Today’s Travel: Know Before You Go
Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb talk with Sarah Spagnolo, Digital Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure Magazine, about how to prepare for those upcoming family summer vacations.
Family Summer Vacations: Best Days To Fly
Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb talk with Sarah Spagnolo about family summer vacation tips for the upcoming summer travel, including TSA's new rules for families, traveling by car and more.
Sarah Spagnolo said to book in advance for those family vacations this summer. Airlines for America is anticipating that 2.24 million people will be in the skies everyday through August.
Sarah said to book at least six weeks in advance and it is best to fly early in the morning when airlines and roads are less busy. The best time to fly out are Saturday mornings, plus Tuesdays and Wednesdays are when you can get cheaper fares.
iFly Vs Gate Guru: Family & Airports
Sarah Spagnolo said when bringing the whole family to the airport, one thing to keep in mind is that some airlines, including United, are no longer pre-boarding kids. Sarah said you need to search your airports website for kid-friendly amenities, as well as iFly and GateGuru to find out what’s available.
She said you are going to want to look for kid-friendly airports with play areas or that have pre-book access to lounges. United Airways has booking available for the lounge for $29 when you buy the tickets and you have snacks for the kids and cocktails for the adults.
Airfare Watchdog & Smarter Travel: Last-Minute Planning
Sarah Spagnolo said for those families waiting to the last minute to buy tickets, there are some places to follow on Twitter. For last minute trips, follow @AirfareWatchdog and @SmarterTravel for fare deals on Twitter.
Family Summer Vacations: TSA Kids Rules & Child Carry-Ons
Sarah Spagnolo said there are some new TSA rules in place for families you should know about before heading to the airport. Kids under 12 no longer have to take off their shoes and you can bring more baby milk and baby formula than the allowed 3.4 ounces for longer flights.
Sarah also said every ticketed passenger can have one item and one carry-on, so even your 3-year-old can have one of each. Also, you can check your stroller at the gate, so that doesn’t count.
GasBuddy Prices: Summer Vacation In The Car
Sarah Spagnolo says when traveling in the car, it is best to plan the entire route in advance, scheduling stops along the way for meals and fun. You have stops every hour and a half and GasBuddy shows you where gas prices are less expensive. With the kids in the car for so long, Sarah said plan to entertain the kids in the car with games, entertainment and snacks. She said have games and things to keep them busy and entertained.
