Travel Style & Beauty

Book your flight between three weeks and three months before departure for the best balance of price and availability. That sweet spot shifts depending on whether you’re flying domestic or international, traveling during peak season, or chasing a last-minute weekend getaway.
I learned this the hard way on a girls’ trip to Paris last spring. I waited too long, convinced prices would drop, and ended up paying nearly double what my friend spent when she booked eight weeks out. She used those savings on a gorgeous vintage Chanel bag at the Marché aux Puces. Meanwhile, I was kicking myself for not locking in my seat earlier…

The quickest way to confirm whether your LaGuardia flight is delayed is to check your airline’s app or text alerts, which update in real time as gate holds and weather conditions change. Right now, FlightAware reports departure delays at LGA averaging about an hour and a half, though the FAA notes most general departure holds run 15 minutes or less at the gate. The gap between these numbers tells you everything you need to know: delay severity swings wildly depending on your carrier, your destination, and the hour you’re flying.
If you’re standing at the gate watching your boarding time slip or planning a trip …