Personal Finance

Summer is ‘high season’ for flight delays. What travelers need to know

Published

5 months ago

August 5, 2024

Business Finance News

Ironheart | Moment | Getty Images

The summer travel season is in full swing, often bringing more flight delays and cancellations.

But travelers may be out of luck when it comes to reimbursement for such disruptions, depending on the root cause and specific airline policy, experts said.

“In general, in the U.S. airlines aren’t really obligated to pay you anything, anytime,” said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, which helps fliers claim compensation for delayed or canceled flights.

‘High’ season for flight delays and cancellations

Mid-June to the end of August typically marks “high season” for flight disruptions, Napoli said.

“This summer will see more planes in the skies, frequent bad weather, and increased use of the nation’s airspace,” according to a Federal Aviation Administration webpage about summer travel.

Bad weather has accounted for 66% of total flight-delay minutes in 2024, according to FAA data through July 21. In 2023, the share was about 72%.

Such data presumably includes a global IT outage on July 19 that grounded thousands of flights.

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“Volume” caused another 15% of delays this year, FAA said.

Summer generally brings a “higher volume of passengers and flights” since school is out and “millions of Americans head on vacation,” Hayley Berg, wrote in a recent analysis of travel disruptions.

Indeed, eight of the 10 busiest travel days of 2024 were in June, July and August, according to FAA data as of Sunday.

What you can expect from airlines

There’s generally one overarching duty for airlines relative to compensation for passengers: Carriers owe a refund of the ticket price and fees if they cancel a flight or make a “significant change” in the flight — regardless of the reason, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Consumers are entitled to a refund only if they choose not to accept an alternative option from the airline, like rebooking on a different flight, the DOT said.

This obligation holds even for those who bought non-refundable tickets.

One caveat: The DOT doesn’t currently define what constitutes a “significant” change. That determination is based on factors like length of delay and flight and particular circumstances, the agency said.

Starting Oct. 28, airlines will have to “promptly” and automatically pay refunds to customers, due to a recently issued Biden administration rule. It will also define a “significant” change as a delay of three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

More broadly, airline compensation policies vary for delays and cancellations.

A Transportation Department dashboard outlines major carriers’ promises to customers in the event of cancellations or delays longer than three hours.

Airlines are “required to adhere” to these promises, the agency said.

For example, all airlines commit to rebooking passengers on the same airline for free and to providing a free meal if cancellation leads to waiting at least three hours for a new flight. Most offer a hotel stay for overnight delays. None offer cash compensation for a delay of three or more hours.

Importantly, these airline policies only apply to “controllable” delays and cancellations, meaning those attributable to airline operations. The same obligations may not apply to situations outside their control, like bad weather.

A recent spate of delays and cancellations related to a global IT outage was deemed a “controllable” event, for example. A failed tech update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted Microsoft services used by several airlines.

Passengers flying abroad may have more rights depending on international rules, experts said.

For example, passengers flying to and from Europe generally have more rights to compensation due to European Union law, according to AirHelp.

Tips for passengers

Experts recommend a few ways to minimize the odds of a flight disruption, and to better cope with delays or cancelations if they occur:

Book the first flight of the day. Flights departing after 9 a.m. are two times more likely to be delayed than those scheduled between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., according to Berg.
Avoid connecting flights to reduce odds of a disruption. This won’t always be possible, depending on factors like ticket cost, airport and destination. If you do have a connection, leave ample time for a layover, Napoli said. At minimum, travelers should leave a layover buffer of at least 45 minutes for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international trips, Berg said.
Build in a buffer day. Leave “wiggle room” at your destination so you don’t miss “big” events or plans in the event of a delay or cancellation, Berg said.
Fly on days that are less busy. Traveling during weekdays like Tuesday or Wednesday tends to bring less flight traffic, Napoli said. Travelers may be less likely to see certain kinds of delays, and have more open seats if they need to rebook. Tickets tend to be cheaper on these days, too.
Pack smartly. Those with a carry-on bag or personal item should pack strategically in the event of a delay or cancellation, Napoli said. For example, it may make sense to have a change of clothes, snacks, electronics, valuables, and a toothbrush on hand if your checked bag isn’t available, he said.
Multitask while waiting. In the event of a delay or cancellation, use your time wisely, experts said. “Get in line to speak with an airline representative at the same time you call the customer support center,” Berg said. This way, you maximize your odds of talking to a representative more quickly if multiple passengers are trying to get through simultaneously.

