Culture

8 of the Most Unusual Hotels in America

By Daily Passport Team

Read time: 5 minutes

July 3, 2024

Updated: August 31, 2025

8 of the Most Unusual Hotels in America

Culture • July 3, 2024 • Updated: August 31, 2025

By Daily Passport Team

From caverns deep underground to former cell blocks, there are many places across America where you’d never expect to find overnight accommodations. Many are landmark properties with a storied past, and the hoteliers behind them have opted to highlight their quirky, grandiose, or industrial characters through inspiring décor, unique amenities, and other thoughtful touches. These eight U.S. hotels are highly unusual, but very much worth booking if you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind overnight experience.

East Brother Light Statio n – Richmond, California

B&B occupying historic Victorian building at East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California — Credit: ZUMA Press Inc/ Alamy Stock Photo

The East Brother Light Station bed-and-breakfast is one of the few hotels in the world housed within a former lighthouse. Built in 1873, the restored Victorian B&B is perched atop a small island in the strait between the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. Adventurous guests will have to brave a 10-minute boat ride across the water and climb a 12-foot ladder to reach the property. The complex was home to a staffed lighthouse from 1873 until the 1960s. After the lighthouse was automated, the Coast Guard was set to tear down the structure, but local preservationists stepped in and turned it into a B&B, which opened in 1980 with five bedrooms. Guests will receive a tour of the grounds, hors d’oeuvres, wine, a multicourse dinner, and breakfast with their stay.

Shack Up Inn – Clarksdale, Mississippi

Exterior of Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi — Credit: BHammond/ Alamy Stock Photo

Would you spend upwards of $100 a night to stay in a shack? Deep in the Mississippi Delta, guests have the opportunity to imbibe at the world’s oldest “bed and beer” and sleep in their very own rustic room outfitted with a corrugated tin roof and homespun furniture. Luckily, guests can enjoy modern amenities such as air conditioning and indoor plumbing, too. These former cotton sharecropper shacks were abandoned after mechanical cotton pickers were introduced in the 1940s, but the inn’s owners bought them and turned them into these unique accommodations in 1998. They have since hosted famous guests such as Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. “The Ritz we ain’t” may be its motto, but the Shack Up Inn promises a memorable stay nonetheless.

Jules Undersea Lodge – Key Largo, Florida

Beach huts at entrance to Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida — Credit: Richard Ellis/ Alamy Stock Photo

You’ll have to be scuba-certified to stay at this unique accommodation in the Florida Keys. Jules Undersea Lodge is the only hotel in the world that requires guests to make the dive into the lagoon to reach rooms, which are located 30 feet under the surface. Your room will include a window of the watery abyss and ocean-inspired décor. Even better, you can get pizza delivered to your underwater abode and watch TV, as there is electricity inside the capsule. And if you aren’t yet scuba-certified, the property offers an instructor-led course on site for an additional cost.

Liberty Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts

Exterior of Liberty Hotel occupying former jailhouse in Boston, Massachusetts — Credit: Michael Dwyer/ Alamy Stock Photo

You won’t get locked in your room from the outside at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, but that wasn’t always the case. Built in 1851, the historic Charles Street Jail on Beacon Hill once housed some of Boston’s most notorious criminals, but it is now a four-star hotel boasting playful nods to the building’s past. These include jail bar doors at the on-site restaurant Clink, keys to the cells framed on display, and ball and chain accents throughout the property.

Beckham Creek Cave Lodg e – Parthenon, Arkansas

Bed under cave ceiling at Beckham Creek Cave Lodge in Parthenon, Arkansas — Photo credit: Image courtesy of Mallory.Gallery

In the Ozarks of northwestern Arkansas, nature lovers will find one-of-a-kind accommodations at the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge. Eight guests can fit comfortably inside the 5,800-square-foot house nestled within a bluff overlooking the valley. Each room within the lodge has stalactites overhead, and the exposed rock walls complement the minimalist interior décor. Best of all, guests will have the property’s 256 acres all to themselves. Perhaps one of the perks of being so isolated is that you’ll be able to drift to sleep in total darkness here with no noise to disturb you.

Hotel Grinnel l – Grinnell, Iowa

Guest room at Hotel Grinnell in Grinnell, Iowa — Photo credit: Image courtesy of Kruger Images – Jim Kruger

The bell won’t wake you up if you fall asleep at your desk — or rather, bed. This former junior high school constructed in 1921 is now a 45-room, schoolhouse-inspired hotel in Iowa, complete with a gymnasium-turned-ballroom featuring the original basketball court floor for events, a cafeteria converted into bunks, and locker rooms that now house the hotel’s bar and restaurant, aptly named Periodic Table. Rooms include chalkboards, bench seating, and other nods to academia. The school officially closed in the 1970s, but class is still in session — at least for hotel guests.

Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfas t – Farmington, New Mexico

View inside cave suite at Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast in Farmington, New Mexico — Credit: Image courtesy of Bruce Black/ Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast

Carved into a 60 million-year-old sandstone cliff face, Kokopelli’s B&B is another accommodation you’ll need to see in person to believe. Here, guests can watch the sun dip on the horizon and appreciate unparalleled views of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in the Four Corners region. There is no elevator to reach your room, so it’s not recommended for those with limited mobility, but guests can appreciate rustic touches including a replica Native American kiva (circular communal space), a waterfall shower with a rock wall, and Southwest-inspired décor throughout.

Red Caboose Mot el – Ronks, Pennsylvania

Exterior sign lit at night at Red Caboose Motel in Ronks, Pennsylvania — Credit: Jon Arnold Images Ltd/ Alamy Stock Photo

In 1969, the Pennsylvania Railroad put a total of 19 surplus cabooses — each weighing 25 tons — up for auction, and local businessman Donald M. Denlinger was the lucky bidder. Denlinger chose to convert the cars into hotel rooms, and the Red Caboose Motel was born in Lancaster County on Mother’s Day 1970. In the decades since, it has expanded to include 38 cars and has hosted countless travelers in search of a one-of-a-kind accommodation.

Note: All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Daily Passport may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

History

The Fascinating History of New England’s Stone Walls

By Julia Hammond

Read time: 6 minutes

July 1, 2024

Updated: July 1, 2024

The Fascinating History of New England’s Stone Walls

History • July 1, 2024 • Updated: July 1, 2024

By Julia Hammond

Humans have created walls, henges, cairns, and other stone structures since prehistoric times. These structures have served a variety of purposes, from defensive barriers to waymarkers and religious sites. And while many of the most famous stone walls are found in Europe, the United States is also home to a fascinating array of centuries-old walls. Though their purpose was often simple — to demarcate land used for agricultural or residential purposes — the methods used to construct them were ahead of their time. Their ubiquity gives them a cultural significance within this region, too. Discover the fascinating history of New England’s stone walls and how to visit them for yourself.

