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Labor Day Weekend Travel: What to Do if Your Flight Is Delayed or Canceled

Labor Day Weekend Travel: What to Do if Your Flight Is Delayed or Canceled

What's happening

An estimated 12.8 million Americans will fly over Labor Day weekend.

Why it matters

While air travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels, many airlines are still plagued by significant delays and cancellations.

Labor Day is here and, despite ongoing flight disruptions and high ticket prices, an estimated 12.6 million Americans will be flying over the three-day holiday weekend, according to data from travel site Hopper.

American Airlines alone estimates 2.5 million customers will board 26,400 scheduled flights through Monday. 

Many of those fliers will face delays and cancellations. On average, 23% of flights in August were delayed from departing US airports, an increase of nearly 30% compared to 2019. And cancellation rates last month were more than double their 2019 rates, as airlines mobilize to address staff shortages, pickets, weather disruptions and other issues.

By 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, American Airlines had already reported 100 delayed flights, according to the website FlightAware, and 23 cancellations. Industrywide, more than 800 flights within, into, or out of the United States have been delayed Thursday morning and 102 canceled.

Analysts don't expect schedules will get back to normal until at least the fall, when demand settles down and new hires have had time to be trained up. 

If you're flying over Labor Day, here's what you need to know about avoiding a travel nightmare, what the airlines owe you if there's a cancellation or delay, and more. 

For more travel tips, here are some great travel gadgets, guidance on renewing your passport online and 19 things to add to your travel checklist. before leaving home.

Why have there been so many delays and cancellations?

Layoffs and contract buyouts during the pandemic have left many airlines short-staffed, fueling ongoing delays and cancellations.

Getty Images

Since Memorial Day, US-based airlines canceled more than 50,000 flights and delayed over a half-million, according to NPR. Delta said it canceled 100 scheduled daily flights in the US and Latin America between July 1 and Aug. 7. Southwest Airlines nixed almost 20,000 summer flights.   
The biggest factor has been that airlines are incredibly short-staffed. When the pandemic slowed air travel to a trickle, many carriers bought out employees' contracts and encouraged older pilots to take early retirement.

As a result, from December 2019 to December 2020, the number of airline workers shrank by at least 114,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now carriers are clamoring to staff back up, but they're finding it hard to fill positions. 

The shortages extend to ground staff, baggage handlers, gate personnel and other workers, FlightAware spokesperson Kathleen Bangs told CNET. "They did a lot of buyouts during the pandemic. It's a remarkable growth period and they're just back-footed." 

It's particularly acute with pilots because it can take up to five years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to train someone to fly a commercial airplane.

"Most airlines are simply not going to be able to realize their capacity plans because there simply aren't enough pilots, at least not for the next five-plus years," United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a quarterly earnings call back in April, NBC News reported.

Extreme weather has also added to the problem: Severe thunderstorms have caused multiple delays and flight cancellations, and that's aside from hurricane and wildfire season. Aircraft can fly at lower altitudes to try to avoid storm systems, but that burns more fuel -- a dicey proposition given the high cost of jet fuel. 

How to avoid having your flight delayed or canceled

There isn't much you can do to prevent a delay or cancellation. But there are some common-sense steps that will give you a better shot at making it to your destination -- or at least relaxing at home or in a hotel room, rather than stewing in the airport.

Download your airline's mobile app to keep on top of changes to your flight schedule.

Pavlo Gonchar/Getty Images

Leave extra time for layovers. You might think an hour is plenty of time to get from one gate to another, especially in the same terminal. But if the first leg of your journey is delayed that hour can turn into 30 minutes. And with most airlines closing the plane doors about 15 minutes prior to departure, you could easily miss your connection.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) top the list of busiest hubs over the Labor Day holiday, according to Hopper.

Don't book a late-night flight. If you miss a connection, most airlines will work diligently to get you on the next available flight. But if you booked the last flight of the day to your destination, that may mean having to wait until morning -- and either pacing through the airport for hours or booking a night in a nearby hotel. 

Download the airline's app on your phone. Opt into flight notifications and start manually checking the status of your flight regularly, at least 24 hours in advance. As soon as you hear your flight has been cut, find out if you've been transferred to another flight.

Monitor the weather at both your departure and arrival airports. Start checking the weather in both places a few days before your flight. Some airlines will actually reschedule your flight in advance of a major weather front at no extra charge. If a storm is on its way, you might consider leaving a few days earlier or later or finding a different route.

Buy travel insurance. Depending on why your flight is canceled or delayed, the airline might not comp any meals, accommodations or transport you're forced to purchase. The payout for travel insurance may not cover all of your expenses, but it will definitely be more than the cost of a policy, typically 5% to 10% of your trip cost.

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

Time is of the essence, so be proactive about rescheduling your flight. 

"A lot of the time you can reschedule yourself on the flight of your choice" using the airline's app, said David Slotnick, senior aviation reporter for The Points Guy. "It'll save you a lot of time and aggravation." (Like CNET, The Points Guy is owned by Red Ventures.)

If that's not possible, call the airline. Even if you get sent to an automated system, it may have a call-back function. You can still call if you're already at the airport. Do it while you're in line to talk to an agent and take whichever option is available first.

What does the airline owe you if your flight is canceled?

While some airlines are able to get you booked on a different carrier if your flight is canceled, not all can.

