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Book cheap holidays to Moscow

Flight and hotel moscow, an introduction to moscow.

Located off Moskva River in western Russia, Moscow is the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. A colourful city, Moscow offers a wonderful mix of history and culture, thanks to its well-preserved iconic sights set in a hip, modern city atmosphere. A weekend in Moscow is fascinating, thanks to the mix of glimpses of its troubled past, charming ambience, and grand architecture.

For memorable city breaks in Moscow , it's best to you book your Moscow flight and hotel in advance, particularly as travellers typically need to arrange a visa to visit Russia. Planning package holidays in Moscow can make the process of heading to the city easier as well as economical.

What to Know Before Visiting Moscow?

Flights to Moscow typically arrive at Sheremetyevo International Airport (MOW), though this huge city is also served by Vnukovo International Airport and Domodedovo International Airport. All these airports are well connected with the Moscow Metro through Aeroexpress. If you're flying from the UK, you can book a direct flight from London or from Manchester to Moscow .

British passport holders need a visa to travel to Moscow. Visit the Russian embassy website to learn more about how to apply, and be sure to do so well in advance — it typically takes at least ten days to process tourist visas after their application, but can take longer in busy periods. The official language in Moscow is Russian, but many locals understand and speak English. Moscow is three hours ahead of the UK, and the local currency is the Russian Ruble.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Moscow?

Weather in Moscow varies significantly depending on the season. July and August are the warmest months in the city, with the average temperature hovering around 18°C to 30°C. Due to the continental climate, the summer's maximum temperatures often feel very hot. The coldest month in the Russian capital is January, when average temperatures remain around -7°C.

If you opt for package holidays in Moscow during April and June, you will likely experience pleasant weather perfect for sightseeing. If you're looking to enjoy a weekend in Moscow during this time, it's a good idea to book in advance to avoid any last minute rush. You can also enjoy some of the city's most exciting events, including Russian Fashion Week (April), Labor Day/Spring Festival (May), Victory Day (May), Usadba Jazz Festival (June), and the Moscow International Film Festival (June), during this period.

What Is There to Do In Moscow?

Moscow is synonymous with great museums, impressive cultural attractions, and lavish shopping, not to mention the eclectic array of music venues, clubs, bars, and restaurants. Be sure to get around by Metro, as the stations, deep underground, are beautifully decorated and the trains come quickly. For luxury shopping and a typical Russian lunch in an architectural landmark, head to GUM, right on the Red Square. And don't miss Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery, a beautiful cloister and UNESCO World Heritage site.

If you are travelling with family, Gorky Park is a must-visit location which offers entertainment for everyone, including outdoor dancing sessions, beach volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, yoga and fitness classes, cycling, skateboarding, and boat rentals. The Moscow Hermitage Garden offers outdoor concerts in the summer, while its theatres offer opera and plays all year long. For ballet and other top-notch performances, the Bolshoi Theater is the ideal venue.

What to Visit In Moscow

City breaks in Moscow offer a blend of history and culture. The Red Square is undoubtedly Moscow’s most popular attraction, as it is surrounded by incredible sites like the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and St Basil’s Cathedral. If you are planning to explore the Kremlin's museums, make sure to visit the Armoury Chamber and the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts , famous for its collection of masterpieces by the likes of Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, and Picasso.

• Lenin’s Mausoleum: This must-see attraction houses the embalmed body of the legendary Russian leader Vladimir Lenin in a glass sarcophagus.
• State Historical Museum: Learn about Russian history via an impressive collection of large coins, 6th century manuscripts, art, and relics of prehistoric tribes.
• Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve: Get a glimpse of medieval Moscow at this former royal estate.
• Central House of Artists: This exhibition space is home to 60 galleries, and is the site of a number of events and festivals.
• Other popular sites worth visiting are the Ostankino TV Tower, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art.

What and Where Should You Eat In Moscow?

Moscow offers an array of international restaurants serving everything from sushi and authentic French cuisine to traditional dishes from Uzbekistan, Georgia, and the other former Soviet republics. Local chain restaurants like Mu-Mu and Grabli serve homey Russian and European cuisine. Tverskaya Street is filled with sophisticated places to eat, drink, and experience the Russian way of life.

