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How to Travel when Flying on a Plane

Last Updated: October 11, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Amy Tan . Amy Tan is a Travel Planner and the Founder of Planet Hoppers, a boutique travel design team founded in 2002. Planet Hoppers specializes in brainstorming and creating itineraries for dream vacations, honeymoons, exotic adventures, family reunions, and group trips. Planet Hoppers is a TRUE accredited travel agency and a member of the Signature Travel Network, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and Travel Leaders. Amy earned a BA in Communications and a BS in Physics from the University of California, Davis in 2000. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 13 testimonials and 94% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 460,137 times.

Air travel is the fastest way to travel over long distances, but it can be stressful to pack and make sure that you have done everything correctly in order to get through airport security. There are many rules and regulations that travelers must follow. However, as long as you are familiar with the guidelines and get everything ready in advance, you should have no issues traveling by airplane.

When you are on a plane, you are traveling. So, essentially, how you would travel when flying on a plane is you would sit down and enjoy the ride.

Packing Your Bags

• The permitted size of carry-on bags varies from airline to airline. Check the requirements for the airline with which you will travel to learn how big your carry-on bag can be. [1] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source
• Remember that certain items are only permissible when packed in a checked bag.

• Liquids, such as bath products
• Sporting goods
• Self defense items
• Sharp objects
• Small lighters.

• Most liquids and some food items, like gravies and sauces or sometimes even ketchup, must be 3.4 fluid ounces (100.6 ml) or less in order to be allowed in a carry-on bag. The rules may be different for necessities such as medicine, but there still are restraints for that. [4] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source

• Additionally, overpacking your carry-on or checked bag might result in it not fitting into the airline-approved measurements, in which case you might have to remove items from your bag to put into another bag or leave it at the airport. [6] X Research source
• Checked bag fees start at $25 for one checked bag at the majority of airlines and go up from there, with increases for multiple checked bags and bags that are overweight. [7] X Research source

• All liquid items that are 3.4 fluid ounces (100.6 ml) or smaller can go in your carry-on, and they must be packed in one 1-quart bag. Each traveler is only permitted to have one of these bags. [8] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source
• Items that are larger that 3.4 fluid ounces (100.6 ml) can be packed in a checked bag. They do not have to be enclosed in a zip-top bag, but it is recommended in order to protect your other packed belongings.
• Medications and nourishment items for infants and children are exempt from these rules. [9] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source

• Rolling your clothing not only saves space but also reduces wrinkles in clothes.

• Packing your items in this way prevents your clothes from being further compressed and wrinkled by being buried under heavier items.
• Put toiletries and other light items on top so that they are easily accessible for removing at the security checkpoint.

• This way, you have at least one additional set of clothing to wear until you receive your checked bag.
• It would also be helpful to include some key toiletry items, like a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant, as long as they meet the 3.4 fluid-ounce (100.6 ml) requirement.

• Put magazines, thin books, or other slim items in these pockets.

• Security does have approved locks that they can open with their own tools, including Safe Skies and Travel Sentry.

Did You Know? Airlines inspect your luggage to make sure you do not have forbidden items, like:

Getting to the Airport

• Checking in online ahead of time also saves you time in getting to the airport, because you can head straight to security and skip the check-in lines upon arrival.

• If you check in at the airport, then airline agents will provide you with your boarding pass at that time.

• U.S. driver's license that is Real ID Act compliant (see dhs.gov/real-id for more information). If you do not have a Real ID compliant ID, then you will need to obtain an alternate form of identification (such as a passport or passport card) to pass the security lines.
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• U.S. military ID
• Permanent resident card
• Government-issued passport
• Border crossing card.

• Airlines recommend that you arrive 30-45 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights, depending on whether you have to check any baggage. For international flights, it is recommended that you arrive at least two hours prior to departure to allow time for completing international requirements. [17] X Research source
• Accommodate for extra time if you have to drive yourself and park in long-term parking. You will have extra time for traveling from the parking lot to the terminal via the airport shuttle.
• If your airport is large and extremely busy, take that into consideration and arrive early, just to be sure. Also think about what day of the week you are traveling. Weekends are usually busy travel times, which means the airport and security checkpoint might be busier.

• Liquids and aerosols in the quart-sized bag
• Technology devices
• Medically necessary medications and liquids
• Nourishment items for infants and children.

• Coats, jackets, and sweaters
• Cell phones

• Let the officer or other representative know that you have medically necessary liquids or medications when you are going through the screening. If you also need items such as ice packs, syringes, pumps, and IV bags, notify the officer about those, as well. It is helpful to have them labeled for easy screening. Keep all of these items separate from other liquids, like bath and hygiene products. Any ice packs or frozen gel packs that are necessary for your medication must be frozen solid at the security checkpoint. You do have the option to not have your medication screened by X-ray or to not have it opened, but in that case, other screening measures will have to be taken. [19] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source
• If you have nourishment items for an infant or child, you are also allowed to bring them in excess of 3.4 fluid ounces (100.6 ml) in a carry-on item, and they can be in a zip-top bag larger than one quart. However, they must be separate from other liquids that you are checking through security. Alert the officer that you have these items so that they can be screened correctly. The officer may want to X-ray or open your breast milk, formula, or juice, but you can deny that if you would like to. In that case, other screening measures will have to be taken. Ice packs and frozen gel packs will need to be frozen solid at the time you go through security. Other items such as canned, jarred, and processed baby food are permitted, as well as liquid-filled teethers, but they will also have to be screened. [20] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Transportation Security Administration U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols Go to source

• After you have found your gate, you can go to the restroom, get something to eat, or shop, if you have time.

Making the Most of the Travel Time

• Being prepared with snacks and drinks will help tide you over until you get to your destination, because although flights still do beverage service, many short haul flights no longer offer food or snacks. When they do offer meals, you normally have to pay for them.
• An alternative is to eat at one of the airport restaurants. These are usually overpriced, but if you have a long time to wait or will have a long time before you can get your next meal, it is a good idea to eat at a restaurant.

• Once you are on your plane, you will be asked to power off your electronic devices or put them in Airplane Mode. Be sure to do this to avoid interference with airline signals. Remember that you cannot access any apps that require cellular data or Wi-Fi when your smartphone or other device is in Airplane Mode.
• Many airlines now offer Wi-Fi on flights, but it is almost always for a fee. Determine whether it is worth the money to access Wi-Fi on the flight. For example, if you are taking a business trip and have work to do while you travel, it will likely be worthwhile. If your trip is for pleasure, though, and you have no real need for using Wi-Fi other than entertainment, it might not be worth the price.

• Some airplanes have small TV screens in the backs of the headrests, so you can watch what is on those TVs. Keep in mind that you usually have to pay extra to access more desirable channels, instead of watching their infomercial channels or a map of your travel.

Deplaning at Your Destination

• 1 Unfasten your seat belt. Wait until directed to do so and the fasten seat belt sign turns off.
• 2 Other passengers may race to get up. If you don't wish to squeeze through at the first instant you can kindly let others pass infront of you.
• 3 Take caution when opening overhead compartments. Suitcases may fall out unexpectedly.
• Proceed out and follow the signs to the customs booth. Self-service kiosks can also do the same thing.
• Present your passport and your customs form to the officer or scan them in the booth.
• Scan your fingerprints on the scanner if necessary. This can happen if your name is on a country's blacklist, where you may be denied entry and deported. Scanning your fingerprints prove to the country that it is really you.
• Be sure to gather your belongings from the plain before claiming your baggage. You cannot go back into a restricted area, without clearing security again.
• 6 Leave the airport. Go to your arranged mode of transportation. You can also take a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or public transport.

Expert Q&A

• Try taking some books if you are travelling on a plane for many hours as it will be entertaining. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Check in at the airport at least two to three hours before the boarding/departing time, because airports could be busy, and security could be overwhelmed by many travellers. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• If you get airsick on planes, make sure to bring everything you need, including some wet wipes and something to snack on while in the plane. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

Tips from our Readers

• Bring a small container of antibacterial hand gel. Airplanes are often loaded with germs and it can be inconvenient to go all the way to your bathroom to wash your hands.
• After you go through security, you can buy food to take onto the plane. It'll usually be better than whatever they serve on the airplane (if they serve anything at all).
• If you are carrying a purse or other small bag, put it in your luggage or carry on so it doesn't count as your small bag.
• If you're in the United States and hate long security lines, sign up for TSA Precheck a few months before you travel.

