Etiquette for using the overhead storage bin spaces on a flight is a combination of written and unwritten rules that all have somewhat mixed enforceability.

For those reasons, it’s not always clear what is the right or wrong move when placing your carry-on and other items in the overhead storage bin.

In this article, I’m going to clear up some of the confusion so that you can feel confident the next time you choose to place something in the overhead bin.

First class overhead storage bins

The basic travel etiquette is for only first class passengers to use the overhead storage bins in first class.

Airlines are pretty good about making this clear by putting up signs that say something like “reserved for first class passengers” or “business/1st passengers only.”

I believe all non-first class passengers should follow this rule ~90% of the time.

The exception is when all of the first class passengers are already seated and there is still space in the first class overhead storage bin area.

At that point, one could assume that any of the overhead storage bin space truly needed by first class passengers has already been used.

So if you were among the last to board and you knew that the flight was full, you could place your bag in the overhead storage bin space in first class without violating “the spirit” of the rule.

If a flight attendant stopped you, you could just tell them that you noticed all of the first class passengers were already seated and you assumed that there was extra storage space in this part of the cabin.

If the storage space is virtually filled throughout the aircraft this shouldn’t be a problem.

However, in some cases it’s possible that a flight attendant could tell you to take your bag down in which case you should listen to avoid any confrontation but in my experience they will often let this fly.

The key to doing this is to make sure that the first class cabin is full.

Don’t assume that if there is one missing seat near the end of boarding that there will be no passenger sitting there.

Although first class passengers usually can board first, quite a few first class passengers wait until the last minute to board. That gives them more time to soak in a lounge and down more cocktails get more work done.

If you put your bag in the first class overhead bin space before the first class passengers are finished boarding, there’s a chance that a first class passenger could report your bag.

A flight attendant could then request for the owner of the bag to come get it which means you’ll have to get up out of your seat and go all the way to the front of the plane and then try to find a spot for your bag.

In that scenario, there’s a good chance that you may have to check your bag.

If you do not claim the bag that you put in the first class cabin, it’s possible that the airline could leave your bag at the airport because an unclaimed bag could be considered a security risk.

This is why you want to play it safe when using the first class storage bins.

Related: Can You Use the First Class Lavatory When in Economy?

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Bulkhead overhead storage bins

I believe that the storage bin space above the bulkhead seats should be off-limits as much as any other reserved overhead bin space.

The reason is that bulkhead passengers do not always have a seat in front of them where they can slide a personal item under and so they have to stow their personal item along with their carry-on.

Also, sometimes the overhead storage space above the bulkhead is a smaller compartment so one passenger can easily fill it up.

Economy plus

Some airlines offer upgraded economy sections like economy plus or main cabin extra. These are just regular economy seats with usually about 3 to 4 inches of extra legroom.

Lots of times, you’ll also see overhead storage bins dedicated to these passengers and so you should try to respect those labels as well.

That’s because in addition to the extra legroom, these passengers are paying for additional benefits which could include reserved overhead storage bin space.

The crew probably will not enforce these reserved spaces as much as they will in first class but I would still recommend trying to avoid using these bins unless you have paid for that privilege.

Use the bin around your seat

Once you get past the economy plus section, it’s usually just a free-for-all at that point when it comes to overhead storage bin space.

You should definitely still try to use the space directly above your seat because that will allow for the most efficient on-loading and off-loading of passengers.

But that’s not always possible and sometimes you just have to take what you can get.

Generally, it would be better to find a spot between your seat and whatever exit door you’ll be using because it will be easier for you to deplane.

You may not always know what door you will be deplaning from so a lot of times you’ll just assume that the front door will be the exit.

If you only find space available many rows back then whenever it comes time to exit the plane, you may just need to sit in your seat and wait for things to clear out because otherwise it could be a major struggle to get your bag out.

Tip: If you can secure priority boarding via elite status, credit cards, or by purchasing it, you can alleviate a lot of the stress with finding overhead storage bin space.

Personal items

Personal items (such as your backpack) usually belong under the seat in front of you or on your person during your flight.

When boarding, you should not initially place your personal item in the overhead storage bin space because you are unnecessarily limiting the space for other people to store their carry-ons.

