Aerial photograph of San Francisco International airport in twilight

Airlines + Airports

While the airlines and airports travelers use are often dictated by their departure point and destination, there are still options to consider for planning the best trip. Travel + Leisure's writers and editors draw on their extensive experience to help ease your journey and elevate your in-flight experience. Before you take off, check out the latest airline news, terminal guides, and insider tips.

Aircraft wing on the clouds,flying background. Airplane wing and white clouds
Why Airplanes Fly at 35,000 Feet, According to a Former Pilot
Sydney Australia, Crew Bunk bed under the roof of an aircraft. Prepaired with a blanket and pillow.
Here's Where Pilots and Flights Attendants Sleep on Long-haul Flights
Low angle view of airplane against sky
Why Airplanes Are Almost Always Painted White
A dimmed airplane cabin
Why Flight Attendants Dim the Lights During Takeoff and Landing
Airplane floating in the air
The Scientific Reason Planes Sometimes Look Like They're Frozen Midair
View of a plane shade that is open
Here's Why Window Shades Have to Be Up During Takeoff and Landing
Airport waiting area, airplane taking off
What Is Skiplagging? What to Know About the Controversial Air Travel Hack
Premium economy on Delta
What Is Premium Economy — and Is It Worth It?
Singapore Airlines plane
Singapore Airlines Is a Consistent Favorite Among T+L Readers — and We Just Got a Behind the Scenes Look Into Its Food and Beverage Service
Pilot and female first officer seated in the flight deck
How to Become a Pilot for Professional and Recreational Flying
View of an airplane wing through an airplane window
Want to Switch Your Airline Loyalty? Here's What You Need to Know About Frequent Flier Status Matches
Smithsonian Air & Space museum
10 Best Aviation Museums Around the U.S.
Dublin balloon sign at JFK's JetBlue terminal
JetBlue Just Launched Its First Flight to Dublin — and I Was One of the Lucky Passengers on Board
Dozens of retired commercial jet aircraft are parked at the Mojave Air & Space Port
Where Do Airplanes Go When They Can’t Fly Anymore?
Florida, Miami International Airport, Passport Control concourse, arriving passengers
What to Know About Trusted Traveler Programs — PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI
Woman flight attendant fastening seatbelt in airplane
Why Flight Attendants Always Sit on Their Hands During Takeoff and Landing
A man holding a glass of champagne on board an airplane
This Airline Gives Out Free Alcoholic Beverages on 4 Special Days Each Year — How to Snag One
Travelers At HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport Ahead Of Christmas Holiday
How to Get TSA PreCheck for Free
Southwest Airlines at Palm Springs International Airport
Everything to Know About Southwest's Rapid Rewards Program — Including How to Earn the Elusive Companion Pass
A group of characters waiting for their boarding at the airport next to their gate
7 Travel Habits Frequent Fliers Swear By
Interior of full flight
Everything to Know About Southwest Airlines Fare Types
People wearing N95 face masks waiting at baggage claim line terminal of the international airport. Airplane travelers waiting for luggage from a conveyor belt.
You Might Be Entitled to Compensation If Your Bag Is Delayed — What to Know
Chase Sapphire Lounge Reserve Suite at LaGuardia Airport
The Newest Lounge at This NYC Airport Has a Caviar Bar, Facial Spa, and Some of the City's Best Cocktails — See Inside
Amex Centurion Lounge in Atlanta airport
Amex Just Opened Its Largest Centurion Lounge — With a Whiskey Bar, 4,000 Square Feet of Patio Space, and Food From a James Beard Award Semifinalist
Happy asian tourist woman using mobile smartphone with backpack traveling between waits for flight in Airport Terminal, Browse Internet, flight check in, Tourist journey trip concept
How Much Are Your Airline Miles Worth? Here's How to Find Out
bar at Laguardia centurion Lounge
Amex Centurion Lounges: What to Know About Each Location, and How to Access Them
JSX jet exterior with blue skies
I Was One of the First to Fly on JSX's Semi-private Jet to the Bahamas — Here's What It Was Like
white young man with hat and suitcase walking through the airport near the takeoff runway
Do Airline Miles Expire? How to Prevent Your Rewards From Going to Waste
Exterior of plane
What to Know About the JetBlue TrueBlue Frequent Flier Program
A United Plane with mountains behind it
What to Know About United MileagePlus— Including How to Earn Status and Redeem Miles
Airplane passengers sleep on lay-flat seats offered by La Compagnie
These Airlines Have Some of the Best First- and Business-class Seats in the Skies Right Now
Exterior of plane against blue sky