• When you try to take non-approved items through the security checkpoint, security agents will throw them away. Save yourself frustration by being sure to only pack approved items. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 0
• Don't bother the people next to you unless you don't understand something or if it's an emergency. They may need rest and somewhere to be able to quiet themselves. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-items
• ↑ Amy Tan. Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers. Expert Interview. 12 March 2020.
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule
• ↑ http://www.expertflyer.com/travel-packing-tips
• ↑ https://money.com/collection-post/best-travel-airline-baggage-fees/
• ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/packing-tips/rolling-clothes
• ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/packing-tips/fill-your-luggage
• ↑ http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/10-things-you-should-never-pack-in-your-checked-bag.html?id=10387331
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
• ↑ https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/checkingIn/arrivalTimes.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=arrivaltimes#arrivaltimes
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures
• ↑ http://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children
• ↑ http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/air-travel/airport-layovers-9-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-layover

About This Article

Taking a flight can seem stressful, but if you know the regulations ahead of time and prepare for your journey, you’ll be fine! Before you pack your bags, make sure you check your airline’s regulations. Many airlines have restrictions on liquids, food, and sharp objects as well as the maximum weight and size of your bags. To save you time at the airport, check if you can print or download your boarding pass ahead of time. Make sure you bring your ID, or your passport if you’re flying internationally. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early for domestic flights and 2 hours for international flights. This gives you time to check in your bags get through security, and find the correct terminal. For more tips, including how to entertain yourself on a long flight, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The Best Time to Book a Flight for Domestic, International, and Summer Travel

Here are our best tips for booking travel in 2024.

When to Book Flights for Domestic Travel

When to book flights for international travel, when to book flights for summer 2024 travel, when to book flights for holiday 2024 travel.

Finding the best flight deals is a bit of an art form, but there's also some science — or at least economics — involved. There are only two definitive rules: Flights open for booking about a year in advance, and the airfare will change often between then and takeoff. So, as a general rule of thumb, you'll want to book plane tickets well in advance, as prices spike sharply in the days preceding the flight, taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.

But there are many variables that impact the dynamic pricing patterns of plane tickets, including the destination and time of year. In some cases, you can book just a couple of weeks in advance, while in others, you're better off reserving months ahead (such as a trip over a big travel holiday, when demand is high).

Following the pandemic, airfare rose to astonishing highs in 2022, and that trend continued into 2023. But 2024 looks to be more promising. Kayak predicts domestic airfare will drop 16 percent in 2024 as compared to 2023.

Still, scoring the best flight deals can be tricky, but we're here to help you find the best fares for your upcoming travel. Our first tip: Start tracking flight prices as early as possible so you can keep an eye on cost fluctuations. Use Google Flights or Hopper to receive price change notifications about your tracked flights.

The jury is out on this one. According to a 2023 study by CheapAir.com , on average, the best time to purchase plane tickets for a domestic trip is between 164 and 46 days before your departure. But according to Expedia's 2024 Air Travel Hacks report , the sweet spot is 28 days before your domestic flight. "Doing so can save travelers up to 24 percent compared to those who wait until the last minute, from zero to six days out," Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson tells Travel + Leisure.

For domestic trips, pricing is elevated when tickets are first released, about a year before the flight. Per CheapAir.com, those prices will slowly creep downward, all the way to their lowest point in the prime booking window (per the company, that's about 5.5 to 1.5 months before the flight), after which you'll likely see a huge spike in cost for last-minute travel.

Meet the Expert

Christie Hudson is a travel expert at top booking site Expedia.

Katy Nastro is a travel expert at Going, a website that finds flight deals to more than 900 destinations around the world.

Overall, you're better off booking earlier rather than later for international travel — ideally no more than four months before your desired flights, per Expedia , with a sweet spot around 60 days. "This is a big change from 2022 data, which showed the cheapest fares were secured when travelers booked four to six months out. 2023 data revealed that people who booked that far in advance actually paid more on average," says Hudson.

But there is some regional variance. CheapAir.com determined the prime booking windows for the following destinations. But do note that they're vast ranges, which goes to show how difficult it is to predict airfare these days.

Canada: 3 to 10 months before departure

Mexico : 1.5 to 10 months before departure

The Caribbean: 2 to 10 months before departure

Central America: 3 to 10 months before departure

South America: 2.5 to 10 months before departure

Europe: 1.5 to 10 months before departure

Africa: 2.5 to 10 2 months before departure

Oceania/South Pacific: 1.5 to 10 months before departure

Asia: 4.5 to 10 months before departure

Middle East: 2.5 to 10 months before departure

As you can see, booking in advance is always ideal. But the real trick to finding good deals on international airfare is to avoid peak travel times, which include summer and major holidays (don't forget — that includes holidays in your destination, too).

Unfortunately, there aren't many deals to be found for summer flights as it's traditionally one of the most popular times of the year to travel. In an ideal scenario, you're going to want to book flights for summer travel as soon as possible, preferably at least six months in advance.

"The best time to book for peak season is … the opposite season," Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going , tells T+L. "While most of us are scrambling to focus on our winter holiday plans, we should also keep our eyes open for some great summer fares."

She notes that the booking window for peak season ranges between three and seven months for domestic flights and four to 10 months for international trips. "And if you do book something, keep that flight alert on," says Nastro. "If it drops again, depending on your ticket type, you can call to rebook and get a refund or travel credit back with the difference."

You might think it's a little too soon to be thinking about holiday travel, but it never hurts to get an early start on monitoring flight prices so you can book as soon as you find a fare that's right for you.  "When it comes to the winter holidays — the priciest time of the year — your best bet is to remember the Goldilocks zones," says Nastro. "Look to book between three to seven months ahead for domestic travel and four to 10 months ahead for international travel."

Hudson advises that at the very latest, your holiday travel should be booked by mid-October. "But the biggest holiday travel savings actually come from choosing the right dates," she says. "Avoiding the busiest days like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday and Saturday before Christmas will yield major savings."

As Nastro recommends for summer flights, consider buying your holiday tickets as soon as you find a decent deal — but make sure to book a fare that will give you a credit if you cancel (generally speaking, that means don't book basic economy). That way, if prices drop between the time of booking and your travel dates, you can cancel your original ticket and use the credit to book the cheaper fare. The only downside is you'll still have some remaining credit, but you can then use it to treat yourself to a future flight. Just don't let that credit expire.

When's the Best Time to Book a Flight for Travel in 2024?

Here's how far in advance you need to buy plane tickets to get a good deal, according to travel experts.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

What's the cheapest day to book a flight?

When to book domestic flights, when to book international flights, when to book holiday flights, when to book spring and summer break flights.

Buying tickets in any capacity — whether it's for a concert, museum exhibit or even just the movies — can be stressful. But when it comes to buying a plane ticket in 2023, the pressure to find a flight at an affordable price can feel downright overwhelming.

But before we get into the details of the b est time to book plane tickets to save money, our first recommendation is to plug your email address and trip details into a price-tracking site like Google Flights or Kayak , which monitor and compare flight prices across hundreds of airlines and travel sites. "You’ll get an email if prices change substantially, which also takes the work out of monitoring airline websites to see the latest price for your dream vacation," explains Richard Holden, VP of Travel Products at Google.

All done with that? Read on to get expert answers to all your questions on how far in advance of your trip to book a flight.

What's the cheapest day to fly?

If your travel plans are flexible, you may be wondering if taking off on a certain day of the week can save you money. "On average, flights that depart on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday have been 12% cheaper than weekend departures," says Holden — and those savings can jump as high as 20% if you exclude international travel.

However, Holden points out that these figures are simply averages. While it may, generally speaking, be cheaper to travel during the middle of the week than on a Sunday, the actual price of your ticket comes down to lots of different variables, not just the day your plane departs. "When looking to lock down the best price, there are many factors to consider, so there isn’t a clear way to advise on the absolute best day to fly," says Holden.

You may have heard that flight prices go down on Tuesdays, and there is some truth to that. In Google's most recent analysis of data from the past five years, it found that shopping for tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays was just 1.9% cheaper than shopping for flights on Saturday and Sunday.

So essentially, there really is no "cheapest" day of the week to book flights; instead, the best time to book a flight really depends on where you are traveling to and at what time of year.

Whether you're planning a girls' getaway to Vegas or a vacation to an all-inclusive family resort in Florida, waiting one to two months out to book domestic flights could help you avoid higher ticket costs. Google's data analysis found that prices for domestic trips were, on average, at their lowest 44 days before departure .

That said, it also found that prices were sometimes just as low 21 or 60 days before takeoff . The average is the best number to refer to, but if you miss the exact 44-day mark, that doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed to paying significantly more for your ticket — especially if you're signed up for price drop notifications. You'll just want to avoid booking at the last minute, since that is when prices will definitely spike.

For popular international destinations, like the Caribbean or Europe, you'll likely want to buy your tickets much further in advance — as many as six to eight months out, in some cases. According to data in Kayak's recently published guide to buying "shoulder season" tickets, airfare to popular European destinations is up 29% compared to 2022 — which just goes to show that if you want to find the best price on international flights, it's crucial to set up flight alerts as early as possible and avoid booking at the last minute.

According to Google Flights and Kayak statistics, these are the best time to book a flight abroad, depending on your destination:

• Europe: 129 days on average, or anywhere between 50 and 170 days out
• Mexico and the Caribbean: 59 days on average, or anywhere between 37 and 87 days out
• Asia: 8 months out
• Africa: 5 months out
• Central America: 2 weeks out
• South America: 3 weeks out

Always make sure to check the holiday and special events schedule of your international destination, too, as that can affect ticket prices.

As you may know all too well, it can be difficult to find cheap tickets during busy holiday travel weeks when demand is high. On average, Google Flights recommends booking your flight 52 days out for domestic travel in November during Thanksgiving, as this is when airfare, on average, is at its cheapest. However, prices are historically lowest anywhere between 36 and 74 days before departure .

