You can check the number of unconfirmed transactions here:
https://blockchain.info/unconfirmed-transactions If the number is rising, it will take longer to get your transactions included, even if you use sufficient fees.
Also check here to see when the last blocks were mined:
https://blockchain.info/If the last blocks were long ago, this means blocks are not being found at normal expected speed and it will take longer to get your transactions included.
This makes sense. I send a higher than the usual
BTC.0001 to send to an exchange or to cold storage. But I noticed that when I send from an exchange it tells me that the fee is
BTC.0001 to send back to my wallet. This made me think that it is still ok sending Bitcoin using the flat fee of
BTC.0001? Or is everyone paying higher fees now?
I am assuming the fees are paid to the wallet we are using? or is the money going back to the pool and need to be mined out again?