“To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available, we are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.”

Following this message, they ceased all operations, leaving 277 flights on that day alone cancelled and the passengers stranded where they were.

Wall Street Journal first reported this turn of events was likely only the afternoon before, so the sudden shuttering caught a lot of people off guard.

In response, most major airlines have put out special offers and discounted rates to the people affected by the closure.

So now that Spirit is gone, how exactly did we get here?

Spirit Airlines Financial Issues

Spirit Airlines began its life as, believe it or not, Clipper Trucking Company in 1964. They appear to have been quite successful as by 1974, just ten years later, the company changed its name to Ground Air Transfer and then, only nine years after that, they changed their name again. In 1983, the company started flying as Charter One Airlines, which eventually changed its name, again, to Spirit Airlines in May of 1992.

Its business model was to offer very basic flights at ultra-low fares. Of course, as many people know, they would also throw in fees for any possible add-ons should you choose to buy them. This model let them undercut the larger players in the industry, even as those airlines merged and became more monopolistic in their markets.

As Spirit Airlines Shuts Down, a look back at when they started. By Aero Icarus from Zürich,

The next 28 years saw the airline grow consistently. At their peak, the carrier was the 7^th largest in the US. However, they ran into serious trouble during the COVID pandemic in 2020 when global travel ground to a halt. Although they, like their competitors in the industry, received financial aid in the Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act, otherwise known as CARES, instability for the airline still followed the pandemic.

Beginning in February of 2022, there were several attempts by both Frontier and JetBlue to acquire Spirit Airlines. The first proposal came from Frontier Airlines, which offered a mix of cash and stock for $2.9 billion to Spirit’s shareholders. In April of the same year, JetBlue offered an all-cash deal worth $3.6 billion.

Both of these offers were initially rejected by Spirit’s shareholders. JetBlue was the first to be turned away in May of 2022, then came the rejection of Frontier in July of that year. In rejecting JetBlue, Spirit indicated that it believed that the Justice Department would reject the deal on the basis that it was anticompetitive. However, the rejection of Frontier seems to be a little more… simple. Spirit decided to reconsider JetBlue’s offer and accept it.

The warning that Spirit gave about the acquisition being challenged proved to be quite prescient, though, because it was. Over the next, nearly, two years the DOJ challenged the purchase and by March of 2024, JetBlue ended their efforts to acquire Spirit. In January of 2024, a judge blocked the takeover attempt writing in the decisions that the deal was anticompetitive. By November of that year, Spirit declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Only a few months later, in January of 2025, Frontier Airlines once again offered to purchase Spirit. The offer was for $2.1 billion in cash and stock but, unlike last time Spirit did not reject the offer. However, nothing seems to have ever come from this offer nor the negotiations.

Spirit completed their bankruptcy and restructuring that began in November 2024, in March but by August of 2025 they entered bankruptcy again.

The Final Nail

The final nail in the coffin for Spirit came in February 2026 when the United States and Israel engaged in a joint attack of Iran leading to the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. With the critical waterway shut down, gas and oil prices have continued to climb rapidly, affecting industries all over the world, including air travel. As you’ve likely heard, there’s a jet fuel shortage hitting Europe now, causing many airlines to cancel flights and consolidate schedules.

The shortage of fuel shot the price skyrocketing. These increases in costs pushed the flagging Spirit Airlines to the edge. In April of 2026, just last month, Spirit was seeking a government bailout to keep from collapsing. On May 1^st, those bailout negotiations with the Trump administration fell apart and less than 24 hours later they announced the complete shuttering of operations.

Spirit Airlines specifically cited the Iran War and the spiking fuel costs as the reason for its shutdown.

Conclusion

There were thousands of passengers left stranded by this closure, and I can only imagine how much luggage will forever remain lost. We are likely to see the fallout of this for years to come. There are now thousands of staff that are out of a job, and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment that is now sitting unused. There are also fewer options for consumers to choose for their travel.

I’m not sure why Spirit couldn’t come out of the pandemic with any amount of stability. There was a travel boom that sprung forth from lockdown being lifted, they just didn’t seem to be able to fully capitalize on it. By the time you’re reading this, most stranded passengers are likely already home or have sorted out their return plans.

On a personal note, to all of the staff that are now searching for what to do next, you have my empathy. I know all too well what it’s like to have your job unexpectedly taken from you. I wish you all the best in finding your next job or step in life.

*Image Credit: Acroterion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=163002246

The post Spirit Airlines Shuts Down appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Importantly, EES is a different program than ETIAS, which is a separate program that we’ve covered previously. Because these two programs are being implemented around the same time, let’s highlight some of the details and differences.

EES:

• You don’t need to do anything before traveling.
• Biometric data will be collected at entry. Children under 12 years of age will not be fingerprinted.
• It does not require paying an entry fee.
• Applies to all non-EU and non-Schengen passport holders.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)

• You do need to complete a digital application form before you travel.
• Basic traveler information will be collected at application, but this program does not capture biometric data.
• There is a €20 fee due at time of application. The fee can be waived for people under 18 and over 70.
• Applies to any visa-free nationals that are traveling to these European countries.

