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Welcome to our special edition all about summer travelWe’ll see you next week for a debt ceiling update and other news that affects your wallet. |
GOOD START
People who take 11 or more vacation days a year are nearly twice as likely to get a raise or bonus than those who take less. 1 Maybe it’s because time off boosts productivity and creativity. |
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YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ABOUT SUMMER TRAVEL
What are some ways to travel for less?
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See if anyone you know needs a pet-, home-, or even plant-sitter while they’re away. Or sign up with a site that connects you to travelers looking for someone to stay in their home in exchange for free accommodations.
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If you’re flexible on destination, try “explore” mode on popular flight-tracking sites. Put in details such as travel dates, trip length, budget, and vacation type (think: beach or city), and you’ll be given a list of locations that fit. Some sites even let you “freeze” airfare in case you want to lock in a low rate but book later.
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Traveling for business? Add extra days before or after the work stuff. You’ll pay for the extra lodging and meals, but your flight will still likely be covered by your employer (just double-check company rules).
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Opt for more substantial lunches than dinners. The menus are often similar, so you might still get to order a restaurant’s best dish, but you could pay less.
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Road trip with friends, share gas costs, and split a place with a kitchen. Try these tips for planning an affordable group trip.
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How much time does it take to get a passport?Passport applications are up as much as 40% over last year.2 It’s taking up to 13 weeks to process routine applications and up to 9 weeks for expedited ones—plus 4 more weeks for mailing, according to the US Department of State.3 But wait, there’s more waiting: Processing times could jump even more during the busy summer travel months. |
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If you need a new passport, prep the required documents, photos, and payment, and head to a
passport acceptance facility—likely
a library or post office. For renewals, most people can do it
by mail,
but if your current passport is damaged or you got it before you were 16 years old, you may need to head to an IRL acceptance facility. (FYI: The online renewal program that went live last year is
currently paused.) Pros recommend starting the renewal process 6 months before your current passport expires.4
Trip coming really soon? Get an appointment for an
urgent travel passport
within 2 weeks of your travel date at a passport agency (in most major cities). Bring proof of immediate travel, such as a plane ticket. PS: Beware of passport-expediting companies—they can do some legwork for you for a fee but can’t secure your passport any more quickly than you could applying in person. |
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Can you travel without hurting the planet?There are ways to minimize your impact. Meet “sustainable travel”—aka when tourists intentionally plan trips that limit the environmental and social downsides. There are even travel agents that specialize in sustainable getaways and booking sites that double-check hotels’ “green” claims and certifications.
If you’re planning your vacation yourself, search for tour groups, hotels, souvenirs, and restaurants that source from the local economy—they’re often more sustainable. Traveling by train can help too. That can have a lower carbon impact per person than flying and even driving a gas-powered car. If you do fly, you can opt for direct flights on newer planes, which tend to be more fuel efficient. An online search can call up these carriers. |
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EASY WIN
Don’t let a cancellation trip you upCanceled flights are frustrating, but there are a few things you can do.
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Get in line for customer service and call too in case that’s faster. Hot tip: Some travel pros swear airlines’ international hotlines have shorter waits, and they can still help with domestic travel.
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Check the Department of Transportation’s customer service dashboard
to see if the airline has promised to provide you a meal, taxi fare, hotel voucher, or even frequent flyer miles for canceled or delayed flights for reasons within their control (such as maintenance or crew issues, but probably not bad weather). The Department of Transportation recently proposed new airline rules that would help make these the norm.
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Once you know what you’re entitled to, politely ask what the customer service rep can do. Most airlines will rebook you for free on a new flight. If you choose not to accept, the airline is required to refund you regardless of their reason for canceling the flight, even for a nonrefundable ticket.
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MONEY MANNERS
Someone asked to switch seats with me on a plane, but I paid extra for it. What should I say?You should never feel obligated to swap your seat, especially if you spent extra for it. But it’s tricky when a parent asks to sit near their child or a caregiver next to an elderly loved one. In those cases, consider calling over a flight attendant to mediate. Speak up about why you’d like to stay put—maybe the window spot helps you feel less anxious, the aisle seat gives you easy restroom access, or you paid extra for more legroom. Then let the flight attendant offer a solution. |
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| Luckily, these swap requests may pop up less often. Last summer, the Department of Transportation issued a notice urging airlines to keep families together on planes without additional fees, and a few major airlines have now committed to doing that. |
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