The Role of European Settlers

Stone wall stretching across grassy field in New England — Credit: Nick Brundle Photography/ Moment via Getty Images

The earliest stone walls date from Neolithic times, and they’re a feature you’ll see in many European countries today. For example, they’re abundant in Ireland, Scotland, and northern England, as well as throughout the Mediterranean region.

In fact, they’re such an important part of the local landscape that UNESCO inscribed the craft of dry stone walling on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018. The method involves large stones being laid on a bed of gravel. A wall of stones is carefully constructed on top that tapers slightly as it rises from the ground. Smaller stones called filling stones are used in the gaps, while through stones placed perpendicular to the wall also help to keep it stable. Finally, flat rocks known as coping stones are placed on top.

When Europeans migrated to North America beginning in the 17th century, many of them intended to farm and brought livestock with them. To keep their crops and animals separate, they needed to erect some kind of barrier. They did so in the way they knew how, and dry stone walls sprang up in the U.S. as a consequence. New England had an especially large number, thanks to a combination of the right kind of rock, glacial soils, and a prevalence of small family farms.

New England’s Stone Walls: A Microcosm of Time

Stone walls surrounded by bare trees and fallen leaves in autumn — Credit: Jeff Holcombe/ Shutterstock

Fieldstone walls encapsulate the history of New England. Thousands of years ago, glaciers advanced and then retreated, depositing their rocky moraine throughout the region. Forests grew and then were cut back to make space for farming, and those same stones were cleared and stacked to demarcate fields and clarify boundaries.

Though many remain standing today, the stone walls that were lost to history are gradually being rediscovered through the use of techniques such as light and detection ranging (LIDAR) and geographic information science (GIS). In the 1930s, mining engineer Oliver Bowles suggested that the region’s total could have been as much as 240,000 miles of walls, though mapping is still a work in progress.

Time Takes Its Toll

Stone walls overgrown with foliage in Connecticut — Credit: EWY Media/ Shutterstock

The building of dry stone walls reached its peak between 1750 and 1850, but times changed. As the nation industrialized and cities grew, rural land holdings were abandoned. Without people to maintain them, some stone walls were simply left to collapse, as there was no longer anyone around who knew how to make repairs. Vegetation cleaved and scattered the stone, while woodland recolonized what had once been pasture or plowed furrows.

Other walls fell victim to plunder, the stones repurposed in other structures. In Stamford, Connecticut, there are records of a purchase of a portable stone crusher in 1909 so that the material from redundant walls could form the base layer of new roads. A 1914 article in the magazine Guide to Nature lamented the loss of some of these “picturesque stone walls” but also argued that “a few stone walls go a long way in making enduring roads.”

However, more recently, an appreciation has taken root for the cultural value of these once unremarkable stone walls and the contribution they make to an area’s architectural heritage. For instance, the Stone Wall Initiative, coordinated by Robert M. Thorson, professor of earth sciences at the University of Connecticut, has been established to help catalog and preserve this unique characteristic of the New England landscape.

Where Can You Find New England’s Stone Walls?

Stone wall in Minuteman National Historical Park in Lexington, Massachusetts — Credit: Daniel Hanscom/ iStock via Getty Images

Fieldstone walls are found all throughout New England, but some are especially noteworthy. The earliest stone wall to be documented dates from 1607. It was built at the mouth of the Kennebec River (then the Sagadahoc River) north of Portland, Maine, near present-day Phippsburg. In the early 1600s, English settlers attempted to establish a permanent settlement here, known as the Popham Colony, but it was short-lived and abandoned in 1608. Samuel Maverick, an Englishman who visited in the 1620s, reported seeing “some old walls,” though no tangible evidence of the original walls remains today.

One of the most famous stone walls you can see in New England is located on Frost Farm in Derry, New Hampshire. This was the home of poet Robert Frost, who penned a work called “The Mending Wall,” which was published in his 1914 anthology North of Boston. A line that’s often quoted — “Good fences make good neighbors” — plays with the idea that walls and boundaries both join and separate us.

Meanwhile, the stone walls in Concord, Massachusetts, are wrapped up in the birth of an independent nation. North Bridge was the site of a significant battle during the American Revolutionary War. Now preserved as part of Minute Man National Historical Park, its agricultural stone walls would have provided much-needed cover for colonial fighters as they fended off the British in April 1775.

Another site of historic interest is Randall’s Ordinary in North Stonington, Connecticut. This homestead was built in 1685 and formed part of the National Underground Railroad Network. It offered a safe haven to enslaved peoples, who hid in the cellar and rested before continuing north to freedom in Canada. Within the grounds, you can find examples of lace walls, which are unusual dry-stacked structures with deliberate gaps between the stones. It’s not currently open to the public, but there are hopes to restore the site.

Where To Find Stone Walls Elsewhere in the U.S.

Though New England is most famous for its stone walls, there are many other parts of the U.S. in which you’ll find them.

Pennsylvania

In northeastern Pennsylvania’s Wayne County, stone walls indicate where there was once agriculture, even if the land use has since changed. Around 200 years ago, stones scattered about the fields would have made tasks like plowing more difficult, so piling them up to demarcate boundaries made sense. At the start of spring, farmers would use a “stone boat” to gather loose rocks and simply pile them on top of the existing wall. You’ll also see them in Woodbourne Forest and Wildlife Preserve farther west near Montrose.

Kentucky

Walls made out of chunks of limestone characterize much of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Irish and Scottish immigrants, some of them skilled stonemasons, built these walls approximately 200 years ago. Later, they were constructed by indentured servants and enslaved peoples. The walls lined turnpikes and enclosed farms, mills, and cemeteries. The Dry Stone Conservancy in Lexington helps preserve and promote the craft for all to appreciate today.

Virginia

Stone walls are also a common sight in Augusta County, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway in western Virginia. In this area, they are what remains of the structures built to contain or separate grazing cattle and hogs that would sniff around for acorns and chestnuts. Measuring up to 6 feet thick and as high as a human chest, they stretch for miles through leafy deciduous forest. Stone walls also line the road in Upperville, Virginia, nestled in the foothills of the Piedmont.

Outdoors

What Are “Blue Parks” — and Where Can You Visit One?

By Fiona Mokry

Read time: 4 minutes

July 1, 2024

Updated: July 1, 2024

What Are “Blue Parks” — and Where Can You Visit One?

