Staying ahead of the common travel pitfalls requires a bit of insider knowledge, from choosing the right seat on the plane to breezing through TSA Precheck or Global Entry. Whether you’re jetting off with Delta, JetBlue, or Alaska, practical tips<\/a> like staying hydrated, using mobile apps<\/a> to keep track of your flight, or knowing a few flight secrets can make your journey even smoother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there anything worse than arriving at the airport, trudging through security and eventually brandishing your passport excitedly at check-in only to be told that your being bumped from your flight<\/a>? If you\u2019re unlucky enough to lose your seat on a plane, you may be entitled to compensation. But don\u2019t rush to accept the airline\u2019s initial voucher offer. Depending on how much later your schedule is pushed back you could be in line for a bigger payday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if those delays stretch into hours or your flight gets canceled? Don’t get stuck in the airport! Make the most of the downtime by booking a day room at a nearby hotel with HotelsByDay. You can refresh, relax, and even get some work done in comfort before your rescheduled flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.S. Department of Transportation<\/a> (DOT), travelers have the right to the following compensations depending on their new flight arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No wonder airlines are quick to waive those $150 travel vouchers around after announcing an overbooked flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that many airlines can also find seats on competitor planes if the delay is their fault? Be sure to ring up the airline as soon as you learn of delays or if your flight is cancelled \u2014 spots will go quickly, and a phone call to customer service may be quicker than waiting in a very long check-in line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also ask for some compensation when there\u2019s broken equipment that impacts on your flight. And if your seat is broken, speak up! The cabin crew should be able to move you, or, if there are no seats available and you have to endure an uncomfortable journey, request compensation from the airline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all delays will see your wallet grow heavier. Weather woes, for example, do not qualify for compensation. Same goes if it’s an issue beyond the airline\u2019s reach, like air traffic snags, closed runway or baggage carousel maintenance. And if you miss your flight because of a personal hiccup, that’s on you\u2014no payout in such cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n **Pro tip**: Safeguard your trips with travel insurance<\/a> or use a branded credit card<\/a> that offers delay and cancellation coverage. That way, even when the unexpected hits, you aren’t left footing the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t like airplane food? As it turns out, you don\u2019t need to spend eight hours hangry or splurge for expensive meals at the airport. Packing your snacks in your carry-on<\/a> is one of those flight secrets many seasoned travelers swear by. Remember, items like yogurts or dips must comply with the 3.4-ounce (100ml) rule<\/strong> to pass through security smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Familiarize yourself with the 3:1:1 TSA liquid carry on rules <\/a>to speed up the screening process. However, keep in mind that certain foods are best avoided on flights<\/a> for the comfort of you and your fellow passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people have rolling luggage these days. But if you\u2019re still clinging to your vintage suitcase or travel with a trekking pack, know that not having wheels may cost you. A suitcase or travel bag<\/a> with wheels may keep your belongings safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A former baggage handler told<\/a> Reader\u2019s Digest, \u201cif it doesn\u2019t roll, it most likely gets thrown.\u201d Wheels mean they can roll it down the plane during the loading period instead of just tossing and hoping for the best. It\u2019s also worth packing your bag with extra belongings so anything that is breakable has enough padding to stay protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wouldn\u2019t it be nice to cruise high in the sky with your furry companion in tow? Miraculously, some airlines do allow passengers to bring their pets into the cabin (as long as they stay inside a carrier). For the airlines that allow pets in the cabin, there are multiple rules to adhere to, some of which we\u2019ve listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n American Airlines & Alaska Air<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Delta<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Air Canada<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just remember, there are fees for each pet you bring. It’s worth checking your flight details, as well as your lounge access status, to see if it includes an airport lounge where you and your little pal can relax before boarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you’re a parent flying with your pet, consider this a heads-up to explore the pet policies of airlines and airports to ensure a smooth journey for your entire family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How many times have you walked into the plane and wistfully turned to see the caramel seats of business class and complimentary glasses of champagne taunt you as you pass?