Author

Tara Brennan

Founder & Editor

Tara Brennan spent fourteen years in airline customer service and gate operations across two major US carriers before she walked away. She processed the rebookings during irregular operations, knew exactly what the airline owed a passenger versus what it merely offered, and was trained on how to describe that difference in a way that protected the airline.

She founded FlightsInUSA after a buyout in 2024, when a neighbor came to her door owed a full cash refund but being told she could only have a travel credit. Tara had spent fourteen years being paid to know the rule and not say it. Now she writes it down: the exact DOT rule, the exact dollar amount, dated and cited, handed to the passenger for free.

She lives near the DFW corridor, reads contracts of carriage the way other people read the news, and re-checks every rights claim against the current rule before it goes live. She leads with the answer, stays calm, names the rule, and never condescends.

Articles by Tara Brennan

Recent editorial

5 min read

American Airlines Baggage Fees: What a Bag Actually Costs in 2026

American Airlines baggage fees, as of July 2026: the first checked bag is $50 domestic, carry-on is free in every cabin, and here is how to pay $0.

Verdict: Your first checked domestic bag is $50 and your carry-on is free in every cabin, but Basic Economy now pays $5 more per checked bag.

5 min read

Frontier Airlines Baggage Fees: What You Actually Pay in 2026

The personal item is free. The carry-on is the trap, and every bag costs more the later you pay. Frontier's real baggage fees and how to pay less.

Verdict: The personal item is the only free bag. The carry-on is the paid trap, and every bag costs the most at the gate.

5 min read

Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: Which One to Get in 2026

Global entry vs TSA PreCheck: get PreCheck for domestic trips, Global Entry if you fly abroad since it includes PreCheck. Current prices and where CLEAR fits.

Verdict: Domestic flyers get TSA PreCheck; anyone flying internationally gets Global Entry because it includes PreCheck; CLEAR is an optional add-on, not a replacement.

5 min read

Cheapest Days to Fly (And When It Actually Matters)

Find the cheapest days to fly with real pricing patterns, booking windows, and tools that actually work — no fluff, no affiliate spin.

5 min read

Best Day to Book Flights – When Prices Drop Most

Discover the exact days and times that give you the lowest flight fares. Follow our data‑backed list and book smarter.

5 min read

What US Airlines Actually Owe You When a Flight Is Canceled or Delayed

A full refund is federal law. Cash for the delay usually is not. Here is exactly what US airlines owe you, and what to ask for at the gate.

Verdict: You are always owed a full refund. You are almost never owed cash for the delay itself.

5 min read

Airline Delay Compensation: What US Flyers Are Actually Owed

US airlines are not required to pay cash for a delay. Here is what you actually get, how to claim it, and why EU261 does not apply to your domestic flight.

Verdict: For a US domestic delay you are owed rebooking and, if the airline caused it, meals and a hotel, but you are almost never owed cash.