Outdoors • July 1, 2024 • Updated: July 1, 2024

By Fiona Mokry

You’ve heard parks referred to as green spaces, but what are “Blue Parks”? These marine protected areas (MPAs) are distinguished by their exceptional efforts in conservation and preservation of ocean life and habitats, achieved through collaboration from national governments, nonprofit organizations, and local communities. There are currently 30 Blue Parks worldwide — located in the coastal waters of 23 countries — that have been awarded the coveted title. In 2024 alone, three new sites have already been added to the list, with several others competing for future inclusion. Find out why these water-based parks filled with fascinating flora and fauna should be at the top of your travel list. Below are five of the world’s best Blue Parks that you can visit.

Kitasu Bay – British Columbia

Rocky coastline of Kitasu Bay in British Columbia, Canada — Credit: John Zada/ Alamy Stock Photo

Kitasu Bay is the world’s first Indigenous-protected marine park, inhabited and preserved by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation. Kitasu Bay (Gitdisdzu Lugyeks in the local language) is an ecologically significant bay off the central coast of British Columbia, approximately 300 miles north of Vancouver. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity and coastal rainforests. The bay is particularly prized for its underwater kelp forests, which serve as salmon nurseries, as well as its deep waters — which create a critical habitat for bottom-dwelling fish and the seals and sea lions that prey on them. To visit this remote region of western Canada, you’ll need to travel to the village of Klemtu, tucked away in the Great Bear Rainforest, and then access the bay via floatplane.

Apo Reef Natural Park – The Philippines

Turquoise waters off sandy beach in Apo Reef Natural Park in the Philippines, seen from above — Credit: mihtiander/ iStock via Getty Images

Apo Reef Natural Park protects three small islands and the surrounding coral atoll off the coast of the Philippine province of Occidental Mindoro. Apo Reef is the second-largest contiguous coral reef system in the world, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, according to UNESCO. The reef is a sanctuary to a number of overfished species, a nesting ground for several species of endangered turtles, and a protected habitat for other endangered species — such as great hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, and the Napoleon wrasse. The natural park is a popular scuba diving destination; as such, the nearby communities on Sablayan are transitioning away from fishing and moving toward running boat tours and dive operations to support sustainability efforts.

Galápagos Marine Reserve – Ecuador

Sheltered bay surrounded by trees in Ecuador's Galápagos Marine Reserve — Credit: Manfred Gottschalk/ Stone via Getty Images

Home to more than 2,900 marine species, the Galápagos Marine Reserve is one of Earth’s most biologically diverse marine protected areas. The area has been a Blue Park since 2019 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Whales, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, sea turtles, and marine iguanas are just a few of the many species that call these lagoons, wetlands, and coral reefs home. The reserve also claims the world’s highest biomass of reef fish, most of which are shark species such as hammerheads, black tips, and makos. The impressive biodiversity is thanks to the reserve’s location at the meeting point of three powerful currents: the Panama current, Humboldt current, and upwelling equatorial current.

Jardines de la Reina National Park – Cuba

Aerial view of boats and marina in Jardines de la Reina National Park in Cuba — Credit: imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG/ Alamy Stock Photo

Named a Blue Park in 2021, Jardines de la Reina National Park houses some of the best-preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean, along with mangrove forests and abundant marine life. The marine protected area is made up of about 600 small isles, forming an archipelago that’s often referred to as “Cuba’s Coral Garden.” With 30 species of coral, it is home to the largest population of fish in Cuban waters, as well as species such as reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, American crocodiles, whale sharks, and tiger sharks. Thanks to recent conservation efforts and strict regulations, the biodiversity in the national park is thriving. Since its initial protection in 1996, the fish population has grown by 50%. For visitors, there are several boat tour operators that provide opportunities to scuba dive in these pristine waters.

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve – Kenya

Small boat off beach and aquamarine waters of Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve in Kenya — Credit: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/ Shutterstock

Kenya’s largest marine protected area is one of only two Blue Parks in Africa. Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve protects a diverse and complex ecosystem of coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. The waters are home to about 250 fish species, 56 coral types, 10 species of mangroves, and dozens of dolphins, sea turtles, whales, seabirds, and other wildlife. Kisite-Mpungutihas managed to balance tourism, the local fishing industry, and conservation efforts, while also displaying impressive surveillance and wildlife management efforts. Located near popular tourist destinations including Diani Beach, the park is easily accessible for visitors interested in exploring its natural beauty and marine ecosystems.

Tips

The Cheapest and Most Expensive U.S. Airports To Fly From

By Peter Vanden Bos

Read time: 5 minutes

July 1, 2024

Updated: January 20, 2026

The Cheapest and Most Expensive U.S. Airports To Fly From

Tips • July 1, 2024 • Updated: January 20, 2026

By Peter Vanden Bos

With airfares on the rise, many travelers are looking for tips and tricks to score a great deal. You can always use our favorite search engine and stay flexible with your travel times, but another key consideration is the airport you’re flying out of. Airports can be more expensive for a variety of factors — geographic isolation, operational costs, and market competition, for example. Sometimes, you can find a nearby alternative with cheaper flights or consider another, more affordable destination. Even if that’s not possible, it’s helpful to know which U.S. airports are the cheapest — and priciest — to fly from. Below, we’ve ranked the most and least expensive airports (among the 100 busiest airports in the U.S.), according to data on average domestic airfare from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Did your home airport make the list?

Least Expensive U.S. Airports To Fly From

5. Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport – Nevada

Passengers waiting in baggage claim area at Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport in Nevada — Credit: Boarding1Now/ iStock Editorial via Getty Images Plus

Average domestic airfare: $284.74

Sin City has long been one of America’s most popular vacation destinations, and it also offers some of the country’s most affordable airfares. For the April-June period in 2025 (the latest available data from the BTS), Las Vegas had the fifth-cheapest airport for domestic itineraries. There’s more good news: The airport is planning a multibillion-dollar upgrade to nearly double its gate capacity and improve the passenger experience over the coming decade.

4. Orlando International Airport – Florida

Aerial view of Orlando International Airport in Florida — Credit: HUNTER/ Adobe Stock

Average domestic airfare: $284.54

Another quintessential American vacation destination lands at No. 4 on the list of the country’s cheapest airports. Located 17 miles away from Walt Disney World, Orlando International Airport was the sixth-busiest airport in the nation in 2025, with a seat capacity of 27.4 million seats for the year and an average of 660 daily flights.

3. Myrtle Beach International Airport – South Carolina

Sign outside terminal for Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina — Credit: Joseph D Washburn/ iStock Editorial via Getty Images Plus

Average domestic airfare: $278.33

Myrtle Beach is famous for its boardwalk, but perhaps it should draw just as much attention for its affordable airfares. Its No. 3 ranking on this list makes sense when you consider the amount of service Myrtle Beach receives from low-fare airlines such as Spirit, Breeze, and Frontier. Flyers can currently reach over 50 destinations nonstop from Myrtle Beach International, and the list could soon grow with the airline’s recently announced six-gate expansion.

2. Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Concessions and seating areas inside Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico — Credit: Douglas Rissing/ iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Average domestic airfare: $277.26

If you’re trying to leave paradise (although… why would you?), at least a great deal may be on the horizon. In recent years, the gateway to America’s most populous territory — and its beautiful beaches and historic architecture — has seen an increase in service from budget airlines such as Frontier, which has helped to drive down the average airfare on domestic itineraries.

1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport – Florida

Palm trees outside Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in South Florida — Credit: Boarding1Now/ iStock Editorial via Getty Images Plus

Average domestic airfare: $267.39

Fort Lauderdale, a hub for JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, is America’s cheapest airport to fly from domestically. If you live in South Florida, it can often be a more affordable option than flying out of nearby Miami International, which had an average airfare of $346.50 in the second quarter of 2025.

Most Expensive U.S. Airports To Fly From

5. Clinton National Airport (LIT) – Little Rock, Arkansas

Control tower at Clinton International Airport in Little Rock, seen in distance — Credit: neiu20001/ iStock Editorial via Getty Images Plus

Average domestic airfare: $457.83

Flyers in Arkansas’ capital and largest city faced some of the nation’s priciest flights in 2025, averaging over $450 per ticket. If it’s any consolation, if you’re able to drive instead, Arkansas is one of the country’s cheapest states for gas.

4. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – Virginia

Parking area, main terminal building, and control tower at Washington Dulles Airport in Virginia — Credit: Artem Onoprienko/ Adobe Stock

Average domestic airfare: $462.97

Located in northern Virginia about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C., Dulles (IAD) opened in 1962 as the world’s first airport built for the jet age, designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen. It may look pretty, but if you’re planning a trip out of Dulles, be prepared for higher fares. Fortunately, D.C. flyers have a couple of lower-priced alternatives nearby: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

3. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) – Alabama

Interior of terminal building at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama — Photo credit: Image courtesy of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

Average domestic airfare: $489.07

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) is Alabama’s largest and busiest airport. Southwest, the airport’s largest airline, offers nonstop flights to cities such as Baltimore, Denver, and Las Vegas. But despite Southwest being a pioneering low-cost airline, Birmingham flyers pay the third-highest fares in the country.

2. Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) – Madison, Wisconsin

Inside the concourse at Dane County Regional Airport in Wisconsin — Photo credit: Images courtesy of Dane County Regional Airport

Average domestic airfare: $491.53

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is the primary gateway for Madison, Wisconsin’s state capital. It sees a high volume of business travelers, with health care software company Epic Systems based nearby, as well as state government traffic. That can lead to pricey fares — to the tune of nearly $500 per ticket on average in spring 2025.

1. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) – Alaska

Terminal building at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska — Credit: Jacob/ Adobe Stock

Average domestic airfare: $518.30

Given its remote location and distance from other major U.S. cities, it probably comes as little surprise that Anchorage’s airport continuously ranks as America’s most expensive major airport to fly from. The airport not only serves as a primary gateway for visitors to Alaska but is also a major cargo hub. In fact, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it briefly held the top spot on the list of busiest airports thanks to the need for increased cargo flights.

About the data: This list ranks the average domestic airfare from the top 100 U.S. airports by passenger volume (as of 2024). It is based on the latest available data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the second quarter of 2025. Average fares are for domestic itineraries, either round-trip or one-way, originating from these airports.

History

5 Airline Rules That Are Newer Than You Think

By Peter Vanden Bos

Read time: 4 minutes

July 1, 2024

Updated: October 24, 2025

5 Airline Rules That Are Newer Than You Think

History • July 1, 2024 • Updated: October 24, 2025

By Peter Vanden Bos

Flying has come a long way since the golden age of air travel, from how we book tickets to how we dress for flights and what’s served on board. Passengers these days have grown so accustomed to the modern air travel experience — for better or for worse — that it’s easy to forget how much has changed, even in recent years. You might find it surprising that these five rules of air travel only became the norm past 25 years.

In-Flight Smoking Bans

Passengers adjusting air conditioning vents with no-smoking sign visible in aircraft cabin — Credit: Rommel Gonzalez/ iStock via Getty Images

Societal attitudes toward smoking in public spaces have evolved considerably, especially in the last few decades. What was once commonplace in the U.S. — smoking in restaurants and bars, for example — is now a rarity, so it might be difficult to picture that the same was once true of airplanes.

Smoking on planes was allowed for many years, but in 1973 the U.S. federal government stepped in to mandate smoking and nonsmoking sections. (You might imagine how effective that was.) Over the next couple of decades, as individual airlines began to enact their own nonsmoking policies, the government slowly expanded the ban to flights of certain distances (i.e., domestic flights under six hours). It wasn’t until 2000 that in-flight smoking was fully banned in the United States.

Buy-on-Board Meals

Passengers eating meals from tray tables on airplane — Credit: damircudic/ E+ via Getty Images

These days, economy-class passengers are lucky to get a complimentary soda and a bag of pretzels on domestic flights, but not long ago it was a much different in-flight experience. Complimentary hot meals were the norm (on flights over a certain distance). Though they probably weren’t much to write home about, they were free. That all began to change in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which had a major financial impact on the aviation industry.

As airlines looked to cut costs, free meals were one of the first passenger amenities to go. By the end of 2001, most airlines had eliminated or significantly reduced in-flight catering for coach passengers. A notable holdout was Continental Airlines, but after the carrier merged with United Airlines, it finally ended free meals in 2010. Now, it’s common for airlines to offer economy-class passengers buy-on-board meal options, part of a growing trend of a la carte airline services.

Shoe Removal at Airport Security

Traveler removing shoes at airport security — Credit: Daniskim/ Shutterstock

Another consequence of 9/11 was stricter airport security protocols and the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in November 2001. Before the attacks, travelers could arrive at the airport much closer to boarding time, and they didn’t even need a boarding pass to get through security. Now, airline passengers are used to longer lines, strict ID checks, and many other security regulations.

But it wasn’t until 2006, following several high-profile failed terrorist plots, that the rules extended to footwear and liquids. That year, the TSA banned all liquids, gels, and aerosols (before revising the ban to 3.4 liquid ounces or more) and also began requiring passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints to screen for explosives. These days, the only way for passengers to avoid removing their shoes is by signing up for the TSA PreCheck trusted traveler program.

Checked Bag Fees

Passenger checking in at airport desk — Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/ Stone via Getty Images

Another relatively new phenomenon of air travel? Checked bag fees. The cost of traveling with luggage in the hold was once included with every ticket, but as many airlines continued to struggle financially throughout the 2000s, they looked to ancillary fees to boost revenue.