Personal Finance

If interest rates stay ‘higher for longer,’ the winners are those with cash accounts

Published

1 hour ago

December 27, 2024

Business Finance News

Images By Tang Ming Tung | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Many people, especially those with debt, will be discouraged by the recent Federal Reserve forecast of a slower pace of interest rate cuts than previously forecast.

However, others with money in high-yield cash accounts will benefit from a “higher for longer” regime, experts say.

“If you’ve got your money in the right place, 2025 is going to be a good year for savers — much like 2024 was,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.

Why higher for longer is the 2025 ‘mantra’

Returns on cash holdings are generally correlated with the Fed’s benchmark interest rate. If the Fed raises interest rates, then those for high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market funds and other types of cash accounts generally rise, too.

The Fed increased its benchmark rate aggressively in 2022 and 2023 to rein in high inflation, ultimately bringing borrowing costs from rock-bottom rates to their highest level in more than 22 years.

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It started throttling them back in September. However, Fed officials projected this month that it would cut rates just twice in 2025 instead of the four it had expected three months earlier.

“Higher for longer is the mantra headed into 2025,” McBride said. “The big change since September is explained by notable upward revisions to the Fed’s own inflation projections for 2025.”

The good and bad news for consumers

The bad news for consumers is that higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing, said Marguerita Cheng, a certified financial planner and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

“[But] higher interest rates can help individuals of all ages and stages build savings and prepare for any emergencies or opportunities that may arise — that’s the good news,” said Cheng, who is a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council.

High-yield savings accounts that pay an interest rate between 4% and 5% are “still prevalent,” McBride said.

By comparison, top-yielding accounts paid about 0.5% in 2020 and 2021, he said.

The story is similar for money market funds, he explained.

Money market fund interest rates vary by fund and institution, but top-yielding funds are generally in the 4% to 5% range.

However, not all financial institutions pay these rates.

The most competitive returns for high-yield savings accounts are from online banks, not the traditional brick-and-mortar shop down the street, which might pay a 0.1% return, for example, McBride said.

Things to consider for cash

There are of course some considerations for investors to make.

People always question which is better, a high-yield savings account or a CD, Cheng said.

“It depends,” she said. “High-yield savings accounts will provide more liquidity and access, but the interest rate isn’t fixed or guaranteed. The interest rate will fluctuate, nor your principal. A CD will provide a fixed guaranteed interest rate, but you give up liquidity and access.”

Additionally, some institutions will have minimum deposit requirements to get a certain advertised yield, experts said.

Further, not all institutions offering a high-yield savings account are necessarily covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. protections, said McBride. Deposits up to $250,000 are automatically protected at each FDIC-insured bank in the event of a failure.

“Make sure you’re sending your money directly to a federally insured bank,” McBride said. “I’d avoid fintech middlemen that rely on third-party partnerships with banks for FDIC insurance.”

A recent bankruptcy by one fintech company, Synapse, highlights that “unappreciated risk,” McBride said. Many Synapse customers have been unable to access most or all of their savings.

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Personal Finance

Credit card debt set to hit record levels as consumer holiday spending rises

Published

3 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Business Finance News

A woman shops at a Target store in Chicago on Nov. 26, 2024.

Kamil Krzaczynski | AFP | Getty Images

Heading into the holidays, many Americans were already saddled with record-breaking credit card debt. And yet, consumer spending is set to reach a fresh high this season.

The National Retail Federation reported last week that spending between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 is “clearly on track” to reach a record, between $979.5 billion and $989 billion.

“Job and wage gains, modest inflation and a heathy balance sheet have led to solid holiday spending,” the NRF’s chief economist, Jack Kleinhenz, said in a statement.

But other reports show that many shoppers are increasingly leaning on credit cards to manage their holiday purchases.

To that point, 36% of consumers have taken on debt this season, a recent report by LendingTree found. And those who dipped into the red racked up an average of $1,181, up from $1,028 in 2023, according to the survey of more than 2,000 adults.

“No one should be surprised that so many Americans took on debt this holiday season. Prices are still really high and that means that lots of Americans simply didn’t have any choice,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief credit analyst.

“Inflation is still a big deal in this country, and it’s having a huge impact on people’s finances, including their holiday spending,” he said.

Credit card debt is at an all-time high

Heading into the peak holiday shopping season, credit card balances were already 8.1% higher than a year ago, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s report on household debt.

Further, 28% of credit card users had not paid off the gifts they bought last year, according to another holiday spending report by NerdWallet, which polled more than 1,700 adults in September.