Dmitry Marchenko/Getty Images

In the US, if a flight is canceled because of something that is the airline's fault -- a mechanical issue or a staffing shortage -- the carrier is required to refund your ticket.

"If you get canceled for any reason -- you don't take your flight -- they have to offer you a cash refund," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told NPR. "If you'd rather take miles or a different flight, fine. But that's up to you, not them. They've got to give you a refund. That's a basic rule,"  

The Department of Transportation website mandates airlines must also refund the cost of your ticket after a schedule change or significant delay, but the agency hasn't defined what constitutes a "significant delay."

"Whether you are entitled to a refund depends on many factors -- including the length of the delay, the length of the flight and your particular circumstances," according to the DOT website. Whether a refund following a significant delay is warranted is determined "on a case-by-case basis." 

If you don't request a refund, the airline is still responsible for getting you to your destination. But it could be much later than your original flight. Under most circumstances, carriers should provide vouchers for meals and hotels.

Make your plans quickly, though: Airport hotels fill up quickly amid widespread delays and cancellations.

Some airlines will work to get you on another flight with a different airline, Slotnick said, but not every airline has relationships with other carriers. 

What are airlines doing to address delays and cancellations?

Hiring more employees. "All the airlines are doing major hiring initiatives," Slotnick said. "They're rushing to hire pilots and deploy them." They're also trying to improve work conditions for existing workers: In April, Delta announced it would start paying flight attendants during boarding, rather than just once the plane door closes.

The move, a first for a major US airline, is seen as a countermeasure to a unionization push among workers.

Scheduling more flights. Someairlines are boosting service in popular corridors when they can. "They're trying to strike the right balance between adding flights and creating some slack in the system," Slotnick said.

For example, United Airlines recently launched or resumed 30 flights between the US and Europe, its largest expansion ever. Regular flights from Denver to Munich, Chicago to Zurich and New York to Bergen, Norway, are underway, as well as daily service between Boston and London.

When fully operational, United's transatlantic route network will be more than 25% larger than it was in 2019, before COVID-19 cratered air travel.

Some airlines have ramped up their roster of scheduled flights, while others have pared down to avoid having to cancel them later.

James Martin/CNET

Scheduling fewer flights. Otherairlines are going in the opposite direction, reducing their capacity rather than risk being forced to cancel a scheduled flight. JetBlue has already reduced its May routes by almost 10%, Conde Nast Traveler reported, and will likely make similar cuts throughout the summer.

"By reducing our flight schedule for the summer and continuing to hire new crewmembers, we hope to have more breathing room in the system to help ease some of the recent delays and cancellations that we've seen in the industry," a JetBlue spokesperson told the outlet. 

Southwest Airlines, the world's largest low-cost carrier, cut more than 8,000 domestic flights in June "to adjust to capacity," the company told The Business Journals. 

Delta  "temporarily cut" some Labor Day weekend flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports to deal with a large number of airline crew members and air traffic controllers who have already called in sick, The Washington Times reported.

Giving passengers more notice. All the airlines are making a concerted effort to give passengers as much information as possible, Slotnick said, through text updates and other notifications.

"Even a year before the pandemic, airlines were trying to be proactive about informing passengers, even 24 or 48 hours in advance of a possible cancellation," he said.

Offering waivers
United, Delta and other carriers are offering travel waivers to passengers to encourage them to move their flights out of busy time periods. All waiving the usual flight-change fees and some are even foregoing the usual fare difference.

The Department of Transportation has stepped in to hold airlines accountable

On Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched a new website that lets fliers know what they're entitled to when their flight is significantly delayed or canceled. The Aviation Consumer Protection site has a dashboard that compares what policies are regarding rebooking, meal and hotel vouchers and complimentary ground transportation for carriers including Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United.

The Transportation Department's Air Consumer Dashboard compares offerings from major carriers.

Department of Transportation

"Passengers deserve transparency and clarity on what to expect from an airline when there is a cancelation or disruption," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. "This dashboard collects that information in one place so travelers can easily understand their rights, compare airline practices, and make informed decisions."

Buttigieg said the goal was to get the airlines to "raise the bar."

"Look, Americans have had experiences with cancellations, delays and poor customer service that just aren't at an acceptable level," he told NPR. "A lot of the airlines are not quite transparent about how and when they'll take care of passengers. "So we're going to put that information out ourselves."

Just knowing that information is out there for air travelers to see has spurred carriers to improve their offerings, Buttigieg added. 

The Department is also collecting comments on a proposed rule requiring airlines to proactively inform passengers about their right to a refund. It would also provide a clearer definition of a "significant change" to a scheduled flight and require airlines to provide non-expiring vouchers to passengers unable to fly because they contracted COVID-19 or other communicable diseases.

The proposal would also mandate carriers that receive pandemic assistance issue those passengers refunds instead of vouchers.

Are any airlines better or worse in terms of cancellations?

In 2021, Delta had the fewest cancellations of any major US airline.

Boarding1Now

Without naming names, Slotnick says that, broadly speaking, low-cost airlines have tighter margins with less slack, so theoretically you're more likely to face a cancellation.

But booking with a big carrier doesn't mean you're immune.

"The regionals have parked a lot of planes because they don't have enough staff," Bangs said. "And a lot of people who book on a major airline don't realize they're actually flying with a smaller carrier."