If you notice that the flight is not full and that there’s extra overhead storage bin space then at that point you can put your personal item up there but the default rule of etiquette is to not put it in the overhead bin.

Take out what you need from your carry-on bag for the flight

The best practice is to keep anything you will need during the flight on your person. This way, you can avoid getting up multiple times to access your carry-on bag.

There’s nothing wrong with doing that on occasion but if you are constantly getting up and down that can be very annoying to your fellow passengers.

This is especially true if you are having to climb over them or are slamming the bin shut every time.

Place your carry-on bag in the right orientation

When you go to put your bag up in the overhead storage bin, make sure that you are placing it in a way that utilizes the space in the best way possible.

Sometimes you can find little stickers in the bin showing you which direction to place your bag but other times you can just look around and see what others are doing.

If you see a flight attendant readjusting bags then make sure you follow his or her lead.

Finding a place for your coat

If you have a coat, you can ask if you can use the wardrobe closet assuming that the aircraft has one and that it is available to you.

If not, then consider waiting until all the other passengers have boarded and stored their belongings in the overhead storage bins.

If there is room up there for your coat, feel free to use it. (This type of policy is often announced by the crew during boarding.)

When it comes to coats and other similar items, some people utilize a different philosophy.

Basically, they feel that they are entitled to use their share of the overhead storage bin however they like.

For example, if there are three seats in the row then they can occupy 1/3 of the overhead storage bin above their seat with whatever object they would like, including something like a coat.

It’s a reasonable and defendable position but I tend to err on the side of trying to minimize the chances of someone having to check their bag while boarding.

So personally, I would not put my coat in the overhead storage bin space unless there is space left over.

And definitely don’t drape your coat over the back of your seat!

Help out other passengers

Helping out other passengers will do more than help prevent the plane from crashing (video).

It could also help the boarding process go smoother and prevent people from getting injured.

If you ever see someone struggling and you can easily help, try to “be a doll” and offer an extra hand.

Utilize pre-boarding if needed

People who need extra time to board can utilize pre-boarding.

For some people, that extra time is needed because they have physical difficulties with lifting heavy items which could be a carry-on bag.

If you doubt your ability to stow your bag without issues or think that dealing with it in a crowded setting could cause you to potentially injure yourself, I think it’s a really good idea to take advantage of pre-boarding.

Final word

Knowing how to utilize the overhead storage bin space is not quite as straightforward as you might think.

Generally, you should avoid using any bin not reserved for the fare or seat type on your boarding pass, but whenever there is limited space, exceptions can be made.

Also, always try to find overhead storage bin space that will not require you to backtrack when exiting the plane and avoid putting items in the bin that could be stored elsewhere.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

I have flown some of the top first-class products over the past few years, and I have to say that for 95% of people on first class flights, people already know how to act.

But there are some issues that have come up a few times that I’ve noticed. 

I’m not saying I’m the authority on all of these issues but these are just a few things that have bugged me at times and I wanted to spread the message so that others could think about these things when flying first class.

So here are 11 things to consider about first-class etiquette that can hopefully improve your experience and the experience for others. (I realize this is somewhat of a rant-post which I usually don’t do but I wasn’t sure how else to talk about these things.) 

Be considerate with your seat selection

If you are traveling as a single person I don’t think that you should select seats that are designed for couples if there are other seats available that are equally as appealing.

For example, some first-class products like the Singapore Suites have certain rows that can be combined together for couples, while other rows are always single suites. 

When we flew the new Singapore Suites, we initially were not able to combine our suites together because an individual had chosen one of those “combinable” suites.

I called Singapore Airlines to see if they could do anything about this (thinking that this would be a long shot) but they actually talked to the other passenger and they agreed to switch their seat!

I don’t think that “couple friendly” seats like this should be off limits to individuals but I do think it is very courteous to consider that you are potentially preventing a couple from sitting/sleeping together by selecting a seat that is probably just as good as another seat you could choose.

Avoid bad parenting in first class lounges

If you are traveling with kids be extra mindful of their behavior in first class lounges.