The EES should become faster over time, but it’s quite slow right now.

These two programs have different aims. Going through the EES happens every time a traveler enters or leaves any of these countries and it is intended to track the movements of travelers through them. ETIAS is intended to raise money and control entry before travel. Additionally, the EES is active now and ETIAS is being rolled out in the last quarter of 2026.

Right now, the EES seems to be slowing down entry to Europe. Just a matter of two weeks ago, we had personal experience entering the travel zone at the Lisbon cruise terminal. Disembarkation took several hours to clear customs. That’s not great news for upcoming travels but, in the long run, European officials hope that EES will speed up the process.

For the moment, make sure that you plan for extra time to enter Europe.

Also, please note that these changes do not apply to the UK which, rather famously, is not part of Europe, I mean the EU. Indeed, The United Kingdom has it’s own travel fees coming online.

Princess Pours Program, What Is It?

The next update that might interest our readers is a major one from Princess Cruises. Just over a week ago, Princess announced that they are launching a new POURS collection, which will be arriving this summer.

As the name implies, this program is Princess looking to step up their game in the cocktail and mocktail experience. This collection isn’t another beverage package, it’s more of a marketing stunt. Princess wants to capture people’s attention by showing off nice drinks, and they’ve pulled in celebrities to help with that.

The announcement includes promotional images with Matthew and Camila McConaughey, Liev Schreiber​, Jason Momoa, Blaine Halvorson, Jon Bon Jovi and Jesse Bongiovi, and more besides. These stars aren’t just there for pictures, they all have their own alcohols that will now be served on Princess Cruises’ ships. From the McConaughey’s Pantalones Tequila to Kylie Minogue’s no alcohol sparkling rosé.

With the POURS program, you’ll be saying, “Alright, alright, alright…”

As I said, this isn’t a new drinks package so these new beverages will be included in Princess Plus and Premier. Which is nice to hear, since those programs got a price hike a while back.

My favorite thing about this is that as part of this revamp, Princess Cruises is markedly increasing the number of mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks on offer. This is wonderful news for any sailor that doesn’t drink alcohol, like Nichole. These new offerings include drinks like the Hibiscus Zenberry Crush and Golden Orchard, which bring a level of sophistication without the hangover.

Given the shifting trends in alcohol consumption by the youngest generations, Princess is likely reading the room and looking to enhance their options. With Gen Z consuming far less alcohol than previous generations, increasing NA offerings will appeal to a larger portion of that market. Older generations still consume alcohol at pretty much the same rate between them, but over the years consumers of all ages have trended toward higher quality and more sophisticated drinks. The POURS program hits both of those desires and will step up Princess’ game at the bar, which is something I’m quite glad to see them do.

United Airline Changes: The Good and the Bad

United Airlines has announced several changes recently which are being met with both joy and annoyance.

First, United announced that they will begin kicking people off flights should they be listening to music or shows without headphones. In other words, if someone is broadcasting whatever they are watching to the whole cabin, you may be removed from the plane. While I haven’t personally encountered behavior like this before, it was apparently happening enough that they felt the need to create a rule for it.

Let it be known that if you fly United, you should bring some headphones. Or maybe a book. I really loved A Gentleman In Moscow, so I would pick that up.

In slightly less welcome news, United recently announced Fare Options, separating each seat type into three new forms, Base, Standard, and Flexible. These fare options will have different costs and different rules associated with them.

New fares from United means that you’ll be paying more for miles.

For example, a Base fare ticket will be charged extra if you want to choose your seat location, while a Standard and Flexible fare will let you choose the seat. Similarly, the Base fare will get one checked bag, while the others will have 2 bags. Flexible operates much more like Standard, but can get a refund, while the other two typically do not.

Finally Base Fare, even in business class, doesn’t earn miles when flying or give lounge access. This means you could pay top dollar for a Polaris seat and not get to stay at their special lounge or get a single mile for the flight if you choose the Base Fare option.

This puts United much more in line with how Delta has operated since they announced their fare options around this time last year. All of this comes on the heels of United cutting back their milage program to make it much harder to earn miles outside of the higher-cost seats.

I’ve included a chart from United so you can see some of the restrictions placed on the base fare. The chart you see is specific to Polaris, which is United’s top tier long haul flight cabin. As you can see, the base fare has plenty of restrictions on it.

I wrote an article last year that asked if airline status is worth it. These changes give me one more reason to say, no. I say, fly the best rate in the best seat you care to pay for, and whichever airline that’s with is who you fly on – diamond be damned.

The post You Need To Plan For Long Wait Times With EES appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Late last week, an executive order was signed that commanded TSA agents to be paid. This should not be confused with Congress passing a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, far from it. Disfunction still remains within the halls of Capitol Hill and no bill to fund DHS has been passed by both chambers. However, airport wait times dropped on Monday to normal levels.

Where does that leave all of us?

What Was Going On?

The partial government shutdown that’s been going on for more than a month is over Department of Homeland Security funding. DHS includes the Coast Guard, TSA, and Customs and Border Protection, which houses ICE. That last agency is what the impasse revolves around, with Democrats refusing to fund ICE further and Republicans wanting to continue funding ICE as normal.