SkyWest, a smaller airline out of St. George, Utah, subcontracts for Delta, United, American and Alaska Airlines. So does Indiana-based Republic Airways.

Sometimes, bigger is indeed better: Last year, Delta had the best record in cancellation rates, according to The Wall Street Journal's annual airline rankings. The Atlanta-based airline scrubbed 0.6% of its scheduled departures in 2021, a third of the industry average of 1.8%.

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Motorola Moto G6 review: A budget phone shouldn't be this good

Motorola Moto G6 review: A budget phone shouldn't be this good

How do you follow up last year's wonderful budget-friendly Moto G5 Plus? Well, you could start with the outside. Add a second rear camera for portrait mode photos. Trade that Micro-USB port for a USB-C. Get rid of the 16:9 screen ratio and go tall with a trendy 18:9 display that shows more vertically. Say bye to the metallic back side and hello to a glass back with curved edges, specifically Gorilla Glass 3.

The overall result would be a phone that looks decidedly 2018, but with pretty much everything we loved about last year's Moto G5 Plus. And that's exactly what the Moto G6 is.

Last year's Moto G5 Plus hit a sweet spot between features, design, performance and price. The Moto G6 hits most of those, but just misses with a shorter battery life than last year's Motos.

The Moto G6 looks sleek and modern. It has a groomed slicked-back hair vibe that makes it seem anything but affordable. But at $249, £219 or AU$399 it's crazy affordable compared to the $1,000 iPhone X.

Roughly the same size as the Moto G5 Plus, the Moto G6 has thinner bezels and a glass back that curves at the edge for a comfortable grip. Like nearly every phone with a glass back, it collects more fingerprints than the stars of CSI.

But the Moto G6 isn't the only affordable Motorola phone to consider. If you're outside the US and your budget has some wiggle room, the Moto G6 Plus deserves a serious look. If you're okay with last year's styling, check out the Moto G5S Plus which is still being sold.

On the left is the Moto G6 and on the right the Moto G6 Play. The dual-camera unit on the Moto G6 looks like a shocked face emoji.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Moto G6, G6 Plus, G6 Play: What's the difference?

I tested the Moto G6 with 32GB of storage, 3GB of RAM and no NFC. I bring this up because there are three new G-series phones for 2018. To confound things further, each model is tweaked a bit depending on where you live.

• Moto G6 Play: This is the most affordable of the three phones. In the US, it costs $50 less than the Moto G6. The Moto G6 Play has a lower resolution display and only a single rear camera, but it also has the biggest battery of the three -- a 4,000-mAh whopper more capacious than the one found in the Galaxy S9. Read CNET's full Moto G6 Play review.
• Moto G6: Though it's roughly the same size as the Moto G6 Play, the Moto G6 has a higher resolution display, dual rear cameras and a more powerful processor. In the UK and Australia, the Moto G6 comes with NFC, and there's a "step up" UK version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
• Moto G6 Plus: Despite not being available in the US, the Moto G6 Plus is the highest-end option in the Moto G family. It has a 5.9-inch display instead of the 5.7-inch ones found on the G6 and G6 Play. Its battery is slightly larger than the one in the G6. The UK model has NFC and an optional 6GB of RAM.

Moto G6, G6 Plus, G6 Play top features and prices

Key features of the Moto G phone family

	Moto G6 (US, UK, Australia)	Moto G6 (UK)	Moto G6 Plus (UK, Australia)	Moto G6 Play (US, UK, Australia)
Price (without discounts)	$249, £219, AU$399	£239	£269, AU$499	$199, £169, AU$329
Screen	5.7-inch	5.7-inch	5.9-inch	5.7-inch
Processor	1.8 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	1.8 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 630	1.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 427
Storage	32GB	64GB	64GB	16GB (US only), 32GB
RAM	3GB	4GB	4GB, 6GB (UK only)	2GB (US only), 3GB
Battery	3,000 mAh	3,000 mAh	3,200 mAh	4,000 mAh
Rear camera(s)	12-megapixel & 5-megapixel	12-megapixel & 5-megapixel	12-megapixel & 5-megapixel	13-megapixel
NFC	Yes (UK, Australia), No (US)	Yes	Yes	Yes (UK), No (Australia)

Here's a photo of a cable car taken with the Moto G6. The photo has good dynamic range keeping the sky in-balance with the cable car.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Moto G6 has dual-rear cameras and portrait mode

The dual-rear cameras take solid photos, but your shots aren't going to be on the same level as pictures shot on the Pixel 2, iPhone X or even the OnePlus 6. You'll get the best results when taking photos under bright even light. The Moto G6 has an "active photos" mode which, like Apple's live photos and Google's motion photos, records a tiny amount of video before and after you take a picture.

It's impressive that a phone that costs $249 has a portrait mode.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Motorola added a bunch of fun modes to the camera one of which is portrait mode. The Moto G6 takes serviceable portrait mode shots. Despite the background being blurred out, portrait mode photos don't "pop" as much as they could. I like that the Moto G6 lets me change the focus point and the amount of background blur after I take a portrait mode photo. These little adjustments, like on the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, can turn a less-than-perfect portrait into something pretty good.