First class lounges are typically much more exclusive than business-class/general contract lounges. They are often more intimate, quieter, and have a more luxurious feel.

Those factors mean that any loud visitors will be extra disrupting in a first class lounge.

I will never forget when we visited the ANA first class lounge in Tokyo, which is a pretty small lounge.

During our visit, some parents allowed their kids to essentially run laps around the lounge with their shoes squeaking up the place like an NBA playoff game.

The parents even thought it was funny and joked, “Oh, look, now the kids are going to need a shower.”

Listening to this would have been annoying in just about any lounge but it was especially egregious in an otherwise quiet first class lounge.

Another time that sticks out is visiting the Korean Air first class lounge at ICN.

There, parents allowed their small child to run up to the buffet and start grabbing items with his bare hands with no regard about him touching/fumbling around with other food items.

As if the health hazard wasn’t enough, the parents then let him continuously shoot loud little race cars 30 feet across the lounge over and over again.

Maybe these things are okay to some people, and I’m acting like a grumpy old man but to me these things are not cool.

Of course all the blame lies on the parents and not the kids but sometimes I wonder am I the only one bothered by these things?

Don’t cut the line during boarding

I don’t know what it is about first-class passengers, maybe it is the type of person who often flies first class, but I have had people try to subtly cut me in line when waiting to board on a couple of occasions.

As many of you know, I try to be the first passenger to board the plane so that I can get photos of an empty cabin for the blog.

I stake out my boarding position very early to ensure this on almost every flight.

For some reason though, other first-class passengers have felt like they can just slyly work their way to the front of the line and challenge my spot without any explanation.

Maybe this has just been a coincidence but I feel like some first class passengers are just extra entitled or maybe overly competitive?

Unless you are specifically granted the right to be the first person boarding the plane and this is clearly conveyed by you, a sign, or airline agent’s call, do not try to cut other passengers.

First class dress code or nah?

I personally don’t feel like there should be any dress code for first-class.

As long as you don’t stink and do not appear repulsive (which usually involves stinking), I honestly don’t care how “unfashionable” you are. 

Others feel differently and feel like you should dress up a little bit. For men, this would be like wearing a collared shirt and avoiding shorts and flip-flops. 

But honestly, I think it is just all about wearing what makes you comfortable. Brad and I have worn shorts and t-shirts in first class before and thought nothing of it. 

I will say that bare feet are just gross regardless of which cabin you are flying in.

So if you do take your shoes and socks off, try to keep them hidden from the public view. And for the love of all humanity, do not put your bare feet up on the bulkhead.

You don’t have to recline

When flying on a domestic first class product with limited legroom (a smaller aircraft), I don’t think you should recline your seat on short flights (at least not fully).

While the legroom is much better in first class, it still can be annoying when a passenger fully reclines their seat and makes your working/eating situation tricky on a small aircraft.

I am of the mindset that anything under 1.5 hours can be done without reclining or with limited reclining. Of course you are well within your rights to recline your seat as you wish but at the very least just do so responsibly.   

Changing in the cabin

A lot of first-class products offer a fully enclosed suite.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with changing in your suite as long as everything is closed off to everyone else and you do so discretely. 

In that case, the only way someone would get a glimpse of you is if they were peeking in your suite which would be a problem for them and not yourself.

A flight attendant could have reason to do that from time to time but if you change quickly, that risk should be negligible. 

And let’s be honest, some people do a lot more than changing in some of these suites…. 

Note: in case it’s not obvious, if your suite is not fully enclosed you should head off to the lavatory to change.  

Go easy on the snack baskets

It is common for first class cabins to offer snack baskets or sweets.

These come in different forms.

Sometimes a flight attendant walks around with a snack basket, other times you can find it sitting somewhere in the cabin, and in some cases it might actually be in your first class suite.

If the snack basket is offered to you or is in a common area in the cabin, try to be a little considerate and not indulge yourself like it is your kid’s Halloween stash.

I think that it is more than okay to grab yourself a few snacks/chocolates/whatever just don’t go overboard.

If you do plan on grabbing multiple quantities of whatever is offered, consider waiting until midway through the flight after other passengers have had their chance.

