These days, most travelers make hotel reservations with a few simple clicks online and then simply show up at the front desk on the date of their reservation. But there are a few reasons why it might be worth it to call or email the hotel shortly before you arrive. It’s not to simply confirm that they have your reservation on file. (But if you’re arriving late at night, it’s a good idea to let them know you’re not a no-show.) Instead, it’s about customizing your upcoming stay and ensuring your needs are met. Discover some common scenarios when it’s helpful to contact the hotel in advance.

Accessibility Requests

Whether you book directly with the hotel or using a third-party service, you can typically request ADA-compliant accommodations. And while the odds are that the hotel knows to set one aside, for added peace of mind, it’s in your best interest to confirm that with a quick call or an email, according to the New York City tourism bureau. That way, if there’s a mix-up, you won’t show up only to be told the hotel mistakenly gave away all the ADA-compliant rooms before your arrival. Checking in with hotel staff a few days before your reservation allows ample time for the hotel to fix any potential snags, and gives you time to cancel your booking and find another hotel if necessary.

Another practical reason to contact the hotel is if you’re traveling with a baby and require a crib, or have an extra guest who requires a cot. Cribs and cots are limited at each hotel and typically assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Contacting the hotel early may help you secure one before check-in. That way, you won’t have to worry about showing up the day of your booking and finding out that they already gave all the cribs and cots to other guests.

Special Requests

If you’re planning a trip for a special occasion — for example, if it’s someone’s birthday or an important anniversary — it can work out in your favor to let the hotel know. If you give them a few days notice, they may be able to leave, say, a complimentary bottle of Champagne or some chocolates in the room as a token of their hospitality. On the other hand, if you wait until you arrive to tell them, they may not have time to arrange such a gesture.

Furthermore, it never hurts to share your preferences, according to a hotelier interviewed by Reader’s Digest. You may be able to request a high floor or a quieter room, or even a more spacious suite that would otherwise remain unoccupied, if available. Doing this earlier than the day of your check-in is helpful, as it gives the hotel plenty of time to see if they can fulfill your request.

Who To Contact and When?

Importantly, you should always contact the hotel directly, even if you made your booking using a third-party site. Try reaching out at least two to three days before your arrival, as it allows ample time for the hotel to prepare for any request you make. If there’s an issue, this is also enough time for you to cancel the reservation and find a hotel that can meet your needs.

Typically, the best way to get in touch with the hotel is over the phone, as you’ll end up speaking with someone directly. However, many hotels also have dedicated customer service email accounts, so you can check the website to see if there’s an email address to contact. Lastly, many hotels have official apps that allow guests to message staff and make requests there. If you’re staying at a major hotel chain, download the app and see if you can message them there.

For all requests related to the room itself (e.g., a room with a view, reserving a cot) contact the front desk. They’re best suited to handle those requests promptly and efficiently. However, if your request is more experiential in nature, contact the concierge instead (if the hotel has a concierge on staff). The concierge should be able to handle matters such as booking a spa day or locking down a dinner reservation to celebrate a big occasion. You can typically reach the concierge by calling the front desk and asking to be transferred, or by using a dedicated email listed online.

Airport lounges are designed as calm escapes from busy terminals. These spaces offer comfortable seating, complimentary food and beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi, private restrooms, and sometimes even swankier amenities. But as the popularity of airport lounges has skyrocketed in recent years, they’ve become more crowded and less relaxing — nowadays they’re not always the oases they set out to be. If you’re looking to maintain a peaceful environment, a little awareness goes a long way in ensuring everyone has a pleasant experience. Here are seven things you should always do when you visit an airport lounge.

Know the Entry Rules

Start by ensuring you know the access requirements before you arrive at the lounge. Some lounges are tied to specific credit cards or airlines, while others are available only to first- or business-class ticketholders. American Express’ Centurion Lounges, for example, require you to hold an eligible premium credit card, such as the Platinum Card or certain co-branded airline cards. This can be confusing, as not all American Express cards grant access. Knowing these conditions ensures a smooth experience and avoids frustration for everyone at the check-in counter.