Café Pushkin, an iconic restaurant by Andrei Dellos, serves highlights from Russian cuisine in an imperial setting. You can savour delicious Italian food at Casta Diva, an opulent restaurant with fountains, glittering chandeliers, and marble columns. If you are looking to have a meal with a panoramic view, head over to Sky Lounge, located south-west of the city centre.

What to Bring Home From Moscow

Apart from local handicrafts, there is much to shop for during a weekend in Moscow to bring home as a memento of your trip. Dom Knigi, a book store, is the perfect location for purchasing Russian-language souvenirs. Izmailovo Market is where local vendors sell khokhloma art, matryoshka dolls, shot glasses, fur hats, embroidery, and paintings, which all make great souvenirs. Other notable items that are worth buying include valenki (felt boots), tinned caviar, Orthodox icons, palekh (traditional Russian miniature paintings), and balalaika (a Russian stringed musical instrument).

Explore other destinations

If a city break in Moscow doesn't quite convince you, why not explore other exciting cities? Check out our amazing flight and hotel packages for your next holiday adventure!

• Flight + Hotel in St. Petersburg
• Flight + Hotel in Riga
• Flight + Hotel in Kiev
• Flight + Hotel in Helsinki

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Problems with rescheduling a flight with Opodo - Air Travel Forum

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Problems with rescheduling a flight with Opodo

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Unfortunately, we are now not allowed to go to Guadeloupe for holidays, so we first decided to cancel the flight . Of course, as we discovered later, the cancellation can be done BUT not if it's related to the COVID-19 situation. Our bad because, although we checked if it os covered, we apparently missed the point in which they won't refund us if the cancellation is due to the pandemia. Luckily we also made sure that the tickets are flexible, so we called Opodo and asked for a reschedule. We checked the flights and a price in January should be only 100e or so more than we paid now (we got a really good deal). We called Opodo call centre and were informed that at the dates picked by us the flight DIFFERENCE will be more than 1200e which is already 2x more than we actually spent on the tickets.

After telling them that we have their website (as well as the airline ) in front of us and the price that we see is around 600e less than what he tells me, the operator told me that the price if you reschedule a flight is different than if you book the flight from the beginning (which to me seems like total BS).

Did anybody experience anything similar? Is there any chance I can do something with that? In this case it's better for me to let those tickets go (750e) and book new flight than to reschedule the flight (2000e). Is it normal that the rescheduled flight is SO much more expensive than a new? We also apparently don't pay any rescheduling fee, so the price difference supposed to be only the ticket price difference.

We feel so stupid with booking through Opodo instead of the airline directly but we assumed that with the insurance and flexible tickets we are covered enough.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

20 replies to this topic

I've not looked at the terms of the Opodo insurance, but we see quite a few similar posts and it appears the insurance isn't quite what it seems and the extra has been down to a difference in fares. IF you do a search for Opodo here in the Tripadvisor forums, you'll see many complaints, in future you might want to think about doing that search before you choose what is a well known dodgy third party ticket reseller.

>>we also took the full insurance and made sure that we are taking flexible tickets.<<

Also, whenever you purchase "full insurance" or any type of insurance, you definitely have to check what specifically covers and what allowed circumstances are (documented illness, injury, death in family, etc). So you may have been "fully" covered in terms of what they will pay you but only under certain conditions. Do you have the policy info to see what it says the conditions are?

If booking new flights at this point is much cheaper, then that may be the better way to go.

Opodo is dreadful. No one who does a lick of research uses them. See this other thread started TODAY from another unsatisfied customer

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k13516200-Complaint_about_opodo-Air_Travel.html

You really MUST do research and ask questions BEFORE you give your money to unknown companies.

Not even a week ago this thread with over 400 warnings was bumped:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k13254948-Getting_a_refund_through_Opodo-Air_Travel.html

And we have MANY OTHERS.

Any "extras" you bought from Opodo is just throwing money out the window. Always book direct. Always buy insurance from companies that sell insurance, not from companies selling you products or services. At best their policies are overpriced, but far too often you are getting nothing at all useful for your money.

