onboard credits for nearly all itineraries through April 30, 2026. This sale will run November 10 – December 5.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: During Uniworld’s 12 Days of Christmas Event, a new deal will be offered every day starting on Black Friday.

The post The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Deals appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The State Department advises travelers to:

1. Stay alert in tourist destinations.

2. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts while traveling and so that you can be easily located in an emergency. 

3. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter for emergency alerts.

In a briefing on October 19, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller explained the new travel advisory: “We are constantly assessing the safety and security of our personnel in every place where we operate overseas.” According to Miller, U.S. citizens overseas should exercise increased caution: “Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.”

In response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the State Department recently raised the warning levels for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza to Level 3: Reconsider Travel and Lebanon to Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The post State Department Issues Worldwide Caution to Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The new process will allow passengers to board in the following order:

1. Customers who need additional time to board
2. First-class and business-class passengers
3. Window and exit row seats
4. Middle seats
5. Aisle seats
6. Basic economy passengers

United Airlines officials hope the new process will save time during boarding, as aisle seat passengers won’t have to get up and block the aisle to let the window and middle seat passengers in their row sit down. 

With increasingly packed overhead compartments, getting to board in the first few groups can make the difference between bringing aboard your carry-on or being forced to gate-check it—so if you’re concerned about getting your bag on the plane, make sure you choose a window seat next time you fly United.

The post United Airlines Is Changing Its Boarding Process appeared first on SmarterTravel.

J.D. Power just released its Annual North America Airport Satisfaction Study to find the best and worst airports to fly through. The study surveyed passengers on six factors:

1. Terminal facilities
2. Airport arrival/departure
3. Baggage claim
4. Security check
5. Check-in/Baggage check
6. Food, beverage, and retail

For the survey, airports were broken down into three categories: Mega airports (33 million or more passengers per year), large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year), and medium airports (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year. 

Flyers’ overall satisfaction with the airport experience increased slightly this year compared to 2022. “It has not been an easy year for North American airports, but major capital improvements they’ve made over the last several years and new investments in getting food, beverage and retail operations back up and running at full capacity have helped them manage the crush of passengers,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power. 

Next time you fly, you might want to consider avoiding the lowest-ranked airports if you can. 

The Worst Mega Airports

1. Newark Liberty International Airport
2. Toronto Pearson International Airport
3. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
4. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
5. Boston Logan International Airport

The Worst Large Airports

1. Philadelphia International Airport
2. Honolulu International Airport
3. Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport
4. Oakland International Airport
5. San Diego International Airport

The Worst Medium Airports

1. Kahului Airport
2. Hollywood Burbank Airport
3. Bradley International Airport
4. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
5. Eppley Airfield

For an easier trip, try to plan your travels to take you through one of these top-rated airports.

The Best Mega Airports

1. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
2. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
3. Harry Reid International Airport
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
5. Miami International Airport

The Best Large Airports

1. Tampa International Airport
2. John Wayne Airport, Orange County
3. Salt Lake International Airport
4. Raleigh Durham-International Airport
5. Sacramento International Airport

The Best Medium Airports

1. Indianapolis International Airport
2. Southwest Florida International Airport
3. Ontario International Airport
4. Palm Beach International Airport
5. Albuquerque International Airport

The post The Best and Worst Airports in North America appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Group tour company FTLO Travel invites travelers to do just that, offering Phone-Free Departures. These trips are designed to help participants completely disconnect and focus on the experience without distractions—plus encourage travelers to be open to spontaneity by leaving behind Google Maps. 

Founder and CEO Tara Cappel says they launched the phone-free trips to help travelers connect. “In today’s digital age, we have become increasingly dependent on our smartphones, and it is negatively impacting our mental well-being and our ability to be present.” Cappel hopes that by removing phones, “travelers can fully engage with the destination they’re visiting and build new relationships with like-minded trip mates.”

Participants on the trips will be provided with printable maps and itineraries to help them navigate the destination, and trip leaders will still have cell phones.

FTLO Travel won’t be searching participants’ suitcases for contraband phones—these trips will operate on an honor system, and travelers can still use their phones in emergencies or if they need to contact someone back home. FTLO Travel recommends bringing a digital or disposable camera instead of a phone camera to capture memories from the adventure. 

The phone-free trips start in 2024 and will be available to book in a variety of destinations, including: 

• Havana, Cuba
• Costa Rica
• Portugal
• Tuscany and Rome, Italy
• Iceland
• Oaxaca, Mexico

Prices for the trips start at $1,999 per person.

The post FTLO Travel Launches Phone-Free Group Trips appeared first on SmarterTravel.

“Travelers returning from concerts, plays, sporting events or who prefer earlier and later departures can take advantage of these lower rates,” said a spokesperson for Amtrak.

The inexpensive tickets are available on select trains for departures between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Travelers can find the $5 fares on journeys between Washington, D.C. and New York City and New York City and Boston. 

Four bags (two personal items and two suitcases) are included in the fare. 

The discounted tickets are subject to availability, so book early to have the best chance of finding one.

Sample Night Owl Fares

One-way coach class fares are priced starting at:

• Philadelphia – Baltimore/BWI: $5
• New York – Newark/Newark Liberty: $5
• Washington – Baltimore/BWI: $5
• Boston – Providence: $5
• New York – Philadelphia: $10
• Philadelphia – Washington: $10
• Providence – New Haven: $10
• Boston – New Haven: $15
• New York – Baltimore/BWI: $15
• Washington – Newark/Newark Liberty: $15
• New York – Washington: $20
• Boston – New York: $20

The post Amtrak Just Added More $5 Fares—Here’s How to Snag One appeared first on SmarterTravel.

