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The U.S. Department of Transportation is weighing changes to how airlines show ticket prices, and it could make comparison shopping trickier.

Right now, when you search for a flight, the first price shown includes everything: fare, taxes, and mandatory fees. That's been the rule since the Obama era, meant to make prices easy to compare across airlines. Under the proposed change, airlines could highlight the lower base fare more prominently, as long as the total cost still appears somewhere on the page, just not necessarily first or biggest.

The DOT is also considering a more sweeping option: repealing the all-in pricing rule entirely. Critics warn that could make it much harder to compare flights at a glance, since airlines would gain more freedom over what number they show you first.

Nothing is finalized yet, but the direction is clear: expect more digging required to find your true total price.

Travel Smarter: When comparing flights going forward, don't trust the first number you see. Click into the full fare breakdown before booking, and use a flight search tool that shows total price by default, since airline sites may soon lead with the lower base fare instead.

WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, cancelled its entire schedule of nearly 500 flights on Sunday after flight attendants walked off the job. The strike centers on a familiar dispute across the industry: pay for time on the ground, including boarding and deplaning, which most flight attendants currently aren't compensated for.

WestJet says it offered raises of more than 20% through 2029 plus boarding-time pay, but the union says the offer didn't go far enough.

If you're affected, WestJet says all customers will be refunded or rebooked. Air Canada has set up dedicated check-in desks for stranded WestJet travelers, and Porter Airlines is adding extra flights on select routes, though neither is offering discounted fares. WestJet's regional partner, WestJet Encore, is still flying, so some smaller routes remain unaffected. In the U.S., WestJet serves 27 destinations, with Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Atlanta as its biggest gateways.

Travel Smarter: If you have an upcoming WestJet booking, check your flight status directly on WestJet's site rather than assuming it's still on, and have a backup plan in mind, since Air Canada and Porter aren't guaranteeing discounted rebooking. Strikes like this can end abruptly or drag on, so build in flexibility if your dates aren't fixed.

⚠️ Searching online for an airline's customer service number during a flight delay could put you in touch with scammers instead of the airline. Fraudsters often create fake websites and phone numbers that appear in search results, hoping stressed travelers will share personal or payment information.

To stay safe, always contact your airline through its official website or mobile app, and make sure the website uses a secure HTTPS connection. If someone pressures you to make an immediate payment or asks for passwords, verification codes, or banking details, end the conversation and contact the airline using a verified phone number.

Simple precautions—like using official channels instead of search results—can help protect your money and personal information when travel plans don't go as expected.

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For a growing number of Gen Z travelers, the first major investment isn't a home—it's a timeshare. A new industry report found that Gen Z accounts for 54% of recent timeshare purchases, driven by flexible points systems, resort perks, and a desire to prioritize travel experiences over traditional milestones like homeownership.

Modern timeshares have evolved beyond fixed vacation weeks, offering points that can be used across different destinations and dates. Still, ownership comes with a significant upfront cost, annual maintenance fees, and long-term commitments.

Travel Smarter: A timeshare can make sense if you travel frequently, understand the costs, and plan to use it every year. But don't buy one simply because it's presented as an "investment." Compare the total lifetime cost—including maintenance fees—to booking hotels or vacation rentals before signing a contract.

— Warren Buffett

Written by the Boarding Soon Editorial Team

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