Here are some important facts about the Trusted Traveler programs, from who you can bring with you through expedited screenings to who can cut you in the security line.

Additional reporting by Megan Johnson

You Can’t Bring Your Kids Through With You

Only travelers with Global Entry memberships can go through Global Entry lanes at customs—no exceptions. This means parents/guardians traveling with children cannot bring their kids through with them unless the children have their own Global Entry memberships. 

However, children 12 and under can use TSA PreCheck lanes with an adult with a PreCheck membership. Children aged 13-17 traveling on the same reservation with an enrolled adult can only use the TSA PreCheck lane if they have the TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass.

Global Entry is Free for Children Under 18

Luckily, even though your kids can’t go through Global Entry lines with you, Global Entry is free for children 18 and under as long as their parent or guardian is applying for it or already have it. All applicants must hold a valid US passport and apply separately.

Interviews Upon Arrival are Available

If you can’t find a convenient Global Entry interview appointment, save yourself a trip out to the airport by doing Enrollment on Arrival during your next international trip. 

This program allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States—no appointment necessary. Simply follow the airport signage to Global Entry after you land. Just remember to bring the required documents that you’ll need for your application (proof of residency and a valid passport.)

Global Entry Only Costs $42 More Than TSA PreCheck

If you’re going to leave the country at all in the next five years, it’s an easy decision to choose a Global Entry membership over TSA PreCheck. 

Global Entry costs $120 for five years, and TSA PreCheck costs $78 for the same time period. A Global Entry membership automatically includes a TSA PreCheck membership, plus offers expedited customs screenings when reentering the United States.

Both programs have a similar application process, and each requires an in-person interview that includes fingerprinting.

The extra $42 for Global Entry is worth it to skip the long customs line after a long international flight!

Military Members Get PreCheck for Free

Active military members can participate in TSA PreCheck for free—no application or enrollment required.

To get the benefits of TSA PreCheck, simply enter your Department of Defense ID number as your Known Traveler Number when buying an airplane ticket, and you should automatically get the TSA PreCheck symbol on your boarding pass.

Unfortunately, military members don’t get Global Entry for free. 

Global Entry Applications Take a Long Time

Want to get a Global Entry membership before your next international trip? Better plan ahead, as according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Global Entry applications are currently taking between 4-6 months to be processed. 

Additionally, appointments for application interviews are often booked up two or more months out at major airports. 

You Don’t Even Need to Show Your Passport With Global Entry

Entering the United States with Global Entry has gotten even faster lately. When the program first launched, flyers had to use a machine to scan their passports and fingerprints in order to be processed. Now, most airports feature kiosks with facial recognition technology, so all you have to do is snap a photo of your face and you’re done. 

You Might Still Get Cut in Line

One of the best parts of having a TSA PreCheck membership is getting to feel smug when you cut all of the regular flyers in line for security. Unfortunately, you might still get cut in line yourself, as CLEAR members get top priority in line.

A CLEAR membership only allows you to skip the security line—if you’re tempted to sign up, just know that you’ll also need to pay for a TSA PreCheck membership if you want screening perks like going through the metal detector instead of the body scanner.

Watch out for Scam Websites

When you’re ready to apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you might just Google the name of the program and sign up through the first link you see.

There are a number of sponsored links that show up first in Google search results for both programs that are not the official application sites.

Only apply for Global Entry through the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection website and TSA PreCheck through the TSA’s website. Remember to look for a URL ending in .gov to make sure you are on a real government website, and not a spoof site pretending to be official. 

The post 9 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About TSA PreCheck & Global Entry appeared first on SmarterTravel.

In this article, I cover the benefits of CLEAR and explain how it is different from TSA PreCheck. I’ll also teach you how to get free or discounted CLEAR membership so you can save both time and money!

Note that this article is not sponsored by CLEAR. I’ve been using CLEAR for many years and just want to share how useful it can be to frequent travelers.

What’s the Difference Between CLEAR and TSA PreCheck?

Both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck are expedited security programs that travelers can join for a fee. However, CLEAR will get you to the front of the line more quickly. 