As the shutdown has dragged on, the funding to pay employees in DHS evaporated. ICE, however, was given a massive funding increase in the reconciliation process last year in Congress and they continue to be paid out of those funds. The relevant impacts for travelers is that ICE has now been deployed to airports and the TSA was working without pay.

I covered this previously and it remains true that it is unclear what ICE agents are doing or can do to support TSA operations. The lack of pay was driving callouts and resignations by TSA agents, leading to huge wait time increases at security screening checkpoints around the nation. Many commented, around the internet, that TSA agents working without pay while watching ICE agents get paid, further embittering them to the entire situation. I cannot say how true that is, but the sentiment is understandable.

TSA Gets Paid

Over the weekend, an executive order was issued that charged DHS to pay TSA employees. Monday, payments hit employee bank accounts and wait times at major airports seem to be down. How is that possible without funding from Congress?

Typically, the answer is, it’s not. However, the reconciliation bill passed last year, which contained the large funding increase for ICE, and is apparently being used to pay TSA agents. It remains unclear whether the move is legal or not. The impacts of the move are clear, though, as callouts at major airports have dropped so have the wait times at security checkpoints.

In the meantime, Congress failed to agree on a measure to restore DHS funding. The Senate passed a resolution to fund DHS, except for ICE, but the House rejected that and responded with their own measure that funded ICE and the rest of the DHS. In turn, the Senate rejected the House measure.

What Does This Mean For Travel?

While TSA agents have been paid, the measure is a temporary one at best. Congress holds the power of the purse and has been unable to agree on how to fund DHS. That means that no more funding is flowing to the agency, which is to say zero, than it was before the executive order to pay TSA agents.

Without an agreement from Congress, the root of the problem remains, and funding for the TSA will hang over every traveler’s head like the Sword of Damocles. It’s possible that someone challenges the legality of the payments, which could put us back at square one. It’s possible that this won’t last for long and we may find ourselves back here within a few weeks. The only remedy is passage of a funding bill, which the two chambers seem to be unable to agree on and the White House has indicated they may not sign even if they do pass legislation.

This funding failure by the U.S. elected representatives has put us all in a quagmire of uncertainty. In February, TSA PreCheck and Global Entrty were shut down. Then PreCheck was almost immediately reinstated following intense backlash from the public. Some days later, Global Entry resumed, although that bit of news was under reported by comparison because we were then dealing with the effects of war with Iran.

It’s good news that TSA agents are getting paid. When people do work, they must be paid for it. It would be better if they were paid in a way that didn’t raise questions of legality. For now, though, the crisis of wait times and paying TSA agents has been mitigated and the wait times at airports have gone back to normal.

The post Airport Wait Times Reduced to Normal as TSA is Paid appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

TSA Staffing Issues

The Department of Homeland has been experiencing a partial shutdown for nearly 40 days now. TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and other agencies are all impacted by the impasse in the federal government. It’s been more than a month since TSA agents have been paid and it is affecting the staffing levels at airports.

Most of the staffing issues are being blamed on absenteeism. DHS officials have stated that recent call out rates are over 10% for security officers, compared to a typical rate of around 2%. That figure is an average and specific absenteeism rates for your airport may be higher or lower. DHS has also reported that 366 TSA officers have quit their job. I could not verify if the absentee or resignation rates are abnormally high, but not being paid does not incentivize going to work so an increase would make sense.

Reduced staffing has lead to increased wait times in airports all around the country. Screening lines in New Orleans, Atlanta, New York, and Houston, among many others, have been reported taking travelers hours to clear. Some travelers even posted to social media that they arrived more than four hours early to their New Orleans flight and still missed it.

The Trump administration has now deployed ICE agents to airports for the stated purpose of alleviating the burdens on TSA agents. The efficacy of that move is unknown at this point and the largest federal workers union has warned that ICE agents are not trained to be TSA agents and it won’t help the situation.

Airport Shutdowns

Adding to the worries is a lingering warning from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that small airports may shut down if funding is not restored. The comments were made last week to multiple outlets.

The Secretary warned that the shortage of screeners at TSA checkpoints may lead to closing “small airports.” There have not been specific airports listed, but the theory is that larger airports could consolidate their screening lines to fewer points to deal with reduced staffing but that smaller airports may only have one screening point that may be unstaffed. If there is no security screening, then passengers cannot board planes and the airport may need to close.

With hundreds of airports throughout the country, keeping any eye on your own airport and being ready for last minute adjustments is essential for you to do.

Rising Costs

The ongoing war with Iran has disrupted global shipping and energy supply. Plane ticket costs rose dramatically in some cases and have remained fairly flat in others. As a travel agency we have a unique perspective in that we are often quoting flights and tracking their costs for clients.

As I’ve written about, some flights that we’ve observed have risen by more than 20% in price since before the war began. Other flights have remained largely flat in price, rising only slightly, by only around $20.

