Latest news with #Kayak
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Plane Passenger's Take on Reclining Seats Goes Viral—Sparks Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video of a plane passenger revealing their "biggest pet peeve" is the act of reclining seats has gone viral on TikTok. The video was shared by @morganonthemap_ and has amassed over 837,000 views since it was shared on May 22. A caption shared with the post says: "Seat planes reclining is my biggest pet peeve." The video shows a woman on a plane showcasing the legroom behind a seat that appears to have been reclined. Text overlaid on the clip says: "Maybe a hot take but if you think an extra 5 percent comfort for you is worth 95 percent discomfort for the person behind you, you should not be flying long haul in economy." The passenger's sentiment in the viral clip was met by disagreement from many other TikTok users. However, in a June 2023 survey of 1,000 plane passengers in the U.S. and Canada, conducted on behalf of the travel booking website Kayak, those surveyed said "you are allowed to recline your seat" because 88 percent of travelers say "the button is there for a reason." The woman's frustration over reclining seats is understandable because the lack of legroom is not just inconvenient but also comes with health risks, noted a January 2019 study published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. The study, done among Spanish adult plane passengers, noted that "the increase of economy class airline seats is necessary because immobility on airplane flights can develop different pathologies, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism known as economy class syndrome." 'Seats Are Made To Recline' vs. 'Should Not Be Allowed' The viral clip has divided users on TikTok, with many disagreeing with the original poster, while some sided with her. User elmint said: "God forbid someone uses a function of the seat they paid for ????" User jordyne<3 noted: "I paid for it. If it reclines...I'm going to recline." User katjosephcreative noted: "Seats are made to recline. Take it up with the airlines." Laura wrote: "Personally I think if you can't handle a seat being reclined in front of you as it was designed to be then *you* shouldn't fly long haul economy." User rochelaise85 noted: "Flight attendant over here. IT IS OK TO RECLINE YOUR SEAT. They are built this way, their function is for your comfort. If everyone reclines, everyone's fine. Except during meals." User karliisandoval agreed, saying: "Just recline your own seat, you'll be fine." User Emmalyse was more understanding of the original poster, saying: "People are so annoying, it is rude to recline your seat, especially for a long flight the entire flight." Alanna added: "This drives me insane!! Should not be allowed. I had this to and from New York last year!! So rudeeeee." Zilla Persona said: "Reclining the seat does *nothing* for the person reclining and makes everything worse for the person behind them." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified. Stock image: A back view of passengers seated on a plane. Stock image: A back view of passengers seated on a plane. Getty Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Can Kayak.ai Solve Travel's ‘Complex Problems'?
Kayak's new AI trip planning experience — the latest of several experiments — is easy to use and seems to work without too many glitches. Now the trick is getting people to use it. Kayak was among the first travel companies to embrace generative AI in 2023, launching a plugin for ChatGPT. That plugin has since been discontinued, but the company has released a handful of other experiments, including a travel search chatbot and a price-checking tool. Last month, Kayak appointed Yaron Zeidman as its new chief technology officer. Zeidman, previously CTO at Agoda – another Booking Holdings brand – is overseeing the launch of Kayak's latest initiative: a new AI-powered trip planning site called The trip planner on primarily includes a chatbot that can search Kayak's flights and hotels. When a user clicks on a flight or hotel option in the chatbot, it opens a link to 'It's still hard to say what exactly the end goal is because I think that all the new AI is still shaping and changi
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Summer 2025 travel trends: Top cities, dates to save
An April 28 to May 1 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by members-only home-swapping community Kindred found that 90% were "actively looking" for ways to save on summer travel. USA TODAY reviewed various industry reports to glean the biggest trends among expected travelers this summer. Here's what to consider as you plan your trip. Top summer destinations There are no surprises among the most popular destinations this summer, which include a mix of international and domestic cities. Skyscanner's Smarter Summer Report includes Tokyo, London, New York, Rome and Los Angeles in the top five. Kayak's Summer Travel Check-In also has Tokyo, London and Rome in its top five, but included Paris and Orlando instead of New York and Los Angeles. Kayak also notes international flights are 11% cheaper to Asia, down 8% to Europe, and 5% lower to Africa this summer, compared to last summer. However, according to Airbnb's summer travel trends, nearly 40% of Americans will or are likely to stick to domestic destinations to save money, instead of going abroad. Airbnb adds that nearly 30% of Americans with kids 18 or younger living at home are planning staycations instead of going elsewhere or will "very likely" do so. What are the cheapest periods to travel? Skyscanner found Wednesdays are