If you have a screen print of the order and have proof that Opodo did not sell you the correct tickets that they contracted with you to supply then you probably have grounds to get your payment card to refund the cost ( failure to fulfil the contract) BUT you need to be able to prove what the order was versus what you got. I wouldn't muddy the waters talking about the insurance side of things - just concentrate on the fact that you believe that you were buying flexible tickets so that you would be able to reschedule if you wanted to and you now find that this was NOT what they supplied

'made sure that we are taking flexible tickets.' If you bought tickets in Economy then they're almost certainly not what the carrier would have sold as flexible fare tickets.

The document abou their flexible travel dates originates from - uh oh - eDreams: https://www.aontctravel.com/viajes/CondicionPDF.aspx?POLICY_NUMBER=FLEXRB160&LANGUAGE=EN&BRAND=OP&COUNTRY=GB&ID_CM=2658 and comes at a hefty cost of more than € 100.

AF intend to operate from CDG to PTP on 16 April and if you cancel you may get nothing back as Opodo's fees for cancellation will eat into whatever AF offer. As well, AF may offer a refund but Opodo's terms may offer only a credit.

Can you claim on your travel insurance?

So as far as I understand Opodo offers now "flexible" tickets to quite a substantial part of their tickets and I have it written on the e-ticket that they sent me that it's flexible and that there is no fee from Opodo itself.

I haven't even thought that it's possible that then I have to pay the airline fee itself although as I see now the airline itself is offering free rebooking because of COVID.

As for the 60 days within the original flight . I don't think that's the case as we ask the operator to also check the dates in the beginning of May.

The most annoying part is that we normally book directly with the airline (often cheaper, faster, less 3party people) but this time, as it was quite a long flight in the middle of pandemia, we decided to do that through the travel company to feel safer -.-

As for the insurance, I checked before buying and they said that it covers "reasonable cancellation" and after looking a bit around we figured that not being able to enter the country counts as "reasonable". Apparently somewhere there is was also written that it doesn't apply to COVID.

I tried to but they informed me that, of course, COVID related cancellation is not covered

Sadly, you believed Opodo was a “travel company” whereas, although it deals in travel and it’s a company that’s about as far as it goes.

Online ticket sellers have to make money somehow and they do that by additional charges left, right and centre and by restricting the level of service as much as possible. They also rely on the fact that the majority of people either don’t read the small print or don’t understand it.

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Reviews 4.4.

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Customer service very good

Customer service was very good on both times I called. The second time, I spoke to a gentleman called Omar Saber who was very warm and funny. Omar did his best to convince me to stay by explaining the benefits of Prime. He was very persuasive but I was sure I wanted to cancel; Omar then helped me quickly with sorting it.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Reply from Opodo

Our sincere thanks for your positive words and feedback. As a valued customer, we look forward to serving you again. Best regards, Customer Care team

All aspects of the trip well coordinated, flights with differents companies, hotels, that's a great help. However, when you choose opyion for a utomatic bording passes you expect to well received it. However in our case work well for first way flight, but no return flight ! I had to contact assistance. Next time will do it by myself.

Date of experience : April 10, 2024

Thank you for your positive feedback and for taking the time to post it! We are delighted that you had a great experience and look forward to being of service to you again in the future. Best regards, Customer Care team

I spoke with David when he took the…

I spoke with David when he took the call after 40 seconds, he was polite, very knowledgeable about the product, changed my mind to keeping the subscription. Top class customer service

Problem understood at once

The assistant talked a bit fast but understood my problem straight away and fed it back to me. He was confident about helping and understood my concern. He then rectified the ticketing problem and made sure I could see the change on the airline web site.

Wow, amazing beratung and service. I made a mistake and called the customer service to ask for a refund and I didn't get the full refund, but more than 50% plus a great team. They have a great membership offer and benefits and I will definitely recommend and use it again in the future. Great help and thank you for solving the situation one more time -so efficiently late in the evening.

Today I wanted to cancel my trial prime…

Today I wanted to cancel my trial prime membership. I was surprised at how many negative experiences related to cancelling Opodo Prime can be found in the Internet. I called the Opodo Prime Support and, in addition to the option to cancel online easily and without any disadvantages, I received another, reduced offer for an extension of my membership. I will think about it again.

