Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Greetings! I hope you're having a great week.
Americans are continuing to surprise me as TSA officers screened 2,490,928 people at airport checkpoints nationwide on Sunday. Three years ago on the same day (pre-pandemic): 2,478,287!
Who would have guessed that a random day in October would beat out a day in June, July or August? If you’re wondering why, United’s CEO Scott Kirby, has a great explanation. Kirby told CNBC’s Squawk Box that “flexible workplaces are changing travel patterns.” He goes on to say that “hybrid work allows every weekend to be a holiday weekend.” This would never have happened before the pandemic when workers were in the office more often. Kirby said: “It wasn’t money that constrained people from travel. It was time.”
Where Are Americans Traveling This Thanksgiving?
If you’re wondering where Americans are traveling over the holiday, Allianz Travel Insurance's annual Thanksgiving Destination Index has the answers. They analyzed 2.1 million of their customers' itineraries and here are the results.
Airline Executive’s Number One Tip for Avoiding Lost Luggage When You Fly
With all those people traveling and airports and airlines continuing to be short-staffed, you know checked bags are going to continue to be lost. That's why this one airline executive recommends that travelers do this when they travel for an extra layer of protection and some added peace of mind. Read the story.
Why It's Time to Start Traveling With a Good Piece of Underseater Luggage
Related to the tip above, you can save yourself a lot of headaches at the airport and on the airplane if you travel with an underseater bag. Here's why, along with some options for you to consider.
America's Best and Worst Airports - Plan Your Travels Accordingly
If you haven't booked your tickets yet, then you might want to check out this list of America's best and worst airports to help you plan your travels better and choose a better layover airport.
JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines Launch Fall and Winter Sale
If you're flexible with your travel plans, then check out these great fares from JetBlue and Southwest Airlines (sale ends tonight).
RELATED:
🎃 Flying on Halloween? Here’s the TSA’s Advice on What to Wear and What NOT to Wear
🦃 10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights
✈️ U.S. Air Travel Outlook Today
It's been a pretty good week to travel as there haven't been too many delays or cancelations. And as of 1:05pm PT, there have been only 147 canceled flights to/from or within the United States and 3,160 delayed. Here's the up-to-date status and a live look at the FAA's National Airspace System. Here's what to do during weather delays and flight cancellations.
Today's Travel Tip
The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car: 14 Tips to Save You Time, Money and Headaches
Not only are rental cars now much more expensive than they have been historically, but in some markets (ahem, Maui), you might not be able to even get one during peak periods, which is why consumers have been getting inventive. Here’s my advice if you’re planning to rent a car.
Currency Exchange
American travelers still have favorable exchange rates thanks to the strong US Dollar but it's not as good as a couple of weeks ago:
€1 Euro = $1.00 USD
£1 GBP = $1.16 USD
$1 CAD = $0.73 USD
$1 AUD = $0.64 USD | 
