A luxury cruise or five-star hotel for an unbelievably low price can sound like exactly the deal you’ve been waiting for. But the FTC is warning travelers about a common scam built around offers that deliberately leave out the most important details.

The red flag: The offer promises a luxury experience but won’t tell you the hotel name, address, cruise line or other specific details. Scammers may also pressure you to pay quickly before you have time to research the offer.

The FTC’s advice is simple: walk away if the seller won’t provide specifics. Before entering payment information, verify exactly where you’re staying, who is operating the trip and what the total cost will be.

There’s another trap to watch for when booking hotels. A phone number appearing in search results isn’t necessarily the hotel’s real number. Scammers can create misleading listings or contact information designed to intercept travelers.

A bargain is only a bargain if you know what you’re actually buying.

Even Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel says modern travel can be frustrating. His answer: AI that doesn’t just recommend trips, but actively fixes problems.

Booking Holdings is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in AI tools that could anticipate disruptions, suggest itinerary changes and eventually handle those changes for travelers.

Fogel pointed to Priceline’s Penny as an example, saying it can already work through complicated trips involving different fares, airlines and frequent-flyer miles.

The bigger idea is interesting: AI could eventually become the layer between travelers and airlines, hotels and other suppliers when something goes wrong.

Forget the old tricks about dressing nicely or charming the gate agent. According to upgrade expert Jennifer Yellin, today’s best opportunities come from flexibility and award availability.

Try flying on less-popular days, consider a connection instead of a nonstop and check partner airlines for cheaper mileage prices on the same flight.

One example: an American Airlines business-class seat costing 75,000 miles could reportedly be booked through partner Alaska Airlines for 55,000 miles.

And don’t stop checking. Airlines may release unsold premium seats as departure approaches.

American Express Membership Rewards has added Leading Hotels of the World as a transfer partner, opening access to more than 425 independent luxury hotels in 80+ countries.

The catch: The transfer ratio is 4:1, so this isn’t automatically a great use of Amex points. But for travelers targeting properties such as Royal Mansour Marrakech or Le Sirenuse, it creates an option that didn’t previously exist.

Platinum Card members can also receive Leaders Club Sterling status, adding potential benefits such as breakfast and room upgrades.

Avios isn’t just for flying British Airways to London. Depending on which Avios program you use, the currency can unlock short European flights, Caribbean hops, Hawaii trips and business class to Spain.

One standout: Iberia can offer transatlantic business-class awards from the U.S. to Madrid for roughly 40,500 Avios one-way on qualifying off-peak dates.

The key is knowing which Avios program offers the best price for the flight you want.

Allegiant is growing its Florida network, with new routes involving airports including Fort Lauderdale, St. Pete-Clearwater, Punta Gorda, Sarasota-Bradenton and Orlando.

The expansion gives Florida travelers more options—particularly on routes where low-cost competition can help keep fares in check.

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Written by the Boarding Soon Editorial Team

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