For domestic trips in December around Christmas, Google reports that prices, on average, are lowest 22 days before departure . For planners, that may feel too close for comfort — so take note that Google has also found low prices on domestic flights in late December as far out as 88 days before take off .

Google Flights defines spring break travel as any domestic flights departing March through April, and notes that prices for these flights are lowest, on average, 38 days before departure . But affordable flights could also be bought anywhere between 23 and 59 days before takeoff in these months.

Meanwhile, outside of busy holiday weekends like the Fourth of July, you may be able to be a bit more spontaneous when planning your summer vacation. For domestic trips departing between July and August, prices were, on average, lowest 21 days before departure , and you could find affordable tickets 14 to 44 days before departure as well.

The Bottom Line: In the end, your best bet is to turn those travel alerts on as soon as possible and book months in advance — especially if you have your heart set on a specific flight. "No matter where you're flying, my best advice is to be flexible and book early so you don't miss out on the flights you're interested in," says Holden.

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• COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

• Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
• Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
• Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
• Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

• Get vaccinated.
• Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
• Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
• Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

• Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
• Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
• Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
• Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
• Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
• Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
• Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
• Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
• Vaccine recommendations for staff
• Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
• Contactless payment
• Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
• Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
• Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

• Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
• Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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• Look up restrictions at your destination .
• Review airport security measures .

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Protect Your Trip »

Flight canceled here's what experts say you should do.

Follow these steps in the event your flight is canceled.

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

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Flight cancellations are down, but they're still bound to happen.

In 2023, the number of flight cancellations in the U.S. fell to its lowest rate in a decade. Still, flight cancellations will always be inevitable.

If your flight has been canceled, don't panic. Federal law entitles you to a full cash refund for the cost of your airfare (regardless of the reason). You may also be eligible for additional amenities and services.

Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to rearrange your travel plans and/or claim compensation.

What to do if your flight is canceled

1. get on the airline's app – or make an international call.

First, pull up the airline's app on your phone. Most airline apps allow you to easily rebook your flight for free, provided you can supply your six-character reservation code. Getting in line to speak with an agent and calling the airline while you wait is also a good idea (albeit slower than using an app), and social media messaging, texting or WhatsApp may prove helpful. "During times of mass travel disruption, you should try all different avenues for getting help," says Nick Ewen, director of content at The Points Guy.

Ewen also recommends a lesser-known tactic: calling the airline's international numbers. Airlines have offices in Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and more. "While it can be costly, you can often get through to an agent more quickly," Ewen says.

Note that, depending on why your flight was canceled, finding seats on a new flight may alter your travel plans considerably.

2. Book a hotel

Next, determine if you need overnight accommodations. "If you were originally booked on the last flight of the night and there are no other options, grab a hotel room near the airport before they're all taken," Ewen advises.

3. Ask for a refund

If the airline cancels your flight or it's "significantly delayed" (a term currently defined on a case-by-case basis) and you're forced to change your travel plans, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide a full refund. Unfortunately, getting a refund can be a lengthy and frustrating process. Most airlines will instead offer a credit for future travel, but be wary of these, since they often come with limitations such as blackout and expiration dates.

When you're able to get a refund, note that it covers the total cost of airfare only and does not include other expenses associated with your trip.

If you believe you're entitled to a refund and the airline denies it to you, you can and should file a complaint with the DOT .

4. Reference the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard

While you're entitled to a full refund, other flight cancellation policies may vary by airline. Go to the DOT's Cancellation and Delay Dashboard to see what each major airline will and will not offer in the event of a controllable cancellation.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

What to do if your flight is delayed

In the event your flight is delayed, airlines are not legally obligated to give you a refund unless the DOT determines the delay to be "significant." But here's what you can do:

Research other flights

Investigate what other flights on that airline are headed to your destination and ask an agent if they can get you on one of them (without charging change fees). Also be sure to look into what's available on other airlines: If your original airline doesn't have any flights available on your departure date, an agent may be able to book you on a flight with a different carrier at no additional cost to you. Note, however, that airlines are not legally required to do this.

Inquire about other compensation

If you've been stranded at the airport for several hours, check in with an agent and reference the Commitments for Controllable Delays section on the DOT's Cancellation and Delay Dashboard – regardless of whether you're able to get on another flight. Some airlines may provide amenities such as vouchers for meals or overnight accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

"The main causes for flight disruptions are bad weather, understaffed air traffic control, and factors within the airline’s control,"  says Katy Nastro, a spokesperson at Going.com, formerly Scott's Cheap Flights. She explains the following:

• Weather:  This is outside of the airline's control and is the single biggest reason for why we see flight disruptions. We saw this play out over the winter holidays in 2022, and even to some extent during the 2023 holiday season. Even if the weather is accurately predicted, it cannot be controlled, which means at times flight disruptions are unavoidable.
• Understaffed air traffic control:  The U.S. air travel industry has made strides in pilot hiring year over year, but when it comes to air traffic control, we are still down roughly 1,000 fewer air traffic controllers from a decade ago. New York metro area airports specifically have felt the brunt of this deficit, so much so that airlines were permitted to reduce schedules without penalty from the summer until the end of Q4 in 2023. At its lowest, the decrease in flights in the New York metro area resulted in about 11% fewer flights per day. With less trained staff, current air traffic controllers are stretched to the limit, and schedule reductions only temporarily solve this problem. Even with aggressive hiring efforts, training takes time and will not be a quick fix.

It's almost impossible to avoid canceled or delayed flights these days. But there are a few things you can do when booking flights to lessen your chances for travel disruptions.

Keep tabs on your aircraft: On your departure date, check your flight information before heading to the airport. You can keep a watchful eye on the flight's status – including the aircraft scheduled to operate your flight – using the airline's app or a third-party app such as FlightAware Flight Tracker (which also offers a website ), FlightRadar24 or TripIt Pro.

"As an example, if you're flying from Orlando to New York, and your plane is flying in from Chicago, the initial flight from Chicago to Orlando might be delayed (or canceled) before yours is," Ewen explains. "Airlines will try to find replacement aircraft in that case, but if you can identify a potential cancellation before it officially happens, you may be able to get rebooked ahead of the other 100-plus passengers on your flight."

Consider an alternate airport: When booking your flight, you may consider flying out of a different airport than the one you typically depart from. For example, a small regional airport with limited routes may mean less travel delays and hassle overall – or it may be worth driving further to another international airport for a nonstop flight to your destination rather than opting for a connecting flight close to home.

Fly in the morning: While flight disruptions are unpredictable, historically fewer cancellations and delays occur in the morning.

Avoid weekend travel: Fly on off-peak days like Tuesday or Wednesday. You'll often find cheaper flights on these days, too.

Opt for longer layovers: If you need to take more than one flight to reach your destination, book a flight with a longer layover to provide enough time to make your connecting flight. Keep in mind that at some airports you may need to go through security or customs for your connection. For longer journeys, you can reduce the risk of missing connecting flights by planning a city stopover. For example, Icelandair offers Iceland stopovers for no additional airfare.

Consider a credit card with travel protections: You don't need to be a frequent traveler to take advantage of credit card travel protections and perks. Here are a couple options to consider:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred :  This travel credit card ($95 annually) provides coverage for delays and cancellations when used to book flights. It also provides other travel protections such as delayed baggage coverage. "Even someone who travels just once or twice a year can still get phenomenal value from this card," Ewen says.
• American Express Platinum Card :  This card ($695 annually) offers travel insurance that reimburses some nonrefundable expenses like hotel accommodations, meals and other essentials as long as the trip was purchased using the card.

When choosing a travel credit card, you should also pay attention to other benefits. Even the most basic airline credit cards can offer travel perks like discounts on in-flight purchases and waived baggage fees, while premium travel credit cards (which require a higher annual fee) can include access to an airport lounge with food, drinks and Wi-Fi. Some also provide a concierge service to rebook flights or built-in trip insurance to cover unforeseen expenses.

Purchase travel insurance: If your credit card doesn't include travel protections, consider purchasing insurance with flight coverages – even a cheap travel policy can help protect your investment. Covered reasons include a travel carrier delay and loss or theft of travel documents, among other scenarios. If you're interested in purchasing a policy, you can browse the best travel insurance companies here .

Talk to a travel advisor: "Booking directly with your travel advisor provides more leverage and support if something goes wrong," explains Jessica Parker, founder of Trip Whisperer . "We can advocate for a better outcome should there be cancellations or hiccups in the itinerary."

Charlotte French, owner of Cavatica Luxury Travel , agrees, sharing this recent example: "My clients were booked on a nonstop United Flight from Tokyo (HND) to EWR (Newark) in business class, when it was canceled (due to technical issues). The clients were waiting in line to find other options for their return flight home; however, these were very limited. In parallel, I was able to speak to the United Airlines corporate desk (as a travel advisor) and was able to secure them in business class on a flight out of Tokyo the same day."

Avoid checking luggage: Travelers who only travel with a carry-on bag and/or personal item (such as a backpack or purse) that meet carry-on size restrictions will have the most flexibility in rebooking – and will also avoid the chance of lost luggage, another common issue. Some carriers will try to move checked luggage to a later flight for you and will make every effort to keep you and your belongings together. However, when airlines don't have interline agreements with other carriers, you'll have to allow enough time to retrieve and recheck your own luggage.

