There are two types of travelers in this world: those who put up with the difficulties and occasional indignities of travel and those who are determined to triumph over them.
If you're in the former camp, take note: with so much new technology available at your fingertips--and so many companies coming up with innovative solutions to travel dilemmas--there's no reason to suffer in silence any longer.
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For the past year, Travel + Leisure's Trip Doctor news team has been testing and evaluating ways to travel better. Among our finds: a new breed of flexible airfare search tools that are making it easier to find lower-priced tickets that work with your schedule and travel parameters.
We also uncovered some enterprising services that will help you get paid--handsomely--when your flight is delayed or your luggage goes missing. And once you've arrived in your destination, we've identified simple ways that you can access a gym (a good one), stream your favorite television shows, connect to Wi-Fi for free, keep your business attire looking sharp, and ensure that your essential mobile devices never run out of batteries.
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We even looked closely at the real reason some bags don't make it to their final destination. And we asked Google Maps to analyze its traffic data to help us pinpoint the best (and worst) times to hit the road before a major holiday.
The result of all this research: your road map for how to travel better in 2015.
No. 1 Get Paid for a Flight Delay
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If time is money, then air travel collectively owes us all. Tipping the scales in travelers’ favor: Berkshire Hathaway’s new AirCare insurance, which offers generous compensation for a fixed rate of $25. Delays of two or more hours get you $50; if you miss a connection, there’s a $250 payout. And tarmac delays of more than two hours get you $1,000. (A bag delayed by 12 hours is worth $500.) You can purchase a policy up to 24 hours before departure time and payments are often instantaneous— wired into your bank or PayPal account.Strict European Union regulations mean that passengers departing from any European airport (or flying a European carrier into the union) are eligible for compensation of up to $750 for a delayed, canceled, or overbooked flight. Here in the United States, travelers who are involuntarily bumped from a flight could be owed up to $1,300. AirHelp will go after your money for you, minus a 25 percent commission.
Photo: ILLUSTRATION BY QUICKHONEY
If time is money, then air travel collectively owes us all. Tipping the scales in travelers’ favor: Berkshire Hathaway’s new AirCare insurance, which offers generous compensation for a fixed rate of $25. Delays of two or more hours get you $50; if you miss a connection, there’s a $250 payout. And tarmac delays of more than two hours get you $1,000. (A bag delayed by 12 hours is worth $500.) You can purchase a policy up to 24 hours before departure time and payments are often instantaneous— wired into your bank or PayPal account.Strict European Union regulations mean that passengers departing from any European airport (or flying a European carrier into the union) are eligible for compensation of up to $750 for a delayed, canceled, or overbooked flight. Here in the United States, travelers who are involuntarily bumped from a flight could be owed up to $1,300. AirHelp will go after your money for you, minus a 25 percent commission.
Photo: ILLUSTRATION BY QUICKHONEY
No. 2 Understand Code Shares
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Think you’re getting credit for all your frequent-flier miles by traveling on a partner airline? Not necessarily. Each partnership works differently: some offer full mileage and elite-qualifying credit for tickets on other carriers; others offer reduced (or even no) credit. And because some domestic loyalty programs calculate miles based on dollars spent (rather than distance flown), you may even bank more miles if you buy directly from a partner airline. Check the terms of each code share with your preferred carrier before booking.
Photo: INTERFOTO / Alamy
Think you’re getting credit for all your frequent-flier miles by traveling on a partner airline? Not necessarily. Each partnership works differently: some offer full mileage and elite-qualifying credit for tickets on other carriers; others offer reduced (or even no) credit. And because some domestic loyalty programs calculate miles based on dollars spent (rather than distance flown), you may even bank more miles if you buy directly from a partner airline. Check the terms of each code share with your preferred carrier before booking.
Photo: INTERFOTO / Alamy
No. 3 Beat Holiday Traffic
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When hitting the road on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Friday before Christmas—among the busiest days of the year—planning down to the hour can make a difference. With the help of Google Maps, we’ve charted the traffic patterns around four of the country’s biggest cities.The data from Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City reveal that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 4 p.m. is the worst time to travel, while 5 p.m. is the worst time to travel on the Friday before Christmas.Methodology: Google Maps analyzed the total number of cars on the road at a given time, looking at the speed of vehicles with location-services-enabled android smartphones. Traffic is measured for the year 2013.
Photo: ILLUSTRATION BY QUICKHONEY
When hitting the road on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Friday before Christmas—among the busiest days of the year—planning down to the hour can make a difference. With the help of Google Maps, we’ve charted the traffic patterns around four of the country’s biggest cities.The data from Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City reveal that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 4 p.m. is the worst time to travel, while 5 p.m. is the worst time to travel on the Friday before Christmas.Methodology: Google Maps analyzed the total number of cars on the road at a given time, looking at the speed of vehicles with location-services-enabled android smartphones. Traffic is measured for the year 2013.
Photo: ILLUSTRATION BY QUICKHONEY
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No. 4 Use a Digital Assistant
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If you’re a Google user, it’s time to get on board with the app’s built-in digital assistant, which puts Siri to shame. More than just a smart voice search, the service scans your Gmail and Google Calendar for booking details and appointments, learns your preferences via your browsing history, and monitors your daily habits to deliver relevant updates (local weather, currency conversions) within the app. What you’ll get:Real-time Updates: Get info about flights, including delays and gate changes, starting 24 hours before departure.Scheduling Assistance: Based on traffic and your preferred mode of transportation, it’ll tell you when to leave for the airport, a dinner reservation, and meetings and appointments.Rebooking Help: If your flight is canceled, Google provides a direct link to Google Flight Search, which displays alternative flights.Itinerary Management: A new feature launching this month pulls up your flight and hotel confirmations, restaurant bookings, and more. Simply say “OK Google, show me my trip.”