At most major U.S. airports, there are two main security lanes: one for TSA PreCheck (usually shorter) and one for regular processing (usually longer.) TSA PreCheck is a popular program that many travelers are already a member of. It costs between $77.95 – $85 (depending on which enrollment partner you sign up through) for five years, which is a great value. After a background check and quick interview, most people get approval. However, so many travelers are now enrolled in the program that the TSA PreCheck line can often get long.

CLEAR goes a step further. It is a third lane—complete with dedicated customer service agents and sometimes an actual red carpet—that allows you to skip ahead.

CLEAR uses biometrics, i.e., facial recognition and fingerprints, to identify you at a kiosk. Then you’ll scan your boarding pass, and a CLEAR representative will escort you to the front of the line. From there, you’ll go one of two ways…

If you have TSA Pre-Check in addition to CLEAR, then you’ll go to the front of the Pre-Check line. However, if you do not have PreCheck, then you will go to the front of the regular lane instead and have to do the usual screening, including taking off your shoes and removing any devices from your bags.

Why Should I Get CLEAR?

Basically, you don’t have to worry about how long the security line is going to be. You can leave home (or your accommodation) knowing that you just need to allow enough time to check-in, drop bags (if needed), and go straight to the front of the security line.

Given CLEAR is significantly more expensive than TSA PreCheck, this program is best suited to frequent travelers.

Where Can I Find a CLEAR Airport?

There are 58 airports in the U.S. where you can use CLEAR, including 19 of the top 20 (Charlotte is the only one missing.) It covers most of the major airport hubs, as well as secondary airports like Baltimore, New Orleans, and Sacramento.

It’s worth checking the CLEAR locations page to see if CLEAR operates at your home airport and/or destinations that you often fly to. You’ll also want to check the operating hours as well as in which terminal/s a CLEAR lane is available.

For example, at my home airport of Austin, the CLEAR lane closes at 6:30 p.m. That means if I were to fly out on a 9 p.m. flight, I’d want to know that I would not be able to access CLEAR before my flight.

CLEAR has also expanded to operate at sporting and entertainment venues like New York’s Madison Square Garden and Dallas’ Globe Life Field. Finally, finding a CLEAR lane at one-off events and festivals like Chicago’s Pride In The Park is increasingly becoming common.

How Much Does CLEAR Cost?

The base membership fee for CLEAR is $199/year. However, no one should pay full price (see next section.) If you compare the two expedited security programs, CLEAR will cost you a total of $895 over five years compared to TSA PreCheck’s $85 (less than 10% of the cost of CLEAR.)

Up to three family members can be added for $119/year each. However, children 17 years old and younger who are traveling with you do not need a membership.

Is There A CLEAR Promo Code?

Not right now, but if you search Google, you will find that CLEAR sometimes partners with companies and runs special promo codes. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to snag a free or discounted CLEAR membership.

How Can I Get a Free or Discounted CLEAR Membership?

Unfortunately, CLEAR recently discontinued its discounted student CLEAR membership offer. However, there are still plenty of other ways to save.

Through a Frequent Flyer Program

The most common way to save money on a CLEAR membership is to apply using your Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus frequent flyer number. (Both of these programs are free to join if you’re not already a member.) Base members of these two programs get a discounted rate of $189, saving you $10.

If you have Silver, Gold or Platinum status with either program, the price drops to $159. Top-tier Delta Diamond Medallion and United Premier 1K members get a free CLEAR membership.

Through a Credit Card

American Express Platinum, Business Platinum Card, and Express Green Card members get up to $199 in statement credits each calendar year when using their card to pay for a CLEAR membership.

Through a CLEAR Trial Membership

CLEAR offers a free two-month trial. If you do not want to continue to use the service, just make sure you cancel before the trial ends.

How Do I Apply For CLEAR?

1. Enroll for a free two-month trial; or click through the Delta or United page for discounted membership
2. Take your ID to a CLEAR kiosk next time you fly (no appointment needed)
3. An agent will help you take your biometric information

Note that if your application is denied by CLEAR for any reason, you are entitled to a refund of your membership fee.