The number of canceled flights recently fell to its lowest rate in at least a decade — a welcome change for air travelers, especially following COVID-19-era travel disruptions.

Still, flight cancellations will always be inevitable, especially during the busy summer travel season. Summer 2024 is shaping up to be especially busy. "It was the busiest March on record for air travel according to the TSA," explains Nastro. "It also had the tenth busiest day on record, which is pretty significant since it is not a 'peak period' and is generally considered off-season in the Northern Hemisphere. If this trend continues, we are likely in for the busiest summer on record when it comes to air travel."

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• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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6 Best Websites for Booking Cheap Flights

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The desire to get a good deal unites practically all travelers. Whether you're looking for a cheap getaway or a luxury vacation, no one wants to spend more than necessary. When it comes to booking flights, travelers may naturally head to an airline's website. However, that's not always the best site to book flights.

Whether it's taking advantage of credit card perks, earning bonus miles or saving money, the best flight booking site can vary depending on your situation and willingness to get creative. Let's take a look at six of the best sites to book flights and when each is the best option.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

The best flight booking sites

1. google flights.

For ease, speed and features, Google Flights is arguably the best website for flight searches. Search results appear almost instantly. Filters let you narrow down to nonstop options, select a subset of airlines, limit by price or factor in the price of a bag. Similarly, you can use Google Flights filters to avoid certain airlines, multi-stop itineraries, long layovers, early flights or pretty much whatever you might want to avoid.

You can easily check flexible dates, and if you're flexible on where you go you can use the Explore map to see prices for a variety of destinations for certain dates, a certain month or anytime in the next six months.

Google Flights partners with hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to pull current flight prices. That way you don't have to search each of these sites to be able to see the options. Once you select your preferred trip, Google Flights links you to the top booking options for actually booking your flight — including the airline itself and the best OTA booking options.

The downsides of Google Flights are few. One is the lack of Southwest flight prices. Although Southwest flight schedules will show in flight search results, Southwest flight prices aren't available. That's because Southwest chooses to publish flight prices only on its website.

» Learn more: Why Southwest is not on Google Flights

Another downside is that Google Flights doesn't always show the cheapest prices — particularly for international flights. That means it's worth double-checking prices on another site before booking through Google Flights.

Like Google Flights, Kayak searches hundreds of other websites and flight booking platforms to find the best deal. Kayak generally doesn't let you book flights directly. However, one benefit of Kayak is the streamlined process. Rather than having to click through several pages to confirm your selection, clicking "view deal" on the results page can take you right to the cheapest booking option.

Also, some travelers may find Kayak's flexible date search a bit easier to work with as you can see results from several days in the search results — eliminating the need to check each day's results separately.

But perhaps the most important reason to use Kayak instead of Google Flights is that it can catch better deals. For example, we found a $550 round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Barcelona using Google Flights. Kayak found a way to lower that price to just $472 round-trip — at least once you scroll past an advertisement.

Note that Kayak manages other flight search sites — including Momondo and Cheapflights — so the results may be very similar between these sister sites.

» Learn more: Is Kayak legit?

So far, we've focused on ease in flight searching, and that's going to be enough for many travelers. However, now let's add in some additional elements to consider when choosing the best flight booking site: earning rewards and saving by booking packages. Expedia excels at both of these.

Through the new One Key rewards program , travelers can earn 0.2% in OneKeyCash from flight bookings made through Expedia. That's not much, but it can stack on top of the awards you earn from the airline and those that you earn on your credit card purchase.

Even better, you'll earn credits toward One Key elite status by booking your flight through Expedia. As you climb up the tiers, you'll unlock up to 20% savings on hotels, get hotel upgrades, priority support and even price drop protection.

Plus, Expedia boasts that travelers can "save up to 30%" when bundling a hotel with a flight booking — although actual discounts are likely to vary.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of Expedia

4. Capital One Travel

For many Capital One cardholders, Capital One Travel might just be the best flight booking site. Part of this is to take advantage of cardholder benefits.

For example, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders earn 5x Capital One miles when booking flights through the Capital One Travel portal. Plus, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders get up to $300 off travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal each cardholder year.

» Learn more: How to maximize the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Also, Capital One Travel can help you truly get the best price for your flight. Capital One partnered with travel data company Hopper to show suggestions about when it's the best time to book.

Capital One backs up these recommendations with money. If you book a flight through Capital One Travel when Hopper recommends doing so, you'll get up to a $50 credit toward future travel if the price drops within the next 10 days.

» Learn more: How the Capital One Travel portal works

Would you be willing to book a trip as two separate tickets in order to save money? That's the idea behind Kiwi. Instead of simply searching flights from your home airport to your destination, Kiwi checks all potential options to get between A and B. That could mean taking a bus or train from your home city to another to catch a flight to your destination. Or, Kiwi might pair a low-cost domestic flight with a cheap international flight from another city to lower your total cost.

Protect your upfront travel expenses by booking with a card that has travel insurance or by purchasing a separate policy .

For example, when we priced out a round-trip flight from Phoenix to Tokyo, the cheapest option when booked as one ticket cost $1,353 round-trip — and that's with an overnight stay in Vancouver.

Pricing out the same itinerary and dates through Kiwi drops the price to just $789 round-trip. The secret? Booking this as two round-trip flights: One from Phoenix to Los Angeles on Frontier and a separate round-trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo on Zipair.

Keep in mind that there are risks with booking separate tickets to get where you want to go. If a delay or cancellation causes you to miss your connection, the second airline/bus/train company isn't obligated to honor your ticket and rebook you on the next option. So make sure to factor in all of the risks of booking travel like this.

» Learn more: When to use Kiwi for your next flight booking

6. BookWithMatrix

ITA Matrix is a very powerful and ultra-customizable search platform for finding exactly the flight itinerary you want — whether that's booking a longer layover, avoiding certain aircraft types or booking nerdy trips such as the Alaska Milk Run .

The catch: Travelers can't actually book flights through ITA Matrix. And, unlike Google Flights, ITA Matrix doesn't even link to the best flight booking site for that itinerary. Instead, travelers are left to attempt to re-create the same itinerary through another flight booking website — which can be hard in the case of certain complex itineraries.

Enter BookWithMatrix. Travelers can copy-paste their perfect itinerary from ITA Matrix into BookWithMatrix to get bookable links through the airline or select OTAs.

Alternatively, travelers have the option to install the PowerTools extension in Google Chrome .

This extension adds booking links right on the ITA Matrix itinerary page, avoiding the need to browse to another page.

Final thoughts on the best flight booking site

There's not a one-size-fits-all best website for booking flights. Instead, the best flight booking site for you is going to depend on how simple you want the process to be, whether you're willing to get creative with your booking, and even which credit cards you have.

For most travelers, the simplicity of Google Flights is going to make it the best one-stop shop for searching and booking flights. However, it's worth considering other options if you're flying internationally, want to book a flight-and-hotel package or have a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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Flights to Moscow - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends for flights to moscow to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more., how many airports are there in moscow, there are 4 airports in moscow: moscow sheremetyevo airport (svo), moscow vnukovo airport (vko), moscow domodedovo airport (dme) and moscow zhukovsky airport (zia). the busiest airport is moscow sheremetyevo airport (svo), with 47% of all flights arriving there., how long is the flight to moscow, the duration of your flight to moscow depends on your departure and arrival airports. obviously any flights that include a layover will also be longer. the most popular routes to moscow on kayak are from boston , which takes 11h 50m, san francisco , which takes 19h 20m, los angeles , which takes 20h 30m, and new york , which takes 22h 15m., how many long-haul flights are there to moscow each week, each week there are around 275 long-haul flights (6-12 hour flight duration), 1,415 medium-haul (3-6 hour flight duration) and 3,030 short-haul (up to 3 hour flight duration) flights to moscow. the most long-haul flights depart from beijing., when to book flights to moscow, faqs - booking moscow flights, what are the stopover options for the us to moscow flights.

The stopover options for the US flights to Moscow depend on your airline, departure city, and arrival airport. If you're flying with Turkish Airlines from New York, expect layovers in Istanbul, Bodrum, and Antalya. United Airlines, British Airways, EI AI, Azerbaijan Airlines, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, and Emirates offer flights from New York to DME with common layovers in Tel Aviv-Yafo, London, Baku, Vienna, Zurich, and Amsterdam respectively. Flights from Los Angeles have common layovers in New York, Frankfurt, Dubai, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Vienna.

Which US airports offer flights from the US to Moscow?

If you’re looking to fly to Moscow from the US, you will be happy to know that several US airports offer these flights. You can get flights from the US to Moscow from Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago (ORD), and Atlanta (ATL) among others.

Does Sheremetyevo International Airport offer accessible services?

Yes. SVO is an accessible airport with management that strives to ensure that all passengers traveling through the airport get full access to its programs and services. The airport’s terminals are well configured to provide easy access for passengers with reduced mobility. SVO also offers accessible restrooms throughout its terminals. Disabled travelers are welcome to use Saturn Lounge in Terminal D or Sirius Lounge for passengers flying from Terminals D, E, and F.