The top is a selfie taken with the Moto G6. The bottom is a "group selfie" that is kind of a mix of a selfie and panorama. In this case, it made Lexy's head double in size.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Selfies are just OK, but there is a front-facing flash which can be handy. There's also a group selfie mode that prompts you to move the phone left and then right, like when you take a panorama photo. The phone then "stitches" the selfie panorama together. The results are hit-or-miss. For example, it "glitched" and doubled the back of my friend's making her look like an alien wearing two pairs of sunglasses on her head -- see the photo above.

The Moto G6 uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify objects, landmarks and text and optimize things accordingly. It can record video at 1080p. But there's no 4K and no slow-motion mode. And that's fine because I'm not buying this phone to be the next Steven Spielberg. I'm buying it because it's cheap.

Here's a video I recorded with the Moto G6:

Moto G6 battery life, speed and everything else

The G6 runs Android 8.0 Oreo and has Google Assistant and the Google Lens augmented reality tool. Both of them worked well: I enjoyed pointing the Moto G6's camera at buildings and tapping the Google Lens icon to get more information about the things around me. It was like I was on my own private architecture tour.

But any phone that costs a couple hundred dollars is going to have sacrifices and the Moto G6 is no different. In speed tests, the Moto G6 was slower than the Moto G5 Plus, but not by much. In real world use, it handled everyday tasks such as messaging, Instagram, watching YouTube videos and playing games well. I was even able to play PUBG Mobile with the frame rate set at medium -- it's ridiculous that I did this on a phone that costs $250.

Geekbench v.4.0 single-core

Moto G6 740 Moto G5 Plus 830

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

Geekbench v.4.0 multicore

Moto G6 3,940 Moto G5 Plus 4,138

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

3DMark Sling Shot Unlimited

Moto G6 818 Moto G5 Plus 861

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited

Moto G6 12,792 Moto G5 Plus 13,382

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

The Moto G6's battery fared worse than the Moto G5 and G5 Plus. During our looped video battery tests (in airplane mode), the Moto G6 lasted an average of 9 hours, 41 minutes compared to the Moto G5, which lasted 13 hours, and the Moto G5 Plus, which lasted 13 hours, 22 minutes. Though in real-world use, the Moto G6 had no problem getting through the day on a single charge even after heavy use.

Despite having a glass back, the Moto G6 doesn't have wireless charging. But to be fair, only a few super premium phones support wireless charging. It's not unusual for a budget phone to omit it.

The Moto G6 can be charged fast via its "Turbopower" charger which seems more useful than wireless charging to me. The Moto G6 has a "splash proof" coating but isn't IP rated for water resistance -- so don't drop it in a toilet. But if you do, rest assured that buying a replacement Moto G6 won't break your bank.

Spec comparison of the Moto G6, G6 Plus, G6 Play, G5 and G5 Plus

	Motorola Moto G6	Motorola Moto G6 Plus	Motorola Moto G6 Play	Motorola Moto G5	Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Display size, resolution	5.7-inch; 2,160x1,080 pixels	5.9-inch; 2,160x1,080 pixels	5.7-inch; 1,440x720 pixels	5-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels	5.2-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels
Pixel density	424ppi	409ppi	282ppi	440ppi	424ppi
Dimensions (Inches)	6.1x2.8x0.3 in	6.3x3x0.3 in	5.1x2.8x0.4 in	5.7x2.9x0.37 in	5.9x2.9x0.3 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)	153.8x72.3x8.3 mm	160x75.5x8 mm	154.4x72.2x9 mm	144.3x73x9.5 mm	150.2x74x7.7 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	5.9 oz; 167g	5.9 oz, 167g	6.2 oz; 175g	5.1 oz, 145g	5.5 oz, 155g
Mobile software	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 7.0 Nougat	Android 7.0 Nougat
Camera	12-megapixel and 5-megapixel	12-megapixel and 5-megapixel	13-megapixel	13-megapixel	12-megapixel
Front-facing camera	8-megapixel	8-megapixel	8-megapixel	5-megapixel	5-megapixel
Video capture	1080p	4K	1080p	1080p	4K
Processor	1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 630	1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 427	1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430	2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
Storage	32GB/64GB	64GB	16GB/32GB	16GB, 32GB	32GB, 64GB
RAM	3GB, 4GB	4GB, 6GB	2GB, 3GB	2GB,3GB	2GB, 3GB, 4GB
Expandable storage	128GB	128GB	128GB	128GB	128GB
Battery	3,000mAh	3,200mAh	4,000mAh	2,800mAh (removable)	3,000mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Below screen	Below screen	Back	Below screen	Below screen
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	Micro-USB	Micro-USB	Micro-USB
Headphone jack	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Special features	Dual-SIM, Splash-proof, time lapse video, Turbo Charger	Dual-SIM, Splash-proof, time lapse video, Turbo Charger	Splash-proof, 10-watt fast charger	Dual-SIM, splash-proof	Dual-SIM, splash-proof
Price off-contract (USD)	$249	NA	$199	NA	$229 (32GB); $299 (64GB)
Price (GBP)	£219 (32GB); £239 (64GB)	£269	£169	£169, £179	£249
Price (AUD)	AU$399	AU$499	AU$329	AU$299	AU$399

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Which smart home gadget should you buy first?

Which smart home gadget should you buy first?

