Travel Monkeys

OAK flyers are mistakenly going to SFO following airport rebrand

Starting this summer, San Francisco International Airport officials began documenting the number of passengers who have confused it with San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

Over the course of a week in June, SFO logged at least two passengers who had approached an information desk with boarding passes for flights on an airline that does not fly out of the airport but is popular at OAK.

SFO officials are concerned that due to OAK’s decision to add “San Francisco Bay” to the front of its official name earlier this year, these types of mistakes are bound to happen more often.

Source: OAK flyers are mistakenly going to SFO following airport rebrand

Missied Connections

Have you ever found yourself sprinting from one gate to another to try and make your connecting flight because you booked a tight connection? Or made it through the first leg of your flight only to find out your connecting flight was canceled, leaving you stranded at the airport?

Sadly, I’ve been in both of these stressful situations, and I’ve learned a few things along the way.

As soon as you know you will likely miss your connecting flight, it’s time to find a new one. This includes when you are still on your first flight. The flight crew may be able to assist you before you land, or you can reach out to the airline via its app’s live chat function.

Before you reach out to the airline, take a look at alternate flight options so you have them at the ready when you speak to customer service. You should also have your current flight information handy.

You can visit the customer service desk at the airport, but there are alternatives (that can likely be faster). In addition to live chat, some airlines have international customer service numbers or numbers exclusively for loyalty members that may have shorter wait times.

Many airline lounges have agents that can help rebook you as well. This alone is reason enough to have a credit card that includes lounge access, like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card* or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

In fact, some credit cards, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card** and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, include trip interruption insurance that can help you recoup costs associated with flight delays and cancellations.

For more information, check out these additional stories:
What happens if you miss your connecting flight?Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do nextThe best cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance — and what it actually coversDon't wait on hold: Here’s how to reach airline customer service quickly

6 Common Packing Mistakes You Might Be Making — Daily Passport

Packing for a vacation can be quite the headache. Often, we try to cram as many possessions as possible into a suitcase that’s far too small. We’d rather overpack rather than risk leaving something behind, which is especially true when visiting a location for the first time. But filling a suitcase doesn’t have to be like a game of Tetris. Packing can be stress-free if you learn how to pack like a pro and avoid these six common packing mistakes.

Source: 6 Common Packing Mistakes You Might Be Making — Daily Passport

5 Items You Should Always Bring to a Hotel Room — Daily Passport

The average hotel room contains the same old gadgets we’ve all seen before — an alarm clock from the 1990s, a remote control that only sort of works, and a hair dryer that blows way too hot. But there are plenty of other useful items you can (and should) bring to elevate a hotel stay. These nifty products include easy-to-install safety mechanisms, tools to keep your room clean, and other convenient items that promise to make time on the road much easier. Check out these five handy gadgets for your next trip.

Portable Lock…read on…

Source: 5 Items You Should Always Bring to a Hotel Room — Daily Passport

How to use Google Flights: A guide to finding flight deals – The Points Guy

Google Flights is constantly evolving, and it's the one tool I always mention when people ask me how to find better flight prices.

This easy-to-use website can help you find the best possible price on airfare (and even hotels). It's one of the biggest weapons in our arsenal at TPG to help save money on travel. While TPG does offer deal alerts, if you are looking for a particular flight, destination, airline or routing, Google Flights is the way to find personalized deals.

Google Flights is where I almost always begin my search for new bookings. I come back to it again and again to book trips, see if prices have dropped and check if I can get a better deal.

Here's everything you need to know to use and master Google Flights.

Source: How to use Google Flights: A guide to finding flight deals – The Points Guy

1 2 3