Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #269) - hint #1 - today's theme

NYT Strands today (game #269) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

NYT Strands today (game #269) - hint #3 - spangram

NYT Strands today (game #269) - hint #4 - spangram position

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #269) - the answers

The answers to today's Strands, game #269, are…

As with yesterday's game (see below for the answers if you missed them), this is a Strands puzzle that is perfectly acceptable but that which wasn't really one for me. I don't fly, generally, and I'm not based in the US – so the likes of UNITED, DELTA, SPIRIT and FRONTIER did not spring readily to mind. I didn't need a hint to get started, however, because I found FRONTIER by accident and once I combined that with the theme clue of 'Come fly with me' I had enough knowledge to know what was needed.

The trouble was, though I have heard of all of the AIRLINES included here, I couldn't think of them, so had to do a combination of word-searching and letter-pattern-searching until I got them all. So not the most fun, but I'm not blaming the NYT – this was just not the day for me.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.