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

Opodo can be great, but approach with caution!

I got a great deal on a flight - a real bargain. But in my haste to grab the opportunity, I missed two things. First, Opodo charges an annual Prime membership fee of nearly £90. You should get this back in savings you make, but only if you use it fairly often over the year. Second, although Opodo likes Ryanair, the feeling’s not mutual! Ryanair made it quite difficult to manage my booking and sent me a very negative email. So Opodo can be very good, but needs to be used carefully.

Hi Andy, We are truly sorry that your experience with customer service was less than ideal. The way the interaction was handled does not align with our quality standards, which is something we take seriously. We reviewed your case to verify that quality was otherwise met and assure you that your request is in progress and being properly handled. As soon as we have an answer, we will notify you by email at the address used to make your purchase. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Sincerely, John Customer Care Team

Our phone call today with a advisor Yaye …

I was on phone today with a advisor named Yaye. She was very helpful and supportive and it was a very good surprise ! We accepted all she told us and subscribed. Thanks to her and for her professional attitude.

Thank you very much for your positive review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your kind words. It will be our pleasure to serve you again in the future. Best regards, Customer Care team

Excellent customer service

Hanaa was extremely helpful, polite and friendly. Excellent service. She answered my enquiry efficiently and made sure there was a positive outcome.

Thank you for taking the time to write this review! Your feedback is important to us and helps us to continue to improve our service. We are grateful for your business and hope you will choose us again for your future travel. Sincerely, Customer Care team

Avoid at all cost!!

Avoid at all cost!!! Shocking site!! Tried to book return flights to visit family in Equador, but the site either crashed during processing the booking or came back with a technical error. When I eventually managed to complete the booking it was cancelled 24hrs later. And don’t get me started on trying to cancel the Prime free trail, 15mins on the phone to a call centre you could hardly understand and argued why I should keep the account.

Hi Steve, We are truly sorry that your experience with customer service was less than ideal. The way the interaction was handled does not align with our quality standards, which is something we take seriously. We reviewed your case to verify that quality was otherwise met and assure you that your request is in progress and being properly handled. As soon as we have an answer, we will notify you by email at the address used to make your purchase. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Sincerely, John Customer Care Team

I was having a problem with my Oporto…

I was having a problem with my Opodo account, and there is a guy Abdrahmen abou el wafa and he helped me too much. I am really satisfied.

it was relatively easy to change one of…

it was relatively easy to change one of my flights. waited for a short while for it to be approved. the explanation during the process was clear. the costs to be carried are still a factor that i am uncertain about.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

To be honest I feel disappointed…

To be honest I feel disappointed because I don't know why you guys have to take money in my bank account since I pay my flight ticket.

Opodo Prime offers great deals and I…

Opodo Prime offers great deals and I managed to save a lot of money by booking through it. I just won't be travelling much soon so I canceled the membership.

The company's representative- Hashi…

The company's representative- Hashi (hope I wrote it right) was the nicest costumer service person I ever talked to. She was so sweet and very helpful.

Dear Team, I had nice young people at the phone, sometimes hard to understand (accents). But at least a very good service. I deeply hope that the hotel in London which you recommended, is nice, clean and easy… Best wishes

Djibril gave me perfect service and…

Djibril gave me perfect service and responded to all my questions. I am really satisfied thank you so much.

I only wanted to buy a flight and you…

I only wanted to buy a flight and you got me in a subscription. You've told me that there was an e-mail etc but I was buying in a hurry and didn't notice anything strange. So you charged me 89 euros for a annual subscription of which I had no idea I had subscribed. Thankfully one of your teleoperators was so comprensive and the affair was resolved but I find the way you have to get custumers totally unethical and I would never wish to hear anything more about you anymore. You might say everything is legal but I think you are nothing better than scammers. I won't be happy to receive any e-mails from you.