Smart home tech is nothing new -- hobbyists have been geeking out over home automation for decades now -- but in recent years, it's marched closer to the mainstream than ever before. In recent years, high-profile connected home gadgets like the Amazon Echo, the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ring Video Doorbell have all become breakout hits by offering attractive designs and tangible benefits, many of them at prices that aren't unreasonably high.

The result? A mainstream smart home market with an awful lot of momentum. In 2018, a GfK study found that over half of US households now include at least one smart home gadget. Over a third of them include two or more.

Of course, that leaves about half of us who still haven't bought in. Many might be put off at the thought of connecting everything under their roof and sharing data picked up by sensors, security cameras and microphones with Silicon Valley -- but with a wide variety of smart devices available in your local hardware store, others simply might not know where to start. To that end, here's a look at how to answer a not-so-simple question: Which smart home product should you buy first?

Disclosure: CNET may get a share of revenue from purchases made through the links on this page.  

Plan for a purpose-driven smart home

Ask yourself: What do you want from your smart home? As a guy who listens to pitches for the latest smart home technology day in and day out, I can assure you that you've got lots of options. Do you want to keep an eye on things with a do-it-yourself security system and camera feeds you can check from your phone? Do you want simple conveniences like voice controls for your lights and thermostats? Do you want artificial intelligence and cloud-connected appliances to help freshen things up in the kitchen?

To figure out what you want, think about the things you do at home on a daily basis and look for improvements that you'd find meaningful. Do you tend to wander from room to room before bed turning off lights that the kids left on? Smart bulbs that you can turn off with a single voice command or tap on your phone might make sense. Do you shop online a lot, and worry about thieves stealing packages off your porch while you're at work? A video doorbell with a feed you can view remotely might be a good fit.

For my money, I think smart lighting is a sensible starting point for almost everyone. After all, we use the lights in our home more than just about anything else -- adding in things like motion-activated lights for the exterior of your home or automatic wake-up fades that sync with your morning alarms make a lot of sense, because you'll enjoy them day in and day out. For more on why it's a great time to try smart lights, click here.

Value versatility

If nothing specific jumps out at you and you just have a general curiosity about what the smart home might have to offer, then look for flexible, multifunctional devices that you can use in lots of different ways. A small smart speaker like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home Mini is a great way to see what artificially intelligent in-home helpers like Alexa and Google Assistant are capable of, and neither one will cost you more than $50. The WeMo Mini smart switch from Belkin is even cheaper, and it'll let you automate anything you plug into it -- lamps, desk fans, crock pots, space heaters, you name it.

The WeMo Mini Smart Switch from Belkin is a versatile little gadget that automates anything you plug into it. Available for just $30, it's a good, low-risk step into the smart home.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

As always, when in doubt, start small. Once you find a product that you like, you can start to build around it by adding in other, compatible gadgets capable of making it even smarter and contributing some unique appeal of their own. Our smart home compatibility tracker can be a really helpful tool to that end.

Ponder your platform options

If you're buying a new computer, you'll need to decide which operating system you'd like to use -- Mac, Windows, Chromebook, etc. Smart home tech is similar in that a majority of the most popular gadgets are designed to work within a wider ecosystem of devices -- the most common being voice control platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and the Siri controls that come with Apple HomeKit. Control hubs from names like Wink and Samsung SmartThings offer dedicated platforms capable of helping different devices get along, too. You could also keep things working together by sticking to gadgets that work with IFTTT, a free, online automation platform.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each of those options can go a long way toward helping you build out a smart home setup that makes sense for you, particularly if you're planning on using multiple types of gadgets. The smart home is just better when things work together.

That said, most devices offer their own dedicated apps and controls, and can be used independent of any broader platforms right out of the box. That means that you don't necessarily need to make any commitments right away. On top of that, a growing number of products support multiple platforms. Starting with smart devices like those can help you keep your options open if you're undecided for now.

I'll add that each platform has its own security certification process designed to keep insecure, vulnerable hardware out of the mix -- that means that a product that works with multiple platforms has essentially gotten multiple passing grades from names like Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung, all of which have a lot at stake when it comes to keeping their respective platforms secure. 

Here are a few quick suggestions that fit the bill:

Available with two bulbs or four, Philips Hue's white-light smart bulb starter kit is relatively affordable, and it's easy to use and build upon -- plus, it works with just about everything you could imagine.

Ry Crist/CNET

Smart lights

Along with automating whatever you plug into the side of it, the iDevices Switch will monitor your energy use and double as a multicolor nightlight, and it works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Smart plugs

Available for $100 and packed with helpful features, the Honeywell Lyric T5 is one of our favorite smart thermostat value picks, and it works with a wide variety of platforms.

Chris Monroe/CNET

Smart thermostats

The Kwikset Obsidian is a keyless smart lock that supports a number of platforms, including Amazon Key for in-home package delivery.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Smart locks

I'd also add that if you have any interest in voice controls, then starting off with either an Amazon Echo Dot or a Google Home Mini is one of the smart home's biggest no-brainers. Even if you ignore the smart home integrations that let Alexa or the Google Assistant control things like lights and thermostats, each device is arguably worth the $50 asking price for the voice-activated music, podcasts, news headlines and cooking timers alone.