Unpredictability appears to be the name of the game here. Trying to plan around pricing of flights does not appear to be following typical ups and downs and, like I said in other articles, buying when you are comfortable with the cost is the best approach right now. There are a few things that are holding true; buying flights several months out (4-7 months specifically) is better than buying closer, busier seasonal flights (like spring break to popular cities) are more expensive than slower times of the year, and using price trackers is a good idea. Google flights is a good tracker for the price of tickets if you’ve never used one before.

What can you do?

The most important thing to do right now is keep an eye on your local airport status. The DHS shutdown is rapidly evolving and is very unpredictable. I continue to see reports that there are productive conversations going on in congress. However, I’ve been seeing similar statements since the start of the shutdown, and I can’t say how accurate they are.

The shutdown may continue for some time, it also might be over by the time this is published. With no way to know, keep yourself apprised of what’s happening at your local airport. Obviously, you should also give yourself a lot of time to get through security. I mean at least 3 hours, maybe 4. If there are airport shutdowns, reaching out to the airline your are booked with is the best place to start.

I truly wish that I didn’t have to relay frustrating travel information to you, but my job is to keep you informed of things in travel you need to know, even if that news isn’t great.

The post Potential Airport Shutdowns On The Horizon appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

But is airline status worth it in 2026?

What does airline status get you?

What each airline offers to their specific status tiers is slightly different but the overall perks are similar. They include:

• Priority check-in at the front desk and the gate.
• Waived baggage fees.
• Chances to be upgraded.

There are a wide variety of additional perks, like bonuses on car rentals (I didn’t say discounts), or access to lounges. Obviously, what benefits you get change based on how much status you have with any given line.

How you earn the status has changed

If you’ve been paying attention to these programs in the last couple years, you likely know this has been a frustration point for many loyal flyers. As I primarily fly Delta, I am most keenly aware of their program changes. Suffice it to say that many status holders feel these programs have hit some rough air.

Overall, the way that status has been earned has shifted from a mix of traveling with an airline frequently and spending money on flights toward a focus only on spend. This means that even though you might fly ten times a year on round trips, you may not even hit the entry level of status if you chose inexpensive tickets. Conversely, if you pay for one flight that is expensive you can earn status by taking to the skies just once.

Are the perks good at least?

I want to be clear about this, I have Gold Medallion status on Delta and I’ve had Silver for years before that. I travel much more than the average person, and Delta is my preferred airline. Having that status makes travel a bit nicer. I get to use the Sky Priority check-in line and I have extra weight limits on my checked bags. What I have never gotten, though, is the most coveted perk, an upgrade to first class.

Most airlines have prioritized offering cheap upgrade costs on flights that have unsold premium seats as opposed to handing out free upgrades. One time this year I upgraded from Comfort Plus to First for four dollars. Yes, $4.00. That’s not a typo and it was on a three hour long flight, not some 30 minute connection flight. Now that’s unusually low, but I’ve taken other flights with upgrade costs in the $100-200 range for multi hour flights.

We’ve even been told from a rep at one airline (which one will remain nameless to protect the rep) that the airline felt that they were giving too many free seats away so they’ve cut that out as much as they can.

What should you do?

In my opinion, having status on an airline is becoming more and more expensive and less and less worth it. Instead, if you travel a couple times a year, a credit card can replace most of those benefits from status.

Each airline offers some baggage fees waived with their cards. The carriers also offer higher annual fee cards that include lounge access, priority check in, and partner discounts. Perks similar to what you get for status with those same airlines.

Is airline status worth it in 2026? Not really, to be blunt. If the perks matter to you, get a credit card instead.

Take, for comparison, Gold Medallion status on Delta. To earn the status, one must spend $10,000 on flights per year. The benefits for that tier are all well and good, but you get similar benefits simply by having a Delta Amex card. Even their Gold card, at $150/year, gets first checked bag free. That means that if you take two round trip travels per year with checked luggage, the card will pay for itself.

Now, strictly speaking, none of this is necessary. Status and credit cards are just a way to make going through the airport a little better. Don’t get me wrong, it does make it better, but it’s something that’s just a question of what matters to you. If being a little more comfortable is important or if checked bag fees being waived starts to make sense mathematically, then I would say get the card, don’t worry about status, and fly the airline with the best fare in the cabin category you want.

The post Is Airline Status Worth It In 2026? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Remember, this isn’t a guarantee of staying free from illness. These are things to reduce the chances of catching something. Also, just to be clear, I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice, just things I do that seem to be successful.

Wash Your Hands

Yes, it’s an oldie but a goodie – wash your hands. Using simple soap and water, along with about twenty seconds of scrubbing, is the easiest way to protect yourself from the most common illnesses.

Hand and surface sanitizers have their place but, they have minimal effect on certain common bugs, namely norovirus. It’s one of the most common diseases contracted, especially in winter, and especially on cruise ships. Washing your hands will kill norovirus which means it’s the best thing you can do to avoid the vomiting disease.

Sanitizing Wipes and Such

Like I said, using sanitizers has its place. Whenever I get on a plane, bus, train, etc., I wipe the seat down with a sanitizing wipe. I also hit any surface that I touch, like the tray table, and armrests.