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In some cases, Americans’ willingness to spend is a sign of confidence, Schulz noted. “Some surely took on debt because they didn’t have any other choice, while others did so because they wanted to splurge a bit and weren’t concerned about paying a little extra interest in order to get what they or their loved one really wanted.”

However, credit cards continue to be one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. The average credit card rate is currently more than 20% — near an all-time high. Some retail card APRs are even higher.

The problem with credit cards

Of those with debt, 21% expect it’ll take five months or longer to pay it off, LendingTree also found. At that rate, sky-high interest charges will exact a heavy toll, according to Schulz.

“That means less money to put towards other big goals for the new year, such as growing an emergency fund or saving for college,” he said. “In more extreme cases, it may mean you’re less able to pay essential bills or keep food on the table. In either case, it’s a big deal.”

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Personal Finance

36% of American consumers took on holiday debt, averaging $1,181

Published

22 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Business Finance News

Manonallard | E+ | Getty Images

Many Americans are capping off the holidays with new debt balances.

This season, 36% of American consumers took on holiday debt, according to a new survey from LendingTree.

Those who racked up balances this season took on an average of $1,181 in debt, up from $1,028 in 2023. However, that is still down from $1,549 in 2022, LendingTree found.

Less than half — 44% — of the people who took on debt expected to acquire those balances, a sign that this holiday season is still financially challenging for many people, according to Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.

Higher prices caused by inflation remain an issue for many individuals and families this holiday season, he said.

“Some of it is people just wanting to wrap up what’s been a difficult year by spreading a little joy, and maybe they ended up taking on a little bit of extra debt to do so,” Schulz said.

Those most likely to take on debt this season include parents of young children, with 48%; millennials ages 28 to 43, with 42%; and individuals who earn $30,000 to $49,999, with 39%, according to LendingTree.

Consumers who went into debt over the holidays run the risk of still carrying those balances when next year’s holiday season comes around. Almost half of Americans still have debt from last year’s holidays, WalletHub recently found.

Meanwhile, paying down debt is a top financial resolution for 2025, according to a recent Bankrate survey.

For those who want to get out of debt, it helps to get started as soon as possible, Schulz said.

Successfully knocking off those balances has its own reward in the way of freedom, said Laura Mattia, a certified financial planner and senior vice president at Wealth Enhancement Group in Sarasota, Florida, who works with clients at all levels of wealth.

“People love to be debt free,” Mattia said. “The idea of not owing anybody any money is extremely comforting.”

Negotiate your interest rates

For those who took on holiday debt, 42% said they are paying interest rates of 20% or higher, typically through credit cards or store cards, LendingTree found.

The good news is that it’s possible to get better interest rates — and therefore lower the total amount it takes to pay off your debt — by pursuing either a 0% balance transfer credit card or a debt consolidation loan.

“There’s really no better weapon against credit card debt than a 0% balance transfer credit card,” Schulz said.

Most offers provide either 12 or 15 months without accruing interest on the transferred balance, he said. However, a fee for transferring the balance may apply.

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Pick a debt paydown strategy you can stick with

Those people in debt may want to pick from different strategies to tackle their balances.

That includes the avalanche method — which prioritizes high interest rate debts first — or the snowball method – which puts the smallest balances first.

“What really matters more is finding the one that works best for you and that will keep you motivated,” Schulz said.

Mattia said she often advises clients to start with the smallest balances first, so they immediately feel their situation improving.

“What deters people the most is when they feel like they’re not making progress and they give up,” Mattia said.

Try to increase your savings

While paying down debt balances may be the primary goal, it also helps to set aside some cash for emergencies.

That way, when an unexpected expense comes up — or next holiday season rolls around — you may not have to lean quite so much on credit cards, Schulz said.

“One of the best ways to break out of the cycle of debt that so many people find themselves in is to save while you’re paying down your debts,” Schulz said.

Still, it’s important to keep in mind that the best interest rates available on savings are around 5%, while credit cards are charging north of 20% and prioritize accordingly, Mattia said.

Celebrate small wins

In the aftermath of the holidays, give yourself grace if you spent more than you intended, said CFP Jesse Sell, managing principal at Prevail Financial Partners in Stillwater, Minnesota.

“It’s not terribly uncommon to kind of let otherwise good discipline go for a few weeks over the holidays,” Sell said.

As you work to pay down your overall debt, it helps to break it down into smaller goals that you can celebrate along the way, he said.

Once you hit a smaller milestone, celebrate that victory with a small reward.

Admittedly, paying down debt is not really fun, Sell said.

“Try to find ways to take some positives out of it and keep the momentum and focus going,” Sell said.