Hi Francisco, We are truly sorry that your experience with customer service was less than ideal. The way the interaction was handled does not align with our quality standards, which is something we take seriously. We reviewed your case to verify that quality was otherwise met and assure you that your request is in progress and being properly handled. As soon as we have an answer, we will notify you by email at the address used to make your purchase. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Sincerely, John Customer Care Team

The man Sam did a very good job

The man Sam did a very good job. He was polite, courteous and very helpful. Clear and very good communication. Mavridis

My return flight was not booked …

My return flight was not booked despite it was paid, so I had big troubles to come back to home. I had to negotiate long time with the desk to get a return ticket. By the way no electronic ticket was issued before departure, even no confirmation email from Opodo was sent to me

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Hi Emmanuel, We are truly sorry that your experience with customer service was less than ideal. The way the interaction was handled does not align with our quality standards, which is something we take seriously. We reviewed your case to verify that quality was otherwise met and assure you that your request is in progress and being properly handled. As soon as we have an answer, we will notify you by email at the address used to make your purchase. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Sincerely, John Customer Care Team

Save money by booking flights and hotels directly, says Which?

T ravellers looking for the best holiday deals could be better off going direct to airlines and hotels rather than third-party booking websites, according to consumer group Which ?.

New research based on thousands of experiences of booking accommodation and flights found that some websites offer poor customer service and rarely – if ever – find the cheapest prices.

Which? surveyed its members about their experiences of using both comparison sites , which trawl the internet for the best prices, and booking sites, which allow travellers to search for flights and accommodation and book on the same platform.

Opodo found the cheapest flights more than any other site that researchers looked at, however it was branded the lowest-ranking flight booking site with a customer a customer score of just 28 per cent.

Which? said that “survey responses underlined why it is worth looking beyond price alone” when deciding where to book a trip, with Opodo getting a one-star rating for customer service. Difficulties getting hold of customer service agents was a frequent complaint, with one respondent stating that the site offers “zero customer service”.

A spokesperson for Opodo told The Independent that “consumers should be reassured that the overwhelming majority of people that book with us have a positive experience”.

Expedia was the highest scoring platform in the survey, with a customer score of 70 per cent. Respondents awarded it three stars for value for money, ease of finding flexible fares, transparency of fees, and site functionality.

However, Which?’s research also found it was the site least likely to find consumers the cheapest flights. When Which? checked 10 different flight journeys across nine websites (including four booking sites and five comparison sites), and recorded the price shown for bookings one week, six weeks and six months before the departure date, Expedia failed to return the cheapest option on any occasion.

This may be due to the fact that Expedia does not offer flights from some budget airlines, such as Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Previous research by Which? found that while some online travel agents (OTAs) may often offer the cheapest headline fare, once extras like baggage or seat selection are added, the final price will often work out significantly more expensive than booking directly with the airline.

Unavoidable hidden charges for online consumers – or “drip pricing” – is set to be banned under new laws to force businesses to be upfront with their customers .

Optional fees, such as airline seat and luggage upgrades for flights, will not be included in the measures.

Google Flights was the best performing flight comparison site, with respondents awarding it four stars for site functionality – the highest of any comparison site rated in the survey. It found the cheapest flights on six out of 30 occasions, comparable to Kayak and Cheap Flights, which each found the cheapest flights on five occasions.

When Which? carried out a price analysis for hotel bookings, comparing the cost of 30 overnight stays in 10 hotels across nine different websites, it found booking direct rather than using a booking site offered the cheapest price half the time.

Kayak and Trivago were most frequently successful, finding the lowest, or joint lowest price on 12 occasions, while Skyscanner was close behind with 11 times.

Agoda returned the most expensive price on 14 out of 30 occasions, while Expedia and Booking.com each had the dearest prices on 13 out of 30 occasions.

“If you’re looking to book a flight or hotel, our research shows comparison sites can be an excellent starting point, scouring the internet to take the hard work out of your decision-making. We’d advise checking a couple of different platforms so you have the best possible chance of finding the right option for you,” said Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel .

“Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, book directly. Booking with the airline will usually prove cheaper than using an Online Travel Agent, and will mean you know exactly who is responsible should something go wrong. Calling a hotel directly will often secure you the best price or at the very least they’ll throw in a freebie like a bottle of wine or a room upgrade.”