How can I access the lounges at Moscow Vnukovo International Airport?

Art Lounge is near Gate 23 on the Second Floor of Terminal A. The lounge admits passengers on in-transit or international flights only and remains open for 24 hours. You can access the lounge through a pass or membership programs. Fountain Lounge is in the food court area on the Second Floor of Terminal A and admits passengers on membership programs. You can access Top Lounge through membership programs. The lounge is near Gate 21 on the Third Floor of Terminal A. Prokofiev Premier and Tchaikovsky Lounge admit travelers through membership programs. Prokofiev is near Gate 13 in Terminal A while the latter is on the International Airside of the same terminal.

What shopping options are available at the Moscow airports?

Travelers looking to shop while in Moscow need not go any further than the airports, as both airports have a wide range of options from fashion to jewelry and souvenirs. Popular shops in Sheremetyevo International Airport include Red Machine, Yarmarka, and Swarovski. For Domodedovo International Airport, Natura Siberica, Consul, and Frey Wille are all great stores to take a peek at.

What restaurant options are there at the Moscow airports?

Just as the shopping options were extensive at both airports, the dining is the same. For Sheremetyevo International Airport, consider paying a visit to Kolbasny Tsekh and Mama Russia. If you are flying into Domodedovo International Airport, Uzbechka and Edim Letim are sure to satisfy.

What facilities are available for children and families at Moscow’s airports?

In Sheremetyevo International Airport, travelers will be happy to note that there is a children’s play area in Terminal D. There are also mother-and-child rooms that feature play areas, showers, and couches for young children and their mothers. As for Domodedovo International Airport, there are two children’s play areas located at the International and Domestic Terminals.

How do I get from Domodedovo International Airport to downtown Moscow?

Fortunately for travelers, Domodedovo International Airport is very well-connected to downtown Moscow. If you are just in town for a visit, likely the cheapest and most convenient way to get into town is the Aeroexpress. Aside from the Aeroexpress, however, there are also bus, shuttle and taxi options available.

Which Moscow airport is closest to central Moscow?

There are 4 major airports in Moscow. The nearest airport from Moscow city center is Moscow Vnukovo (17 miles), followed by Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (18 miles), Moscow Zhukovsky (25 miles), and Moscow Domodedovo Airport (25 miles).

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Moscow?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Moscow.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Moscow?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Moscow is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Moscow?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Moscow with an airline and back with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Moscow?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Moscow up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Which airline offers the most flights to Moscow?

Of the 19 airlines that fly to Moscow, Aeroflot offers the most flights, with around 1,564 per week, followed by Pobeda with 452 flights per week.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Moscow

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Moscow flight deals.
• Moscow Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) consists of two terminals, Terminal A and Terminal D. The former is the main terminal that serves most international and domestic flights. Terminal D mostly serves flights arriving from North Caucasus. The terminals are a short walk from each other as they are adjacent and are connected by walkways.
• Passengers arriving at Moscow Domodedovo International Airport (MDE) can utilize the airport’s shower facilities to freshen up before leaving the airport. Showers are available in the Left Wing of the International Arrivals Area.
• Passengers looking to explore MDE luggage-free are welcome to leave their luggage at the airport’s storage lockers. You can find the lockers Landslide of the International Arrivals Area and on the Ground Floor of the Domestic Arrivals.
• Gadget-totting travelers can charge their devices at MDE. The airport offers stand-alone charging stations in every waiting lounge. You can also rent battery chargers from the Left Luggage room.
• Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) is completely smoke-free in the terminals. However, the airport offers designated smoking pavilions to accommodate smoking passengers. The smoking pavilions are outside at the terminals’ entrances.
• For flights to Moscow, travelers have four different airports to choose from: Domodedovo International Airport (DME), Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Vnukovo International Airport (VKO), and Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA). However, most travelers will be flying into either Domodedovo International Airport or Sheremetyevo International Airport, as they are by far the most popular of the four airports.
• Getting from Sheremetyevo International Airport to downtown Moscow is simple, thanks to the Aeroexpress, which connects directly to both Belorussky Railway Terminal and Okruzhnaya station. From either station, you can head to a number of locations across Moscow in no time.
• Looking to head straight to the hotel after your flight to Moscow? If you are landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport, the Novotel Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Hotel is within walking distance of the airport’s terminals. For Domodedovo International Airport, on the other hand, there is the Domodedovo AirHotel, which is located just half a mile away from the airport and offers free transfers to and from the airport.
• If you need to get between Domodedovo International Airport and Sheremetyevo International Airport, your best bet is to take a combination of the Aeroexpress and the Moscow Metro. There is even a special “Between Airports” ticket available for purchase at the Aeroexpress ticket office.
• Got a few hours to spare at Sheremetyevo International Airport? Why not stop off at the Aero-beauty hair salon for a cut, trim, or maybe even a dye? Another option is to spend some time at the History Museum of Sheremetyevo, which has several unique exhibitions on the history of the airport.

Prefer to fly non-stop to Moscow?

Find which airlines fly direct to Moscow, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

United States to Moscow

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‘The Plane Is Fine’: An Airline Course Looks to Overcome Fear in the Skies

Anxiety when flying might not seem so unreasonable these days, but a British Airways program seeks to reassure the lightly nervous and the abjectly terrified alike.

By Sarah Lyall

No sooner had British Airways Flight 9240 roared into the air over Heathrow Airport than the cabin air was pierced by a sharp, scary noise, like an alarm or a siren. The power surged and then seemed to falter, and the plane became worryingly quiet. (Too quiet?)

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

Open this article in the New York Times Audio app on iOS.

What was it? Images of catastrophic scenarios — birds, engine failure, parts falling off, total systemic breakdown — pinballed through the passengers’ imaginations as the plane seemed to struggle to find its equilibrium. Unease gripped the cabin. But then a disembodied voice wafted soothingly over the public-address system. “Everything’s normal,” the voice said. “The plane is fine.”

This emotional roller coaster of a flight, a 35-minute loop in the air that started and finished at Heathrow, was the culmination of the airline’s “Flying With Confidence” course , aimed at people who are afraid to fly — the lightly nervous as well as the abjectly terrified.

The course includes a deep dive into the mechanics and operation of an airplane. There’s also a section on how pilots are trained to deal with various scenarios — including cabin depressurization, malfunctioning landing gear, holes in the fuselage and sudden gusts of wind on the runway that force what is called a “go-around” — when a pilot suddenly aborts the landing and sends the plane barreling straight back into the sky. The day ends when the attendees — or at least those who didn’t leave early — board an actual plane for a real-life flight.

As many as 40 percent of all airline passengers have at least mild apprehension about flying, experts say, and people with serious aviophobia fall roughly into two groups. About 20 percent have “an underlying anxiety that manifests as fear of flying,” said Douglas Boyd, an aviation researcher who runs a fear-of-flying course in Houston . Another 70 to 75 percent, he said, “think that something bad will happen to the plane — there will be a fire, the engine will fall off, the pilot is drunk, it’s going to crash.” (The rest have a hybrid of worries.)

Flying is objectively low-risk, and 2023 was the safest year for jet travel ever, according to the International Air Transport Association . But fear of flying hardly seems irrational, what with reports of aircraft malfunctions, overworked air traffic controllers and the sense that climate change is making turbulence worse .

For instance: On Jan. 5, a door plug — a door-sized panel on the side of an aircraft — blew off the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines jet as it made its ascent, depressurizing the cabin and exposing passengers to open air thousands of feet above ground. Also in January, five members of the Japanese Coast Guard were killed when their plane collided with a Japanese Airlines jet on a Tokyo runway and both planes burst into flames. (Everyone — 367 passengers and 12 crew members — on the Japanese Airlines flight survived.) Boeing, the manufacturer of the Alaska Airlines plane and other planes that have experienced various mishaps, has faced particular criticism for neglecting safety .

Such incidents loom large in the heads of passengers, but Mr. Boyd said that people tend to ignore how rare they are. “You have to look at objective measurements,” he said. “In the last 15 years we’ve had only two fatal accidents with a U.S. carrier, and that speaks volumes.” (Those were when a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Buffalo in 2009 , killing 50 people, and when a window blew out after an engine exploded on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018, killing a passenger who was partly sucked out of the plane.)

Nobody wants to go through a flight racked with fear or beset by emotional upheaval, and airlines have an obvious interest in calm, unterrified passengers. A number of airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin, offer fear-of-flying programs, but B.A.’s has been operating for more than 35 years and is considered the most well-established.

I — an occasionally nervous-in-turbulence but not prohibitively terrified flyer — joined an October session, paying the fee of 395 British pounds, or about $508.

My fellow attendees represented a spectrum of ages and professions and suffered from a range of anxieties.

Duncan Phillips, a high school science teacher, said that he had not set foot on a plane since his honeymoon, two decades earlier. Imogen Corrigan, a medieval history lecturer, said that she had a “generalized dread of the whole airport experience,” exacerbated by a traumatic flight some years earlier in which her seatmate, incorrectly interpreting the plane’s post-takeoff noises as systemic engine failure, rose to her feet and yelled, “We’re not going up!”

