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5 Things to Know Today: Oil Surges, Tariffs Land Tomorrow, Your Gas Tax Break Survives

  Monday, September 7, 2026 — Labour Day | Canadian Money Brief Markets are closed for the holiday, but the week ahead is loaded. Here are five things worth knowing before you head back to your desk tomorrow. 1. Oil Hits a Five-Week High as the Iran Conflict Escalates Crude climbed to $92.06 US/barrel on Saturday — up 17.75% over the past month and nearly 48% year over year — after Iran and the United States exchanged missile strikes this week. Israel's defence minister has threatened "crippling" attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, the EU has formally joined the US-led sanctions campaign, and US Vice President JD Vance said Washington won't hold peace talks until Iran stops targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. What it means for you: Even with the federal gas tax break extended (see #4), pump prices track the price of crude itself. If your tank's getting low, filling up early this week may beat whatever the Strait of Hormuz situation does to prices by...

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Tips for Getting Your Luggage First at Baggage Claim

 

While waiting for your checked luggage at the airport can feel like an eternity, there are a few tricks you can try to improve your chances of having your bag pop out early. Although there’s no guaranteed method, these strategies might give you an advantage:

  1. Travel Business or First Class: Passengers who fly in business or first class often receive better service, including the perk of their luggage being among the first to arrive at baggage claim. If you have the opportunity to upgrade, consider it for a smoother baggage experience.

  2. Frequent Flyer Status: Airlines offer priority baggage services to frequent flyers with elite status tiers. If you fall into this category, make sure the agent affixes a priority tag to your bag during check-in. While these bags are technically supposed to be offloaded before others, it’s not always guaranteed.

  3. Gate Check Your Bag: Arrive at the gate early and ask to gate check your bag. This means you’ll bring your suitcase through security and it will be loaded last onto the plane. Sometimes, this results in your bag being among the first to appear at baggage claim.

  4. Last One In, First One Out: If you’re checking your bag, consider doing so as late as possible. Bags loaded into the cargo hold last are often the first to be unloaded. However, keep in mind that the loading order isn’t always predictable.

  5. Get a “Fragile” Sticker: When checking in, request a “fragile” sticker for your bag. Representatives at the counter can affix this sticker, which might prioritize your luggage for early retrieval.

Remember, even if you follow these tips, there are no guarantees. However, you can also use technology to keep track of your bag’s whereabouts. Attach trackers like Apple AirTags or Tiles to your luggage, or check if the airline uses RFID tracking to monitor your bag’s journey from the cargo hold to the baggage claim.

Lastly, make sure to remove old bag tags from your suitcase before checking it in, but leave your personal tag with contact information and address. Safe travels!

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