In response to the findings, an Opodo spokesperson said: “This survey was based on responses from only 44 customers, which is 0.0002 per cent of the 20 million travellers that book through our platform each year. We care passionately about every single Opodo customer and we are always looking at how we can make our customer service even better, but consumers also need to be aware that surveys based on such tiny sample sizes are not robust or representative.

“We get feedback from the millions of people that book through Opodo each year and nine out of ten tell us they are satisfied or very satisfied with the service they receive. Our Trustpilot score of 4.3 ranks meaningfully better than any other OTA and/or airline. Since the pandemic, through significant investment in technology and our customer service team, we have supported 6.4 million people who have faced travel disruption and got our average call answering time down to only 60 seconds, all while expanding the range of options available to consumers to help them keep costs down, make travel more convenient, and discover new destinations and experiences.

“Like all businesses we get it wrong sometimes, but consumers should be reassured that the overwhelming majority of people that book with us have a positive experience.”

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

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What to do if your flight is canceled.

Follow these steps in the event your flight is canceled.

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

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Key Takeaways

• If your flight has been canceled, you are entitled to a full cash refund per federal law.
• Using the airline's app or calling an international airline number is often the quickest way to get help.
• The DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard shows what each major domestic airline will or will not provide in the event of a cancellation or delay.

If your flight has been canceled, 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."

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Luggage Trackers
• Is a Travel Agent Worth It? The Pros and Cons
• Can I Use My Own Airplane Seatbelt Extender?
• How to Get Airport Wheelchair Assistance
• The Top Cheap Weekend Getaways

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Tags: Travel , Travel Tips

World's Best Places To Visit

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

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Here's When Summer Flight Prices Will Peak, According to Hopper

Prices may be equal to or even surpass 2023 levels, they are still lower than pre-pandemic in 2019.

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Summer travel is about to heat up, and flight prices may be downright scorching this season.

Flight prices for this summer will peak around $315 roundtrip for domestic getaways with fares starting to rise in May, according to predictions from booking site Hopper that was shared with Travel + Leisure . Peak prices will come at the end of May and early June.

While these prices may be equal to or even surpass 2023 levels, they are still lower than pre-pandemic in 2019, Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, told T+L. 

“Slightly lower domestic airfares come as seat capacity has fully surpassed pre-pandemic levels and demand for summer travel remains strong among American consumers,” Berg said. “Airlines have achieved higher capacities by adding larger planes on routes rather than adding more flights as they remain constrained on physical supply of new aircrafts."

When it comes to international trips, airfare prices remain higher than pre-pandemic levels to most regions of the world, but not nearly as high as last summer when airfare to Europe and Asia soared to a five-year high . An exception to that is Canada, which is seeing a 7 percent increase in prices compared to last summer and continues to see a 32 percent increase in prices compared to 2019.

Travelers heading to Europe, however, can score flights at $882 — much less than the average $1,167 last summer. 

Beyond high prices, Berg said travelers should prepare for increased travel disruption rates, especially in June, July and August. As a result, Berg said Hopper is increasingly seeing travelers add rebooking services to their trips in case of cancellations or delays.

When it comes to hotels, prices are currently averaging $206 per night, which Hopper said is in line with costs this time last year. 

But while major U.S. cities will always remain popular, Hopper said domestic travelers are searching for “smaller, more off the beaten track cities and towns” this summer, like Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Cody, Wyoming, and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Internationally, Osaka, Japan, is the top trending summer destination , followed by trips to Seoul, South Korea, and Nice, France.

Seeing the total eclipse from 33,000 feet

Despite the pilot’s best efforts, delta’s eclipse flight didn’t offer passengers the best view of totality.

SOMEWHERE OVER ARKANSAS — As skywatchers gathered across North America on Monday to peer up at a total solar eclipse, a plane full of Delta Air Lines passengers hoped to get a unique view from above the clouds.

But despite the efforts of the pilots on the route from Dallas to Detroit, a glimpse of totality proved elusive for many of the people who had reserved a spot on a flight that promised special maneuvers to get everyone a peek.

