Cheapflights' Holiday Tips on Cancellations, Being Stuck at the Airport, and Travel Mishaps

Some things are just out of our control, and a flight cancellation is one of those things. If you’re traveling today and you happen to have the unfortunate luck of getting a flight canceled, fear not: There are plenty of things you can do at the airport to entertain yourself, get a new flight, or read up on airplane etiquette.

We’ve put together comprehensive guides on what you can do in any situation, so read up and relax.

First thing’s first. Is your flight on time? Find out by using our Airline Flight Tracker tips to get the best information on your flight.

If it’s not on time, you’ll need a new one pretty quickly, and luckily, you can book flights by phone. Follow our easy steps and we’ll get you back on track.

USA Today's Ten Tips for Thanksgiving Travelers

   If you’re traveling today, there’s a lot of work that goes into a successful flight. Today is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and highways, airports, and planes will be more crowded than usual. In order to escape the chaos, take extra time to double check your information and ensure that you have a smooth travel experience.

USA Today has put together a list of ten things you can do to avoid the “holiday hassle.” They might seem simple, but they could make a big difference when it comes to missing your flight or stressing over a rebooked arrangement. Take them into consideration before you get going.

Before You Go:
Pack light, you might save up to $50 on luggage fees.
Print your boarding pass at home, unless you prefer standing in line.

Next Weekend Away: Cheap Travel to San Francisco

If you’re reading this, you’re probably not kicking off your Friday night with our suggestion for this weekend away in New York. Last week’s readers aren't reading this at all, but instead, they're enjoying the free ice skating passes and cocktails we told them about. Jealous?

There’s still a chance for you to have a stellar weekend, too. (In fact, there’s a chance every Friday afternoon, when we publish these lovely little ideas.) This time, the weekend is an important one for sanity reasons – it’s the weekend after Thanksgiving. So when you’re done explaining to your Aunt Ruth why you cut your hair so short, or why you didn’t become a doctor like Grandpa did, you’ll be more than ready to hop on a flight to San Francisco and lose yourself in the gritty luster of this matchless city.

Weekend: Friday, Nov. 27 – Monday, Nov. 30

Destination: San Francisco

New York Travel: Floating Around the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

 Thinking of getting up and close and personal this year for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? If you're one of the 3 million people who plan to converge in New York City this Thanksgiving to officially kick off the holiday season, take heed of these simple tips for maneuvering the crowds.

Properties closest to the parade route can be pricey the night before Thanksgiving (from $400-$800 per night), but there are a few in the area with a few less frills and more affordable rates. We found these 3-4 star hotels within walking distance of Central Park or Herald Square. Prices are based on staying the night of Wed. Nov. 25, and may vary depending on when you book.

• Salisbury Hotel from $223
• Warwick New York Hotel from $297
• Dream Hotel from $157
• The Moderne from $209
• Ameritana Hotel from $209
• The New Yorker Hotel from $255
• Hotel Chandler from $199
• Wyndham Garden Hotel $228

Swine Flu Concerns? Travel Healthy This Holiday Season

How do you know if you have swine flu? What should you do if you get the flu during your vacation? What are the airlines' policies around flights if you have the H1N1 virus? The questions around swine flu and the H1N1 virus are endless, but the answers are even more obscure.

No that the holiday season is upon us, it’s time to start thinking ahead, book your flights, and plan for the unexpected, including what to do if you get the flu.

Here’s the bottom line: The airlines have no set policies regarding H1N1, but with a little precaution and a lot of patience, travelers can ensure a safe and healthy travel season.

What to do if you have the flu:

If you think you have the flu – swine or otherwise – your first step toward getting help with your travel plans is to call your airline, and ask for help rearranging your travel plans without fees. The reality is that the airlines don’t want you on board if you’re sick, and they’ll help change your flights, if possible.

Will you have to pay a change fee? It’s possible, but you can try to lessen the cost by being flexible with your travel dates. Health authorities are advising those affected with the flu to stay home – grab a doctor’s note and that will usually get you out of paying fees.

If you’re charged a fee and you want to repeal, you do have rights. Airlines require documentation when processing refunds so keep track of all your conversations including who you spoke with at the airline, your booking reference number and the dates you were sick. Speak with a manager or call the airline’s corporate office when you’re feeling better.

Plan ahead: As flu season approaches it’s likely the airlines will be inundated with flu concerns. If you can change your flights and travel plans in advance, it’s likely you’ll get some recourse from the airlines. 

Next Weekend Away: Cheap Travel to Mexico

Hopefully by now, you’ve caught on to our Next Weekend Away segment, but if you haven’t, here’s a cheat sheet:

Every Friday, we’ll post a travel deal for next weekend, so you have enough time to plan accordingly. We’ll find the best flight deals and fun, free stuff at hotels, and lay it all out there for you. Last week, we told you about the hottest place to spend Halloween (the Bahamas), and this week, we’re talking about Mexico.