Bottom Line

If you are a frequent traveler and value your time, then CLEAR may be worth enrolling in. You can try out the service before you commit by signing up for a free two-month trial. You can also save money on the membership fee by either applying through Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus, or holding a specific credit card.

On the other hand, if you are not a frequent traveler, getting TSA PreCheck may instead offer you better value. You’ll still save time compared to the regular line but do be aware that the PreCheck line can still be long, especially during peak travel periods.

The post How To Skip To The Front Of The Airport Security Line…Every Time appeared first on SmarterTravel.

These five items are perfectly legal to bring onboard a plane, but they can look suspicious on a scanner, triggering a bag search.

Food

Cheese, sausage, rice, bread, peanut butter—these tasty foods can look similar to explosives on a scanner and cause your bag to be searched. If you’re bringing food that’s dense or paste-like, be sure to send it through the X-ray machine separately to make it easier to screen. 

And remember, anything that is close to a liquid (like peanut butter) can only be packed in a carry-on in quantities of 3.4 ounces or less. 

Powders

Packing large amounts of protein powder, souvenir spices, or baby powder? According to the TSA, “Powder-like substances greater than 12 oz. / 350 mL must be placed in a separate bin for X-ray screening. They may require additional screening and containers may need to be opened.”

The TSA also encourages travelers to pack powders in quantities of more than 12 oz. in checked bags. 

Cords

Disorganized travelers, be careful when you pack your chargers—big clusters of tangled electronic cords can look suspicious during screening. Try to neatly pack your charges and cords separate from one another—you’ll pass through security faster and also be less annoyed trying to detangle everything at your destination. 

Books and Magazines

Concealing a weapon or illegal item inside a hollowed out book is a common trope in movies—but it’s actually based in fact, as X-rays have trouble seeing through thick books or glossy magazines.

According to the TSA, “Books often require additional screening. The TSA officer may ask you to remove them from your carrying case to conduct a physical inspection.” Save time by sending your reading material through the scanner separately, or at least packing them on the top of your bag for easy access. 

Large Quantities of Gels or Liquids

There’s no limit on the amount of gels and liquids you can pack in a checked bag (except for highly flammable hard alcohol), but bringing large quantities of things like toothpaste, sunscreen, or lotions could get your checked bag opened and searched. 

That’s because pastes and liquids, especially in excessive amounts, can look suspiciously close to explosive materials on X-rays. 

The post 5 Surprising Items That Could Get Your Luggage Searched by the TSA appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The experts at Google Flights examined historical data for holiday flights over the last four years to determine the optimal time to buy tickets. 

When Should You Buy Flights for Thanksgiving?

According to Google Flights, you should buy Thanksgiving flights in early October. For domestic trips around Thanksgiving, prices have historically been the lowest 45 days before departure, with the cheapest deals around 26-59 days before the holiday. 

When Should You Buy Flights for Christmas?

You’ll want to buy your Christmas flights a bit earlier, as Google Flights found that domestic flights around the holiday have been the cheapest 58 days before departure. The low price range for Christmas travel is 36-72 days out, so you’ll want to lock in your flights before the end of October. 

What is the Best Day of the Week to Book Flights?

If you see a good flight deal, grab it—don’t wait until Tuesday to book it because you’ve heard that’s the best day of the week to purchase flights. Whether you’re buying tickets for the holidays or just for vacation, there’s “not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week,” say Google Flights experts. 

Although Tuesday has historically been the cheapest day to book flights, it’s only 1.3 percent cheaper on average than Sunday, the most expensive day to buy travel.

However, the day of the week that you travel on does impact the price of your ticket—during non-holiday periods, you’ll save money by flying on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, which have been 13 percent cheaper than flying on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. With Thanksgiving always on a Thursday and Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, this trend doesn’t apply to holiday travel.

The Best and Worst Days of the Week to Fly During the Holidays 

If you can be flexible with your holiday travel, try to avoid flying over these dates when travel booking site Hopper predicts that flights will be more expensive and airports are at their most crowded. 

“Departing the week before Thanksgiving or on the Monday ahead of the holiday will save travelers the most,” says Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. “Savvy travelers will save 23 percent or about $60 per ticket by departing on the Thursday before Thanksgiving (11/21) or the Monday of Thanksgiving week (11/25) instead of taking a weekend flight.”

