Ed Perkins
SmarterTravel
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Ed:
5 Charts That Show COVID-19's Impact on Air Travel
How many planes are still flying, which airlines have stopped flying entirely, and the date the industry expects it all to last through (at least). → Read More
How COVID-19 Is Waging a New War on Air Passenger Rights
For decades, airlines just about everywhere have been resisting government-mandated passenger rights regulations. Despite the fact that the airlines → Read More
Non-Emergency Passport Applications Have Halted
Were you planning to apply for, or renew, a passport this spring? With the rolling governmental measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s → Read More
COVID-19 Could Impact Your Points and Frequent-Flyer Terms—for the Better
If you’re avoiding booking flights for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19, you might be wondering what’s going to happen to your frequent flyer status → Read More
How Hotels and Airlines Are Helping During the Pandemic
I sometimes get so used to bashing travel suppliers—especially airlines—for the many ways they abuse travelers’ rights, that I often overlook the good → Read More
Will Airlines Get a Bail Out Because of the Pandemic?
As certain airlines hand out vouchers instead of refunds, it's worth considering that the airline could go bankrupt in one year’s time. → Read More
What ‘Force Majeure’ Means, and Why You Need to Know
When you purchase travel from an airline or another operator, you enter into a contract for a service or goods. And if some unforeseen calamity prevents → Read More
Global Entry Enrollment and Renewal Halts Indefinitely
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has closed all Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers nationwide until at least May 1. Closure applies to → Read More
Is It Smart to Use Miles During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Here's a question from a reader about booking future travel on points that many might be wondering during these turbulent times. → Read More
Cancel for Any Reason Insurance, Explained
Focus on cancel for any reason insurance has skyrockets because most other policies don't include an epidemic or pandemic as a "covered reason." → Read More
14 Booking Sites’ COVID-19 Cancellation Responses
Third-party booking sites are usually a great deal—unless you need to cancel. Here's what to know about your COVID-19 cancellation. → Read More
8 Travel Companies Offering Flexible Hotel and Air Bookings Due to COVID-19
Many companies are offering to waive cancellation and/or change penalties. Even on what are usually “nonrefundable” tickets and rooms. → Read More
United Updates Rules About Schedule Changes—and Hits a New Low
United just changed its rules on flight schedule changes to hit a new low in a marketplace already full of lows. → Read More
COVID-19 Travel Options: What You Need to Know
A monetary loss might be better than the risk for some. Here are the main COVID-19 travel considerations whether you’re flying, cruising, or staying home. → Read More
The 5 Best Airfare Alerts Sites That Find Deals for You
Searching for a flight deal can be as easy as "set it and forget it" if you use a flight tracker site. Here are the best services for airfare alert. → Read More
What’s the Best Day of the Week to Book a Flight?
If you’re wondering which is the best day of the week to book flights, as so many travelers do, you might find yourself reading a lot of tips that say → Read More
How Can You Tell If a 'Travel Club' Is a Scam?
Sometimes it's hard to separate the honest suppliers from the outright scams. Ed Perkins explains what to look for. → Read More
What the Global Entry Ban for New York State Residents Means
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has barred residents of an entire from enrolling or renewing membership in several "trusted traveler" programs. → Read More
What Fifth Freedom Flights Are, and How They Could Save You Money
If you’ve never heard the term ‘fifth freedom flights,’ you might be missing out on a lucrative way to snag a deal or use your frequent flyer miles. But → Read More
20 U.S. Airports Screening for the Coronavirus
World responses to viral outbreaks—like the U.S.’s to the coronavirus outbreak in recent weeks—are always a moving target → Read More