And a 28-year-old man who asked that his name not be used because he works at Buckingham Palace said that his problem was claustrophobia — he once got trapped in an elevator — but that he was committed to overcoming it. “I just don’t want to be afraid anymore,” he said.

Listening to the captain

Standing onstage in a conference room at a hotel at Heathrow and using props like slides, a plastic plane and a replica of a human ear to explain how airplanes work, Capt. Steve Allright, the B.A. pilot who led the program, provided his go-to anti-anxiety tip.

“I want you to breathe out for four seconds and then breathe in, while squeezing your largest muscles — your buttocks,” he said. “What you’re doing is taking control of your mind and your racing thoughts. Don’t sit and suffer. Breathe and squeeze.”

(Yes, Captain Allright has seen the film “Airplane!” in which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Peter Graves play two pilots whose names — Roger Murdock and Clarence Oveur — lead to “Who’s on First”-style amusement when their colleagues bark “Roger, Roger!” and “Over, Oveur!” at them. Captain Allright knows that his name, too, sounds fictional. It is not.)

He invited the group to identify its specific worries. “How many of you have not flown for more than 20 years, or never flown?” he asked. “How many are regular business travelers, and it’s getting worse? Mums and dads who had children and it suddenly made them aware of their own mortality?”

He peered into the crowd. “Who doesn’t like the takeoff?” he added. “Who doesn’t like the landing and — everyone’s favorite — who doesn’t like the turbulence?”

One person raised her hand for all the categories.

Among the points made by Captain Allright and his team:

The wings of planes can’t just snap off.

The plane has sufficient stores of fuel and will not suddenly run out of gas. “Those Hollywood scenes where they’re circling around yelling that they’re going to run out of fuel and the plane is going to ‘land on fumes,’” Captain Allright said, “that’s not going to happen.”

The thing that sounds like the engines have suddenly ceased functioning after takeoff? It’s an auditory illusion created by the reduction in power after the plane becomes airborne; the plane needs more power to take off and less power when it gets into the air.

Those movies in which pilots are “wrestling with the controls and sweating profusely during turbulence” are totally fake, Captain Allright said. “Turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous.”

When you hear a strange beeping noise in the cabin, it is not a secret pilots’ signal meaning that “we have an emergency, but don’t tell the passengers.” In fact, “all airplanes make different noises,” Captain Allright said, and what you’re hearing could well be something like the “barking dog noise” that people say they hear on some Airbus jets, attributable to the planes’ hydraulics.

No pilot would ever unlock the cockpit door and let in a bunch of hijackers, even if the hijackers were threatening to kill the flight attendant with whom the pilot was having an affair, as in the TV series “Hijack,” starring Idris Elba.

The presentation seemed to allay some of the passengers’ fears. Charlotte Wheeler, an agricultural company executive still spooked by a childhood in which her acutely phobic mother would drink to excess and become obstreperous and hysterical on flights, said she appreciated Captain Allright’s willingness to journey through the weeds of her apprehension.

“That whole ‘wings not snapping off’ thing was amazing,” she said. “And I appreciated what he said about the fuel not running out.”

Ms. Corrigan, the lecturer, said she was particularly soothed by Captain Allright’s discussion of “the bit where they’ve just taken off and you don’t think it’s going to make it.”

B.A. 9240 is boarding

The hard-news presentation was followed by a segment on fear, anxiety reduction and relaxation led by a psychologist, Dr. Jan Smith. But, eventually, it was time to get on the plane, minus several unnerved people who left during the lunch break and never came back. Divided into small groups, each led by a B.A. employee in a high-visibility orange vest, the remaining passengers moved tentatively through the airport terminal. The boarding passes listed the destination as “Fictitious Point,” because the plane was both departing from and returning to Heathrow.

There was a brief setback. The first passengers boarded, only to find that they had to get off because an unspecified glitch had failed to register their existence when they scanned their boarding passes.

“This is not good,” one passenger said.

“Is this part of the course?” said another. “I have a fear of stampedes.”

Several people fretted by the door and failed to board the plane. One woman successfully got on but quickly got off, sobbing. “I’m sorry,” she said.

Everyone else took their seats: 120 customers intermingled with about 20 B.A. personnel, pilots and psychologists whose job was to provide emotional and occasionally physical support at this most delicate part of the day. People were hyperventilating, reciting inspirational mantras, folding into themselves and, in several cases, openly crying. A woman in the front row cranked up her headphones and tried to distract herself with the Lee Child thriller “No Plan B.”

“I really, really don’t like being up in the air,” she said.

The plane took off and the power surged on and then ratcheted down, as Captain Allright had explained. The collective anxiety level rose to 11. “Everything’s normal,” he said. “The speed is stable. The pilots are happy and relaxed. This would be a good time to do your breathing and squeezing.”

The plane flew around for a bit as he talked through the sights and sounds — the Millennium Dome, Gatwick Airport, the London Eye, the wing flaps, a little chirping noise signifying that autopilot had been switched off.

“That means that Nigel’s now controlling the aircraft manually,” Captain Allright said, referring to the pilot, Capt. Nigel Willing, who was at the controls and who, yes, has another name that sounds like he’s a character in a movie. “It’s perfectly normal. Let’s all make a conscious decision to squeeze our buttocks.”

As the plane began its descent, some of the passengers, genuinely amazed that they had made it this far, took proof-of-flight photos out the window.

“I’m just glad I didn’t throw up,” the “No Plan B” reader said. “I could really use a cigarette.”

The plane came to a stop and Idris Guest, an IT worker who had not been in the air since a horrific 2016 experience involving turbulence and a flight attendant with a bleeding head wound, pronounced himself if not cured, then at least not in a fetal position.

He vowed to fly again. “I’m on a massive high,” he said.

“Everything’s normal,” Captain Allright said. “Give yourself a round of applause, people.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Read by Sarah Lyall

Audio produced by Sarah Diamond .

Sarah Lyall is a writer at large for The Times, writing news, features and analysis across a wide range of sections. More about Sarah Lyall

Managing Anxiety and Stress

Stay balanced in the face of stress and anxiety with our collection of tools and advice..

How are you, really? This self-guided check-in will help you take stock of your emotional well-being — and learn how to make changes .

These simple and proven strategies will help you manage stress , support your mental health and find meaning in the new year.

First, bring calm and clarity into your life with these 10 tips . Next, identify what you are dealing with: Is it worry, anxiety or stress ?

Persistent depressive disorder is underdiagnosed, and many who suffer from it have never heard of it. Here is what to know .

If you notice drastic shifts in your mood during certain times of the year, you could have seasonal affective disorder. Here are answers to your top questions about the condition .

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Cheap flights To Moscow (MOW)

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Moscow Flight Information

Plan your visit to moscow.

Moscow is an amazing city with colorful cathedrals, famous landmarks and a hint of modern influences. When you visit this majestic city, you will see some of the world's most beautiful architectural masterpieces. If you're looking for cheap flights to Moscow, visit Orbitz.com, where you can get a great deal every day.

Major Airports

Russia is a large country with many airports, and three of them are located within an hour of Moscow. When you arrive, you will likely land at Sheremetyevo International Airport, Domodedovo International Airport or Vnukovo International Airport. Sheremetyevo is about 35 minutes from downtown, and you can take the city bus to town for 28 to 70 rubles. Domodedovo is about 45 minutes from the city, and you can take a train, bus, shuttle or taxi to Moscow from this location. Vnukovo is about 30 minutes southwest of the downtown area. It is the third-busiest airport in the country and handles more than 9 million passengers annually. Board the Aeroexpress Train for the fastest service into the city.

Enjoying Moscow

The weather in Moscow varies greatly by season. Summer highs can soar into the upper 90s and hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter lows fall below freezing. April and October see pleasant temperatures in the 70s and 80s, so this is a great time to visit. Even the warmest months can have chilly evenings, so bring a sweater or jacket, even in the summer. Winter travelers will need to pack a heavy coat and plenty of warm clothing. St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the city's must-see attractions. This amazing structure was built for Ivan the Terrible in the 1500s and is regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Located in the city's center, Red Square is an ideal place to begin your exploration. From there, explore the Kremlin and other historic sights. Before you head home, stop by the Bolshoi Theatre and see the world-famous Russian ballet dancers perform.

Book Your Tickets

Save time and money with the help of Orbitz.com. You can find a wealth of information to help you plan a successful trip and cheap flights to Moscow. Moscow is an enchanting city with stunning views and breathtaking scenery. No matter when you visit, you are sure to enjoy everything this great city has to offer.

Moscow When to Go

June, July, and August are the most crowded months in Moscow, and getting into popular attractions like the Kremlin can be difficult. It’s worth braving the crowds, though, to see the golden domes, bright white bell tower, intricate Fabergé eggs, and the rest of the impressive complex. There are sure to be crowds in Red Square during the summer, too, but you can’t miss St. Basil’s fairytale-like Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the fanciful Kazan Cathedral, and the popular, upscale GUM shopping mall. Keep an eye on the forecast. Temperatures in summer reach into the 90s and it’s the rainiest period in Moscow.

