According the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board, this technological do-it-yourself tool will help the Customs and Border Protection officers cut down on “mundane but necessary data collection.” Translation: Everyone saves time.

Watch out for world’s most expensive airport taxis

How the Kiosks Will Work

There is no need for passengers to register in advance. Here’s what the kiosks will do:

• Collect passenger flight and passport information
• Collect declaration data
• Scan fingerprints
• Take a photo
• Issue a receipt

The international visitor then takes this receipt and the photo the customs agent who will verify it and then you’re back on your way.

Disney downside with latest merger?

Orlando International Visitor Numbers Grow

Orlando has long been a testing ground for innovations especially involving international visitors partly because they get so many. In 2012 alone, Orlando International processed a record 3.7 million international passengers. 2013 is shaping up to be record-breaker: So far the numbers of international visitors has jumped nearly 11%. Presumably one can thank Mickey and Harry Potter for that.

But first, let’s find you a cheap flight

Board Ahead of the Herd

FareCompare spoke with an American representative who confirmed that, as of today (May 16), all AA passengers at all airports traveling with a carry-on that fits under the seat in front of them will be allowed to cut in line to the head of general boarding. In other words, they’ll get on the plane after the elites but ahead of the herd.

Light Carry-ons Save Time, Money

For passengers, this means getting settled in seats sooner and less time spent trying to jam too big bags into too small overhead bins (and of course, using any carry-on at all usually means saving a $50 round-trip checked-bag fee). For American, it means a quicker boarding experience, and quicker saves time and money. As FareCompare reported earlier this year, a transportation study notes that every minute cut from the boarding process whittles $30 in costs off a flight and while that may seem like no big deal, it is. The savings “can add up for a carrier like American Airlines, which operates an average of 3,400 flights per day.”

Want to pack like a pro? Here’s how

How to Pack Light

For passengers, this probably means rethinking the carry-on bag itself. Forget a structured or hard-sided shell and use a bag made of squashable material (think in terms of something like a nylon-type gym bag). Experts say rolling up clothing is key to packing light, and wear your heaviest items (including your weightiest shoes). Coats or jackets also provide pocket room for packing little extras.

See the FareCompare Summer Travel Guide

Finding Cheap Destinations

We’ve got a lot of ideas for cheap summertime destinations, but prices will vary depending on where you’re flying from. First suggestion: check out What to Pay for Summer Vacation Flights. Then, see our ideas for cheap destinations below. Click on the city name to find the cheapest flights.

Cheap Cities: Western U.S.

Los Angeles – Always a relative bargain and significantly cheaper than San Francisco (though there are usually great deals between the two cities).

Phoenix – If you don’t mind sizzling temperatures, airfare to this city can be a real bargain. Tip: After a round of golf on a hot course, treat yourself to a refreshing spa session.

Seattle – Air travel expert Rick Seaney says this vibrant Northwest city has the cheapest fares he’s seen in three or four years.

See the Deals Blog for all the latest airlines sales

Cheap Cities: Central U.S.

Austin, San Antonio – More airlines are focusing on these fun Texas cities which means cheaper airfares for you.

New Orleans - It will be humid, but it will also be entertaining – and very often a nice, cheap getaway.

Cheap Cities: Eastern U.S.

Boston – Increased competition to this historic city makes it a good deal year-round and summer is no exception.

Miami and Ft. Lauderdale – These airports are just 26 miles apart and vie with one another to offer the cheapest prices. Note: June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season which gives some travelers pause, but can mean even cheaper airfares.

New York - Airfare whiz Rick Seaney says prices to the Big Apple are improving and look for weekend hotel deals there, too.

Washington, D.C. – Dulles, Reagan and nearby Baltimore airports create an enviable competitive environment that ensure passengers usually win.

Cheap Route: Cross-Country

Look for better deals this year on flights between Los Angeles and New York. Keep your eyes open for the rare $99 one-way deal, but such unusual promotions are more likely in late summer if not the fall.

