12 Myths Air Travelers Should Stop Believing

Travel pros debunk common misconceptions that could be costing fliers time, money and peace of mind

a compliation of a card reader for a vip room, travel insurance documents, an airplane, suitcase and a woman shopping at a duty free store

Travelers who can separate travel facts from myths reduce travel stressors and save money, too.

AARP (Getty Images, 5)

Berit Thorkelson,

AARP

Published November 26, 2025

In this story

There’s a lot of travel advice out there — not all of it good.

Policy changes and plain old bad information can lead travelers to make choices and assumptions that don’t serve them, or their pocketbooks, well.

Ensuring you’re working with travel truths is smart for anyone who’s on a fixed budget or keen to reduce common travel stressors. The latter is especially important to those with anxiety, which is one of the most common mental health challenges among older adults, according to the National Council on Aging.

Discover the facts behind the following myths so you can book smarter and travel better, saving time, money and headaches along the way.

Over the shoulder view of a woman using a smartphone to book flight tickets and plan a trip

Booking early doesn’t always mean that you’re getting the best price on your airline ticket.

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Myth No. 1: Book flights as early as possible to get the best price.

Picture an upside-down bell curve, says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet. Flight prices tend to be high far in advance and right before departure, with the best prices falling somewhere in between. This usually penalizes eager beavers and last-minute bookers; domestic travelers who purchase within the one- to three-month window prior to departure do the best, according to Expedia’s “2025 Air Hacks” report. Use an online flight tracker, such as Google Flights, Skyscanner or Kayak, to alert you when it’s your flight’s optimal purchase time.

Close-up of an airplane overhead panel with air vents and lighting controls

Don’t let the myth of dirty recirculated airplane air distract you from an airplane’s true germ hotspots.

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Myth No. 2: Recirculated cabin air makes you sick.

It’s hard not to imagine all the possible bacteria and viruses floating around in an airplane as you sit shoulder-to-shoulder with scores of other passengers. That cabin air, however, is not as germ-riddled as you might think, says Patrick Smith, an airline pilot, air travel blogger at Ask the Pilot and author of Cockpit Confidential. “Generally speaking, the air quality in an airplane is no germier than any other public space and, often, much less so. The filters are surprisingly effective,” he says. “There’s a complete turnover of air volume every few minutes.”

You’re much more likely to get sick from something you touch on an airplane versus something you breathe, he says, calling out lavatory door handles, toilet flushers and tray tables as common culprits truly deserving of your sanitizing wipes.

A blue suitcase and an airplane on a blank white calendar background

There are better ways to get a good price on a plane ticket than waiting for the “right” day of the week to book.

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Myth No. 3: There’s a perfect day of the week to book a flight.

Gone are the days of regular airline pricing patterns and, with them, a specific best day to buy. Now pricing is dynamic and AI-informed, says Chris Nelson, a credit cards writer at The Points Guy. “It’s kind of just a crapshoot,” he says. Better to set a price-drop alert on an online flight tracker (such as the ones mentioned in Myth No. 1).

Travelers should consider researching the type of travel insurance that best suits their travel habits.

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Myth No. 4: Travel insurance is a racket.

For short, inexpensive trips, you might be fine without travel insurance. But as price, time and distance increase, so does the value of insurance, says John E. DiScala, creator of the travel tips and deals website Johnny Jet.

DiScala recommends skipping airline-offered insurance in favor of using a credit card that offers coverage or purchasing a third-party policy. He recently benefited from the latter when illness prevented his family from going on a booked cruise that the cruise line refused to refund. “I submitted a claim [to the insurance company], and I got my money back,” he says. “Otherwise, I would have been out five grand.”

Myth No. 5: You can’t bring food through security.

You’re welcome to bring travel snacks through Transportation Security Administration screening as long as they’re solid. That means sandwiches, crackers, dried fruits and cheese are OK, but skip the yogurt, dips and spreads — like liquids, those are limited to 3.4 ounces. Anything you can take through TSA, you can likely take on the plane, too, as most airlines make carry-on exceptions for food.