Spring is shoulder season in Moscow, as well as a pretty time to visit. The flowers around the city come into bloom. To celebrate the end of a long winter, Maslenitsa, a religious and folk holiday, ushers in the new season with pancake feasts, traditional (and friendly!) fist fighting, bonfires, and other celebrations. Temperatures warm up to the 50s and 60s during the day, so enjoy a visit to one of Moscow’s many parks; there are almost 300 square feet of parks per person here. Kolomenskoye is a nice one, with a beautiful church that dates back to 1532.

Tourists are in shorter supply during the winter due to Moscow’s notorious cold, but if you enjoy a snowy landscape, pack some warm boots and go. The Russian Winter Festival at the end of December and beginning of January is a fun way to celebrate the best of the season—troika rides, ice hockey games, snowmen, and plenty of warm tea. Especially in winter, make use of the (heated) Metro public transit. Many of the underground stations feature art, including statues, stained glass windows, mosaics, and chandeliers.

Frequently asked questions

• Turkish Airlines - 380 flights to Moscow per month
• Azur Air - 136 flights to Moscow per month
• Flydubai - 105 flights to Moscow per month
• Consider other airports to save cash. Enter your preferred departure and arrival airports in the form fields, then select the ‘Nearby airports’ function below. It will list the available options.
• If your plans aren’t cast in stone, click on the ‘Show flexible dates’ link to check out the flight deals for a selection of departure dates. You may find an even better fare.
• You can also hit the ‘Show options’ link to filter results for your preferred airline, seating class, nonstop flights and refundable flights. Under ‘Sort & Filter’ to the left, you can even pick the time of day you’d like to fly.
• Book your fare as soon as you’ve sorted your travel dates. While it does happen from time to time, airfares rarely fall in price as your date of departure approaches.
• Make big savings on your vacation by bundling your flights, hotels and car rentals into one handy package. Your credit card will thank you for it.
• Where possible, don’t fly in the most popular seasons. Airfares soar during school breaks, summer and other vacation periods like Easter and Thanksgiving.
• St. Petersburg (LED-Pulkovo) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 1 hour and 28 minutes
• Sochi (AER-Sochi Intl.) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 4 hours
• Yekaterinburg (SVX-Koltsovo) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 2 hours and 39 minutes
• In all cases you’ll need some identification. How much? This depends on where you’re traveling to and from. When reserving your flight tickets, we suggest to put down the same name, birth date and gender as shown on your government-issued ID.
• If you’re flying direct to Moscow, chances are you’re going to be airborne for quite a while. Pack lots of snacks and things to keep you busy. Now is the perfect time to get stuck into that book you’ve been eager to read!
• Cabin temperatures are often chilly enough to give you goose bumps. Carry an extra warm layer even if you’re vacationing during the height of summer.
• Flexibility isn’t just useful for your yoga. Have some room to move around your travel dates so you can snap up more affordable airfares when they pop up.
• Budget airlines offer first or business-class seats at a fraction of the usual cost. Skip the full-service carriers and consider these cheaper options.
• Make the most of your airline’s frequent flyer program and use points to upgrade your seat. You can also bid for an upgrade in an online auction if available.
• Slip on a pair of comfy sneakers and tour this bustling city on foot. There are many awesome attractions to make your way to, such as Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral.
• You’ll discover rewarding day trips a quick drive from the center of town. Tour Moscow State University first and then find time for Crocus Expo Center.
• Love to find out what else Moscow has to offer? Organize a car rental and hotfoot it to Dmitrov or Sergiyev Posad. With your own vehicle, exploring those harder-to-find destinations will also be easy.

More to Explore

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• New York to Moscow
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Airports Near Moscow

• Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)
• Vnukovo Intl. Airport (VKO)
• Zhukovsky Airport (ZIA)

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Flight delays and traffic jams: How the solar eclipse is likely to affect air travel

For an inspiring celestial event, the solar eclipse could be disruptive.

The total solar eclipse happening on April 8 has a path of totality spanning parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada and is likely to delay flights for several days.

The Federal Aviation Administration expects heavier than normal traffic, particularly along the path of totality from Texas to New England, as aircraft and drones take to the skies to see the eclipse. Travelers may also notice limited parking at some airports.

During the solar eclipse, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth and completely block the face of the sun, turning the sky dark. Arizona is not within the path of totality, but a partial eclipse is viewable from the state.

Here's how the total solar eclipse could affect air travel and delay flights.

Where will the solar eclipse be visible? Here are the best places to watch in Arizona

Will flights be affected by the eclipse?

The FAA issued a domestic notice outlining special air traffic procedures for the solar eclipse. Agency officials expect the eclipse will affect fights from April 7 through April 10.

According to the notice, higher than normal traffic volumes are anticipated at airports along the path of the eclipse, and delays or rerouting are possible during peak traffic periods.

Can planes fly during a solar eclipse?

Yes, it is safe for planes to fly during a solar eclipse.

Some airlines even used the eclipse as a selling point, offering flights along the path of totality. For instance, a Delta Air Lines flight from Austin, Texas, to Detroit with a view of the eclipse sold out.

Those who fly through the path of totality during an eclipse should expect a darkened sky and nighttime landing conditions. According to the Air Line Pilots Association International, there may be dusk- or dawn-like conditions before and after totality or outside the path.

Should I fly during the eclipse?

There is no inherent danger involved in flying during the eclipse.

But if you plan to view the eclipse from an airplane − or from anywhere − you'll need special eclipse viewing glasses to look at it safely . Looking at a solar eclipse with the naked eye can lead to eye damage or even blindness.

Where to watch the solar eclipse in AZ: A guide to planetariums, observatories

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com today.

Find cheap flights to Moscow

Moscow flights insights and trends, explore insights for your moscow flight to craft the best travel plan, how long does it take to fly to moscow, flight times from united states to moscow vary, but if you’re flying out of los angeles and flying into moscow domodedovo (one of the most popular routes), then the duration is 20h 30m on average. another popular route from united states to moscow is flying from miami to moscow domodedovo, which will take roughly 23h 25m. keep in mind that layovers or delays could extend your travel time., frequently asked questions about flying to moscow.

Moscow is a historic and architecturally fantastic destination that welcomes visitors from across the globe. The city has very distinct seasons. The humid continental climate offers warm to hot summers, brief but glorious spring and fall seasons, and long, frigid winters. If you decide to make a winter trip to Moscow, be prepared for temperatures that dip to average lows of 14 – 21 degrees Fahrenheit. Pack the warmest gear you own! Fewer tourists visit during Moscow’s winter, so you may find better pricing on flights and accommodation. As spring slowly warms, the tourist count grows, and it becomes quite busy by May, when high temperatures of 68 degrees Fahrenheit are comfortable. Summer is peak tourist season in Moscow, with long days for sightseeing and temperatures of 72 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If you visit in summer, make sure to book your flights and rooms well in advance and expect to pay higher prices. In September and early October, before the cold sets in, Moscow enjoys a splendid fall season, and there are fewer travelers, so this might be the best time to plan your visit.

When did momondo last update prices for flights to Moscow?

Prices for flights to Moscow are refreshed on a daily basis.

How old do you have to be to fly to Moscow?

Although the minimum age for a child to fly alone is five, airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UMNR) service may have their own age limits, which could be impacted by factors such as flight length, timing, and layovers. It is recommended that you verify with the airline you are booking with for travel to Moscow.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to Moscow?

The travel and health documents required for your trip to Moscow can vary based on your itinerary and personal situation. As a rule, consider having multiple documents such as a national ID card or driver’s license, and a passport valid for six-months after you plan to arrive at Moscow. We always recommend checking with your airline or a trusted third party such as IATA to get advice.

How to travel around Moscow

Moscow is an immense city, and the best way to get around is undoubtedly the amazing metro system. In fact, the metro stations themselves are a tourist attraction; several have been designated as cultural heritage sites. The city also offers an impressive above ground transportation network of buses, trams, and trolleys, light rail and an elevated monorail. Traffic congestion in Moscow can be terrible, so you may want to leave your rental car parked until needed for out-of-town trips. Travel on the city’s public transportation options is easily managed with a multi-fare pass, called the unified travelcard. It offers unlimited trips for 24 hours, 3 days, or a week, on buses, trolleys, trams, the metro, Moscow Central Circle rail and the monorail. The prices are ₽210 RUB, ₽400 RUB and ₽800 RUB respectively.

Moscow’s metro system offers 12 lines and 206 stations. You can get to almost any place, event or sports complex in the city by riding the metro, which operates 7 days a week, from 5.30 am – 1 am.

Buses, trolleybuses, trams, trains and the monorail

To reach some of the furthest points of the city, or if you are just looking for a change of pace, you can ride Moscow’s network of buses, trolleybuses and trams, enjoy a spectacular view of the city on the elevated monorail, or ride the new Moscow Central Circle rail line.

Visa requirements for visiting Moscow

U.S. citizens are issued multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian, and tourist visas that are valid for 3 years from the date of issue. For foreign citizens, please check this link and the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Russia website.

Best things to do and see in Moscow

Things to do and places of interest in moscow.

Moscow is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful cities in the world, and well worth seeing. From the stunning, onion-domed St. Basil’s Cathedral to the sleek modern structures in the city’s new business district, you’d be hard-pressed to find another place with so many contrasting skylines. Here are a few of the sights and activities worth adding to your itinerary, when you travel to Moscow.