The Best Days to Fly for Thanksgiving

1. Thursday, November 21
2. Monday, November 25
3. Thursday, November 28

The Worst Days to Fly for Thanksgiving

1. Sunday, December 1
2. Saturday, November 30
3. Monday, December 2
4. Wednesday, November 27
5. Saturday, November 23

Berg advises holding off until October to book Christmas flights. According to Hopper, ticket prices for domestic trips are currently averaging $406 per ticket, up four percent from this time last year. However, fares are expected to fall by about $80 until they reach their lowest point in October.

“Departing the week before Christmas or on Christmas Eve or Day will save travelers the most,” says Berg. “Savvy travelers will save 26% or about $100 per ticket by departing on Christmas Eve instead of taking a flight the weekend before the holiday.”

The Best Days to Fly for Christmas

1. Tuesday, December 31
2. Tuesday, December 17
3. Tuesday, December 24

The Worst Days to Fly for Christmas

1. Saturday, December 21
2. Friday, December 20
3. Sunday, December 22
4. Saturday, December 28
5. Friday, December 27
6. Sunday, December 29

The post When Should You Book Your Holiday Flights for 2024? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

How to Track Your Luggage

Luisa Favaretto, founder and editor of the travel and research site Strategistico, headed to Tuscany to serve as the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. Favaretto flew from New York to Italy with a connecting flight in Amsterdam, where she had to collect her checked bag (containing her bridesmaid’s dress and shoes) and then recheck it through to her final destination.

“After waiting for about an hour, my bag never came through the carousel while everyone around me had received theirs,” said Favaretto. Fortunately, she had placed an Apple AirTag in her suitcase before her trip. Worried that her bag wouldn’t make it, Favaretto checked the Apple app and saw her bag was in Amsterdam, but was stuck near her gate and not at baggage claim. 

“It turns out that my luggage fell off the transporter and was just sitting somewhere on the tarmac,” said Favaretto. She showed the location of her bag to an agent, who was able to call and have the suitcase delivered in time to recheck it for her connecting flight. “If it wasn’t for the AirTag, their staff would not have been able to locate my bag quick enough for my next flight,” Favaretto explained. 

Natasha Nelson, Owner of Golden Arrow PR, says AirTags have helped her the last two times she’s traveled. The first time she used it, Nelson checked three bags. “I could see on my phone app that one bag was in a different area on the tarmac than the other two that that were on the plane loading,” she said. “I alerted the airline and they got my bag and I could see it go on the plane. The AirTag trick came in handy again on another trip when Nelson’s bag was left behind at baggage claim. She was able to show an agent the location on the app and quickly get her suitcase back. 

The Best Luggage Trackers

Trackers are cheap, portable, and easy to use. 

Knog Scout Travel Smart Luggage Tag

Knog’s Scout Smart Luggage Tag is a luggage tag with a built-in tracker and alarm, so you can keep track of your bag anywhere you go. The innovative bag tag has a QR code that can be scanned to contact you and reunite you with your bag, making it easy to keep your information up-to-date in case you move or change phone numbers.

Scout’s tracker utilizes Apple’s Find My network so you can locate your luggage no matter where it winds up. It also has a motion-sensitive alarm you can turn on to make sure your bag doesn’t get stolen while you’re at a busy restaurant or bar (and don’t worry, the alarm can be turned off for travel.) An anti-tamper bolt and braided stainless steel cable keep the tag securely attached to your suitcase.

Scout is the only luggage tracker on this list that can be recharged, which is a key feature. The tag will notify you when the battery is low, and it can be recharged using a USB-C cable.

Apple AirTag

Apple’s AirTags are the most popular trackers for travelers. The AirTags integrate with Apple’s Find My app. If your bag is nearby, you can play a sound on the tracker’s built-in speaker to quickly locate it. If it’s further away, Apple’s Find My network will use the Bluetooth of any Apple devices nearby to help locate your tracker, so you can instantly locate it on a map in the Find My app. 