Do your homework

The best way to pick the right gadgets for your home is to understand what all of the different options have to offer and narrow things down accordingly. With such a huge variety of alternatives battling it out in a complex arena of competing platforms and standards, doing so can get confusing in a hurry.

But hey, that's where we come in! Our product reviews, best-of lists, buying guides, how-to content, explainer posts and featured dispatches from the CNET Smart Home are all aimed at helping you understand what a more connected living space has to offer (and where it falls short). If you're looking for ideas as to how you might put a smarter home to work, we'll help you brainstorm. If you're stuck trying decide between two seemingly identical gadgets, we can help with that, too. If you want to dive deeper into privacy and security concerns before buying in, we've got you covered.

Bottom line: There's never been a better time to try your hand at home automation. Explore your options, and you'll find plenty of ways to start your smart home off right.

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Elden Ring Boss Guide: How To beat Margit, Godrick, Radahn, and more

Elden Ring Boss Guide: How To beat Margit, Godrick, Radahn, and more

Elden Ring is out  and like every other Souls-like game there are times when you confront a major foe who will put your survival skills to the test.

Elden Ring has the largest roster of bosses and secret encounters of any Souls-style game to date, and people are quickly figuring out how unforgiving these bad guys can be. So with that, we're offering a quick rundown of general tips to know when facing these bosses. Along with that, a guide on defeating some of the first major bosses of the game.

Check back with us in the coming days as we'll be adding more guides and tips on overcoming the big bads of The Lands Between.

General Boss tips

Learn Their Patterns

While every boss can be daunting, they each have a pattern that they follow rigorously. The most important thing you can learn when fighting enemies is how they move and what behaviors they follow. This knowledge can be a bit tough to learn, especially when you have swords and magic spells being hurled at your face. But once you do, you'll get a sense of how a boss' attacks work and what you can do to overcome them.

Don't Rely on Rolling Too Much

Rolling in Elden Ring is vital to every battle, but it's easy to abuse it. The move gives players a small window of invincibility on any attack, so it appears that spamming it would be the right answer to whatever scenario. Do not do this. FromSoftware purposely makes enemies' attacks reach a certain distance for when you roll. Bosses also have multiple quick and delayed attacks to throw off the timing of your rolls. Keep that in mind even in the heat of the battle.

If you need to roll, especially for boss battles, try rolling toward the boss. It sounds counterintuitive but the way FromSoftware designs boss attacks, going toward the boss helps you evade, as the expectation is for you to roll away. If there's one attack constantly hitting you when you roll away, that's when you need to roll forward.

Being Greedy is Dangerous

We know the feeling you can get when a particular foe gets caught in a vulnerable spot, and you want to keep attacking them. However, it's important not to be greedy in those moments. Before you know it, a boss can quickly recover and send you flying with a powerful counterattack. Always be mindful of the time it takes to attack. It's often better to go in for a couple of quick hits and back away to safety, even if there's time for another set of blows.

Make Sure to Use Your Summons

As players progress through the game, they'll receive more summons. These spirits can be somewhat weak and do minimal damage, but they distract the boss. These assists provide a small respite from the battle, allowing you to heal or set up a powerful charge or jumping attack. Calling on a summon should be the first thing players should do in a boss battle. 

For the boss fights of legacy dungeons, there is usually a summon right next to the golden fog gate. Keep an eye out for an orange symbol on the ground as these fighters are powerful and can help you tremendously in these hard battles. You might need to find these NPCs within the dungeon before they will help.  

Finish The Fight, Later

FromSoftware always finds ways to catch you off guard. An example is the Tree Sentinel, a big brute of a boss, in the game's first area. It's a powerful foe that can kill you in two hits. This encounter may give you the impression that you have to beat him at this moment, but trust us when we say that is not the case. You'll inevitably come across some foes that will knock you out in a quick fashion. While you can certainly try and figure a way to beat them, you're often better off just taking the hint and doing something better with your time. You can always come back later once you're stronger and get some revenge -- and those moments are always satisfying.

Now let's take a look at some specific bosses...

Margit, The Fell Omen

Margit, the Fell Omen can be a daunting foe to face in your first hours with the game.

From Software / Namco Bandai Games

This encounter is likely the first major boss you'll face in Elden Ring and they will certainly put you through your paces. The battle against Margit is, above all, a test of your dodging, attack skills and patience during a fight. Despite its size, Margit is highly mobile and can easily close the distance to land some hits on you if you aren't careful. The boss primarily uses their staff as a close-range weapon, striking with three-hit combo attacks and a harder two-handed blow that can drop your stamina fast if you try to block it. Margit will throw magic daggers at a distance at a range, and it's best to avoid them by dodging.

The best way to strike Margit is to hit them once they've finished performing their attacks. By looking at their attack patterns, you can have a window of opportunity to hit them with quick strikes. It's always better to stick and move rather than lay into them with a series of long combos. Go for brief 2-3 hits and then move away to avoid their follow-up attacks. And unless you have decent strength and endurance for your character, it's always better to roll out of the way of its attacks. Though if you have a shield with parry sub-ability -- and you're willing to take a risk -- you can stun Margit with a well-timed parry. However, if you miss the timing, you leave yourself open to a devastating attack.

