I don’t usually link to the same site twice in a week, but FareCompare has its list of seven no-nos for air travelers that I think are pretty spot on (http://www.farecompare.com/articles/how-to-shop/top-worst-passengers-planes/). Some of the things on the list are kind of silly (“don’t drool on your neighbor”), but on the top of the list? Not …
Continue reading ‘Seven Deadly Sins of Air Travel Passengers’ »
Pick up the current issue of Consumer Reports (June 2010). Besides a great article rating the current computers on the market, the issue has a special travel section where it rates the best and worst hotels; very helpful if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed trying to figure out what works best for your travel needs. …
Surprise, you’re not alone. According to an article in the New York Times, approximately 12,000 laptops are stolen per week from airports around the world. Each week. There are some things you can do. Consider using a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag that lets you lay out your laptop bag on the security screening conveyor belt instead …
Continue reading ‘Ever had a laptop stolen at an airport?’ »
Feeling a little confused about what each airline charges for bags? What about your first checked bag? Do you pay more for a second? What does an airline define as an overweight bag? Fare aggregating site FareCompare has recently published its domestic airline baggage fee chart, and it’s a pretty handy list. If you’re trying …
Continue reading ‘FareCompare’s updated baggage fee chart’ »
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’ »
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’ »