Weekend: Thursday, Nov. 5 – Monday, Nov. 9

Destination: Puerto Vallarta is one seriously sizzling hot spot. With scorching nightlife and luxurious resort culture, there’s nothing but natural beauty, stunning amenities and decadent atmosphere everywhere you look. Set on the picturesque Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay, or Bay of Flags), this part of Mexico is aesthetically stunning with 26 miles of beaches and a jaw-dropping mountain backdrop.

The Wall Street Journal's Tips on Saving Your Frequent Flier Miles

We’re all trying to be a little more frugal these days, so it’s smart to use financial reward programs when we can. If you’re a frequent flier, and have earned miles, it’s important to know that your miles can expire and render your hard earned savings useless.

According to the Wall Street Journal, approximately 20 percent of air miles go unused, so the newspaper has put together a detailed report of how you can do your best to salvage these precious miles.

Here are a few tips:
Keep your miles “fresh” by signing up with a company that offers rewards not only through flying, but through shopping with its partners. Some airlines let you gain points by making purchases at grocery stores, hotels, car-rental companies, and other partner airlines.

Pay attention to other non-travel related ways you can earn miles. Some airlines even let you subscribe to a newspaper or magazine for a few thousand miles toward your credit.

Cheapflights Travel: 10 Things Not to do in Beijing

If you’ve never been to China, it’s hard to have accurate expectations. This massive country is more than 5,000 years old, and makes the United States look like a toddler when it comes to history. Even some of the most current traditions stem from events that occurred centuries ago, and Beijing is a perfect example of how modernity can sometimes clash, compliment, and boost antiquity all at the same time.

Beijing has a very unique identity, especially since it held the 2008 Summer Olympics and reemerged as an international power, so be sure to approach it with an open mind. Don’t get caught up in stereotypes that some Westerners have created – experience the city for yourself, just mind your manners while doing so.

Aside from common sense, there are quite a few secrets that not every traveler knows about how to have a safe, healthy trip to Beijing. Check out these tips to be ahead of the game, and know how to use your time wisely without running into trouble.

10 Things Not to Do in Beijing

1. Don’t bother with the subway. It’s hot, crowded, confusing and inefficient. Hour-long cab rides sometimes don’t even amount to 10 USD.
2. Don’t be rude. Chinese culture perceives loudness, blatant frustration, persistent questioning, and directness as rude. Keep this in mind when you speak to any guards, officials or police.
3. Don’t say “Tibet” in front of a local. In case you forgot, Tibet and mainland China have undergone a political independence battle since 1912, and are very sensitive, intense and historically violent opponents.

Cheapflights Travel: 10 Things Not to do in Amsterdam

When most people think Amsterdam, they think of spending a hazy night in the Red Light District and returning to their hotel days later. While it’s entirely possible to do that here, we don’t recommend it. We tend to think of that as a complete waste of your vacation in Amsterdam, no matter how much of a party animal you are.

There’s so much more to Amsterdam than smoke clouds and space cakes. Don’t miss out on what a gorgeous, multifaceted city this is, and be sure to explore the cool, gritty neighborhoods around the city’s center. From unpretentious art galleries to bakeries with mouth-watering treats (the legal kind), Amsterdam holds a diversity of experience that not many people take advantage of.

Don’t dwell in the teen-centric tourist traps of the Red Light District  - dig deep and discover some of the most meaningful and recent historic treasures in Europe.

10 Things Not to do in Amsterdam

1. Don’t make a scene of the women in the windows. It’s rude.
2. Don’t spend all your time in the Red Light District – it’s geared toward tourists, so it’s less authentic than you might imagine.
3. Don’t live up to the American stereotype of going nuts over marijuana. Experiment if you must, but don’t make a show of it.

Next Weekend Away: Cheap Travel to the Bahamas

Here at Cheapflights, we don’t want you going around wasting your precious weekends. You work hard all week, and when 5 p.m. Friday rolls around, we want you on your way to somewhere far, far away from deadlines and meetings.

Enter: The Next Weekend Away series.

Every Friday afternoon, we’ll showcase a stellar travel deal for next weekend, so you have enough time to make arrangements. We’ll search for the best flight deals and the fun, free stuff at hotels, and present them to you in a neat little package. Sound good? Great! Let's go.

To kick off the series, we’ve dreamed up the perfect Halloween weekend. Now that we’re all adults here, Halloween might seem like one big question mark in your social calendar. Dress up? Eh. Go to a party? Maybe. But one option needs no explaining: having a blast in a new place.

Weekend: Saturday, Oct. 31- Monday, Nov. 2

Destination: The Bahamas