Keep your window shades down

Unless you are taking off or landing, it is generally a good idea to keep your shades down if the cabin is dark and most passengers are trying to rest or sleep.

All it takes is one open window shade to cast an ultra bright light beam into the cabin and ruin the experience for a lot of other people.

I am someone who loves to look out the window and I’ve probably pissed a lot of people off opening up window shades in the past but I totally understand how annoying this could be and try to avoid doing it now.

Related: Window Seat Etiquette: (Who Controls the Window Shade?) 

Using the call button

Some people might disagree with me on this but in first class I think you should feel free to use the call button as you deem necessary.

In economy, I feel like the call button is really only for urgent needs.

In domestic first class, the call button is also usually not necessary because it is such a tiny cabin and a flight attendant is usually only a couple of steps away. (It could come in handy if for example a passenger was sleeping next to you and you did not want to wake them when you get up.)

But in international first class, it is my opinion that the call button can be used for pretty much anything: requesting snacks, drinks, turn down service, etc.

Don’t be afraid to ring a flight attendant.

As long as you are polite and reasonable with your request, they should have no problem with helping you out.

Drinking

When flying first class, technically you can request as many drinks as you would like until the flight attendant feels like you are too intoxicated.

However, it is obviously not the best idea to push the limits.

Instead, try to limit yourself to a couple of drinks under what you normally would drink on the ground since you can get intoxicated faster at altitude.

In all of my first class flights, I don’t think I have seen many people who have gotten truly wasted but I have had a couple of close calls myself.

I once got a little bit too buzzed on Virgin Australia and almost woke up a random passenger from their slumber who I thought was Brad (Brad was actually in the next row).

Luckily, when I got very close to this stranger’s face (a few inches), I realized that this was in fact not my husband’s face and I quietly tip-toed out of the suite without the passenger ever noticing.

Kids in first class

And finally for the hot button issue of kids in first class….

I personally have no issues with kids flying in first class as a general rule. My only issue would be if you know you have a child that is very prone to throwing loud fits, long crying sprees, can’t sit still, etc.

That’s a different story.

I have met enough families to know that some kids are just quieter and calmer than others. I get it that most small kids will cry/be loud at some point during a long flight but some kids are much more problematic than others when it comes to being quiet and sitting still.

I once had a kid behind me in first class continuously mess with the tray connected to my seat which constantly shook my seat. It was a pretty short flight but it was still extremely annoying to deal with and led to me turning around for some awkward eye contact with the parent.

If you happen to have a loud child or a child that struggles to be still, I honestly don’t think first-class is the best place for them to fly, especially if we’re talking about international first class for tickets go for $10,000.

If you do choose to fly with your child that you know will likely have a lot of issues, I think that you owe the other first class passengers the courtesy to take extra care that your child is not disruptive.

Final word

Let me be clear, I am not trying to tell everybody how to act when flying first class. However, these are some things that I have experienced first-hand during my first class travels that I think are areas people should be mindful of. Let me know if you agree or disagree with any of these! 

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

Can you use the First Class lavatory when flying Economy?

It’s a question that has divided passengers for many years and led to a lot of crappy situations.

But what do airlines have to say about this question?

In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about using the First Class restroom as an Economy passenger.

I’ll talk about the policies for the major US airlines and give you some insight into how those may or may not be enforced.

I’ll also provide some tips that you can use to avoid unnecessary confrontations when trying to relieve yourself.

Can you use the First Class lavatory when in Economy?

In general, you should strive to use the bathroom located within the cabin that you are ticketed in.

However, some airlines will allow Economy passengers to use the First Class bathrooms on domestic flights.

This is usually the case if:

• 1) Aisle access to the rear (aft) bathroom is blocked by a food/drink cart
• 2) You’re a passenger falling within a special group
• 3) There is an emergency bathroom situation

Aisle access blocked

Beverage carts were seemingly designed to occupy 99.99% of the aisle making it impossible for some passengers to pass through.

For that reason, a lot of flight attendants will be understanding and allow you to use the lavatory upfront because you don’t have an alternative.

Special passengers (disabilities, elderly, etc.)