Other lounges are more flexible — for a price. Those who pay for a membership to the Priority Pass program can access a network of over 1,800 lounges worldwide, but before you sign up, confirm that you don’t already have one of the premium credit cards that offer this as a perk for cardholders. 

Some airline-operated lounges, such as the United Club, offer onetime entry passes for travelers with a same-day United Airlines departure ticket from that airport. Available in more than 45 locations, these passes currently cost $59 per person but are often not available when lounges are busy.

Lounges have various allowances for guests, too — some may allow you to bring a guest traveling with you on the same reservation, others may allow you to bring guests for an additional fee, and some may not allow guests at all. Lastly, as crowding has become more of a concern, many lounges have implemented time restrictions. For example, access to Delta Sky Clubs is not permitted until three hours prior to your departure time. All together, access rules can be quite confusing, so it’s a good idea to do a little research before you get to the airport.

Park Your Luggage

While lounges are typically more comfortable than terminal seating areas, keep in mind that the space is still shared. Try to keep belongings — carry-ons, backpacks, electronics, and chargers — tidy and within your immediate area to avoid inconveniencing others.

Etiquette expert Lisa Grotts advises travelers to keep larger luggage in a corner, under the table, or between your legs so it doesn’t obstruct walkways. If the lounge is busy, do not place luggage on an empty seat near you — someone else may need it. These guidelines become especially important during peak travel times, such as early mornings, evenings, and major holidays, when lounges are often at capacity.

Dress To Impress

Comfort is key when traveling, but a neat, presentable appearance is appreciated — and sometimes even required — in lounge settings. Most lounges follow a “smart casual” guideline, but wording can be vague.

For example, the “house rules” for the Delta Sky Club state: “Attire while in a Delta Sky Club must be in keeping with good taste and a dignified atmosphere.” Qantas Airways lounges, meanwhile, prohibit specific clothing items: head-to-toe gymwear, rubber flip-flops, Ugg boots, and board shorts. Even some independent lounges, such as Escape Lounges, prohibit shorts above the knee and require men to wear shirts that cover their shoulders.

An important tip from business etiquette expert Rachel Wagner: Keep your shoes and socks on at all times. This applies to your entire travel day, including on airplanes, at gates, and in other public spaces.

Keep the Noise Down

Recently, United Airlines announced a new rule banning passengers who do not use headphones with their entertainment devices during flights. The same courtesy is expected at airport lounges. Centurion Lounges, for example, ask guests to wear headphones when using personal devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Noise disturbances can lead to removal from the lounge.

Many lounges have designated areas for phone calls, such as soundproof booths or small rooms. These areas are designed specifically for business travelers to make calls or hold virtual meetings without disruption, but it’s courteous to take all phone calls (including personal calls) there.

Mind Your Manners at the Buffet

Most lounges offer complimentary meals (typically buffet-style), snacks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages. But just because it’s free doesn’t mean you should pile your plate as high as you can. “Don’t confuse the word ‘Buffet’ with ‘All You Can Eat,’” Gottsman says. 

Similarly, don’t assume you can pack your pockets with buffet items to take on your flight. Some lounges, such as Delta Sky Clubs, have rules against removing food or beverages from the lounge and taking them with you. (However, other lounges, such as American Airlines’ Provisions by Admirals Club, are specifically designed for this purpose, which will be clear upon entering.) Some lounges also prohibit outside food, so check the policy before bringing your favorite restaurant meal into the lounge with you. And always be mindful of your alcohol intake: Overconsumption is one way to get kicked out of a lounge quickly.

Nap Responsibly

Despite the airport lounge’s promise of a peaceful respite from the terminal’s hustle and bustle, remember that the lounge is not your bedroom. Centurion Lounges, for example, discourage travelers from sleeping, lying on the floor, or reclining on furniture. 

If you’re looking for a little shut-eye, however, some lounges are equipped with relaxation pods or private rooms designed for sleep. Certain Capital One lounges offer zero-gravity nap pods in relaxation rooms, perfect for long layovers.