Photo: Andrew Myers
If you’re a Google user, it’s time to get on board with the app’s built-in digital assistant, which puts Siri to shame. More than just a smart voice search, the service scans your Gmail and Google Calendar for booking details and appointments, learns your preferences via your browsing history, and monitors your daily habits to deliver relevant updates (local weather, currency conversions) within the app. What you’ll get:Real-time Updates: Get info about flights, including delays and gate changes, starting 24 hours before departure.Scheduling Assistance: Based on traffic and your preferred mode of transportation, it’ll tell you when to leave for the airport, a dinner reservation, and meetings and appointments.Rebooking Help: If your flight is canceled, Google provides a direct link to Google Flight Search, which displays alternative flights.Itinerary Management: A new feature launching this month pulls up your flight and hotel confirmations, restaurant bookings, and more. Simply say “OK Google, show me my trip.”
Photo: Andrew Myers
No. 5 Get Through Customs Faster
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Good news if you travel to Asia on business: for the first time since its introduction in 1997, the APEC Business Travel Card is available to American citizens. What that means: preclearance and expedited immigration processing in 21 member destinations (China, Singapore, Australia, and Mexico, to name a few). If you are already part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler network (Global Entry, SENTRI, or NEXUS), apply through CBP’s online system, GOES. Or start an account with GOES, and request to be enrolled in both programs at the same time.
Photo courtesy of Global Entry
Good news if you travel to Asia on business: for the first time since its introduction in 1997, the APEC Business Travel Card is available to American citizens. What that means: preclearance and expedited immigration processing in 21 member destinations (China, Singapore, Australia, and Mexico, to name a few). If you are already part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler network (Global Entry, SENTRI, or NEXUS), apply through CBP’s online system, GOES. Or start an account with GOES, and request to be enrolled in both programs at the same time.
Photo courtesy of Global Entry
No. 6 Earn More for Airline Tickets
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Book a flight through an online travel agency, and you’ll get both miles from the airline and perks and rewards from the OTA’s own program. Here, three to consider.ExpediaHow to Earn: Get one point for every $5 spent on flights; two for every $1 spent on hotels and cruises.How to Spend: Points can be applied to flights, hotels, and even meals (e.g., 3,500 points = $25 toward a room).Status Perks: Spend $5,000—or book seven room nights—to attain silver status, which comes with bonus amenities (upgrades, complimentary wine) at 1,400 hotels.Bottom Line: With a poor return on points, Expedia’s program is all about the VIP hotel service.OrbitzHow to Earn: Cash back on every purchase, in the form of Orbucks. The return: 1 percent for flights, 3 percent for hotel bookings.How to Spend: One Orbuck is worth one dollar. You can apply your balance to any purchase made on the site.Status Perks: Gold members (people who book four room nights a year) get perks such as upgrades and free in-room Wi-Fi at partner hotels.Bottom Line: Instant rewards make this ultra-transparent program very gratifying.CheapTicketsHow to Earn: The site offers reward credit for almost all airfare—as high as $50—but the amount you get is up to chance.How to Spend: CheapCash credits can be applied to hotel bookings within 30 days.Status Perks: None. This isn’t your typical loyalty program.Bottom Line: It makes sense when you are planning to book both airfare and hotel through the site.
Photo courtesy of Expedia
Book a flight through an online travel agency, and you’ll get both miles from the airline and perks and rewards from the OTA’s own program. Here, three to consider.ExpediaHow to Earn: Get one point for every $5 spent on flights; two for every $1 spent on hotels and cruises.How to Spend: Points can be applied to flights, hotels, and even meals (e.g., 3,500 points = $25 toward a room).Status Perks: Spend $5,000—or book seven room nights—to attain silver status, which comes with bonus amenities (upgrades, complimentary wine) at 1,400 hotels.Bottom Line: With a poor return on points, Expedia’s program is all about the VIP hotel service.OrbitzHow to Earn: Cash back on every purchase, in the form of Orbucks. The return: 1 percent for flights, 3 percent for hotel bookings.How to Spend: One Orbuck is worth one dollar. You can apply your balance to any purchase made on the site.Status Perks: Gold members (people who book four room nights a year) get perks such as upgrades and free in-room Wi-Fi at partner hotels.Bottom Line: Instant rewards make this ultra-transparent program very gratifying.CheapTicketsHow to Earn: The site offers reward credit for almost all airfare—as high as $50—but the amount you get is up to chance.How to Spend: CheapCash credits can be applied to hotel bookings within 30 days.Status Perks: None. This isn’t your typical loyalty program.Bottom Line: It makes sense when you are planning to book both airfare and hotel through the site.
Photo courtesy of Expedia
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No. 7 Stay Connected for Free
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Subscriptions to Wi-Fi hot- spot provider Boingo range from $4.98 a month for access in the Americas to $59 a month for worldwide coverage. But if you have an American Express Platinum Card, you can now get a free subscription to all of Boingo’s land-based hot spots. Enroll at amex.boingo.com.
Photo courtesy of American Express and Boingo
Subscriptions to Wi-Fi hot- spot provider Boingo range from $4.98 a month for access in the Americas to $59 a month for worldwide coverage. But if you have an American Express Platinum Card, you can now get a free subscription to all of Boingo’s land-based hot spots. Enroll at amex.boingo.com.
Photo courtesy of American Express and Boingo
--By Lisa Cheng, Nikki Ekstein, Amy Farley, Katie James, Brooke Porter Katz, and Tom Samiljan
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