Chipolo ONE Spot

The Chipolo ONE Spot works in a similar way to the AirTag, and also uses Apple’s Find My app and network to help you find your bag. The Chipolo ONE Spot can also give you a notification when you accidentally leave an item behind (perfect for something you might forget in a hotel room.)

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+

Not an Apple Fan? The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 uses the same strategy to find your stuff as the AirTag, except it uses the Galaxy Find Network instead of Apple’s Find My network.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The post Never Lose Your Luggage Again With This Easy Hack appeared first on SmarterTravel.

A widespread outage of CrowdStrike, a major cybersecurity provider, has caused chaos in the U.S. aviation industry today, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations worldwide. The technical issue has affected multiple airlines and airports, leaving countless passengers stranded and scrambling to adjust their travel plans.

CrowdStrike, which provides critical cybersecurity services to many airlines and airports, experienced a significant system failure beginning Thursday evening. The outage has impacted essential operations systems, including those used for check-in, boarding, and flight planning.

Major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, and United have reported extensive cancellations and delays, and many airports across the U.S. are currently under ground stops or ground delays. Flight tracking site FlightAware reports 23,929 delayed and 2,332 canceled flights today.

CrowdStrike’s CEO, George Kurtz, said early Friday morning, “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

Aviation experts warn that the ripple effects of this outage could continue for several days, even after the immediate technical issues are resolved. If you’re flying in the next few days, check your flight status before heading to the airport, and be prepared for potential changes to your travel plans. 

Many airlines are waiving change fees and fare differences for all customers who have booked flights departing today, July 19. However, most airlines require re-booking travel by July 24th or 25th. If you wish to change your flight, you should be able to do so directly in the airline’s app or website. Expect significant wait times if you call the airline’s customer service numbers, which are experiencing high call volume due to the outage.

The post CrowdStrike Outage Causes Thousands of Flight Cancellations and Delays appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Amazon has partnered with Southwest Airlines to offer Amazon Prime members an exclusive discount during the summer 2024 Prime Days event. From July 16 through July 17, Prime members can save up to 30% on base fares at Southwest.com using the discount code PRIME.

Click here to see full details of the sale, along with Amazon’s best Prime Day travel deals.

Some sample fares include:

• Los Angeles LAX to New York LGA $236 RT
• New York LGA to Chicago MDW $120 RT
• New York LGA to Orlando MCO $124 RT
• Boston BOS to Baltimore BWI $155 RT
• Chicago MDW to Orlando MCO $144 RT

The discount is valid for travel within the continental U.S. from August 6 through December 18 and August 13 through December 17 for travel to/from international destinations, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Some blackout dates apply.

Southwest is the first airline to partner with Amazon for Prime Day and other travel companies, offering discounts on cruises, tours, rental cars, and more.

Since 2015, Prime Day has been offering deals to Amazon Prime members. Thousands of deals are available, many perfect for travelers. This year, Prime Day runs July 16-17, 2024.

The post Save 30% on Southwest Airlines for Prime Day appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Try an Incognito Window to Browse or Clear Your Cookies

An incognito window is a way to browse the internet that doesn’t save your history, cookies, site data, or information entered on forms by users.

Some articles have debunked using incognito web browsers, claiming that if flight prices fluctuate mid-search that it’s “likely a coincidence.” However, I know first-hand from my own personal experience that browsing privately, and avoiding being tracked, has usually always paid off.

According to Million Mile Secrets, “studies show that it is a good idea to search for travel using different browsers, both logged in and incognito to find the best deal.”

At the end of the day, it won’t hurt you to try both and see what results you get. You can find out how to open an incognito web browser here.

Purchase Your Flight at the Optimal Day and Time

Comparefare states that “the best time to book a cheap flight within the U.S. is usually on a Tuesday at about 3 p.m. Eastern time.” Flights are cheaper on Tuesdays because many airlines release discounted tickets on Monday nights. 

By booking on Tuesday, Skyscanner has determined that “you’ll save somewhere between 15 and 25 percent.”  It’s also typically more affordable to fly on a weekday. Departing on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday should lower your flight cost. Flight prices tend to start increasing on Thursday, and skyrocket on the weekends.