Passengers crowded near windows as the plane made a series of turns. However, the angle of the sun in the sky through much of the flight meant it was difficult to see much at all without craning your neck. Questions of “Did you see it?” bounced around the plane.

Kyle Carter, 40, a stay-at-home dad and private pilot from Orlando, said he didn’t see much of the actual eclipse during the flight, but he was happy with what he experienced.

“What I wanted to see, more than the actual eclipse itself, was just the shadow racing toward us from behind,” he said. “I did see that. You could see the darkness come towards us.”

Attorney Scot Kees and his daughter Gabrielle, 8, came from Atlanta for the flight. He said they “got a sliver” of the eclipse.

“Even though we didn’t get it completely, it was a fun community experience,” he said. He pointed out that clouds were an issue for many on the ground, so he’s not sure he would have seen more if he’d traveled somewhere else. “I’m glad we got to see what we did.”

2024 total solar eclipse

Before people on the plane flew into a few minutes of totality, the lights were dimmed and the sky outside grew darker. Flight attendants and the pilot offered a couple of heads-ups. Seat-back screens showed the scenes elsewhere along the path of totality, including Mexico, then Texas and up through Indianapolis.

Passengers got a bag of swag that included “solar eclipse” Sun Chips, a Moon Pie, eclipse glasses, and Delta-branded socks and hat that said “climbing the cosmos.”

Captain Alex Howell said in an interview after the flight landed that he didn’t look at the sun during the flight, but saw the sky turn into a “dark version of dusk.”

“The city lights came on because of the darkness,” he said.

In the lead-up to the eclipse, several airlines publicized their best-chance flights for a prime viewing spot, with more than two dozen crisscrossing the country on Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska and other operators. They were careful to include caveats and make no promises.

“While Delta flight plans have been designed to maximize time within the path of totality, this is subject to change due to factors outside of Delta’s control such as weather and air traffic control that could impact timing and aircraft,” the airline warned.

Delta operated two dedicated eclipse flights from Texas on Monday, including one from Austin. On the flight from Austin to Detroit, a couple wearing eclipse shirts got engaged after passing through totality.

“Everyone was clapping and yelling and just really happy for them,” said Delta spokeswoman Catherine Morrow, who was on the flight. The captain piped up from the flight deck to ask the outcome.

In Dallas, the airport scene was festive Monday morning. Passengers walked under a celestial-themed balloon arch to board, airline representatives handed out glasses and a Yorkie named Delilah posed for photos with her humans.

“It’s her first eclipse, how could she miss it?” said Alan Goldberg, 70, an attorney who lives in New York City and Florida. Monday was Delilah the dog’s second birthday.

Thomas Iwinski, a 34-year-old meteorologist from Detroit, flew to Dallas Monday morning to get on the flight back home that would transport passengers along the path of totality. He described the mood at the gate as “ecstatic, joyful, elated.” He rented a home in Tennessee for the 2017 eclipse but didn’t want to take a chance on clouds this time.

“It’s definitely going to be something that I’ve never experienced before,” he said.

The airline had been planning for the flights for months.

In October, an operations planning staffer mentioned the upcoming eclipse. That led to some brainstorming and spitballing, said Chris Clisham, a flight superintendent at the airline, in a phone interview.

“And dot dot dot, here we are,” he said.

The logistics sound like an SAT word problem: If the plane is traveling at 400 mph and the moon’s shadow is racing at 1,600 mph, where will they overlap? And for how long? Throw in the angle of the sun while you’re at it.

“Fortunately, even though I am a math major, I didn’t have to bring any trigonometry into this equation,” Clisham said. Flight-planning software did the heavy lifting.

The airline first announced an Austin-to-Detroit flight in mid-February, describing it as “specifically for umbraphiles to be able to spend as much time as possible directly within the path of totality.” That flight sold out in a day, so Delta quickly added another one, this time from Dallas.

Jamie Larounis, a D.C.-based travel industry analyst with UpgradedPoints.com , had no special plans to see the eclipse. He was intrigued by Delta’s first flight, but it sold out before he could snag a seat. Then he saw a news release about the Dallas flight.

“Within 30 seconds, I had it booked,” he said. “I dropped everything.”