What “Duty-Free” Really Means

When shopping duty-free abroad, the “duty,” or, more accurately, “tax,” that you avoid is the tax that’s in effect where the airport is located. You’re not avoiding a U.S. import duty, which is very low on most items, anyways. The main tax is usually a value-added tax (VAT), although a local import tax could be involved, depending on the location. When duty-free shopping in the U.S., the taxes you avoid are the state and local sales taxes, and/or the federal excise tax that apply to some products.

Duty-Free Items Aren’t Necessarily Cheaper

Airport duty-free shops do not price items by simply dropping the tax; they price so as to be reasonably competitive in their local area. But the shops have to bear the usual retail overhead and also pay a stiff royalty to the airport, so the markups are still high.

Choose Your Duty-Free Purchases Strategically

When you’re returning to the U.S. after a foreign trip, the best buys are generally confined to items that are subject either to a stiff U.S. excise tax or to tight manufacturers’ price controls. That means liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, and fragrances typically offer the best deal.

Duty-Free Electronics Can Be More Expensive

Although they’re often available when duty-free shopping, cameras, watches, and other electronics are almost always cheaper online via sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, or Walmart, than at any duty-free shop.

You Can Shop Duty-Free On Arrival

Some countries allow arriving international travelers to use duty-free shops before leaving the airport, but the U.S. does not. Returning U.S. travelers can buy duty-free only at foreign departure airports.

Liquor is the Most Popular Duty-Free Purchase

Liquor is probably the most popular duty-free buy for U.S. travelers. TSA rules allow travelers to bring liter bottles into the country as an added carry-on even on connecting domestic flights, as long as they’re packed in tamper-evident bags—which the duty-free stores provide with your purchase.

There Are Limits on Duty-Free Purchases

Returning U.S. citizens are allowed one liter of duty-free alcohol and a maximum of either 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars from most foreign countries. Some states impose tighter restrictions on import of liquor and tobacco than the federal restrictions. Conversely, “states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

No matter where you’re traveling, find your hotel for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels.

Book Now

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The post 7 Things You Need to Know About Duty-Free Shopping appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The last federal government shutdown began in late 2018 and lasted for 34 days before ending in early 2019. During this time, a significant impact on travel was seen. 

Here’s what travelers should be prepared for if the government shuts down again.

Air Travel

Air Traffic Controllers and TSA agents are considered “essential” government employees and will still be required to work during a shutdown. However, these essential workers will not be getting paid until the shutdown ends—during the last shutdown, many employees called out of work (some to work other jobs to make ends meet). This resulted in air travel issues, including a ground stop at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after 10 air traffic controllers called out for the day.

At one point during the last shutdown, 10 percent of TSA agents nationwide didn’t show up to work, leading to long security lines at many airports.

The shutdown could have lingering effects on the air travel industry long after it ends, as the hiring and training of air traffic controllers would be halted during the shutdown. 

National Parks

National Parks will likely be officially closed during a government shutdown. However, gates may remain open at some parks so travelers can enter at their own risk. Park rangers will probably not be available to help if needed, and all services inside parks, including restrooms and visitor centers, will be locked and inaccessible. 

According to the National Parks Conservation Association, about a third of national parks closed completely during the last shutdown. Many parks that stayed open reported vandalism, overflowing trashcans and restrooms, and damage due to unsupervised visitors. 

Does Travel Insurance Cover a Government Shutdown?

If you’re dreading long airport lines and want to cancel your trip, you’ll need to have purchased a Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance policy for it to be covered due to a government shutdown. 

According to travel insurance site Squaremouth, even Travel Delay coverage won’t apply during a government shutdown, explaining, “The most common covered reason under Travel Delay is a delay of a common carrier due to inclement weather or a mechanical breakdown. Other covered reasons include being involved in a traffic accident on the way to the airport, lost or stolen passports or travel documents, or an injury or sickness that causes you to be late. However, delays in line for a security checkpoint are not covered.” This also means that if you encounter an unexpectedly long security line due to the shutdown and miss your flight, you won’t be able to get compensation. 

The post How a Government Shutdown Would Impact Travel appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Previously, members would visit a Global Entry kiosk to have their photograph taken before proceeding to a CBP officer for verification. 

Now, Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app from the Google Play or Apple App store and skip the kiosk entirely. Simply take a selfie using the app, and you’ll receive a mobile receipt to show the CBP officers to complete the entry process. 

“The new Global Entry mobile application leverages the latest technologies in order to enhance security while further improving the travel experience for CBP’s trusted travelers,” said CBP’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy A. Miller, in a news statement.

The app is free to download but can only be used by Global Entry members. A Global Entry membership costs $100 for a five-year membership. 

Where Can You Use the Global Entry Mobile App?

The Global Entry app can only currently be used at seven airports:

• Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Seattle, Washington)
• Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles, California)
• Miami International Airport (Miami, Florida)
• Orlando International Airport (Orlando, Florida)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (Dulles, Virginia)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas)

The post Global Entry Just Got Even Faster With New Mobile App appeared first on SmarterTravel.