How to Find the Cheapest Flights

Here are three sure-fire ways to find the cheapest flights every time you shop.

Compare prices: If you head to a single airline’s website, you could miss out on some amazing deals. Compare prices so you don’t miss out on any cheap flights.

Shop Tuesdays: For the past several years, the best day to shop for airfare has been Tuesday at about 3 p.m. eastern time. That is still the case.

Fly less popular days: The cheapest days to fly are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Even if you can’t work out a departure and a return on those days, flying one of them will still save you money.

Also try the following:

Connecting flights: By dispensing with the convenience of a non-stop flight, you could save anywhere from 20% to 60% on airfare.

Using a carry-on bag: Fees for checked bags usually add up to $50 round-trip. Only JetBlue and Southwest offer free checked bags. Note: Spirit charges for all bags, and Frontier will soon institute a carry-on fee for some customers.

5 airlines with a heart (guess which is one of them?)

JetBlue Wins 9 Years in a Row

Maybe you know J.D. Power as the people who tell you which cars to buy, but they also monitor the airline industry and they’ve just ranked JetBlue number one among low-cost carriers. In fact it’s getting pretty monotonous – they’ve had JetBlue in the top spot for the past nine years.

JetBlue also scored more points than the number one airline in the traditional or legacy carrier segment: Alaska Airlines had 717 points overall, while JetBlue earned 787.

Find a cheap flight on the best airline

Alaska Wins in Legacy Carrier Category

And earned is the word, as the ranking came from people who fly all these airlines and rate them on everything from making reservations to the boarding experience. Both JetBlue and Alaska were officially deemed, “among the best.”

Wait – here’s the ‘perfect’ airline

So Where was Southwest?

Southwest followed JetBlue as a not-so-distant number two for low-cost carriers, then – a fairly steep drop-off. Here are the top five for discounters and legacy carriers (airline names are followed by points received and its meaning according to the J.D. Power ratings legend):

Overall Satisfaction – Low-Cost Carriers

1. JetBlue – 787 points, “Among the best”
2. Southwest – 770 points, “Better than most”
3. WestJet – 714 points, “The rest”
4. Frontier – 708 points, “The rest”
5. AirTran – 705 points, “The rest”

Overall Satisfaction, Legacy Airlines

1. Alaska – 717 points, “Among the best”
2. Delta – 682 points, “Better than most”
3. Air Canada – 671 points, “About average”
4. American – 660 points, “About average”
5. United – 641 points, “The rest”

JetBlue is “Stoked”

JetBlue is not perfect – it had some rough times a couple of years back – as did its passengers who were trapped on the tarmac for hours during a snowstorm – but it quickly apologized and tried to make things right, and such gestures it seems are appreciated. Meanwhile, the airline took note of this latest honor by blogging, “We’re stoked,” then proceeded to thank all its customers and its 15,000 employees before adding, “Let’s just say if we were accepting a Tony Award or an Oscar, we’d very quickly get ushered off the stage.”

Airline Timeline of Fees

Delta Alone Rakes in $1.6 Billion

Leading the pack for fees were the top legacy carriers with Delta taking in the most for both baggage and reservation change fees.

Top 5 for Bag Fees

1. Delta – $866 million
2. United – $706 million
3. America – $557 million
4. US Airways – $516 million
5. Spirit* – $168 million

*Spirit is one of the very few U.S. carriers to charge a carry-on bag fee although Frontier announced it will also add a carry-on fee of up to $100 for certain customers later this year.

Attention flyers – four airlines raise change fees

Top 5 for Change Fees

Once again, the legacy carriers came out on top.

1. Delta – $778 million
2. United – $661 million
3. American – $518 million
4. US Airways – $298 million
5. JetBlue – $134 million

And More Fees

It should be pointed out that airlines collect more money from fees – for items such as meals, pillows and blankets, reservations by phone and even fees for soft drinks – but the charges for bag and reservation changes are the only fees tabulated separately.