These are places where using soap and water just isn’t possible. In those cases, using sanitizers is a good alternative. However, it’s worth making sure that your hand sanitizer contains alcohol. This is a good quick guide from the Mayo Clinic on hand sanitizer.

Avoidance

The phrase “discretion is the better part of valor” comes to mind. Sometimes the best thing that you can do to stay healthy is to simply avoid things that make you sick. That’s why I avoid things like buffets.

Cruise ship buffets are notorious for spreading illness. You can look at the outbreak reports yourself; they list the illness and the remedies taken. But cruise ships aren’t the only place buffets exist. They can also be found in your precious airport lounges. (Full disclosure I have a Delta Reserve card, lest you think I’m throwing shade. I too hold up in the Delta lounge when I travel.)

You’re less likely to get sick when you travel if food is not served by the guests.

No matter the location of the buffet, they all function the same way. Common utensils, common flatware, common glassware and mugs. Anyone in the lounge can touch the serving spoons and they have to when they want to partake of the dishes.

Look, I know that buffets have their place, despite my constant dislike of them. When you use one, though, take the time to wash your hands AFTER, yes, after you touch the serving utensils and before you eat. It’s good practice and will keep you healthier.

Masks

I use a mask when I fly the moment that I hear coughing on the plane, which is usually all winter long. It’s a line of defense from breathing in the floating particles of mucus that someone else just hacked up into the air. Yeah, humans are kinda disgusting!

The mask isn’t something that I bother with in places other than small and enclosed spaces. Airplanes, buses, trains, that’s when I think about it. This is doubly true if the coughing or sneezing culprit is the person next to you.

Sleep

This is the hardest one to do, but it might actually be the best. Try to get enough sleep when you travel and your immune system will thank you. Being well rested is the probably the best defense against illness.

Close the drapes, turn off the lights, and make it cooler in the room.

I understand, it’s hard to do. Flights are early, last-minute packing keeps you up, travel anxiety is commonplace. There’s lots of reasons why sleep deprivation, before and during a trip, is a regular experience. Here’s a few ideas that might help with that:

• If you have an early flight, falling asleep early often doesn’t work for folks. Instead, try to make sure that you get enough sleep two nights before you fly. It’s not perfect, but it’ll help and it’s easier to achieve.
• Make your hotel rooms as dark as possible. Humans, typically, sleep better in dark rooms. Close the curtains (using a chip clip can help keep the drapes together), use a sleep mask, and turn off or hide bright blue LED charging lights on devices.
• Keep your room cool. If you can get your room down below 70 F (19 C), there’s evidence that improves your overall sleep. Hotel rooms are often quite easy to get to these temps but, your home bedroom might be harder.

I hope these all help, they’ve done alright by me. Nothing is foolproof, but we can still take care reasonable steps to keep ourselves healthy.

The post How To Not Get Sick When You Travel  appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Happily, I think I’ve finally found the perfect carry-on and, what’s more, the best travel bags I’ve ever seen. The maker of these fabric covered, rolling saviors is Briggs and Riley.

Almost Unique Needs

I’m well aware that my carry-on needs are atypical. When I’m traveling, I almost always have a backpack filled with camera gear, tripods, batteries, SD cards, lenses, etc. The backpack I use is made specifically for cameras and it isn’t much good for anything else. I’ve written about it before and I really wouldn’t travel with anything else for my camera.

My laptop also presents a problem for me. You see, it’s larger than your average work laptop with its 17” display. That also means it’s heavier. Because of its size and my backpack being for the camera, I’ve always had to use a carry-on size roller bag to fit it. This is where the problem comes in.

Often times, there’s not quite enough overhead bin space. Sometimes, the plane is a smaller aircraft (like the CRJ-900s or ERJ-175s), or your connection is tight, and you are late in the boarding process. You can’t fit the standard 22” rollaboard underneath your seat and when you have to explain to flight crew that your bag can’t be gate checked because it has a laptop, it often becomes more tense than I like.

I’ve wanted a rollaboard travel bag that can fit a 17” laptop and go under a seat for years now and that is something that I’d never been able to find. That is, until Gretchen found Briggs and Riley.

At Last

This last winter, Gretchen wanted a lighter, smaller rollaboard travel bag for herself and she found her own Briggs and Riley Cabin Spinner. A rollaboard bag made to go under the seat in front of you. She flew with it a few times to Europe and back and loved it.

The Briggs and Riley travel bag that started our love of them. The Cabin Spinner is a small, light, and sturdy travel bag.

It’s light and small enough that it can fit around larger rolling luggage handles, like a bag with a handle sleeve, yet small enough that even if the overhead bins are full, you can put it under the seat. She even got compliments on it. It wasn’t quite large enough to handle my laptop, but it got me looking at Briggs and Riley.

Then, just two months later, the company released a new underseat bag that, finally, was exactly what I had been searching for. The Large Spinner Brief. Despite its somewhat unimaginative name, it is absolutely perfect.

The Briggs and Riley Large Spinner Brief travel bag is indispensable for anyone that has a 17″ laptop and travels with it.