Once you clear half its health, Margit enters a second phase where they'll pull out a massive hammer. While their patterns are still similar, Margit's extra aggression makes for a more tense fight. The best thing to do is stay composed and look at their patterns to find an opening. And always stick with dodging as opposed to blocking. If you try to block their hammer, you will lose your stamina and open yourself up for attack. Remember to stick and move, and keep your attacks brief when fighting Margit, and you will eventually defeat them.

If you're still struggling, another option to make the fight slightly easier: Visit the Murkerwater Cave dungeon, north of the Dragon Burnt Ruins. Inside the case, you'll encounter a boss named Patches, a recurring character from previous FromSoftware games. If you spare his life after he yields in combat, he will open up his inventory for purchase. One item he sells is Margit's Shackle, which will stun the boss during its first phase only, allowing you to go in for a series of strikes. This is a great way to overcome Margit if you need extra help with the fight

Godrick The Grafted

The battle against Godrick will be a real test of patience and resolve. It'd be best to bring in some back up for him.

FromSoftware / Namco Bandai Games

If you make it through Stormveil Castle, then you've already picked up skills and tactics when it comes to overcoming foes. However, the battle with Godrick is, by far, the biggest hurdle you'll need to overcome. As the first demi-god you'll fight, this fallen ruler of Stormveil Castle will pull out all the stops to take you out. Much like Margit, Godrick is speedy despite his size. But unlike Margit, Godrick has a larger arsenal of weapons and skills to use.

Before this fight, one thing you can do to make it easier is to summon an AI character. Nepheli, a traveling warrior, is someone you'll first meet in the Roundtable Hold, and you can find her again in Stormveil Castle near Godrick's location. If you speak with her, she will help you during the battle. Just outside the door to Godrick, you can see her summon sign. It's recommended you call in an assist in this fight, as having a backup will be a big help.

Like the previous fight, you'll need to watch Godrick's patterns to avoid their strikes. One attack to watch out for is a 360-degree wind attack that will encompass the immediate area of Godrick, damaging you and other allies if you stay close. It's important to watch for his tells and avoid his attacks once he gets them ready. It would be best to try to be more aggressive in this battle. Godrick has a lot of health, so playing it safe too long can exhaust you and resources, leading to a sudden defeat. Still, don't be greedy with your attacks.

During his 2nd phase, he'll take a more desperate tactic and graft the head of a dragon onto his arm and use it to attack you. This upgrade for him not only adds a new melee attack to his arsenal, but he can also use his new arm for breathing fire on you, which does considerable damage if you get hit. During this phase, the best thing to do is to keep a medium distance away from him, avoid his area of effect attacks, and then run to his blind spots when he pulls out the dragon head to breathe fire. The flames will only go in front of him, so running up to his side or behind him will protect you while also leaving him vulnerable for extended periods.

One of the important lessons this fight will impact is the importance of placement and position in a fight. Along with being a narrow bridge, the area also has a set of stairs on both sides. The elevation change can prove to be an advantage, as some of Godrick's attacks can miss you entirely if you get the high ground above him or below him. If you can be mindful of his attacks while also keeping your positional advantage, then you will be able to overcome Godrick with patience and a steady rhythm of attacks.

Red Wolf of Radagon

The battle with Red Wolf of Radagon will test if you can handle a foe adept at magic and close ranged combat.

FromSoftware / Namco Bandai Games

The battle with Red Wolf can be tough, due to how aggressive it is with close-range attacks and its set of long-range magic attacks. Like other major bosses, the Red Wolf is highly mobile, and uses that to its advantage with its attacks. Its deadliest attacks, by far, are the magic missiles, which are homing attacks that will tear right through your defenses and health. The Red Wolf also has a regular habit of priming up its magic spells and then using melee attacks to close the distance, adding further pressure on you. It can be tough to manage, and you'll likely face a quick death during your first attempts.

Thankfully, the Red Wolf doesn't have a second phase, so you'll see most of its patterns and tricks during the first couple minutes of the fight. The important thing to figure out is that the Red Wolf is very aggressive. Yet, that aggression can be used against it. Once it finishes attacking, it will leave itself vulnerable to counterattacks. Given the frequency of its attacks, you'll have plenty of opportunities to go in for quick hits -- provided you dodge its attacks without fail. Don't bother chasing after it; keep your distance and let it come to you. Once it has finished its attacks, strike it and back away. Keep this up for the remainder of the battle, and you will eventually come out on top.

Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Rennala is an incredibly powerful magic user, and can easily vaporize your character with her spells.

FromSoftware / Namco Bandai Games

The two-phased fight against magic-wielding Rennala is a bizarre one, but it's still a challenging fight. Unlike other bosses, Rennala likes to keep her distance, use spells, and summon monsters to tear through you. She'll start off with having her academy students fight for her, but once the battle continues, she'll take matters into her own hands -- and that's where things can quickly go south.

The first phase taking place in the library is a strange one. As you can see in the center of the room, Rennala is suspended in the air and it's impossible to reach her. The only way to bring her down is to find three different glowing gold students. They're hidden in the library, so you'll have to run through the area to search for them. Once you destroy three students, Rennala will fall to the ground in the center of the room, opening her up for attack. She won't stay down for long, though. Once enough damage has been done, she'll come back up, forcing you to repeat the previous steps. The biggest dangers in this phase of the fight is the magic that sends furniture hurling towards you, along with some devastating spells that will turn Renalla's students into missiles. The best thing to do is dodge through these attacks while searching for glowing students. After you deal enough damage, Renalla will then get serious.

