Recap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly.

End of Laptop Ban in Sight – Only 1 Airline Still Affected

The laptop ban, once the subject of so much rancor and debate, is fading fast and may disappear completely within a week.

Travel + Leisure Readers Pick the World’s Best Airlines

Looking for travel suggestions? The results of Travel + Leisure’s annual best-in-travel survey were released this week, with recommendations aplenty.

Travel Etiquette – What Would You Do If … ?

A new survey probes travelers’ attitudes toward a range of dilemmas likely to be encountered in the course of a trip. Patience and restraint rule!

Good to Know: The Countries with the Fastest Wi-Fi Speeds

You can’t be beholden to the availability of hotspots. These places have the fastest—in some cases, free—Wi-Fi.

How to Spend More Time on Rides, Less Time in Lines at Disneyland

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Getting the most ride time during your pricey visit to Disneyland is all a matter of timing. Here are the best months, days, and times of day to go.

How Much Would You Pay to Have an Empty Seat Next to You?

How much would you pay to have the coach seat next to you empty? Middle East carrier Etihad Airways is about to find out.

Is TSA Missing 95% of Banned Items at Security?

A recent test found that the TSA’s success rate in detecting banned items at security checkpoints was a dismal 5 percent.

Uber Changes Course, Adds Tipping Option to App

Uber has done what was once unthinkable: The world’s dominant rideshare company reversed its long-held no-tipping policy. Great for drivers; less so for riders.

Win a 5-Night Trip to Japan, Including a Sushi-Making Class

Enter to win a five-night trip for two to Kyoto, Japan, including airfare credit, hotel, sushi and bento cooking classes, day trips to nearby attractions.

Somebody has to win this trip, right? Might as well be you.

More from SmarterTravel:

• You Can Borrow Delta Miles to Fly Today and Pay Them Back Later. Should You?
• U.S. Carriers Fare Badly in Latest Global Airline Survey
• How to Fly for (Almost) Free Using Credit Card Points

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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