In 2008, American Airlines was the first major airline in the U.S. to introduce a checked bag fee. Back then, the fee was just $15 for the first checked bag, but fees have been steadily rising since. And unfortunately, they’re probably here to stay. (In fact, in 2024 the major U.S. airlines all hiked their fees.) For now, you can avoid those fees by flying an airline where bags are still included, such as Southwest Airlines, or through other methods such as signing up for airline credit cards.

Automatic Refunds for Flight Disruptions

View of aircraft cabin aisle from back to front — Credit: Alex Desanshe/ Shutterstock

One of the more recent developments in air travel rules concerns flight delays or cancellations. Before 2024, there were no federal rules around what counted as a “significant” enough flight disruption to necessitate the airline providing travelers a refund. It was up to the individual airlines to decide, which, predictably, led to some customer-unfriendly policies.

But thanks to new rules introduced by the DOT in April 2024, there are now clear parameters for flight delays and cancellations and when the airline has to give you your money back. The rules even extend to delayed baggage and the failure of airlines to provide other paid services, such as in-flight Wi-Fi or seat upgrades.

Tips

5 Stunning Lakefront Towns You Need To Visit

By Daily Passport Team

Read time: 5 minutes

June 28, 2024

Updated: March 26, 2025

5 Stunning Lakefront Towns You Need To Visit

Tips • June 28, 2024 • Updated: March 26, 2025

By Daily Passport Team

Nothing beats a lakefront town, especially in summer. Travelers can soak in beautiful scenery, a laid-back vibe, friendly locals, charming architecture, and a bevy of outdoor adventures. What’s not to love? If you’ve checked America’s prettiest lake towns off your list already, consider one of these five stunning lakefront towns around the world, from Austria to Argentina.

Hallstatt, Austria

The stuff of storybooks and screensavers, Hallstatt doesn’t seem a particularly plausible outpost of the modern world. There is, for starters, the fairytale waterfront — all gables and spires — backed by Alpine peaks and that gorgeously reflect in the lake’s glassy surface. And then there’s the gothic cliff-side chapel topped with the 12th-century tower — not to mention a swan-to-human ratio that tends to stand out in a village of several hundred people. Nonetheless, this place is very much a living reality, every bit as beautiful as billed.

But yet, there’s more than meets the eye: Set at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape, the village is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Indeed, an entire Bronze Age culture came to be known as “Hallstatt” thanks to its rich archeological legacy here, best represented in the town’s ancient local salt mine — reported to be the planet’s oldest at 7,000 or so years in operation. The requisite mine tour adds just one more fascinating layer to this mountainside town that feels lost in time.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Billing itself as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” Queenstown sits alongside the gorgeous Lake Wakatipu on New Zealand’s South Island. Millions of years ago, the lake started out as a valley that was scraped open by a receding glacier. Over time, the rocks and sediment left behind by the glacier dammed off the valley and created Lake Wakatipu. The lake — 48 miles long and three miles wide — zigzags like a bolt of lightning through a dramatic landscape created by the aptly named Remarkables mountain range.

Queenstown — home to about 30,000 year-round residents — is located on the lake’s eastern elbow and is a popular hub for tourists and Kiwis in search of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. As the birthplace of bungee jumping, Queenstown is synonymous with thrills. It is also a favorite destination to experience the Kiwi invention of jet boat riding, an adrenaline-fueled venture that hurdles riders through mountain canyons while racing across the waters at speeds of up to 45 mph on gas turbine powered boats.

Bled, Slovenia

Church on shores of Lake Bled in Slovenia — Credit: Freeartist/ iStock via Getty Images

Nestled in the Julian Alps, Slovenia’s Lake Bled, located in a town of the same name, is famous for a view that comes straight out of a storybook. A 15th-century, Gothic-style church towers over the tiny tear-shaped island in the middle of the lake and is often mirrored on the water’s surface, creating one of Slovenia’s most picturesque scenes. It’s no surprise that the lake is a popular tourist attraction for folks in search of fairy-tale charm; according to local legend, it was fairies themselves that created the lake. Angered by shepherds who allowed their sheep to eat all the grass and vegetation in the valley, fairies flooded the area. They left only the island — a sacred spot where they could convene and dance without any meddling grazers.

Whether or not you’re into folklore, you won’t be disappointed by Lake Bled and the towering medieval castles and mountain peaks that surround it. Located in Triglav National Park, about 35 miles from the capital, Ljubljana, the lake town can get crowded in summer, so try visiting during fall for stunning foliage. Or better yet, visit in winter, when a dusting of snow only adds to the lake’s fairy-tale allure.

Lucerne, Switzerland

The storybook Swiss city of Lucerne, set along the shores of its namesake lake, is nestled in a valley surrounded by the massive, snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps. Home to approximately 82,000 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in central Switzerland and a popular tourist hub thanks to its stunning surroundings and well-preserved medieval architecture.

One of the best-preserved examples is Kapellbrücke, which translates literally to “chapel bridge” and is considered to be Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridge. Spanning Lucerne’s Reuss River, Kapellbrücke was constructed in 1333 to link the city’s old (right bank) and new (left) sections, while acting as a fortification to protect from attacks originating from Lake Lucerne. While the bridge was originally almost 900 feet long, riverbank amendments have now shortened the bridge’s span to just under 700 feet. It is one of Switzerland’s most popular (and most photographed) tourist attractions, offering lovely views of both the city and the lake.

El Calafate, Argentina

El Calafate, a charming town located on the southern shores of Lago Argentino, is best known as the gateway to southern Patagonia’s Los Glaciares National Park. As its name suggests, the national park is home to more than 300 glaciers, none more famous than the mighty Perito Moreno. Covering a jaw-dropping 97 square miles, Perito Moreno (named after 19th-century explorer Francisco Moreno) is one of the only glaciers in the world that is advancing instead of shrinking.

As the glacier’s size increases, large cracks slowly form along its edges. Stand in front of Perito Moreno long enough, and you’ll bear witness to piercing cracks and booms of huge chunks of ice calving off the glacier and falling into the frigid waters of Lago Argentino, 200 feet below. The viewing platform provides a spectacular vantage point from across the lagoon, but guided tours also offer the chance to climb and trek through the glacier’s craggy caves and towering walls of ice.

Geography

5 Beautiful Bays Around the World

By Daily Passport Team

Read time: 5 minutes

June 28, 2024

Updated: July 1, 2024

5 Beautiful Bays Around the World

Geography • June 28, 2024 • Updated: July 1, 2024

By Daily Passport Team

Bays form some of the planet’s dreamiest natural landscapes. These brilliant-blue coastal bodies of water are often surrounded by dramatic cliffs, towering rock formations, and postcard-worthy beaches — making them a surreal sight to witness up close. From the bay that sees the world’s highest tides to a bay named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, check out five of the world’s most beautiful bays.

