Tag Archives: airline

Airline Credit Cards—“The Travel Addiction”

I live in the Wisconsin. My parents live in Hawaii. Needless to say, we do a lot of flying back and forth to see each other. (They like to see my 2-year-old daughter as much as possible.) So, after about a dozen offers to apply for an airline credit card (generally you earn one mile for every dollar you charge), I broke down, applied and received my new American Airlines platinum card in the mail. I couldn’t wait to break it in. I received the card a few weeks before Christmas. Just in time to have it accompany me on … Continue reading →

Airline Travel Deals

It has been 25 years since both United and American Airlines began offering passengers “reward miles” for flying with them. To mark the anniversary, both airlines are offering a special double mileage promotion. I have been a United Mileage Plus member for 22 years. (Ugh, can I be that old?) and have racked up enough miles to fly back and forth from Chicago to Hawaii a number of times. If you currently are not a member of either United or American’s frequent-flier programs, this offer may be the incentive you have been waiting for. United customers can earn double miles … Continue reading →

So Where Do I Sit?

If you have ever flown Southwest Airlines then you are familiar with its “free-for-all boarding process.” The airline doesn’t assign seats. It never has. But, soon that could all change. Southwest executives recently announced that it has “spent $5 million to enhance its reservation system as part of an internal test to see if it could easily implement assigned seating.” In other words, the airline is “simply exploring” the idea of assigning seats, based on the number of complaints it has received from customers about the current boarding system. That would be me. Whereas, I don’t think the airline should … Continue reading →

The Airline Gift Card–A Great Wedding Present!

When my best friend got married, instead of creating a bridal registry at a department store she asked guests to contribute to a “honeymoon fund.” Many of her wedding guests obliged and dropped money-filled envelopes into a flower-covered basket at the reception. That was 10 years ago… long before the advent of the airline gift card. Airline gift cards (also referred to as travel gift cards) are a recent phenomenon. America West Airlines was the first carrier to offer the option to people who wanted to buy plane tickets for family and friends, but didn’t want to deal with the … Continue reading →

How to Handle Flying with Smelly Seatmates

Admit it. It’s happened to me and I’m sure that at one time or another it’s happened to you too. You are crammed like a sardine on an overbooked flight, your seatmate has commandeered the armrest and your “15-minute delay” is going into its second hour. Then, it hits you. (No, not the fact that you forgot to pack your toothbrush.) A smell so strong it makes the hairs on the back of your head stand straight up. You may think there is no solution to this “odor problem”, but you do have recourse — if you time it right. … Continue reading →

How To Deal With Air Travel Complaints

I have heard horror stories about travelers being groped during random security screenings at various airports post 9-11. I have also been chosen at random and experienced “pat-downs” that have left me a bit uneasy, but nothing that would prompt me to file a formal compliant. My business-traveling friend who flies three times a week says I should consider myself lucky. She has been groped in ways that have made for terse conversations with workers at the Transportation Security Administration. So what do you do when questionable practices occur on your flight or during your security screening process? I found … Continue reading →