TripSavvy keeps a running tab on how many months before departure travelers should purchase airfare for different popular destinations. The general consensus is to book “between one month to six months before departure for Europe, one month to five months before departure for the Caribbean, and ten months before departure for Asia.” Like domestic flights, international plane tickets are usually cheaper when purchased on a week day.

To be sure you get the best rate, you should be checking fares at least a few times a week.

Pick Destinations Based on What’s on Sale at the Moment

Have you ever heard of someone throwing a dart at a map, or stopping a spinning globe with a finger, and then choosing that mark as their next travel destination?

Well, if you have, the dart thrower might have spent an arm and a leg for that snap-decision, but luckily you don’t have to!

Instead, Google cheap flight destinations and see where it’s affordable to go during the time you are searching, then plan accordingly. I once met a woman who traveled to countries exclusively based on the deals she found, and that is how she was able to venture to as many exotic places as she did.

Google Promo Codes and Promotions for Your Airline of Choice

You might not know this, but some airlines offer promo codes. You can easily find them by doing a quick Google search. Simply type the words “promo code” and the airline you want to book with into the search bar to check. Bargain hunters should also know that airlines occasionally offer timely promotional deals. For example, this summer Alaska Airlines launched a three-day sale offering discounted fares on select flights for autumn 2024 travel. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for when those deals surface, which leads me to my next tip…

Check Prices Often and Sign Up for Free Price Alerts

The more you check flights for a certain destination, the more you will be able to recognize when a ticket goes “on sale.” Think about how you shop for clothes. If you watch a certain shirt you’ve been eyeing at full price suddenly dip down, you know it’s a good time to buy. The same principle holds true for flights!

If you have exact travel dates in mind, you can cut down your efforts by signing up for free price alerts. These alerts notify you when the specific trip you have your heart set on scales its price back. 

Fly on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, July 4th, or Other Major Holidays

Flying on a holiday is often considered the best time to find the cheapest ticket. Any time I wanted an economical ticket to my hometown, New York, from Los Angeles, I would sacrifice a holiday. 

I either flew directly on Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even July 4th for the cheapest rate possible. It is not always fun or ideal to give up a day that comes around only once a year, but it’s worth it if you are really trying to save big and stretch your money.

Keep in mind that if you do choose to fly in on a holiday, you probably want to budget for a shuttle, Uber or Lyft— that way you won’t be pulling your family or friends away from their festivities to meet you at arrivals.

Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates and Times

If your travel dates are adjustable, you can be patient and wait for the best deals. Patience pays at the airport. What most people don’t know is that if you are waiting to board your plane, and a flight is overbooked, it won’t be long before you hear your gate agent over the loudspeaker asking for volunteers who can wait for the next flight out. If you’re fortunate enough to have a go-with-the flow attitude and the flexibility to wait, you should because the airline will often reward you a few hundred dollars in travel vouchers for being so accommodating. 

Accrue and Use Travel Points From Airlines, Credit Cards, Etc. 

When you use the right credit cards, you can acquire points and miles to help fund your next adventure. For instance, when you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening with Capital One’s Venture Rewards card, you get a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles.

Airlines also offer loyalty programs such as frequent flyer miles or travel points that can be used towards future flights. These programs are free, and you can easily rack up miles with every flight you take with the airline, or its affiliate airlines. Once you sign up, you will receive a number that you input every time you purchase a flight on their website. Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for a free or reduced flight.

The post 8 Tips from a Flight Attendant’s Daughter to Save Money on Your Next Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Here are the rules behind rechecking a bag on a connecting flight.

International Flights Connecting in the USA

No matter what airline you’re flying, if you have a connecting flight that arrives in the United States from an international destination, you’ll need to pick up your bags and recheck them on your next flight. 

Everyone entering the United States from abroad must go through customs upon arrival before their connecting flight, which involves having your luggage screened. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes this very clear on their website, warning “Baggage not obtained after your international flight will not get to your final destination.”

The one exception to this rule is if you’re traveling from an airport that offers CBP Preclearance, in which travelers go through customs at their departure point rather than upon arrival in the US. Preclearance is offered at 15 airports across Ireland, Aruba, Bermuda, the United Arab Emirates, the Bahamas, and Canada. 