It can hold a 17” laptop, has a zipper compartment for clothes, it’s a rollaboard, and it fits under the seat. After several international trips with resounding success on the Cabin Spinner, I was willing to give the Brief a try and it already rescued me.

Day Saved

On my most recent trip, our flight had been delayed on an already tight connection. By the time we made it to the gate we were well passed our boarding Zone, which was 2, and they were on Zone 8. We weren’t the last ones on the plane, but we were close.

The bins were full, but I managed to squeeze my backpack above in a secure enough spot where I wasn’t worried much about my camera equipment. There was no room for the rollaboard though. If I’d still been using my old 22” standard, there would have been a significant complication, given that the flight attendants were already gate checking other bags.

The new Spinner Brief, however, slid right under the seat in front of me. Not even a hint of struggle to fit it and no worries from the flight crew. Immediate relief from the stress of your bag needing to be squeezed in somewhere on the plane, maybe even quite a ways away from you. I had my bag right in front of me, even as I boarded near the end.

I dread those tight connections for many reasons, but on its second ever outing, Briggs and Riley managed to rid me of one of those reasons.

We Are Hooked

Gretchen and I loved the bags so much, Nichole decided to replace her failing travel backpack with a Briggs and Riley. She now has a Medium Widemouth Backpack and she can’t wait to try it on a trip.

Nichole’s new Briggs and Riley travel bag is the perfect backpack to carry a 15″ laptop and other essentials.

We’ve already used it on some daytrips around the state, and a couple overnights in Chicago. It’s extremely well built, and the storage layout is practically a free education to other designers on how to use space well.

Then there’s the styling. They are minimalistic, without being stark or harsh. Elegant utility is how I would best describe their look. They do not stand out, as some other brands do. If you are looking for something flashy, a piece that demands your attention, these are not the bags you’re looking for, no.

I don’t care for flashiness or attention. It screams tourist, money, and “I have expensive things in my bag.” All things I generally try to avoid while travelling. Instead, I like things that work well for years and years, with a look that’s timeless. It might be a bit more boring, but it suits me, and I imagine it likely suits most people.

I love these bags. We all have. I’m planning on giving a more detailed review of them later, but I like to inform people when I find something good. This isn’t a sponsored thing either, just to be clear. I’m sure that Briggs and Riley have no idea who I am. None of the links in this article are affiliate links either. I simply am so fond of their quality and thoughtful design, I wanted others to know.

The post My Favorite New Travel Bags appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Tip 1. Understand What Your Airfare Covers.

Don’t be doomed to the dreaded middle seat. You need to understand the different fares and what they don’t include. Every fare will get you there, eventually. Nowadays many airlines not only charge you for a checked bag, but will even charge you for a carry-on bag.

When you see a low advertised price, it is usually for a “basic fare.” Basic fares mean you cannot choose your seat, and often you will have to pay extra even for a carry-on bag. You may start with a basic fare then decide to pay a fee for a carry-on, and a checked bag, and an assigned seat. Before you know it you have paid more than if you had booked a higher fare class. Nowadays, even regular main cabin fares usually do not include a free checked bag, which is why you see people trying to stuff enormous carry-ons into overhead bins.

Tip 2.  The Best Way to Save Money on Airfare: Research

To save on airfare it is essential to do research. Go to Google Flights and enter your information. Once you find a flight or two that meets your needs, hit the “Track Prices” button and enter your email address. As prices go up and down, you receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight.

If your plans are flexible, there is a grid that lets you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on your airfare.

Then double check the fare on the airline’s website.

Next book the flight. If you book directly with the airline most U.S. airlines will give e-credits for the difference if the fare comes down because they no longer charge cancellation or change fees. Just make sure the airline you select does that.

Important Note: This does not work if you book “basic economy” so be sure to book main cabin or better.

As long as you are willing to accept e-credits for future flights, you can now relax because you will get the best fare. The flight alerts make it easy. Doing this has saved us thousands of dollars. 

We set alerts for our personal travel after we have booked a flight. Be sure to only use airlines that let you rebook with no cancellation fee. If the flight price drops, we go to the airline site and adjust the fare. (Sometimes you might need to make a phone call.) Then, we have hundreds of dollars in e-credits ready to use for our next flight. Sometimes it will be better to cancel the flight, get the e-credit, and use the e-credit to book the flights at the new rate. Either way, you will end up with e-credits in your account.

Best of all, you can book that airfare now and relax in the knowledge that if the fare comes down, we can take advantage to save some money. And if the fare goes up, as it often does, you can appreciate how smart you were.

Tip 3.  Credit Card Perks Help Save on Airfare

Consider getting an airline credit card to save on airfare. Most of the major airlines offer a no-fee credit card for a year. Usually, they include free checked bags and other amenities. This alone can save you $70-$80 per checked bag per trip. It can be worth your while even if you only fly once a year. 

Tip 4. Sign Up for Airline Programs

This is an important tip to save on airfare. Even if you think you will never fly with them again, sign up for the airline’s frequent flier program. It costs nothing and you can get extra perks. For example, with Delta you will get free wi-fi on your flight and your Delta Skymiles will never expire. 