A hand with a blue pass card unlocking access to a VIP room

Travelers take note: Not all airport lounges are created equal.

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Myth No. 6: Airport lounges are fancy and expensive.

In truth, they run the gamut. Some are “so sad that I would rather not even be in them,” French says, while others are luxurious spaces worth getting to the airport early for, with complimentary sushi, cocktails and massages.

Do a little research to see if your home airport has a lounge that might be worth the upgraded ticket, annual credit card fee or day-pass cost. If you tend to order food and drinks before a flight, for example, you may be able to get those gratis and have a private place to lounge, too.

Myth No. 7: Once you purchase a flight, you’re locked in to that price.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires carriers to allow reservation cancellations within 24 hours of booking, without penalty, as long as it’s at least seven days before the flight’s departure. But some carriers will refund the difference between your purchase price and a lower fare right up until departure, Nelson says. Some will refund your money or points, while others will issue travel credits for a future trip. This might not apply to basic economy fares, though.

Myth No. 8: Frequent flier programs are only for frequent fliers.

Many airlines earn more through their loyalty programs — that is, selling miles to banks and partners — than from flying passengers. That relatively recent truth makes it easier than ever for people to accumulate miles without setting foot on an airplane.

Simply signing up for an airline’s or hotel’s loyalty program can yield deals and offers on top of the ability to accumulate points or miles for flights or stays. Pair that with a credit card that offers miles or points for everyday spending and you’ll accumulate them at least as quickly as a frequent traveler does.

A hand holding a credit card at a beachside hotel

The benefits of the right travel rewards credit card should have the same or greater value as the card’s annual fee.

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Myth No. 9: You should never get a credit card that has an annual fee.

“That’s something my parents always told me. If you’re paying a fee on a credit card ... you are doing something wrong,” French says. While a no-fee card may be great for some, “to just write off the concept of credit cards with annual fees is also incorrect, especially for people who travel,” she says. Things like travel insurance, TSA PreCheck, credit toward travel and miles for purchases you’re already making could be worth the fee and much more.

the silhouette of an airplane with dollar bills in the background

Weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not flying a budget airline is truly worth the cost savings.

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Myth No. 10: Budget airlines are the cheapest way to fly.

“The fees add up,” French says. They can be attached to things such as checked bags, carry-ons, seat selection, printing a boarding pass at the airport and snacks, as well as flight changes and cancellations. Plus, they often have less robust schedules, so if your flight is canceled, the next one may not be hours but, rather, days later, with compensation unlikely. “That’s really a case where cheap is expensive,” French says.

Cloud curve from wake turbulence after a plane passes by

Although it may not seem like it to anxious travelers, turbulence is simply a normal part of flying.

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Myth No. 11: Turbulence means the plane is in danger.

Turbulence is a top concern for anxious fliers — a fact that initially surprised Smith. “As a pilot, to me, turbulence is normal,” he says. “It’s just part of flying.” The only time it becomes an issue, he explains, is when passengers aren’t buckled up during a rough patch. Even then, he notes, the plane isn’t moving more than about 10 feet up or down. “In the anxious flier’s mind, he or she feels the plane dropping from the sky, when in reality, it’s barely moving.”

a woman carrying a suitcase shopping at a duty free shop in an airport

“Duty-free” doesn’t always mean “deal.” Be aware of the true value of your purchase.

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Myth No. 12: Duty-free shopping is cheaper.

Sure, you’re avoiding local taxes and import duties, but that doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting a deal. “At these duty-free shops at airports and cruise terminals, retailers can still set their own prices, and they’ll typically just inflate a base price,” French says.

“So if the value-added tax is 10 percent, it’s totally possible to see a markup at the store for 20 percent higher than the street price, in which case you’re actually paying more.” Check the fair market value of any big-ticket item before buying. Don’t worry about smaller purchases, like last-minute souvenirs or anything that seems like a fair trade for the remaining local currency, which would otherwise gather dust at home in a drawer.

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Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star Tribune’s travel section.