Domestic Flights

If you’re traveling on a single ticket with the same airline within the US, you shouldn’t have to recheck your baggage. However, it’s still worth double checking with the airline to confirm that your bag will be checked through to your final destination, especially if you have a long layover. 

Hawaiian Airlines, for example, advises customers “If you have a stopover of more than 4 hours between flights, you may also need to collect your bags between flights.”

Flying on Separate Tickets

If you’ve booked your itinerary on two separate tickets yourself (rather than one booking through a single airline), you may need to recheck your luggage during your layover, especially if you’re changing airlines. 

Some airlines may still be able to check your bag through to your final destination if your onward flight is with the same airline (or one of their alliance partners), so be sure to ask when you check-in.

Always Ask When Checking Your Bag

The rules on rechecking your bag really vary depending on the length of your layover, connecting destinations, and airline policies. When you’re checking in a bag, make sure to ask the person processing your suitcases if they will be checked through to your final destination.

Double check the tag that is being attached to your bag, as it will clearly show the airport code for the next destination for your suitcase. 

Listen to Announcements

Feeling jet lagged and can’t remember if you were supposed to recheck your baggage? Listen to the airline’s announcements upon arrival—they will tell you where to find your luggage and how to recheck it if necessary. There will usually be signs in the airport when you disembark that will also indicate if you have to claim your baggage before connecting.

The post Do I Have to Recheck My Baggage on a Connecting Flight? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

This got me thinking: why is this happening? Planes know how many passengers will be on board, so shouldn’t they have enough room for everyone’s carry-on bag? I did a little research to find out why this happens, what airlines are doing to avoid this in the future, and how to avoid it happening to you. 

What Causes Airlines To Require Gate-Checking Carry-On Bags?

There are a few reasons why more and more, airlines are asking passengers to gate-check their bags. Some are because of what a passenger does, and others are because of the airline. 

1. Your Bag is Too Big 

If you have a ticket that only allows one personal sized item on your flight, but you bring a regular sized carry-on, the flight attendant will have you check your bag, and you’ll have to pay to check that bag. If you have a regular ticket with a regular carry-on sized bag included, but you have a giant, oversized carry-on, the same rule applies. And please, don’t be the person who tries to get a giant bag past the flight attendants. 

2. You have Too Many Bags

If you have the correct size bag, but you have two of them, the flight attendant likely will ask you to check one. The only people allowed to carry an extra bag on board are people with medical devices. Of course, this doesn’t include bags from the airport- although I have been on flights that make you consolidate everything, so you should be wary of purchasing too much at the airport if you can’t fit it into your carry-on. If you’re allowed a personal item and a carry-on, keep it to that, please. 

3. The Flight is Full

When I was forced to gate-check a bag, my main issue was they had a certain amount of passengers that they had room for. Why would an airplane not have enough space for every passenger to have a carry-on? While in the moment I was too annoyed that I’d have to check my bag to realize it is because now that most airlines require you to pay to check a bag, everyone is just taking a carry-on, and they likely are bigger than what you’d take when you were checking a suitcase. So between more people carrying on than before, and bigger bags, space fills up fast. A full flight means less room in the overhead bins. Often, airlines will ask passengers to volunteer to check their bags, and allow them to board earlier than their designated zone, or even get a seat closer to the front. When people volunteer before boarding starts, it speeds up the boarding process, and makes for happier passengers. However, some flights just don’t have enough room, so after a certain number of passengers have boarded, everyone has to check their bag. 

What Are Airlines Doing to Stop This? 

To me, the answer is simple: make checking a bag free again. Free checked bags means less carry-ons (or smaller ones, at least), making more room in the overhead bins. However, those fees are a bit too tempting for airlines to stop, despite record revenue numbers and growing profits. Instead, major airlines are improving overhead bin space to accommodate larger bags and higher volume of bags. 

Remy Milburn from United Airlines explained that “As part of United Next, United is equipping planes with larger overhead bins with enough space for one carry-on per person. Last year, the A321neo joined United’s fleet – this aircraft is equipped with larger overhead bins.”  He went on to explain that United has already started to expand their fleet with larger overhead bins,  becoming “the first airline to add new, larger overhead bins to Embraer E175 aircraft.” 