Halong Bay – Vietnam

Around 1,600 jagged, rainforest-covered limestone pillars erupt from the emerald waters of Hạ Long Bay — creating one of Vietnam’s most surreal landscapes. The full name of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vịnh Hạ Long, translates to “Where the Dragon Descends to the Sea,” an evocative way to describe this 600-square-mile bay in the South China Sea’s Gulf of Tonkin that has become one of the country’s must-see tourist destinations.

Once an ideal hideout for pirates, the karst monoliths were made famous in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. Like Scotland’s Loch Ness, Hạ Long has its own mythical monster, a camera-shy sea serpent known as the Tarasque, but that doesn’t stop the hordes of visitors flocking to see the bay’s caves and beaches, peruse the area’s pearl farms, cruise on classic sailing vessels (junks) or explore under their own steam via kayak. About a three-hour drive from Hanoi, Hạ Long has a huge selection of lodging options, from basic guesthouses to five-star resorts. Many visitors also choose to stay overnight on the bay.

Horseshoe Bay – Bermuda

Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay is actually more crescent than U-shaped, but either way, it’s one of the island’s must-visits. Located in Southampton Parish, the expansive beach is famous for its pink-hued sand, the result of crushed coral and seashells. The pink of the shoreline contrasts crystal-clear turquoise water that, as an added bonus, is bathtub-warm and mostly calm in the high season (May to September).

But if you’re looking to avoid crowds, take a romantic off-season stroll, check it out during a kite-flying festival every year on Good Friday, or time your visit for a weekday. Of course, there’s also the option of just embracing the crowds — thanks to its popularity, the beach offers a bevy of amenities. And we’re not talking just about snorkeling gear (look for angelfish and parrot fish among the reefs) — there are also chairs and towels, an array of casual snack bars and restaurants, a protected cove that’s great for kids, lifeguards and changing rooms, and striking limestone rock formations that more adventurous visitors love to climb over. Horseshoe Bay is easy and cheap to get to by bus — but we recommend getting there like a true Bermudan and renting a scooter.

Bay of Fundy – Canada

Twice daily, more than 175 billion tons of Atlantic seawater cascade in and out with the Bay of Fundy’s tides — an amount greater than the combined flow of all freshwater rivers on Earth. Approximately 190 million years ago, tectonic plates began to sever the Pangea supercontinent, creating the rift valley that the Bay of Fundy occupies between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Erosion from the bay’s record-high tides has uncovered the world’s most complete chronicle of the 300 million-year-old Carboniferous Period at Joggins Fossil Cliffs — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — plus dinosaur fossils at the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark.

More than 1 million nature enthusiasts arrive each year to witness these incredible natural wonders. At high tide, waves peak at 70 feet tall, but when the coastline calms, sea kayakers and their guides are able to paddle through the dynamic scenery. From May to October, visitors on foot can approach the Hopewell Rocks or “Flower Pot Rocks,” sandstone sea stacks topped with plant life. These months correspond with boat tours of the Fundy Aquarium Ecozone: Lucky spectators may spot four species of whales — including the planet’s second-largest animal, the finback whale — as well as dolphins and porpoises.

Wineglass Bay – Australia

View of Wineglass Bay in Tasmania from surrounding mountains — Credit: benstevens/ iStock via Getty Images

Part of the Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast of Tasmania, Wineglass Bay is often cited as one of the world’s best beaches, as well as the state’s most photographed vista. And given the mountain-backed swirl of transparent turquoise you’ll find here, both superlatives make perfect sense. The origins of the name itself, though, are a little less straightforward — it comes not from the crescent-shaped shoreline that might resemble a wineglass when viewed from above, but from a darker history. In the 1800s, whalers would set out from these shores to harpoon passing prey, and as the unfortunate catch was towed back in, the bay would turn blood-red (or wine-red, as the imaginative onlooker might see).

Fortunately, by the mid-19th century, shore-based whaling had ceased in the area, and in 1916, Freycinet became a 65-square-mile national park. The combined result is that these waters are now protected and pristine — to the elation of visiting divers, kayakers, eco-cruisers, hikers, and nature photographers from around the world who come to visit the photogenic bay.

Guanabara Bay – Brazil

Aerial view of Guanabara Bay with Rio de Janeiro skyline and Sugar Loaf Mountain — Credit: Grafissimo/ E+ via Getty Images

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Guanabara Bay is the world’s largest bay by volume of water. The bay’s resemblance to a river inspired the name of the city along its western shores. In January 1502, Portuguese explorers mistook the entrance to the bay as a mouth to a river and named their settlement Rio de Janeiro, which translates to “River of January.” Guanabara Bay features bright, blue waters that are surrounded by the iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain, which juts from the water at the mouth of the bay, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Sitting atop 2,300-foot-tall Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer stands as a symbol of strength with his arms wide open over Guanabara Bay.

Tips

7 Things You Should Never Do in a National Park

By Daily Passport Team

Read time: 5 minutes

June 28, 2024

Updated: June 15, 2026

7 Things You Should Never Do in a National Park

Tips • June 28, 2024 • Updated: June 15, 2026

By Daily Passport Team

The U.S. National Park System contains 429 individual sites that cover more than 85 million acres of land. These federally protected landmarks are renowned for their natural beauty and historical significance. But while it’s easy to get swept up in the wonder of visiting these parks, it’s also important to practice proper etiquette during your visit. This helps keep the parks in pristine condition and also ensures the safety of yourself and those around you. Breaking any park rules may result in serious injury, fines, and possibly even arrest. Here are seven things you should never do in a national park.

Approach Wildlife

Herd of bison grazing beside lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — Credit: Gerald Corsi/ iStock via Getty Images

Approaching wildlife is one of the most dangerous things any national park visitor can do, as it jeopardizes the well-being of both you and the animal. This is especially true in the case of larger, more dangerous creatures such as the bison that live in Yellowstone or the alligators found in the Everglades. You should familiarize yourself with each park’s guidelines, but in general, the National Park Service says you should keep a minimum of 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from predators like wolves and bears.

If you come upon an animal while hiking, keep your distance until the animal goes on its way. Getting too close may cause the animal to react to your presence by panicking or attacking, and touching an animal may result in further harm or disease. As the Park Service sums up, “Let wildlife be wild and observe from a distance.”

Take Home Natural Souvenirs

Flowers blooming on mountainside — Credit: kellyvandellen/ iStock via Getty Images

Removing rocks, plants, or any other natural souvenir from a national park site is not permitted, as your actions may negatively impact the ecology of the region. What may look like a simple rock could actually be an important fossil, and you never know what plant species may be protected. Even broken branches on the trail should be left where they are, as they may be essential tools for an endangered bird to build its nest. The only items you should take from any national park site are those purchased in the gift shop.