Passengers with disabilities, the elderly, and children such as unaccompanied minors (UMs), are usually given a pass when it comes to the front bathroom.

And this makes sense.

Making them go all the way to the back could be a big inconvenience and it would not be a very good look by the airlines if they pushed back on people falling into these groups and something happened.

If you qualify for preboarding there’s a high chance you could use the First Class lavatory without a problem.

Emergency bathroom situations

If you expressed that you’re dealing with an emergency bathroom situation whether number one or two (details not always necessary), any reasonable flight attendant should allow you to use a lavatory upfront if the one in the back is not a practical option.

For example, if you’re mid “pee dance” but there is someone standing outside the lavatory in the back while the First Class lavatory is open, that should be enough for you to get access.

Using the First Class lavatory for convenience

In some cases, the crew will let Economy passengers use the First Class lavatory just as a matter of convenience. No urgency needed.

The proper etiquette here is probably for only Economy passengers sitting near the First Class cabin to do this. Otherwise, there could be too much traffic in First Class. This is essentially the policy of JetBlue.

Just be sure to always give priority to First Class passengers (unless it’s an emergency).

Tip: Remember, some aircraft like the Boeing 737-800 may have two lavatories in the back.

Practical advice to avoid starring in the next viral video

Some airlines have officially stated their policies on Economy passengers using the First Class restrooms but these stated policies can be a little vague or difficult/impossible to find.

And when you do find them they could be outdated or in contradiction to what you hear from airline representatives.

Plus, there doesn’t always seem to be uniform enforcement of these so-called policies, so you don’t always know how flight attendants will react.

So my advice would be the following:

Always try to use the lavatory in your specific cabin. Life will usually be easier for everyone involved if you do this.

If you want to use the First Class lavatory purely as a matter of convenience you may attempt to do so but you should probably only do this when seated close to First Class. Also, know that this is not in line with most airline policies.

However, as long as you’re sly and not crop dusting First Class passengers, it probably won’t be an issue.

If you are sitting in Economy and need to use the bathroom but don’t have access due to a cart in the aisle, feel free to head to the First Class lavatory.

If you fall into one of the special groups mentioned above (elderly, etc.), head to the First Class lavatory if it’s an issue heading to the aft.

In the event you come across a flight attendant, feel free to give them a brief explanation about what’s going on and stress the urgency of the situation (if needed).

Abide by what a flight attendant tells you unless you absolutely have no choice other than enduring severe discomfort/emptying your contents on yourself.

If you are still reprimanded for using the First Class bathroom under those circumstances, don’t react in any way that could be considered a threat or intimidation because that could land you in legal trouble.

Instead, take your story public later on and expose that airline for borderline inhumane treatment.

As passengers, we have to draw the line somewhere.

A @united flight attendant just no joke threatened to emergency land the plane because an economy passenger used the first class bathroom. And she called the air marshall!

— Megan Rose (@MegMcCloskey) August 24, 2019

International flights

US airlines are much more strict about the bathroom policies when flying back into the US on an international flight.

On those flights, Economy passengers may be prevented from using First Class lavatories. This is apparently a TSA imposed rule so I would not test it.

Another thing about international flights is that it’s common to be kept out of nicer First Class cabins.

For example, an Economy passenger flying an international flight on Emirates is not going to be allowed anywhere near the First Class bathroom where you can find a shower and spa-like experience.

(Because there are so many aisles and other bathrooms located on these larger wide-body planes, accessing a lavatory is usually not a major problem.)

Economy Plus, Premium Class, etc.

You might be wondering if things are a little bit different whenever you’re flying something like Economy Plus, Premium Class, etc.

These are those Economy seats with extra legroom that sometimes come with additional perks like free drinks or priority boarding.

A lot of times the seats are located directly behind First Class which makes using the First Class lavatory extremely convenient compared to walking all the way to the back of the plane.

Sitting here won’t automatically give you access to the front lavatories but….

In my experience, it’s easiest to get away with using the First Class lavatory when seated in these sections because you can slip right into the First Class cabin virtually unnoticed.

I wouldn’t attempt that on an international flight coming into the US but my gut tells me that flight attendants might be more forgiving for these passengers in other situations.

