Tag Archives: Airplane

Summer Travel Tips: Pack Your Patience and Some Common Sense

Summer might be halfway over, but millions of Americans have yet to embark on their annual family vacations. For those of you who are planning to take to the skies during the last weeks of summer be warned–packed planes, tighter security, horrific luggage restrictions and frustrated fellow flyers await you. Still, if your situation is like mine there is no other option besides flying to visit family and friends abroad. Fortunately, there are some ways to make the most of flying during the peak summer season. By planning ahead and using common sense you can avoid travel hassles whether you … Continue reading →

New Airline Fees–Keeping it Straight

For the past several weeks I have been detailing the new baggage fees being assessed by select airlines. The information is readily available through the individual carriers and has made headlines from coast to coast, yet there are many summer travelers out there who find sifting through the new rules as nerve racking as a turbulent flight. If you find yourself asking: Is the $15 fee for the first checked bag or the second… Do you still have to pay the fee if you bought your ticket before the new rule went into place… What airlines are currently assessing the … Continue reading →

Saving on Summer Travel—Slowing Down at 35,000 Feet

We all know that easing up on the gas pedal when you are cruising down the highway equates to savings at the service station, but did you know the same concept can also be applied to airplanes? A number of major airlines have announced that they will be slowing down to save millions on fuel. Southwest Airlines was the first to go public with their plans to cut down on the average speed their aircrafts fly at certain altitudes. By adding one to three minutes to each flight execs at the discount carrier say they can save $42 million in … Continue reading →

Air Travel—-Securing the Perfect Seat

What is your idea of the “prefect” seat on a commercial airliner? (Besides the ones in the first-class cabin or the one that is next to an empty seat.) For some air travelers securing an aisle seat is a must. Others insist on sitting next to the window. We now know the “safe seat” theory is bogus, and the seats next to the emergency exits come with restrictions. So what is the best seat on a plane and how do you get it? According to travel experts, exit rows, aisle or window seats, and seats close to the front of … Continue reading →

Flying Safe—-How to Protect Your Valuables at 35,000 Feet

Because I travel with a young child I often enjoy the luxury of boarding an airplane prior to my fellow economy class passengers. Consequently, I am treated to a solid 15 minutes (at least) of people watching. During that time I observe the creative methods travelers employ as they try to cram as many of their oversized carry-ons in overhead bins or underneath the seats in front of them. During my most recent 9-hour flight I observed a gentleman, who boarded at the last minute, try to find space for his gigantic suitcase (honestly, I don’t know how the guy … Continue reading →

Do You Worry About Turbulence?

Last week an Air Canada jetliner made an emergency landing in Calgary after nine people aboard were injured when the plane hit turbulence during a cross-country flight. None of the injuries were life threatening, but still, it made me think about my family’s upcoming flight to Hawaii. We’ve made the trip multiple times before, but only recently has my 3-year-old daughter started showing signs of anxiety when our plane hits bumpy air. I have flown more than 350,000 miles in my lifetime (at least according to my frequent flyer statements) and have never been concerned about air turbulence (at least … Continue reading →

Keeping Cozy on a Chilly Airplane

I grew up in Hawaii so when the temperature dips below 73 I tend to get a bit chilly. Doesn’t bode well for dealing with Wisconsin winters, but I digress. Which is why I never venture to the grocery store, movie theater or restaurant without a jacket, regardless of the season. It’s also the reason I never board an airplane without dressing in layers, even when I am flying home to Hawaii. I’ve taken the 15-hour flight home dozens of times and I am still shocked by the number of travelers who board the Hawaii-bound plane in New York or … Continue reading →

How To Get Your Hands On A Piece Of Aviation History

One of my dad’s dreams was to fly on the Concorde. He used to talk about it all the time. In fact, as a child I had visions of winning the lottery or becoming so successful in my career that I could buy him a ticket and fulfill his dream to ride on the supersonic jet. So much for that idea. However, I could settle for the next best thing–buying him a piece of the legendary aircraft. Then, again, I probably don’t even have enough to buy him a Concorde toilet seat. Yes, even the now-defunct needle nose airplane’s toilet … Continue reading →

Airlines and Dress Codes: Woman Is Threatened For Wearing Skimpy Outfit

What do you usually wear on an airplane? If your typical plane attire includes a mini skirt and tight fitting shirt you may want to bring along an extra outfit just in case. At least if you are flying Southwest Airlines. The air carrier is currently embroiled in a nasty PR war with a 23-year-old woman who boarded a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Arizona in attire one flight attendant considered “too revealing.” Two months ago Kyla Ebbert was escorted off her flight from San Diego when an airline employee became disgusted with her outfit. Ebbert says she was wearing … Continue reading →

Warning: Falling Airplane Parts

Our neighbors to the west got a real travel scare this week… and they weren’t even on vacation. The St. Clair family is counting their blessings after part of a commercial airliner fell out of the sky and into their backyard. Luckily no one was injured. Still, the incident has left Judy St. Clair, who found the two-foot-long piece of metal stuck in her grass, shaken up. “I was coming out with the laundry basket to hang my laundry, and I noticed a piece of metal in my yard, a large, large piece of metal in my yard,” St. Clair … Continue reading →