<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s tough to bag a free upgrade flaunting just a cheeky smile and dressing a bit smarter, there are ways to increase your chances on your next flight. According to Lynn Unick<\/a> at Skyscanner, it\u2019s worth flying during the times business flyers are less likely to travel, for example, school breaks. Also, look to upgrade when your flight is overbooked, as first-class usually holds the most remaining seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all else fails, there\u2019s no harm in asking for the upgrade. My boyfriend and I shamelessly pretended we got engaged on our holiday. We weren\u2019t granted our upgrade request, but it was worth a shot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We get it. Plane rides, especially long-haul flights<\/b><\/a>, can be tedious. The idea of spending eight hours or more in tight quarters without can be daunting, double if you\u2019re a smoker. Factor in the possible small, crying children on board, and the urge for a nicotine hit might drive you mad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But whatever you do, don\u2019t submit to a few quick puffs. The cabin crew can unlock airplane toilets from the outside. The lock on the door won\u2019t make any difference. You\u2019ll face a hefty fine if you\u2019re caught smoking, and possibly, arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you really strike a nerve with the airline crew, the flight may even be diverted to the nearest airport for your detainment. And it might not even end there. In the UK, a man was jailed over nine years<\/a> for being caught smoking and setting off a fire!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same caution applies to anyone contemplating joining the oft-whispered about mile-high club<\/em>. Though the lure of an amorous escapade in the skies may be tempting, the likelihood of being discovered is high. Redeye or overnight international flights that are not fully booked might offer slightly better odds for privacy, but discretion is still advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, that all-important question, when is the best time to book cheap flights? According to a study<\/a> by Farecompare.com, Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Eastern are widely considered to be an optimal day for getting a good deal on a flight. The cheapest flights are, unsurprisingly the unsavory hours\u2014think very early mornings, late nights or flights with awkward and long layovers. If you have the time to kill or don\u2019t have money to burn on primetime-scheduled flights, these are ideal flying times to book. These also will probably be some of the least-crowded flights, allowing you to spread out in luxury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And remember, if those extra-long layovers<\/a> leave you feeling drained, don’t despair. Instead of hanging out in the terminal, consider booking a day room with HotelsByDay<\/a>. You can escape the airport bustle, freshen up, and recharge before the next leg of your journey begins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Booking and departing for a trip should be straightforward, but unwanted stresses can undoubtedly occur. From long delays to dodgy food, myriad things could jeopardize your travel plans or tarnish your flying experience. Luckily, we\u2019ve outlined some airline travel secrets so you can beat any potential problems that could occur before and during your flight. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":8780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[20,355,1016],"class_list":["post-8772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-smarts","tag-airline-secrets","tag-flight-tips","tag-travel-tips"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/yu-kato-639378-unsplash-e1539668263230.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}You Can Get Compensation When Flights Go Wrong (Sometimes)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When You Can Request Money for Being Bumped Off a Flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\nGetting a Seat on a Competitor Plane<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Bad Equipment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When is a Compensation Request Not Valid?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"airplane](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1525703758695-469daeaad6c1?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w0NDAxMTF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3fHxhaXJwb3J0JTIwaW4lMjB0aGUlMjB3aW50ZXJ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzExNzUyNDA1fDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080\")
You Can Bring Your Own Food on Board<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"baggage](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1418878957586-8e04fda00a63?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w0NDAxMTF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxiYWdnYWdlJTIwb24lMjBhaXJwb3J0JTIwcnVud2F5fGVufDB8fHx8MTcxMTc1Mjg1MHww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080\")
You Should Take Luggage with Wheels<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You Can Bring a Pet on Board<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"man](\"https:\/\/cdn.midjourney.com\/f9059632-7dee-43b4-923d-72d98282460d\/0_2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
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It\u2019s Possible (But Rare) to Get an Upgrade<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Airplane Toilets Can Open From the Outside!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Best Day to Book Cheap Flights<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n