generally the cheapest day to travel and the cheapest week to travel is Aug, 25 through 31. Travelers who wait to fly in August may find better deals than for June and July, according to Kayak, however it says those planning trips around summer holidays will find the cheapest outbound flights on Tuesday, July 1 ahead of Independence Day and Saturday, Aug. 30 ahead of Labor Day. If you've always dreamed of RV life, here's how to try it Should I drive or fly to my destination? To save money, some travelers are skipping flights and hitting the road. Of more than 2,800 U.S. travelers surveyed for Deloitte's 2025 Summer Travel Survey, 22% said they plan to drive instead of fly this summer due to airfares. Without specifying cost other reasons, Airbnb's data shows 43% of Americans plan to drive instead of fly this summer. Where do people stay when traveling? Deloitte reports 80% of travelers plan to stay in hotels and 25% plan to stay in private rentals at least once this summer, both up from last year, but nearly 25% plan to stay with friends or family to save money. Kindred found an even higher number, over 40%, of its surveyed respondents choosing to stay with friends or family and 12% opting for home stays, which have historically been more popular abroad than in the U.S.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Vacationing on a budget: How the economy is impacting 2025 summer travel
Vacationing on a budget: How the economy is impacting 2025 summer travel Show Caption Hide Caption Top three travel trends for summer 2025 Airbnb shares data behind the top summer destinations and motivators for 2025. Less may be more when it comes to summer vacations this year. While travelers are still planning to get away, many are shifting their destinations, trip duration and other factors amid economic uncertainty. An April 28 to May 1 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by members-only home-swapping community Kindred found that 90% were 'actively looking' for ways to save on summer travel. USA TODAY reviewed various industry reports to glean the biggest trends among expected travelers this summer. Here's what to consider as you plan your trip. Top summer destinations There are no surprises among the most popular destinations this summer, which include a mix of international and domestic cities. Skyscanner's Smarter Summer Report includes Tokyo, London, New York, Rome and Los Angeles in the top five. Kayak's Summer Travel Check-In also has Tokyo, London and Rome in its top five, but included Paris and Orlando instead of New York and Los Angeles. Kayak also notes international flights are 11% cheaper to Asia, down 8% to Europe, and 5% lower to Africa this summer, compared to last summer. However, according to Airbnb's summer travel trends, nearly 40% of Americans will or are likely to stick to domestic destinations to save money, instead of going abroad. Airbnb adds that nearly 30% of Americans with kids 18 or younger living at home are planning staycations instead of going elsewhere or will 'very likely' do so. What are the cheapest periods to travel? Skyscanner found Wednesdays are generally the cheapest day to travel and the cheapest week to travel is Aug, 25 through 31. Travelers who wait to fly in August may find better deals than for June and July, according to Kayak, however it says those planning trips around summer holidays will find the cheapest outbound flights on Tuesday, July 1 ahead of Independence Day and Saturday, Aug. 30 ahead of Labor Day. If you've always dreamed of RV life, here's how to try it Should I drive or fly to my destination? To save money, some travelers are skipping flights and hitting the road. Of more than 2,800 U.S. travelers surveyed for Deloitte's 2025 Summer Travel Survey, 22% said they plan to drive instead of fly this summer due to airfares. Without specifying cost other reasons, Airbnb's data shows 43% of Americans plan to drive instead of fly this summer. Where do people stay when traveling? Deloitte reports 80% of travelers plan to stay in hotels and 25% plan to stay in private rentals at least once this summer, both up from last year, but nearly 25% plan to stay with friends or family to save money. Kindred found an even higher number, over 40%, of its surveyed respondents choosing to stay with friends or family and 12% opting for home stays, which have historically been more popular abroad than in the U.S.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
The Points Guy expert tips, lowest prices for summer travel
Summer is usually the time of year when people are gearing up to book their flights, pack their bags and set their OOO email replies — leading to crazed airports and sky-high travel prices. Contrary to what most people would think, according to Eric Rosen, the director of travel content at The Points Guy and a Kayak report, flight prices for summer travel are down 7% year-over-year. 'It's quite significant for prices to drop that much,' he told The Post. So, if you've been looking for a sign to dust off your suitcase and scrounge around for your passport this summer — let these money-saving travel hacks be it. Go international 8 Lucky for international jetsetters — flight prices to hot spot places like Sydney and Milan are down right now. Shutter2U – Rosen said international airfare is seeing an even greater price decrease, with flight tickets to long-haul hot spots like Sydney, Hong Kong and Berlin — down by 23%, 16% and 13%. And if you've been daydreaming of a romantic European vacation, run, don't walk to book it because airfare prices to destinations like Stockholm and Milan are currently down close to a whopping 20%, Rosen shared. Go Fourth 8 Summer holiday weekends usually lead to busy airports — but this year, people are a bit hesitant to hop on a flight to go somewhere. