It wasn’t but a couple of months ago that Spirit Airlines caused travelers to gasp in horror when it introduced a new $45 bag fee–for carry-on luggage. Their logic was that the aisles would be less crowded during boarding, and there would be a lot of room in the overhead bin. Personally, I thought it …
Stuff is flying (and I don’t mean airplanes) since the foiled bomb attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Northwest Airlines flight 253, specifically on how the government and airlines are reacting. The Transportation Security Administration under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security umbrella issued Security Directive SD 1544-09-06, which it sent to all airlines and …
As we head to the holidays, many of us will be hitting the skies to visit family. If you plan to do any flying for the holidays, consider these tips to help keep your travel experience smooth sailing. 1. Purchase your gifts online and have them shipped directly Save gas and the hassles of going …
Maybe you do most of your travels by car, or you’ve just never had the chance to fly before. As much as I’ve flown, I still get little baby butterflies (hmm… caterpillars?) in my stomach right as we take off. I know it’s all physics and engineering, and that it’s safer to fly than it …
Continue reading ‘How to get through airport security smoothly’ »
Reader Brian wrote: I am 72. My wife and I are going to Spain, Portugal and then Morocco. She is concerned about what to wear in places like Fez, Casablanca, etc. She is deathly afraid of people “hissing” at her, as she has been told will happen. Dear Brian, I’m sorry to hear that your …
Continue reading ‘Reader inquiry: What to wear when traveling overseas?’ »
One of the inevitable activities you wind up participating in when you pack lightly is washing your clothes (if nothing else, your underwear). Oh sure, you can use the hotel bar soap and wash your undergarments by hand in the bathroom sink, but what do you do when you actually want to wash most of …
Continue reading ‘Travel laundry soap recommendation: Charlie’s Soap’ »
Budget master Clark Howard posted the following at his Web site today: If you don’t fly often enough to earn elite status with an airline, a new offer from United Airlines might be just your ticket. When you purchase a ticket online at United (or at check-in and later this year at airport kiosks), you …
Continue reading ‘United Airlines offers upgrades with free luggage check-ins’ »
When looking for airline tickets, do you think about all the hidden fees or whether you’re allowed to sneak your super-sized “carry-on” onto the plane? Travel clothing seller Travelsmith has published a very handy spreadsheet online called “Carry-On/Check-In Luggage Guidelines.” You can get it in PDF form, which means you can easily view it on …
Continue reading ‘Fee or free? Spreadsheet makes checking airline info a snap’ »
Susan U. had a great idea after she read my review of the Baggallini Teenee wallet purse: Loved the review of the Teenee Baggalini and am thinking what a nice little Christmas gift that would make—to get the Baggalini, and add the Moleskine notebook and Pilot mini pen. I’m psyched! I know several people who …
Let’s talk about body piercings today. No no, don’t run away. If you don’t have any, read on with morbid curiosity. If you have them, please stay, because this affects you directly as it relates to going through airport security. Do you wear body jewelry in private places and you’re worried that you may set …
Continue reading ‘Heavy Metal: Airport security and body piercing jewelry’ »