Not all seats are created equal. In fact, there's one zone where you're less likely to experience a bumpy ride—the front of the economy section, roughly seats 10 to 30 on popular aircrafts like a Boeing 737. These seats are fixed above the wings of the aircraft, known as the most stable part of the plane. Here, you'll be less likely to experience the full effects of the plane’s natural movements, like the lift, thrust, torque, gravity, and drag. As for the friendliest skies, try to book an early morning departure, as you're less likely to face those white-knuckle moments in choppy air. It’s the midday heat clashing with cooler winds that creates much of the turbulence onboard. Sorry first-class lovers, but when it comes to your stomach, the cheapest, early morning tickets are your best bet.

Far from random, the numbers on your airline ticket hold special significance in aviation. They’re a careful blend of tradition and technology, informing airport personnel which carrier you're taking, how important the flight is to the airline, and which direction you're heading. Some flight numbers are thought to bring good fortune, like flight 777 to Las Vegas or flight 888 to Bejing. Other numbers are avoided all together, like flight 666, unless you happened to fly on AY666 from Copenhagen to Helsinki a few years ago. Naturally, the airport code for Helsinki is HEL—see what they did there?

There was once a time when ocean liners ruled the seas. Built for speed and inclement weather, these mammoth vessels transported passengers from one continent to the other, on time and in style. In their heyday from the 1840s to the 1950s, they were the most efficient way to get from Europe to the Americas. Today, of course, the tide has turned. Travelers are most likely to hop on a quick flight or book a cruise. But while you have unlimited options for planes and boats, there is only one ocean liner left in the world: the Queen Mary 2. Known for its elegant design, luxurious touches, and premium comfort, this historic ship is one bucket list experience that's not to be missed. Oh and, yes, go ahead and bring your fanciest dinner attire.

If you spend eight hours sleeping and the next eight hours working, you’ll still be a few hours shy of the world's longest commercial flight. At close to a full day airborne, Singapore Airlines tops the charts with a nonstop, 19-hour journey from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York to Singapore Changi (SIN). The thrice-weekly route has been in operation since 2018, giving passengers a choice between two classes—premium and business—for the 9,537-mile flight. And if you think that sounds long, just wait. As of 2025, Singapore Airlines will no longer hold the record. Soon, Qantas Airways will launch a 20-hour flight from Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) to London Heathrow (LHR), spanning an impressive 10,576 miles on an Airbus A350-1000. With the latest strides in aviation, one thing is certain: long layovers are so yesterday.

Sometimes, the best destinations are the toughest to reach. Or, in this case, the most hair-raising. The world's shortest commercial runway belongs to the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) on the island of Saba, a small but proud Caribbean country nestled between Sint Marteen and Saint Kitts. First built in 1959 with little more than a wheelbarrow, the modest runway comprises a 1,300-foot strip of concrete flanked by two exciting (terrifying?) geological features: cliffs that drop into the ocean on one side and a rugged hillside on the other. For context, a standard runway is 8,000 to 13,000 feet—six to ten times more generous than this one. Not surprisingly, pilots must undergo rigorous training to land on Saba. Once they pass, they’re affectionately known as “Top Guns,” a nod to the action flick starring Tom Cruise. Frankly, the nickname is well-deserved.

If you haven't already linked your Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Rewards account, you're missing out on free miles every time you purchase a cup of coffee. When you enroll in both programs, you can earn one Delta mile for every $1 you spend at Starbucks on eligible purchases, like beverages, snacks, and merchandise. To put that in perspective, if you your favorite latte and a snack every day, you'll rack up enough miles to get a free trip from SFO to JFK in less than a year. Hey, every little bit counts.