Here’s where you can sign up quickly and for free. We keep our clients frequent flier number on file so there is no need to remember them.

By the way, with most programs you can sign the kids up too. if you are paying for a seat, why not?

Click the airline to go to their page to join.

Delta Skymiles, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Jetblue, Spirit, Southwest, Icelandair, Air France, British Airways, Turkish Air, SAS, TAP Air Portugual, Emirates, Quantas

Tip 5. Taking a Cruise? How To Save on Airfare

Most cruise lines offer airfares at discount prices. Check to see what the cruise line is offering for the exact same flight you picked out earlier. Surprisingly, the cruise line price is sometimes lower.  The downside of using the cruise line is you have a bit less control over the booking. Be sure to book “flexible” or cancellable tickets if you can.

Tip 6. Understand Your Rights

The U.S. Department of Transportation has this helpful dashboard. It is important to understand them. In general, you will have fewer rights when the delay or cancellation is not controllable by the airline, like severe weather. Controllable delays within the airline’s control include maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loading, fueling, etc.

Tip 7: Travel Insurance Can Save You Money

While we strongly recommend travel protection, do not buy it from the airline, and rarely from the cruise line. Instead ask for quotes from reputable third-party insurers. And if you travel more than once a year, consider a very affordable annual multi-trip plan. You can learn more here.

Ready To Fly?

Don’t forget our tips for surviving air travel.

The post How to Save Money on Airfare 2025 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

What if I told you, it doesn’t have to be, and you might even be able to save some money?

Airline Prices Are High

Airfare ticket prices are up, there’s no doubt about that. Ticket prices are often even higher when you are flying out the day a cruise ends, and you can see why. Thousands of people, often multiplied by 3-8 cruise ships arriving in a port at the same time, all want to leave the city the same day. If you look at prices the day before or after, they’re often a lot cheaper.

When we were booking our most recent cruise on Celebrity, which wasn’t great, we were blown away by airfare prices. Tickets to Tampa from a large Michigan airport were more than $1000 apiece. That would mean that our airfare would be almost as much as our cruise. Then I got to thinking about how tickets are often cheaper the next day.

What happens if you move the departure date to one day forward? In my case, it saved more than $1000 dollars – even after paying for a hotel for the extra night.

So, that was a no-brainer decision. We waited till the next day.

Should I Just Wait a Day Then?

That’s an option, yes. You can book a hotel, grab some lunch and dinner, and relax for the day. We were planning on doing exactly that as we didn’t really care much about trying to squeeze anything more out of our trip. But then, fate took us down another path.

A client reached out to Nichole about booking a day at Discovery Cove in Orlando. If you aren’t familiar with Discovery Cove, it’s a water park of sorts, but not just any water park. Instead of twisting, turning water slides or wave pools, there’s an aviary and snorkeling. What Discovery Cove really is, is an interactive animal rescue and rehabilitation program. Its signature feature is that you can swim with Dolphins – the only place in North America where you can do so.

The snorkeling pool at Discovery Cove.

Clients, as a matter of fact, regularly ask about the park and it’s always a bit of a struggle because neither Nichole nor Gretchen have ever been there, and I was last there nearly twenty years ago. That makes answering questions challenging because there’s nothing more valuable than firsthand experience.

That’s when we thought of using the extra day in Tampa to visit the Orlando area instead.

A Nearly Perfect Day

We still needed to get off the ship as quickly as possible, so we booked ourselves into the earliest disembarkation time. Once off the ship we grabbed a Lyft and… still went to the airport. We had to do that because on a Sunday it was the only car rental place open.

Still, once we had our rental for the day, we quickly threw our bags in the back and drove the hour and a bit to Discovery Cove.

We couldn’t get to the park right as it opened, which was 7AM, instead we arrived just before 10, which still gave us 7 hours in the park. Food is included there, so we grabbed something to eat and then changed into swimwear and got into the water.

The hours flew by. Between the aviary, the snorkeling, and the dolphin encounter, we spent the day in amazement. By the time 5PM rolled around and the park closed, we were getting rather hungry. Then another idea struck us, and instead of immediately driving back to Tampa, we stopped at Disney Springs for dinner.

I’m a sucker for Italian, and there’s something about Enzo’s that hits just right.

I love Enzo’s Hideaway and haven’t been in years, mostly because Disney World is so expensive, so I was glad to go back. We spent the evening wandering around Disney Springs, taking in the entertainment, stores, and food.

We did run into a bit of a construction backup on our way home, which delayed us an hour, but it wasn’t a problem, not really. When we got back to the hotel in Tampa, we were tired, full of delicious food, and ready for bed.

Savings?

I admit, the initial savings from delaying our flight was wiped out after we did all that. I would argue that I got more value from it though. Instead of handling Delta a pile of cash to be crammed into a seat, I got to spend the day swimming with dolphins and eating delicious Italian food.

Of course, you can choose to save the money and just relax in the hotel, that’s up to you. No matter which way you slice it, though, if you can manage it, you might be better served by delaying your flight home by a day. I know that I’ll be looking at that option from now on and I suggest you do the same whenever you travel.

