Traveling can fun and be stressful as well. The US Department of Transportation just made it where airlines have to refund consumers.
PeopleImages via Getty ImagesAirlines are now required to issue refunds. Yes, I just typed that. Wait, don't they already give refunds? Not always. Sometimes you get vouchers, or a promise of another flight, or the big middle finger (I'm looking at you Frontier Airlines). But now, airlines are required to issue refunds. Real refunds. In a timely matter. What a novel idea, huh?
Refunds. The Struggle Was Real.
If you’re traveling for a vacation, it can be full of much needed relaxation. Traveling can also be an adventure, full of much needed excitement.Every person in the world has experienced flight delays, cancellations and, for whatever reason, has been unable to make their flight and had to reschedule. Unless you're living under a rock, you've dealt with one of these headaches. And in those times, the last thing you probably experienced is excitement. Unless you consider anger, frustration and stress exciting.
Related: For Those Afraid To Fly - Real Advice From Someone Who Knows
And the biggest stress? Getting a refund.
I personally had to fight with Frontier Airlines for my refund during the pandemic and, according to simplyflying.com, I wasn't alone. DOT (Department of Transportation) was encouraged to investigate Frontier for their Refund policies. Based on the latest news, I'm assuming they did.
But look, name almost any airline and you'll find a horror story about how someone who booked that airline had to fight for their refund. Just like the one reported by wftv.com. Sometimes for Months. Even if they paid to get the refund. Think about it, you had to pay a refund fee to get a refund and then still had to fight for the refund.
Well, those days are over.
Airfare Is Finally Fair
According to U.S Department of Transportation, an airline must refund you if your flight was greatly delayed. They must refund you if your flight was cancelled, and you chose not to travel after that. You are now entitled to a refund for baggage fees if your luggage was lost, fees for services you ended up not using, like seat upgrades or inflight wi-fi.
Also gone are the days of fighting for your refund for months on end. Airlines must refund “promptly”, which is defined by the US Department of Transportation as seven business days, if a credit card was used, or up to 20 days (about three weeks) if the customer paid cash.
This is great news. Airlines have been getting away with holding our money and making us beg for it back for far too long. I'm still looking at you, Frontier Airlines.
Tips to Maximize Your Vacation
It's always a good time to go on vacation, but summer, of course, is the official travel season. If you're planning a big trip, you're going to want to make sure to maximize your vacation. After all, traveling is supposed to be fun. That means not stressing out while planning or being on your trip. Let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.
Vacation Trends
Before we get to tips to maximize your vacation, let's look at vacation trends. A new AAA travel survey states that 84% of U.S. residents will travel in 2024. Also, 43% will take more vacations than last year. So traveling is a hot thing in 2024. "The travel season is already off to a hot start in 2024," said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, The Auto Club Group. "Americans continue to make travel a top priority, and AAA travel agents have been busy planning a wide range of vacations from weekend getaways to world cruises."
If you're planning to take a cruise, note that according to AAA, more travelers are booking cruises farther in advance. Many spring break cruises sold out months before they were to set sail. "Last-minute bookings are possible, but prices may be higher and cabin choices limited," AAA notes.
What's more, a new study from AAA and Bread Financial has discovered that younger generations are into live event travel. Is that really new? I've been traveling for concerts for years, but it's apparently a new trend among Gen Z. They state that "three in five Gen Z (65%) and Millennial (58%) respondents confirmed they have traveled in the past 12 months and/or plan to travel in the next 12 months for in-person events like concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, and book readings that are more than 50 miles from home."
That's much more than with older generations, with is 43% for Gen X and 27% for Baby Boomers. Then again, older generations are more likely to want to be at home, because, well, they're older. They've been there and done that.
That same study found that Gen Z loves traveling for sports and music. They state that more than half (52%) of Gen Z travelers are gearing up to attend a music event in the next 12 months. In fact, one in five Gen Z travelers (20%) have traveled or plan to travel to see Taylor Swift live in concert.
As for sports, 38% of Gen Z travelers have traveled or plan to travel for the 2025 Super Bowl. Also, 32% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 NBA finals, and 19% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Now, let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.
Tips to Maximize Your Vacation
1. Save Money
One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You'll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you're saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.
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2. Don't Plan Every Minute of Your Vacation
Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don't miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don't book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you're there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your "day off."
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3. Do Plan Ahead, Though
While you don't want to overbook your trip so that you're always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It's not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren't scrambling last-minute.
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4. Plan Regular Mini-Vacations
If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren't under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that's ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.
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5. Stay an Extra Day
If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they'll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You'll be glad you did at the end of your stay.
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6. Take Time to Sleep
Sure, you're on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you're up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you'll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.
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7. Let the Small Stuff Go
They say, "Don't sweat the small stuff." That's certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.
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8. Plan Some Recoup Time
When you get back from your vacation, don't plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you're back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.
Getty Images / Giulio-Fornasar
9. Pick an Experience
People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there's a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it's a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.
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10. Learn for Next Time
Finally, when you're home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you'll know what to do better next time.
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