• Stroll around Red Square, the heart and soul of Russia. One of the most historically significant sites in the world, Moscow’s cobbled central square is surrounded by other must-see sights, including the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and more.
• You could spend days exploring the Kremlin, the biggest medieval fortress in Russia, which also happens to be the largest active fortress in all of Europe. Within its 2,235-meter-long walls, there are 5 squares and 18 buildings, 20 towers, and the world’s largest bell and cannon.
• Pick up some souvenirs at GUM. The glass-roofed mall is home to over 200 upscale shops, several great eateries, a Soviet-style grocery store – Gastronom №1 – and the swankiest historic toilet you’ll ever see.
• Every world-class city has a significant park, and Moscow’s is Gorky Park. Originally opened in 1928, in 2011 Gorky Park underwent a major design upgrade and now has a renewed, vibrant look. The park sees around 20,000 visitors every day.
• Take a Moscow Metro Tour and visit the 12 stations listed as cultural heritage sites. The Metro opened in 1935 and was one of the USSR’s most extravagant architectural projects. Most of the central stations look like museums, with their own ambiance, embellishments, and story.
• Take in a ballet or opera performance at the historic Bolshoi Theatre. This structure is a landmark of Moscow and Russia, and is depicted on the Russian 100-rouble banknote.

Tips and tricks for visiting Moscow

Avoid the people who approach you offering taxi services immediately after getting through customs. Even though they may be wearing uniforms that say, “official airport taxi”, they are usually illegal taxi services. These taxis can cost much more than the official taxis because they don’t have set prices.

DON’T order vodka with orange juice or tonic! You might be breaking an obscure Russian law, or at the very least, you risk being considered uncivilized by the Russian bartender. Vodka may be chased with lemon or a pickle, and must be drunk swiftly, not sipped.

Why use momondo?

Why should i use momondo to find a flight deal to moscow.

We help find the flight that best suits your needs; momondo compares prices from hundreds of airlines and travel agents and helps you filter them to find the best flight for you.

Can I find flights to Moscow with flexible booking policies on momondo?

Yes. momondo allows you to filter the results for flights to Moscow to just show those with flexible booking policies.

How can momondo help me find flights to Moscow?

Once you have performed a search in the form on the page, momondo provides useful filters and insights. We can show you the cheapest days and times to fly as well as filter your options to help you make an informed choice when booking flights to Moscow.

I’m not ready to book a flight to Moscow right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

Price alerts on flights to Moscow are quick and easy to set up on momondo. Simply perform a search and select the price alert feature. It is as simple as that.

An easier way to manage your Moscow trip

We make it super easy to schedule, organize and travel with friends or family. trips is free — and available to use no matter where you book., big names and deals, filter for what you want, trusted and free, price alerts, find better results for your stay in moscow, complete your trip to moscow, get notified when prices go down, daily price changes in your inbox - only with price alerts..

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Travel for less with Dollar Flight Club, starting at only $70

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Southwest Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Denver after engine part falls off Boeing 737 plane

This is now the fourth time a boeing plane had to divert to denver for issues so far this year.

Boeing is 'in deep trouble': Bill George

Harvard Business School executive fellow Bill George reacts to criticism of the aircraft company due to recent plane issues on 'The Big Money Show.'

A Southwest Airlines flight had to make an emergency stop after an engine part fell off during takeoff from Denver International Airport on Sunday morning. 

The Boeing 737-800 plane was headed for William P. Hobby Airport in Houston when the engine cowling fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA released a statement Sunday morning saying that the flight returned safely and that an investigation into the incident is ongoing. 

"Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the crew reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap," the statement read. "The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The FAA will investigate." 

BOEING PAYS ALASKA AIRLINES $160 MILLION IN CASH IN 'INITIAL PAYMENT' FOLLOWING MID-AIR BLOWOUT

FILE- A Southwest flight lost a part mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Southwest Airlines also released a statement to Fox Business echoing the FAA.

Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport this morning and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue. Our Customers arrived at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule. We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft.

FOX Business also reached out to Boeing for comment on the matter. Boeing referred FOX Business to Southwest for information about their fleet operations.

According to Fox 31, this is the fourth time a Boeing plane has had to divert to Denver for issues so far this year.

The most recent issue happened on March 29, when a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Paris was forced to divert to Denver after flight crew members on board the Boeing 777-200 plane reported having an issue with one engine.

Prior to that incident, another United Airlines flight had to divert to Denver on its way to San Francisco from Boston when the Boeing 757-200 plane was reported to have wing issues mid-flight.

The first incident occurred in January, also involving United Airlines, when a flight headed to Las Vegas from Washington D.C., was diverted to Denver after flight crews reported a crack windshield on the Boeing 737-800 plane.  

Last week, United Airlines pilots were asked to take unpaid time off next month as the carrier contends with Boeing manufacturing delays. 

UNITED ASKS PILOTS TO TAKE UNPAID TIME OFF AS BOEING ISSUES PERSIST

Dave Calhoun, CEO of Boeing, leaves a meeting with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in Hart Building, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Calhoun was meeting with senators about recent safety issues including the grounding of the 737 MAX 9 planes.  (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images / Getty Images)

"We can confirm that due to the recent delays in Boeing deliveries, our forecasted block hours for 2024 have been reduced and we are offering our pilots voluntary programs for the month of May to reduce excess staffing," the carrier previously told FOX Business in a statement. 

The announcement shows how safety concerns involving Boeing's 737 Max are still impacting some of its biggest customers. 

According to a recent regulatory filing, United anticipated receiving 77 Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 jets in 2024. Now, it expects only 56. 

Boeing was also told it is not permitted to expand production of its 737 Max planes while regulators investigate the company and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. The investigation follows an incident in January involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines in which a door plug on the aircraft blew out mid-flight.

Boeing announced that week that they had paid Alaska Airlines approximately $160 million in compensation following the January midair blowout. 

FAA STEPPING UP OVERSIGHT OF UNITED AIRLINES, MAY PAUSE SOME CERTIFICATIONS

Investigator-in-Charge John Lovell examines the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX. (NTSB / Fox News)

According to an SEC filing, the money was "initial compensation" from Boeing "to address the financial damages incurred as a result of Flight 1282 and the 737-9 MAX groundings."

The airline said that they lost "approximately $160 million" in their first quarter.

"As a result of the Flight 1282 accident and the Boeing 737-9 MAX grounding, we lost approximately $160 million in Q1 pretax profit, primarily comprising lost revenues, costs due to irregular operations, and costs to restore our fleet to operating service," the filing said.

Alaska Airlines added that Boeing is "expected" to provide "additional compensation" in the future. The exact amount and its terms are not known at this time.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The Jan. 5 incident prompted the FAA to ground similar Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners to allow for inspections, which resulted in thousands of flight cancelations.

FOX Business' Daniella Genovese and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.  

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Watch CBS News

Earthquake snarls air and train travel in the New York City area

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: April 5, 2024 / 4:36 PM EDT / CBS News

An  earthquake  centered in New Jersey and felt across the New York City region on Friday disrupted air and rail travel, with ground stoppages at airports in the New York City area and delays in train service. 

Travel operations were momentarily halted Friday morning with ground stoppages at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens and at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, with crews working to resume normal air traffic operations. By early afternoon, the ground stoppage at JFK had been lifted. 

Arriving and departing flights in Newark also resumed in the afternoon, but delays averaged roughly two hours,  according  to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The earthquake, which occurred roughly 10:20 a.m. Eastern time, had either a 4.7 or 4.8 magnitude and was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 40 miles west of New York City,  according to the United States Geological Survey.

Newark airport is experiencing average departure delays of 43 minutes, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Inbound aircraft that are already airborne are delayed by about an hour. Inbound flights that have not yet taken off are being held until 12:30 p.m., according to the site.  

Flights in and out of LaGuardia airport in Queens were also delayed, likely in order for airport staff to check for damage to the airport and runways and clear away any debris. 

The ground stoppages and delays are not expected to last long. 

Additionally, New Jersey Transit said it's experiencing up to 20-minute delays across its entire rail service system, in both directions. NJ Transit said it's inspecting a bridge for damage to ensure train travel is safe. 

—CBS News' Kris Van Cleave contributed reporting.

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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2 injured on Southwest flight after turbulence forces emergency landing in Tampa

A Southwest Airlines flight headed to Orlando from New Orleans made an emergency landing in Tampa Wednesday after it encountered turbulence, and two people, including a flight attendant, were injured.

Southwest flight 4273 departed from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at 6:44 a.m. and landed in Tampa at 8:56 a.m. on Wednesday after the captain declared an emergency and requested paramedics to treat anyone who may be injured, according to a statement from Southwest and available flight data.

Incidents with a different airline: United Airlines timeline- A look at incidents from the airline this year

The two people who were injured were transported to the Tampa Bay-area medical facility. Southwest told USA TODAY that one of its flight attendants was injured and transported by paramedics, but it did not confirm who the other person was.

The flight eventually made it to Orlando's airport, MCO, but Southwest reported a four-and-a-half-hour delay.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture.   You can follow her on  X, formerly known as Twitter ,  Instagram  and  TikTok : @juliamariegz.