Leave Any Trace Behind

Summer landscape of Yosemite National Park, California — Credit: Konoplytska/ iStock via Getty Images

Likewise, the only evidence of your visit to a national park should be the footprints on the trail that you leave behind. If you’re camping, be sure to take all of your garbage and dispose of it in the proper receptacles. This especially includes food items — many creatures in the parks may struggle to digest human food, or it may cause the animals to become reliant on humans for food. Vandalism is also strictly forbidden. Never carve your initials into a tree, paint a smiley face onto a rock, or any other similar act.

Fly Drones

Fall foliage on Mount Rainier in Washington — Credit: Riddhish Chakraborty/ Moment via Getty Images\

You might be tempted to capture the beauty of a park with aerial photography, but flying drones or other unmanned aircraft is explicitly forbidden at the majority of national park sites. This ban exists for several reasons. First, it’s meant to limit noise pollution that can bother fellow parkgoers and startle the animals. It also protects the privacy of any visitors to the park. Plus, there have been several instances of drones crashing in national parks, which poses a serious risk to the wildlife and vegetation. It’s essentially considered littering should your drone crash into a canyon or other inaccessible area.

Smoke

Hiking trail through Redwood National Park in California — Credit: HadelProductions/ iStock via Getty Images

Some national park sites have explicit smoking bans, while others permit it. But even if you’re technically allowed to smoke, it’s still good park etiquette to keep your cigarettes in the car while out on a hiking trail. People visit national parks to take in the beauty of nature — not to inhale secondhand smoke. Ingesting smoke is harmful not just to other visitors, but also to the wildlife. Finally, leaving used cigarette butts along the trail or in the parking lot contributes to unwanted pollution and could even pose a fire risk. All it takes is one glowing ember and some dry grass to cause widespread destruction.

Ignore Signage

View of El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California — Credit: Paul D Wade/ iStock via Getty Images

It may seem obvious, but it’s worth reiterating: Always adhere to any signage you see in a national park. If a sign says “trail closed,” for instance, then you should find another trail to hike down rather than proceed with caution. Signs like that are there for your safety and to help protect the delicate ecosystem of the park. Ignoring a sign could cause any number of issues, from agitating animals to damaging important plant life. These signs may also be there to warn you about a slippery or uneven trail, which may pose a serious risk of potential injury.

Bring Unleashed Dogs

Hiker and her dog on mountaintop — Credit: Cavan Images/ Cavan via Getty Images

Pets are welcomed at many national park sites, especially in campgrounds and marked trail areas. However, park goers should never allow their dogs to go off leash, as it increases the risk of harm to both your pet and also yourself. Imagine visiting Yellowstone and encountering a brown bear on the trail — even if well trained, dogs are unpredictable, and the situation may suddenly turn dire if your dog starts barking and charging at the bear. To ensure that everyone stays safe and happy, always keep your dog on a leash while visiting any national park.

Tips

5 Items You Should Always Bring to a Hotel Room

By Daily Passport Team

Read time: 3 minutes

June 28, 2024

Updated: February 12, 2026

5 Items You Should Always Bring to a Hotel Room

Tips • June 28, 2024 • Updated: February 12, 2026

By Daily Passport Team

The average hotel room contains the same old gadgets we’ve all seen before — an alarm clock from the 1990s, a remote control that only sort of works, and a hair dryer that blows way too hot. But there are plenty of other useful items you can (and should) bring to elevate a hotel stay. These nifty products include easy-to-install safety mechanisms, tools to keep your room clean, and other convenient items that promise to make time on the road much easier. Check out these five handy gadgets for your next trip.

Portable Lock

Traveler entering hotel room with luggage — Credit: Boy_Anupong/ Moment via Getty Images

Not every hotel door locks automatically when you close it, but even those that do are still at risk of being jimmied open. The Addalock can help you sleep soundly by keeping that door firmly shut and providing much-needed peace of mind in your hotel room. To install this device, insert the metal “claws” into the strike of the door and then close the door to hold the Addalock in place. Then, grab the dangling red handle and insert the moving metal rod into the portion already attached to the door. Once installed, the door will be securely locked from the inside without any way to open it from the hallway, even for people with a key.

Virtual Private Network

Person at desk using cellphone and laptop computer — Credit: Anchiy/ E+ via Getty Images

Many hotel Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to cyber attacks, which puts your personal data at risk. This includes your name, credit card information, passwords, and other sensitive information. To protect against these potential attacks, it’s worth using a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt sensitive information on your computer so that it can’t be accessed by hackers. Plus, they are easy to install. Just go to your device’s network settings, search for the specific VPN you want to use, enter a username and password, and hit “connect.” Some of the most popular VPN services include NordVPN and Private Internet Access.

Travel Adapter

Person plugging in cellphone to charge — Credit: Pheelings Media/ iStock via Getty Images

Travel adapters are especially useful when staying in a hotel abroad, as they’re compatible with a wide range of unfamiliar outlet shapes. But this device is also great for domestic travel, just in case you need a USB-C outlet or another connection the hotel may not have. For instance, this adapter works in over 200 countries and includes USB and USB-C slots, in addition to a slot for more traditional power plugs. You can also plug in multiple devices and charge your computer, smartphone, and tablet all at once.

Personal Toiletry Holders

Travel-size bottles labeled shampoo, body gel, and body lotion — Credit: onsuda/ iStock via Getty Images

Complimentary hotel toiletries can be hit-or-miss, and you may wish that you had the personal care products you use at home. Thanks to LiquiSnugs, you can. These tiny silicone bottles are easy to fill with any shampoo, conditioner, soap, or other squeezable toiletry. This allows you to bring a small portion of your preferred shampoo with you on the road rather than lug around the whole bottle. LiquiSnugs are also TSA-approved and are designed to prevent any leaking in your luggage. Plus, they aren’t just for personal care items — you can also fill them with your favorite condiment to spice up that room service order.

UV Light Sanitizer

Door handles, telephone buttons, and the remote control are some of the most germ-covered areas of any hotel room. This portable UV light from LivePure helps clean these touch points by killing 99.9% of invisible germs and bacteria. The light easily fits into any bag or purse so you can take it with you on your next trip. It’s also great to bring when you leave the hotel and use public transportation, go out to dinner at a crowded restaurant, or stop off anywhere else that you may be concerned about germs.