Before the flight, he said, he dropped 107,500 airline miles to book a first-class seat on the left side of the plane, equivalent to about $1,149. Anyone who heard about the plan assumed he has an extreme interest in eclipses, but he said he is more of an aviation buff.

“They all think I’m some sort of meteorologist, am I some sort of physics whatever,” said Larounis, 34.

Melanie Elliott, 36, of Chapel Hill, N.C., was disappointed to have missed the Austin flight so she leaped at the chance to fly out of Dallas. An astronomy fan who got a degree in physics, she was wearing astronaut earrings, a solar system necklace and a star and moon ring. After the flight, she said the view of totality — as she “was like laying on the right side of the seat” to try to see — was “a little disappointing.” She said she’ll watch her next eclipse from the ground.

But there was one huge perk for her: Astronaut Scott Kelly spoke at a post-flight party in Detroit and posed for pictures with passengers.

“Scott Kelly touched my moon tattoo,” Elliott said. “Kind of worth it.”

During the last eclipse visible from North America, in 2017, photographer Jon Carmichael tried to win a spot on a special Alaska Airlines flight so he could photograph the eclipse from the sky. He lost out, but pored over flight schedules and compared them with the eclipse path to find a Southwest flight from Portland, Ore., to St. Louis.

With the help of the pilots — one of whom even cleaned the window outside Carmichael’s seat before taking off — he took about 1,200 photos that formed an iconic photo mosaic documenting the eclipse.

Carmichael, who has also photographed an eclipse from land, said there are pros and cons to being in the air. The experience on the ground is more immersive; there are temperature changes, reactions from wildlife and the view is not obstructed by parts of a plane.

But in the sky, clouds are much less likely to get in the way. And, he said, it’s possible to see the moon’s shadow moving across the earth on the ground — a view unavailable to eclipse watchers for most of human history.

“We’ve only been flying as a human race for a little over 100 years; that’s only the blink of an eye,” he said. “It really gives you a sense of the scale of the universe that we’re part of this huge incredible celestial system where you actually can see the moon’s shadow being cast onto the Earth, moving across the Earth.”

A total solar eclipse passed across the United States on Monday, April 8. See photos and videos from the path of totality and read our reporters’ coverage from scenes across the nation .

Looking ahead: Missed this one? The next eclipse visible in the United States won’t be until 2044 — and then we’ll see another shortly after in 2045. If you did watch this eclipse but without proper eyewear, here’s what to do if your eyes hurt .

The science: This eclipse appeared especially dramatic because the sun was at its most active period in two decades. In the past, solar eclipses have helped scientists learn more about the universe . Here’s everything else to know about the solar eclipse.

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Boeing 737 max diverts to idaho after in-flight emergency.

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A Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Air Canada made an emergency landing in Idaho this week after experiencing an in-flight emergency.

On Tuesday, Flight 997 diverted to Boise during its trip from Mexico City to Vancouver, Canada, after the pilots received an indicator light in the flight deck, the airline told FOX Business. 

Officials later discovered that it was due to a faulty cargo hold indicator.

The flight landed at Boise Airport after the light came on as a precautionary measure. The aircraft was met by first responders at around 11 a.m. local time.

There were 122 passengers and six crew members on board during the incident.

All passengers were picked up by another aircraft Tuesday evening to complete their trip, the airline said.

Boeing deferred comment to Air Canada.    

This marks the latest in a string of incidents involving Boeing aircraft since the beginning of the year when a plug-in door blew off an Alaska Airlines flight. 

Earlier this week, a Boeing 737-800 plane – operated by Southwest Airlines – was headed for William P. Hobby Airport in Houston when the engine cowling fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff in Denver.

A few days before that, a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet headed from Honolulu to Anchorage, Alaska, operated by Alaska Airlines, had to turn around after a malfunctioning bathroom sink flooded the cabin, according to reports.  

The windshield of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet cracked while landing in Oregon in mid-March.

United Airlines reported at least six unrelated incidents that occurred on planes operated by United since the end of February.

Five of them involved a Boeing plane. 

FOX Business’ Michael Dorgan and Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

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