Avoid Pet Policy Blunders

Just because an airline accepts your furry friend in the cabin doesn’t mean that an airport lounge will. While all lounge brands allow service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (or equivalent laws), not all allow the general public to bring pets. The Centurion Lounges, for example, permit only service animals, while Capital One Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs have pet policies that mirror in-cabin policies.

If your pet is permitted inside, be mindful of disruptions, as owners will be asked to leave if the pet is not well behaved. Lastly, always check the pet policy before entering the lounge and never try to sneak a pet in — you may be banned from using the lounge again.

Recently I did something most travelers would scoff at: I deliberately booked a flight with a layover when I could have flown direct. I did it not to save money, but rather because it allowed me to begin and end my trip at my favorite airport: Long Beach Airport (LGB), which happens to be less than 15 minutes from my house in Southern California. Even when I lived much farther from it, however, I admired the country’s self-proclaimed “coolest airport” from afar and found myself wishing I lived close enough to fly in and out of it.

Also known as Daugherty Field and dating back a little more than a century, Long Beach Airport elevates the airport experience from a necessary evil to, if not quite a joy, then certainly a pain-free stopover en route to your final destination. Here’s why I think it’s America’s best small airport.

Small but Mighty

Much of LGB’s appeal is due to its size. The airport, serving the greater L.A. area and Orange County, has just 11 gates used by three airlines: Delta, Hawaiian, and Southwest, with the last of these accounting for the vast majority of its air traffic. You can only fly direct to 21 destinations, among them Las Vegas, Denver, Honolulu, Oakland, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. But that hasn’t stopped around 4 million people from using the airport annually.

And those who use it seem to love the airport just as much as I do: LGB has been named the No. 2 best airport in the country in The Washington Post, which calls it “simple to navigate and quick to get in and out of.” The BBC deemed it one of the world’s 10 most beautiful airports, praising its “its Bogart-Bacall-era Hollywood charm.” It also ranked as one of the country’s 10 best airports by Condé Nast Traveler, was runner-up in USA Today’s reader poll of America’s best small airports, and was deemed “too perfect” by CNN. 

There’s simply no overstating how easy and pleasant LGB is to use, but the airport also has a fascinating history. Dating to 1941, the Streamline Moderne-style main terminal building is a historic landmark that recalls the golden age of air travel; it was restored and renovated in 2024. The airport frequently made headlines in the early days of aviation, welcoming greats like Charles A. Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, and it also played a key role during World War II. After the war, the Douglas Aircraft Company (later McDonnell Douglas, which was purchased by Boeing) continued to build airplanes there until 2015. 

Minute by Minute

For the purposes of this article, I timed every part of my recent trip to Boston. My flight from Long Beach to Chicago was scheduled to depart at 12:05 p.m. I’m an anxious traveler who tries to leave as little to chance as possible, and if I were flying out of LAX or any other major airport, I would have arrived two hours early for such a trip (which would have meant leaving my home around 9 a.m.).

Instead, a friend picked me up at 10:36, I arrived at the airport at 10:47, and I made it through security at 10:56 — a mere 20 minutes from the time I walked out my front door until the most stressful part of my travel day was over.

Once there, I was instantly at ease. LGB has an indoor-outdoor concept that wouldn’t be possible in most climates. Its design never makes you feel confined the way a larger, more traditional airport would. The food options aren’t as robust, but my sweet potato fries from the outpost of the Long Beach institution Boathouse on the Bay more than tided me over before my flight. 

Returning three days later was just as easy — I was on the curb waiting for my Lyft less than five minutes after landing. I may not look forward to my time in the airport the way I look forward to the trips themselves, but this won’t be the last time I choose LGB and a layover rather than a direct flight from LAX.

Featured image credit: © Steve Cukrov/stock.adobe.com

Though it may seem that airfares are exorbitant now, flying in the 1950s and 1960s was, adjusting for inflation, significantly more expensive than it is today. The outfits worn by those affluent enough to step on board reflected this, as passengers typically dressed to impress. For men, a suit and tie was expected, while women often accessorized a formal dress with a hat and gloves.