Note: All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Daily Passport may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Tips

8 Things Passengers Do That Flight Attendants Hate

By Rachel Gresh

Read time: 6 minutes

June 26, 2024

Updated: June 26, 2024

8 Things Passengers Do That Flight Attendants Hate

Tips • June 26, 2024 • Updated: June 26, 2024

By Rachel Gresh

While flying on an airplane, following directions, limiting loud noises, and not making a mess (hopefully) goes without saying. Still, there are plenty of other things passengers do that make flight attendants’ skin crawl — and they might not even realize they’re doing it. Here are some of the most annoying things airline passengers do, according to flight attendants.

Talking During the Safety Demonstration

Flight attendant performing safety demonstration on airplane — Credit: ake1150sb/ iStock via Getty Images

It’s not just that flight attendants want passengers to pay attention during safety demonstrations — the Federal Aviation Administration requires it. You never know when you might need this vital information during an emergency. Wearing headphones is one thing, but flight attendants say it’s incredibly annoying when passengers talk loudly during the safety presentation. Not only is it evident that they aren’t paying attention, but they’re also distracting nearby passengers and possibly preventing them from hearing potentially lifesaving safety information.

Special Requests During Trash Time

Flight attendant in airplane aisle serving passengers from beverage cart — Credit: Me 3645 Studio/ Moment via Getty Images

A simple way to make flight attendants’ lives easier is to let them handle one task at a time. During trash collection, try not to make any extra requests requiring them to return to the galley. This is especially true when asking for drinks or snacks while flight attendants are collecting trash — they can’t write down orders with both hands on the trash bag, so it’s all from memory. As one flight attendant pointed out on Reddit, “How am I going to remember that 6B wants a Coke, 10A wants coffee with three creams, 12F wants a vodka soda, 13F needs headphones, and 20D wants a beer by the time I’ve finished doing trash for 30 rows?”

Of course, flight attendants are there to assist you, but they’re primarily focused on safety. Any other needs are secondary and should be addressed while they aren’t preoccupied. For example, try not to ring the bell for trash collection (unless you’ve made a big mess and need assistance). Flight attendants come around at least once before the flight is over.

Invading Their Personal Space

Flight attendant walking down aircraft aisle checking on passengers — Credit: Anchiy/ E+ via Getty Images

It may seem obvious, but unfortunately, this is one of flight attendants’ most common complaints: Never poke or tap airline staff to get their attention. Instead, politely wait until they’re done with their task. You’d never poke a bus driver, waiter, or retail employee to get their attention, but for some reason, passengers don’t seem to honor personal space on planes, according to many flight attendants on Reddit. Similarly, customers should always respect crew members’ personal space in airports.

Not Obeying the Fasten Seatbelt Sign

Airplane passenger fastening seatbelt — Credit: urbazon/ E+ via Getty Images

When the “fasten seatbelt” sign is on during periods of turbulence, both passengers and flight attendants should be seated. This isn’t a good time to ring the call bell for a drink or to get up and go to the bathroom — you could hurt yourself and others. After all, turbulence accounts for around 75% of annual weather-related incidents on commercial planes. A good rule of thumb: If flight attendants are in their jumpseats, you should be in your seat, too.

Not Properly Disposing of Diapers

Mother reading to baby on airplane — Credit: tatyana_tomsickova/ iStock via Getty Images

Flight attendants work to make you more comfortable while flying with your little ones, but they ask you to extend the same common courtesy to them. Passengers should take used diapers to the lavatory and dispose of them in the trash can, and never try to flush them. And please, don’t hand the diaper to a flight attendant (yes, it happens) or try to put it in any other onboard trash bag aside from the one in the bathroom, because doing so can result in a smelly cabin. The same goes for changing diapers: Always take little ones to the onboard lavatory for that task. You might be surprised at the number of flight attendants who have witnessed parents changing diapers on a seat or tray table.

Swapping Seats

Traveler walking up airplane aisle toward front of cabin — Credit: Dobrila Vignjevic/ E+ via Getty Images

Only move to an empty seat after checking with a flight attendant first. Chances are, that seat is taken, and the passenger with that seat assignment hasn’t boarded yet. Plus, there’s often an extra charge to reserve specific seats, explains one flight attendant, who says their biggest annoyance is “seat problems.” When someone sits in a seat they didn’t reserve or pay for, it “causes a huge delay during boarding because we have to figure out who’s sitting in the wrong seat.”

Another flight attendant adds that passengers often move to an upgraded seat, and “they get angry when they have to move to the correct seat.” Of course, flight attendants are happy to work with you if you’re separated from your children on a flight, for example, but the best course of action is to determine seating with the gate agent before you board (if you didn’t already pick out your seats during booking).

Poor Lavatory Etiquette

Illuminated lavatory and exit signs on aircraft — Credit: Jackal Pan/ Moment via Getty Images

If you need to use the lavatory during your flight, always wait until the seatbelt sign is turned off. If you try to use the restroom before the plane takes off, you could delay the flight because everyone needs to be seated while the aircraft is taxiing. “People don’t realize we have to wait for everyone to be seated before we can taxi,” a flight attendant explains on Reddit.

Many flight attendants have also seen passengers walking to the bathroom in only their socks — or worse, bare feet. This is not only unsanitary, but it also wouldn’t be considered normal behavior anywhere else in public. And remember to lock the lavatory door while you’re in there to avoid any in-flight mishaps and shut it on your way out. Flight attendants spend most of their time near the bathroom during flights, and they say it can get smelly if the door is left open.

Baggage Blunders

Flight attendant stowing passenger's bag in overhead bin — Credit: Hispanolistic/ E+ via Getty Images

Large carry-ons such as roller bags and duffel bags go in the overhead bins, but smaller items — purses, jackets, hats, and small backpacks — belong on the floor in front of you. This is especially important on fully booked flights or smaller planes where overhead space is limited. Takeoff can be delayed while attendants reorganize overhead bins.

“When the flight is completely sold out, and we know we’re gonna run out of bin space, people will fill the overhead bin with their jackets and purses and small things that could go under the seat in front of them,” a flight attendant explains, adding that people do this even when they are specifically asked to move small items under the seat. For safety reasons, flight attendants aren’t supposed to help you lift your bags, either, so keep that in mind when putting something in the overhead bin.

What Flight Attendants Love: Courteous Customers

Flight attendant directing passengers down airplane aisle — Credit: Caia Image/ Collection Mix: Subjects via Getty Images

The best gift you can give a flight attendant is simply following their directions. This makes their job easy and keeps things running smoothly. But perhaps the second-best gift you can give them is a smile. Sadly, one of the biggest annoyances of flight attendants is that plenty of passengers don’t say “hello,” “goodbye,” or acknowledge them at all — so sometimes, simply asking how they’re doing goes a long way. Some flight attendants feel extra special if a passenger goes out of their way to give them a small gift, such as candies, a Starbucks gift card, or even a thank-you note. After all, it’s always nice to feel appreciated.

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