Before you book your next flight, take a second to check the aircraft type. More airlines are starting to fly A321XLRs across the Atlantic, including United and American. These planes can have lie-flat seats and premium economy, but there's still only one aisle, fewer lavatories, and less room to move around than on a wide-body jet. You can usually find the aircraft type in the flight details on Google Flights.

TSA also just launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, letting certain members get through security and into the gate area without a boarding pass. You could meet someone at their gate when they arrive or walk a loved one all the way to the gate before they leave. It's starting at 13 airports, including LAX, DFW, and PHX. There's no fee, and children under 18 can come along with an approved adult. Just don't expect it to help get you into an airport lounge.

Plus, EEEEEATSCON is coming back to New York, with tickets on sale exclusively to Chase credit and debit cardholders. And before we go, there's one genuinely sweet father-daughter moment on an air traffic control frequency that's worth hearing for yourself.

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Before you book your next flight, there’s one detail I think more people should start checking.

And no, I’m not talking about the price.

Welcome back to Departure Digest!

We’ve got some light travel news today, including why the plane you’re flying can matter more than you’d think, a new way to get through airport security without a boarding pass, and something fun for foodies in New York.

Let’s start with the aircraft types.

When you’re booking a flight, especially a long international one, take a second to check the aircraft type. Google Flights usually shows it right in the flight details, and that little piece of information can tell you a lot about the experience you’re signing up for.

United and American are preparing to fly their new A321XLRs across the Atlantic.

Think of them as similar to the smaller planes you might fly domestically, just with longer range and nicer interiors designed for international flights. Think lie-flat seats up front and actual premium economy seats, not just extra-legroom economy.

But there’s still only one aisle. And on a long flight, that can make a difference.

Wide-body planes generally feel more spacious, give you more room to move around, and often have more lavatories. On a seven- or eight-hour flight, fewer bathrooms can become a very real problem. There’s nothing glamorous about waiting in line to pee in the middle of an overnight flight.

Smaller planes do have some advantages, though. They can board and deplane faster, and they allow airlines to offer nonstop flights to places that might not have enough demand to fill a huge wide-body plane.

That’s a big reason airlines like United and American are interested in them. The A321XLR could make nonstop flights to smaller European destinations possible.

Delta execs have openly said they don’t think a single-aisle plane is the best product for a long-haul flight, so Delta’s sticking with larger wide-body planes for those routes.

My advice is simple. Don’t automatically avoid a smaller plane. Some of these new aircraft look really nice. Just check before you book.

Because a lie-flat seat on a single-aisle plane could still be an amazing experience. But if you’re flying economy for eight hours, having a bigger plane with more space to move around might matter more.

Sometimes the plane is part of the deal.

Okay, speaking of flying, the TSA just launched a new program that’s very niche but low-key also kind of cool.

It’s called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, and if you’re a TSA PreCheck member, it can let you get through security even when you’re not flying.

That means you can go into the gate area to meet someone when they arrive, or walk a loved one all the way to the gate before they leave.

The program’s launching at 13 airports to start, including LAX, Las Vegas, Dallas, San Diego, and Phoenix.

There are a few rules, though. You need to be a TSA PreCheck member, and you’ll need to apply through the TSA’s website between one and three days before your visit. Better yet, there’s no fee for this.

One important call-out though, because I was curious about this too. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help get you into an airport lounge. You can get through security and into the gate area, but you’ll still need a boarding pass to access a lounge.

Still, I love this idea. It means you can surprise someone when they get home or simply spend a little more time with a family member before they leave.

And who knows, maybe this helps make that dramatic rom-com airport chase a little more possible.

One more quick callout before we go, especially for the foodies listening.

EEEEEATSCON is coming back to New York, and tickets are now on sale exclusively to [select credit and debit cardholders]. If you haven’t heard of EEEEEATSCON, it’s basically a big food festival put together by The Infatuation. Think music festival, but with restaurants as the headliners.

So if you’re a foodie in New York, or planning to be here, this is worth checking out.

And before I go, I want to leave you with something completely different.

Most of you probably aren’t plane nerds like me and would never voluntarily listen to an air traffic control recording. But you need to hear this one.

And a quick shoutout to The ATC App for sharing this.

It’s a father and daughter who unexpectedly crossed paths on an air traffic control frequency, and it’s just really sweet.

So I’m going to let this one speak for itself.