What to Know About the American Airlines AAdvantage Program — Including How to Earn Elite Status and Redeem Miles
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes takeoff at the same time from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California,
Alaska Airlines to Buy Hawaiian Airlines — Here's What It Means for Travelers
Two delta planes
What to Know About the Delta SkyMiles Program — Including How to Earn Status and Redeem Miles
Flight attendant walks down aisle of aircraft full of passengers
5 Dirtiest Parts on a Plane, According to Flight Attendants
Core seating on a JetBlue airplane
Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy: How to Pick the Best Fare for Your Trip
Passengers portraits in the illuminator frames, an airplane travel concept
Why You Should Never Sleep Through Takeoff or Landing
Woman’s hands holding passports & boarding passes
Open-jaw Flights: What They Are and Why You Might Want to Book Them
Fear of flying airplanes. Hand holding airplane seat.
How to Deal With Turbulence Anxiety, According to Experts
Portrait of a flight attendant at the airport checking an arrival departure board and carrying her luggage
Why Published Flight Times Aren't Always Right
Illustration of airplane cabin at night time, dark plane economy class cockpit with seats side view.
These Are the Safest Seats on an Airplane, According to Aviation Experts
Online flight booking website provide modish reservation system
How to Use Airline Flight Credits — So You Never Lose Out Again
A burger and fries on a tray with plane tickets at the airport
Why We Crave Strange Foods at the Airport, According to a Dietician
View from an airplane over Virgin Gorda, BVI
This Semi-private Jet Company Is Launching a New Route From the U.S. to the British Virgin Islands — and We Were the First on Board
Over the shoulder view of a young Asian woman using smartphone to book flight tickets and plan holiday. She is holding a coffee. Businesswoman planning business trip in office.
What to Know About Refundable vs. Nonrefundable Plane Tickets
View of Ponte Vecchio in Florence
11 Cheapest European Cities to Fly Into Right Now
A rendering of The Club MDW, the lounge at Midway Airport in Chicago
This 95-year-old U.S. Airport Is About to Get Its First Lounge
Silhouettes of passengers waiting at an airport
How to Pick the Best Flight Insurance Policy for Your Next Trip
A child on a window on an airplane looking out
The Real Reason Why Airplane Windows Have Holes
Interior of La Compagnie airplane cabin
This All-business-class Carrier Was Named the Best Airline in the World — With Lie-flat Seats and Flights 50% Cheaper Than the Competition
Passengers are waiting in line to board the plane
Why You Always Board Planes on the Left
A person checking in at the airport using a self service check in machine to print boarding pass
Why You Should Always Print Your Boarding Pass
The overhead console of a passenger airplane, with lights, call buttons and air vents
Why You Should Think Twice Before Turning Off Your Air Vent in Flight
A PS car on the LAX tarmac
This Private Airport Terminal Will Make It Feel Like You're Flying Private — Even When You're Not
The control tower of Singapore Changi Airport in Singapore
A Complete Guide to Singapore Changi Airport
Interior of international airplane with passengers on seats and stewardess in uniform walking the aisle with a drink cart
Should You Tip Flight Attendants? Here's What the Experts Say
Illustration showing three travelers waiting in a line with planes
How to Use Flight Price Alerts to Save Money on Your Next Trip
Two salads and a glass of champagne on a Planet 9 private plane
I Went to Private Jet Flight Attendant Training to See One of the Most Important Parts of the Job – Here's What It Was Like
Pattern of airplane trails of condensed air crisscrossing each other against the blue sky
How to Track a Flight in Real Time
Young Asian female airline check-in assistant putting luggage on the scales at check-in counter in airport
8 Tips to Help You Avoid Baggage Fees Next Time You Fly
Illustration of traveler at airport check-in counter with bags and tickets.
All the Hidden Fees You Might Not Expect From the Major U.S. Airlines — and How Delta, American, and United Compare
A La Compagnie airplane flying over St. Marteen
The World's Best Airline Is Launching Flights to the Caribbean on Its All-business-class Planes
A Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) identity verification machine is demonstrated at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint at Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) in Baltimore, Maryland, US, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
What Happens If You Leave Your Middle Name Off Your Flight Booking?