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post While the hot season has people excited about travel — it's expectedly always worse during July 4th and Labor Day weekends, as those dates are usually a pricey, in-demand time to book a trip. And that might still be the case this year — but to a certain extent. Rosen said he and his team are seeing a 'softening of demand' in travel for these dates due to confusion and fear evoked by President Trump's tariffs, the new Real ID rules — and of course some of the chaos going on at airports — looking at you, Newark. Save your coin 8 It's important to keep in mind that even if you didn't get your Real ID yet — you can use your passport in lieu of it. Jenna Hidinger Photo – Luckily, there are a few ways sightseers can take advantage of this hesitation among American travelers. Regarding the tariffs, if travelers are planning to vacation outside the country this summer, Rosen said they should try to prepay for hotel accommodations or transportation in a foreign currency. 'Especially a strong one like a euro, the British pound or New Zealand dollar — you want to lock that in now because we're not sure what will happen with price fluctuations due to currency shifts,' he advised. To do this, you first need to exchange your currency into the foreign one, then make a payment through a bank transfer or online payment platform, like PayPal. And with the recent Real ID rules, keep in mind you can use a valid passport in lieu of it for travel, but if you choose this route, Rosen said to make sure you allow yourself extra time at the airport, 'in case TSA asks you questions' — which is a possibility. Find a hidden gem 8 Soon, people will be able to hop on a United Airlines flight from the US to Greenland. Cavan – Another way to save some dough on summer travel this year is to think outside the box and explore hidden gem vacation spots. Rosen told The Post that travelers can do this by searching for off-the-beaten-path routes that airlines are adding to their network — and in turn skipping the hefty travel prices and elbow-to-elbow crowds of annoying tourists. Rosen said on June 7, United Airlines is launching routes to Madeira — a stunning autonomous region of Portugal, which, according to him, is dubbed the Hawaii of Europe. This under-the-radar spot will give travelers 'that European feel' with a short flight. 'United is also putting a Greenland — which is in Denmark — flight into service on June 14, which could be interesting for folks who want to take an adventure-type trip,' Rosen suggested. Explore America 8 If travelers can handle the heat, Rosen suggests checking out Tucson, Arizona, because it has a lot going on there in the summer. jdross75 – If you don't want to be bothered with flying, considering that gas prices are also easing up, and prefer to have a summer staycation, Rosen said to check out 'some wonderful places in your backyard you might not have considered that's within driving distance.' For some inspiration, Rosen recommended Tucson, Arizona, if you can handle the summer heat — because it has 'a lot of food festivals happening this summer.' 'Indianapolis, Indiana, interestingly enough, has a ton going on right now. They just opened the Intercontinental Hotel there, which is their first luxury hotel in nearly two decades. Buffalo, NY, also has a ton going on [this summer] in terms of festivals and new restaurant openings,' Rosen explained. Consider a staycation 8 Staying local during the summer can score you otherwise hard-to-get restaurant reservations. Adobe Stock And if your idea of a staycation is staying local, especially if you live in a major city, according to Rosen, there are most likely a ton of great hotel deals in your surrounding area. 'Rates are lower — probably a fraction of the price you would normally be paying — because people are leaving the city,' he told The Post. 'Reservations would probably be available at their [hotel's] fabulous restaurants, you probably can't get into otherwise and there will most likely be room at the pools and spas.' Keep an eye on your bookings 8 Keeping an eye on the price of your reservations will allow you to save money in the long run. REDPIXEL – Whether you're galivanting off on a faraway vacation, taking a road trip or staying local, if you really want to nickel and dime your summer travel and time is on your side, try to 'garden your reservations.' 'We always tell people to garden their reservations — which is to make a reminder to check in once a week or so on your flight or hotel reservation,' Rosen said. 'If that airfare drops between the time you book it and the time you fly, you can cancel it (depending on which type of ticket you have), rebook and save some of that money as a credit towards a future reservation,' he explained. 'And same with hotels. You might book something several weeks out that costs $600, and you find that the price drops to $400. If you've booked a refundable reservation, save yourself that money and book a new reservation.' The magic booking day? Not quite 8 It turns out there isn't a 'magic day' to book travel to save a buck. Sergei Fedulov – Speaking of saving money on reservations, not to burst anyone's travel bubble, but Rosen said there is no such thing as booking a trip on a certain day of the week to spare your wallet. 'Airlines and hotels have very sophisticated algorithms determining those prices,' he said. 'You're not going to game the system by waiting until 12:01 a.m. on a Tuesday to purchase your ticket.'