This second phase is where the fight gets more dangerous. Rennala is an adept mage, and she'll keep her distance away from you while she sends out devastating magic attacks. Many of her spells are homing, which means you'll need to be extra careful when dodging and running towards to close the distance. Also, she'll call in help from her plethora of summoned monsters, many of which are common foes you've fought through the game thus far. These additional enemies are ultimately a distraction. If you focus too much on them, Renalla will snipe at you with her spells, spelling a quick defeat. If you die during this phase, you'll have to repeat the first one again.

The best way to defeat Renalla is to take note from previous bosses and be aggressive. While Renalla has some spells that push you away, she is very weak at close range and easily staggered with attacks. If you are a spellcaster, the best thing to do is to dodge her spells and then cast your own in quick succession. The key to winning this fight is to not hesitate and land your attacks when you see a window of opportunity. If you can keep it up, then you'll defeat Renalla in no time.

Godfrey, First Elden Lord

Roll forwards, not backwards!

From Software

Godfrey is the first required boss in Leyndell. He's a big golden brute with a giant axe. Luckily, his attacks, while powerful, are somewhat typical for a boss. 

A good way to start off the fight is with a summon. If you haven't yet, visit the Fringefolk Hero's Grave, which is at the very start of the game behind a fog wall. Complete the dungeon and you'll receive Banished Knight Oleg who is a more powerful summon that can take quite a few hits from bosses. 

As for strategy, the key to his Godfrey fight is to roll forwards, not backwards. Godfrey makes use of his giant axe to reach you as you roll back. If you see him winding up, it's like he's getting ready for a long-reaching attack which is when you want to roll forward. He'll also use this attack when you're backpedaling while trying to heal. 

If there's an attack you want to be aware of it's his stomp. It comes out quickly and will stun just enough to combo into an axe swing if you don't move. If you see a stomp coming, try to use a shield to block the attack instead of rolling away since it can still catch you. 

You'll want to attack when you roll forward into those long axe attacks and when you roll away from his jumping pound attack. In both cases, he takes an extra couple of seconds to reset himself leaving him open to attacks. 

Morgott, The Omen King

If Margit gave you nightmares, Morgott is going to haunt you while you're awake. The Omen King is going to be the toughest challenge you've faced so far unless you have gained a substantial number of levels. Even then, this is far from an easy fight. 

The good news is that you have an orange summon available right outside the golden fog: Melina. If you don't see her symbol, use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to reveal it. She's going to be vital for the fight as she can heal you while also dealing and taking damage. You'll also be able to use one of your own ash summons, but it's best to save that for the second phase.  

What's important in this battle is speed. Do not attempt long combos against Morgott. Their attacks are so quick, can do multiple hits and will be delayed in order to throw your timing off. What you want is to get in, do a quick jumping attack and run away. This is where having Melina helps because as soon as she becomes targeted, you can get a few more hits in as well as a jumping attack. 

In this fight, rolling back is more ideal as Morgott doesn't have long reaching attacks. If you're far away, they can throw some daggers or a lance that can be easily blocked or dodge. If you see swords floating above, that's a big area-of-effect attack and you want to roll back and avoid any areas where they land. 

Phase 2 starts when Morgott's health gets about halfway. They'll lean over and start coughing. This is your sign to run away because a big blast is about to happen. If you're clear, it's time to for an ash summon in order to get another target for Morgott. 

In the second phase, Morgott does the same attacks, but whenever an attack is missed, a puddle of liquid will be left that will erupt a few seconds after so make sure to avoid them. Aside from that, keep the same strategy of jumping in for quick attacks and then getting out of range. Keep this up and Morgott will go down.

Starscourge Radahn

The battle with Radahn is one of Elden Ring's most bizarre and epic boss fights. Come in prepared.

FromSoftware / Bandai Namco Games

While not required to complete the main story, this battle against Starscoruge Radahn is one of Elden Ring's most epic boss encounters, and it's one you'll likely find yourself walking into unintentionally. Located just off from Redmane Castle in the Caelid region, the battle with Radahn will see you face off against a towering foe who wields a ludicrous amount of power. Along with that, you'll call in many support characters to help you in battle. It's truly a one-of-a-kind fight, but it's also quite unforgiving. One wrong move against Radahn can result in a quick and brutal defeat.

What makes this battle so difficult is that is Radahn's attack power and range are so high that he can easily kill you within seconds of the fight beginning. He wields a magic-infused bow and twin great swords that can tear through your defenses. Right at the beginning, you'll need to close the distance on Radahn while also taking the time to summon allies to the fight. During this part of the fight, he'll try to pick you off with his arrows, and they deal considerable damage. You'll need to stick with cover, using the piles of old weapons as a shield, and close the distance to Radahn. You'll need to jump on Torrent and begin your attack from here.

This battle has two phases, and you'll need to pick your moments to attack Radahn and make a quick exit to avoid his strikes. For more of a detailed breakdown of the battle against Radahn, check out deeper guide that details the fight and the best strategies you'll need to beat him.

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• Elden Ring Boss Guide How To Beat Margit Godrick Knight
• Elden Ring Boss Guide How To Beat Margit In Elden
• Melina Elden Ring Boss
• Elden Ring Boss Guide
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