What some travelers are paying to stay at luxury hotels inside airports (paywall link). No Ubers needed here, just walk off the plane and into your room. Added perks? Fancy food, upscale bars, blackout curtains and spa-like bathrooms. Hey, jet lag with lobster sounds pretty nice.
Flight delayed or lost luggage? Airlines owe you money
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You finally made it to your gate, overpriced coffee in hand, sprinting like your vacation depends on it, only to be greeted by those two soul-crushing words: Flight Delayed. Maybe it starts with 30 minutes … then an hour … then four.
No apology, no update, just your suitcase sunbathing alone on the tarmac like it’s on vacation without you.
Here’s what the airlines don’t want you to know: You might be owed money. A lot of money. But you usually have to ask, and that’s where tech know-how (and me) saves the day.
💰 International flights
Flying to Canada or anywhere in the EU? You might be owed $300 to $700 if your flight is delayed over three hours. The U.S. doesn’t mandate airlines pay out for delays, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope.
Don’t spend hours combing through airline policies. AirHelp does it for you. Just enter your flight number and date, and it checks your eligibility. If you’re owed money, they’ll file the paperwork and deal with the airline.
They take a cut (about 25%) if you win.
🧳 Bag checks
In the U.S., airlines are required to reimburse passengers for reasonable expenses due to delayed or lost luggage. Think clothing, toiletries, chargers, even a change of shoes if your bag’s gone for days.
Toss an Apple AirTag (21% off) or Tile tracker ($24.98) in your bag. This way, you can see your bag’s location in real time.
Airlines love to tell you your luggage is “in transit” when it’s clearly stuck in Milwaukee. Show them proof, and get your expenses covered faster.
💼 Credit card perks
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Early flights, cheap seats, less trauma
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Thinking about a summer getaway? Whether you’re dreaming of golden beaches or a family battle royale at Disney, it’s officially “stop refreshing and actually book your flight” season.
Let’s break it down.
Does clearing your browser really lower flight prices?
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I got a great question from Danielle in Austin: “Kim, every time I search for a flight and go back later, the price has gone up. Are airlines tracking me? If I clear my browser history or use incognito mode, will I get a cheaper deal?”
Google Maps detour: Need to make a stop on the way? With your final destination set, tap the 3-dot icon (top right) and select Edit stops. Type in your second location, and it’ll appear on your route. To change the order, tap, hold and drag the three lines next to each stop. Then hit Done.
✈️ A canceled or delayed flight is the worst: Before I leave for the airport, I look up my trip on FlightAware. If your plane is stuck in another city, you’ll see it there before your airline updates its app.
$2.25
The nightly fee Hawaii’s tacking onto a $300 hotel stay, for climate karma points. It’s barely the price of a sad airport coffee, but multiplied by millions of tourists, it adds up, with some estimates as high as $100 million annually. Hawaii just became the first U.S. state to hit tourists with a climate tax: a 0.75% hike. Mahalo.
Mach 3.5
The speed of the world’s first supersonic artillery shell, the Sceptre TRBM 155HG. It can hit targets up to 100 miles away with 5-meter accuracy. That puts it well outside the reach of most jamming systems. How? AI, sensors and GPS help it correct its path mid-flight. It’s like Call of Duty, but real.
Leavin’ on a jet plane? Don’t wait in line for a bad passport pic. Head to Passport Photo Online and follow a few steps to take the perfect shot at home. This site shows you exactly what to do, so your photo won’t get rejected. I used a publicity photo for my passport. I’m always relieved when a customs officer holds up the photo to my face and passes me through after a long flight.
2 bags
That’s how many you used to check for free on Southwest. Now? That’ll be $80, unless you’ve got status or a branded credit card (paywall link). The “bags fly free” era has been unceremoniously grounded. I’ll never forget when I was on a Southwest Airlines flight. A hard landing was quite jarring. As we pulled up to the gate, our flight attendant announced, “Well, folks, that wasn’t my fault, and it wasn’t the captain’s fault, but it was definitely the asphalt.”
15
That’s how many Centurion Lounges American Express runs across the U.S., and they just got crowned world’s best. Yelp’s 2025 rankings say these credit-card-access-only lounges are worth the swipe, thanks to their chef-curated menus, comfy vibes and enough Wi-Fi to download every season of Succession before boarding. Bonus: There are 10 more hangouts overseas.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Turn your old phone into a backup travel camera or translator. Just load up apps on Wi-Fi, and you’re good to go.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Traveling? Download Google Maps offline areas to navigate without cell service.
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Traveling soon? Don’t mess with pricey roaming fees or sketchy airport SIM cards. I use Saily eSIM — it’s the smart, secure way to stay connected anywhere in the world. Just download the app, choose your plan and you’re online in minutes. Here’s a how-to video. No physical SIM needed!
🌦️ Avoid the storm: Planning a road trip? If you have Android Auto, just say, “Hey, Google, show me the weather radar.” You’ll get live storm updates right on your screen. It’s a handy way to stay ahead of any surprises. And remember, eyes on the road.
⚡️3-second tech genius: Track a flight instantly by typing the flight number into Google (like Delta 123) to see the live status and arrival time.
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