While Delta isn’t expanding the overhead bins, they are putting new doors on the overhead bins on their refurbished fleet. These new doors will allow for larger bags to easily fit, therefore, making more room for everyone’s bulging bags. 

Earlier this year, American announced plans to retrofit “its A319 and A320 aircraft beginning in 2025. The retrofit will refresh the interior with power at every seat, larger overhead bins and new seats with updated trim and finish.”

Even Southwest, which allows two free checked bags, is jumping on the bandwagon and redesigning their fleet to include larger overhead bins. 

How To Avoid Gate-Checking Your Bag

While it’s great to hear airlines are trying to remedy this issue, those airplanes aren’t going to be ready for another year or two, and not every plane will have the extra room. So what can you do to ensure you won’t have to check your bag upon boarding? 

Upgrade Your Seat

An easy yet expensive way is to upgrade your seat. It’s tempting to pick a seat that doesn’t come with an extra fee, but that will guarantee priority boarding and all the overhead storage you need for your carry-on. If you really hate checking your bag, that extra $100-300 for priority boarding, first class or business class might be worth it. 

Use Rewards and Credit Cards

Many frequent flyer programs and credit cards offer priority boarding as a perk. If you join the programs or get the credit cards, you’ll be able to board earlier. Keep in mind, some rewards programs offer earlier boarding once you hit a certain status or have a designated amount of points. 

Airline Credit Cards that offer priority boarding: 

This is by no means a complete list of credit cards that will get you priority boarding, but for some of the major domestic airlines. 

United: 

• United Business Card
• United Club Infinite Card
• United Explorer Card
• United Quest Card

American: 

• Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
• Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
• Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard

Delta: 

• Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

Southwest: 

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

JetBlue:

• JetBlue Business Card

Airline frequent flyer programs that offer priority boarding: 

Like the credit cards, this is not a complete list, just a list of some of the major domestic airlines.

Delta:

• SkyPriority
• SkyTeam Elite
• SkyTeam Elite Plus

American: 

• OneWorld Priority
• AAdvantage

United:

• MileagePlus Premier Statuses 

JetBlue:

• TrueBlue Members (when you reach 10 tiles)

Pack Small

Perhaps one of the most obvious answers is to just bring a personal sized bag with you when you fly. These bags must fit under the seat in front of you. You may think it is impossible to do, especially if you are heading anywhere for more than a night or two, but I promise you, it is possible. I once bought a super cheap ticket to the UK, and was able to pack everything I needed for four days in a tiny suitcase. I had just bought a house and the extra expense of checking a bag or bringing a larger carry-on was not in the cards. If you only have one bag and it will fit under the seat in front of you, you won’t be forced to gate-check it. Gate-checking is only for overhead bin bags. If you’re skeptical, read our guide on how to pack in just a personal-sized bag, which also recommends some of the best personal-sized bags for you to take on your next trip. 

Prepare for Your Trip

Stay informed, research the carry-on and personal size item requirements for the airline you are flying before you head to the airport. Look up what aircraft you will be flying, and research the overhead bin size. Smaller aircrafts are going to have less space (this was my problem, I was flying from Washington DC to Hartford Connecticut, and it was a small plane for a short flight). Staying informed and being prepared will help you make a better decision when it comes to what luggage you decide to bring. 

Fly An Airline with Free Checked Bags

One simple way to avoid having to gate check your bag is to fly Southwest, the only airline that has no baggage fees (unless you are checking more than two bags). An important thing to note is that if you do go with Southwest, you need to check in as early as possible, so you will get a decent boarding group and will still have plenty of room in the overhead bin for your carry-on. Even Southwest’s overhead bins can get full! 

Bottom Line

There are a few surefire ways to avoid having to gate check your carry-on bag: purchasing priority boarding, using a credit card or frequent flyer status, and only bringing a personal-sized bag. If none of these ways work for you, then you’re just going to have to take the risk that your flight won’t be full or that most of the other passengers won’t have a carry-on bag. 

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