But by the 1970s, commercial air travel had become much more common. According to the National Air and Space Museum, the number of passengers increased fourfold between 1955 and 1972 — flying was no longer exclusive. The outfits travelers wore on planes evolved, too, as people dressed for comfort over style, and casual attire became the norm. These days, though, how casual is too casual? Let’s examine what will (and won’t) fly when it comes to airline dress policies.

Contracts of Carriage

Airlines typically set out what they expect of passengers in their contracts or conditions of carriage. You’ll almost always find reference to a dress code of sorts, usually intended to ensure the way you dress doesn’t offend those sitting close to you. No airline wants to risk an altercation at 30,000 feet, so it falls to gate staff and flight attendants to enforce these conditions before an issue arises.

However, the terminology used tends to be vague. For example, American Airlines states that passengers must “dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.” Delta goes a little further: Its contract of carriage states that “Delta may refuse to transport or may remove passengers from its aircraft … when the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”

Southwest’s contract of carriage follows a similar vein. The document specifically mentions the need for footwear; if you’re over 5 years of age, you’ll need a valid medical reason not to be wearing shoes when you board. “Engaging in lewd, obscene or patently offensive behavior, including wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene or patently offensive” will also ensure you have to make alternative travel arrangements. 

As you can probably tell, most airlines steer clear of defining what exactly constitutes “offensive” clothing, giving airline gate staff and flight attendants discretion to decide on a case-by-case basis.

High-Profile Incidents

Thanks to the power of social media, videos from airline passengers in recent years have called attention to onboard dress codes. After an incident in October 2024 in which two women claimed they were kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight for wearing crop tops, the airline updated its contract of carriage in early 2025 to be more explicit about how passengers can be refused boarding because of their attire. 

The new wording specified that a passenger who “is barefoot or inadequately clothed (i.e., see-through clothing; not adequately covered; exposed breasts, buttocks or other private parts) or whose clothing or article, including body art, is lewd, obscene or offensive in nature” won’t be flying with them.

However, incidents like these have also sparked backlash online. Critics have said that because airline dress code policies are vague by design, they leave room for flight crews to enforce them unevenly, often disproportionately targeting women.

What Clothing Might Be Deemed Offensive?

During a flight, those on board are confined in a relatively small space, and if tensions escalate, the plane may have to divert to the nearest airport. It’s no surprise, then, that flight crews are keen to be proactive and take action to prevent unruly behavior from happening in the first place.

One way airlines try to avoid it is by banning clothing that might cause an argument. Apparel with provocative slogans, such as anything overtly political or containing profanities, is one example. Similarly, a passenger dressed in a manner that might offend someone else — for instance, showing a considerable amount of skin — is also likely to attract the attention of the flight crew. 

Where You Fly Matters

While casual attire is perfectly acceptable across North America, there are parts of the world where dressing more conservatively is common. If you plan to transit via Doha, Qatar, for example, then it’s wise to observe societal norms, as Qatar embraces traditional Islamic values. Choosing a travel outfit that covers your knees and shoulders shows respect and awareness. 

In addition, some countries don’t permit civilians to wear camouflage gear, reserving such attire for the military. These include popular Caribbean vacation spots such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia. Even if you can prove to gate staff that you’re carrying a change of outfit, it’s probably not worth the risk of being denied boarding.

Why Shoes Are Important

Airlines also require passengers to wear footwear in their conditions of carriage, and this comes down to two reasons: health and safety. Though aircraft cabins are cleaned regularly, floors — especially those in lavatories — certainly aren’t spotless, particularly where airlines need to achieve a quick turnaround to stay on schedule. 

However, the rule is primarily safety-driven. In the event of an emergency, wearing footwear might be crucial. For instance, if the plane has encountered extreme turbulence, the floor of the cabin could be strewn with broken glass or something equally hazardous to a barefoot passenger. 

Even on a routine flight, ditching your shoes is a bad idea. When flight attendants bring out the trolley during food service, they need to maneuver it along a narrow aisle, and it’s not always easy for them to see that their path is clear. If that trolley rolls over your foot, you’ll certainly wish you’d put something between the wheels and your toes. So, even though they aren’t on the banned list, you might wish to reconsider wearing flip-flops next time you fly.