“Not Allowed To Congregate”

You’ve probably heard the flight attendants announce that you’re not allowed to congregate at the front of the plane.

This is a security issue and flight attendants are often pretty strict about not allowing lines to form at the front of the plane.

This is why some people will simply stand in the aisle as they wait for the bathroom to open.

Also, sometimes the pilots have to relieve themselves mid-flight (no, they don’t have their own personal bathroom in the cockpit).

When this happens, nobody is allowed at the lavatory and so if you’re trying to come in from Economy, you may be denied access to the First Class cabin area.

Arguments for and against

There are many opinions out there when it comes to this issue of potty rights.

Some people couldn’t care less while others are vehemently against Economy passengers encroaching into their sacred territory.

Some passengers state that flying is merely a method of public transportation and that no public bathroom should be off-limits, especially when you consider how many Economy passengers there are.

My stance on it is that First Class passengers are given certain privileges like extra legroom, priority boarding, free drinks, etc. One of these privileges is a smaller ratio of passengers-to-bathrooms and the quietness and convenience that comes from that.

So Economy passengers should normally not use the lavatories in First Class but if one of the special circumstances mentioned above applies then they should be given access (ideally with minimal dirty looks).

Airline policies on First Class lavatories

Now let’s get into what specific airlines have stated.

You won’t find a lot of published policies and so I checked with individual representatives to get confirmation on the official policy of each airline.

Alaska

Alaska Airlines is one of the few airlines to clearly publish their bathroom policy.

They state: “Guests should use the restroom in their assigned cabins, and are required to do so on inbound international flights; exceptions may be made for guests with special needs.”

American Airlines

American Airlines has a reputation for allowing Economy passengers to use the First Class lavatories. When I contacted a representative, they seemed to more or less confirm this.

They said that the First Class lavatories are reserved for First Class passengers but if the lavatory for Main Cabin is full, you can request to use the one upfront.

This is a pretty reasonable policy and probably what most airlines abide by.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is said to have a policy similar to Alaska.

When I inquired with an agent to confirm I was told that Delta Airlines does not have an official policy on this and to check with the flight attendant on my flight.

So when it comes to Delta, it might be best to request access from a crew member before heading in from Economy.

JetBlue

A JetBlue representative told me that they do not have designated First Class lavatories and that you can use the bathroom closest to your seat. This was the only major US airline that confirmed Economy passengers could use “First Class” lavatories.

Southwest

Southwest Airlines does not have a First Class cabin so this is not an issue for passengers flying Southwest.

United Airlines

During the pandemic, United Airlines temporary allowed Economy passengers to use the First Class bathrooms and vice versa.

Many people wondered if this policy would last post-pandemic and so I contacted a United Airlines representative to clarify.

The United Airlines agent told me that Economy Class passengers are NOT allowed to use the First Class lavatory.

Though again, only First Class passengers are able to use the First Class bathrooms, we apologize again for any frustration and will be happy to pass your feedback along internally to the appropriate team. ^CM

— United Airlines (@united) December 6, 2021

It’s worth remembering that these stated policies are not always enforced.

For example, I’ve seen Economy passengers head to the First Class bathroom on United flights without any questions asked. Same with Alaska.

In reality, whether or not an Economy passenger can use the First Class lavatory with no issues may just come down to the temperament of the crew on that particular flight.

That’s just yet another reason why being friendly and personable with flight attendants is a good idea.

The bathroom access also tends to become more of an issue when lots of economy passengers are accessing the First Class lavatory.

Accessible bathrooms?

Another issue with these bathrooms is them not being accessible but that might soon be changing.

A proposed rule would require airlines to make at least one lavatory large enough for passengers with disabilities to get inside and maneuver. This would only apply to new single-aisle aircraft with 125 or more passenger.

We will see how that proposal works out and how it affects policies for lavatories in the future.

Final Word

Airline lavatory policies can be hard to keep up with because they seem to change and the enforcement does not always seem to align with what is told to customers.

In the end, I say to use the bathroom in your ticketed cabin unless you have an urgent need. In those situations, try to express the urgency and I doubt you would have many issues.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.