The post Is there a better way to end your cruise? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Getting the best price on air is a moving target nowadays. But with our airfare secrets, and not-so-secret insider tips, you can avoid being the one who paid too much for your airfare. To save as much money as you can, follow these tips for getting the lowest price on airfare. This advice is based on actual data from Expedia. Ignore the myths and follow the facts.

Tip 1: Research

Use a site like Google Flights that aggregates flights from many airlines. You can see different airlines and fare classes. It will tell you if fares are historically low or high. If your dates are flexible, you can see which dates will save you the most money. Also, don’t forget to look at alternative nearby airports.

Once we find the flight we booked we hit the “Track Prices” button and enter our email address. As prices go up and down, we receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight. Finally, if your plans are flexible, there is a nice grid that allows you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on air.

Tip 2: After You Book Set a Price Alert

Most U.S. airlines now allow you to change flights without a change or cancellation fee. Avoid airlines that do not permit this. After checking the rules on your chosen airline, book your flight. Be sure you understand the fare rules and change or cancellation policy.

Then after you book set a price alert on Google flights or a similar site, so you can rebook when the price drops. Depending on the airfare and the fare class you book, you will likely receive the difference as an e-credit for a future flight.

We need to know when that fare drops and checking all the time is time-consuming. The flight alerts make it easy. When the price goes down, we go back to the airline site and rebook, getting the difference back in e-credits.

Doing this has saved us hundreds of dollars.

Tip 3: Which Days of the Week Have the Best Prices?

To get the best price on air, generally avoid flying on Mondays and Fridays when business travelers fill the skies. Expedia says the least expensive days to fly are Saturdays and Thursdays. For international flights, Thursdays are best. For domestic flights, Saturday is best.

Tip 3: When to Get the Best Price on Airfare?

We have long told people the best time to book domestic air is one to three months before the trip and Expedia’s research confirms this.

Interestingly, for international travel the best fares are found eighteen to twenty-nine days before the flight. However, waiting that long does risk the flights you want being unavailable.

For peak season dates like spring break, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, you should book three to seven months out for domestic and four to ten months for international. Many factors, such as the popularity of the flight, can impact prices. And don’t be afraid you are paying too much because you will use Tip #1.

Tip 4: Get The Best Price on Air for a Cruise

We have seen hundreds of people on a single cruise miss it because a storm blanketed the nation on the day the cruise began. That’s why we always recommend you fly in a day or two before the cruise starts rather than the day of the ship’s departure.  Trust us, it relieves the worry of missing your cruise departure and you can start your cruise relaxed and happy.

Given the recent performance of certain airlines, it makes more sense than ever. In fact, Expedia says that flight cancellations doubled in 2024!

Think about all the people who missed their cruises when Southwest melted down. Last summer’s Crowdstrike fiasco ruined the travel plans of people all over the world. It’s worth it to go a day early and spend the night in a nearby hotel. Travel agents keep lists of hotels that have shuttles to the cruise port.

Once you know which flights you want, check to see how much the cruise line’s airfare price is. More and more, cruise lines are offering great prices on published fares. Even if it is the same, most cruise companies guarantee they will take care of you if your air goes awry, and you miss the boat. However, some of the cruise line air programs are easier to use and more flexible than others. Some cruise lines, especially those offering “free air” may put you on an undesireable itinerary with many layovers.

Tip 5: Ask Your Travel Agent to Look For Consolidator Fares

Consolidator fares are somewhat like wholesale. They are regular seats on regular flights that still earn frequent flier miles. Basically, the airlines sell some of these seats in bulk to the consolidator who offers them through travel agents. The savings are more common on international than domestic flights. At times our clients have saved thousands of dollars on airfares by using a consolidator. Ask your travel advisor to check for you.

Tip 6: For Getting the Best Price on Air –Nonstop Charter Flights

If you are going to popular vacation spots, especially in Mexico or the Caribbean, there are travel companies who offer great resort and air packages with charter non-stop flights. These are available for popular destinations like Cancun, Jamaica, and Riviera Maya. Packages with nonstop charter air are possible out of airports such as Chicago, Lansing, Cleveland, Detroit, and more. Ask your travel advisor to research this option for you.

Tip 7: Know Your Rights

While it does not cover everything, the Department of Transportation has done a good job of pushing airlines to agree to provide you more rights when you fly. Check out the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.

Tip 8: Sign Up for the Airline’s Frequent Flyer Program

These programs are free to join. For airlines like Delta, your miles never expire and you get extra perks like free wi-fi on many flights. Most airlines offer similar programs.

More facts from Expedia:

• August is the cheapest month to travel, February and March are the most expensive.
• Booking on a Sunday can keep more in your wallet.
• Average ticket prices were down in 2024 from the year before. Because new flights are coming online, it is expected that average costs will decrese more in 2025.
• The difference between premium and economy has come down. It’s more affordable than ever to upgrade.
• Avoid crowds by traveling during quiet periods. Tuesday is the quietest day of the week to travel, and February is the quietest month.

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The post Airfare Secrets: Getting the Best Price on Air appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.