Tag Archives: airport

Travel Savings Strategies

Choosing to fly during the off-season is an easy way to save money; however, there are many other ways you can pad your wallet when your travel plans take you to the airport.  The key to saving big is a little pre-flight strategizing. For example, if you only fly on commercial airlines a few times a year, you may have a hard time justifying the costs associated with an airport lounge membership.  Still, it’s hard to resist the comforts and services provided at these luxurious airport hangouts. Some of the perks of lounge membership include: Peace and quiet:  Most airport … Continue reading →

Avoiding Delays

Airport delays can be a costly inconvenience. I once shelled out more than $250 to pay for meals, ground transportation, clothing and a hotel room during an 18-hour delay that eventually turned into a cancelled flight. Of course, that paled in comparison to the emotional and physical price I paid when the cancellation caused me to miss my beloved grandmother’s wake. Thanks, American Airlines. My sad story is just one of thousands that are logged each year with the promise from airline execs that they will work to improve on-time reliability. According to a recent report from the Department of … Continue reading →

Assessing Travel Amenities

Learning how to stretch your dollar is especially beneficial as the busy summer travel season kicks off.  Fortunately, there are a number of airlines and hotels looking to help you get the most bang for your buck this season, including: United Airlines:  The popular commercial carrier is catering to pet lovers.  United recently opened a new kennel at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.  Now when you opt for the airline’s PetSafe service your fur baby will enjoy modern, ventilated and temperature-controlled units.  The new kennel is located inside United’s cargo facility and can accommodate 28 pets.  The facility also has temperature-controlled … Continue reading →

More Ways To Have Fun At the Airport

For harried parents traveling with a children or overscheduled business travelers looking to get home as soon as possible, airports are far from fun. Still, if you are using air travel to get from point A to point B, then you have little choice than to spend some time at an airport. So why not make the experience relatively fun? If you find yourself in any of the following airports in the near future, consider yourself lucky. Travel experts recently ranked them as some of the “Most Entertaining Airports” in the nation: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: If you are looking to pass … Continue reading →

Having Fun in the Airport

It’s not everyday that you see the words “fun” and “airport” in the same sentence, let alone as the title of an article. But, alas, 2009 is bringing with it some unique pairings. I should know. I just spent three unplanned hours in one of the world’s busiest airports and I am not the least bit bitter about it. Okay, maybe that’s not 100 percent true, but I consider my family very lucky as our plane did manage to depart on the same day we were ticketed, which is more than I can say for thousands of others whose flights … Continue reading →

Good News for Laptop Lovers Taking Flight

I can’t count how many times I have been stuck behind an annoyed business traveler at an airport security checkpoint who spends precious minutes complaining to Transportation Security Administration agents about having to take his or her laptop out of its bag. I stand there (holding my carry-ons, my child and her backpack) staring at my watch contemplating how to politely tell my fellow flyer how much quicker we could all make it through the line if he would simply close his mouth and open his bag. It’s the rule. So deal with it and stop wasting other travelers’ time … Continue reading →

Busy Airport Gets Major Boost

The good news: London Heathrow Airport just opened a new $8.6 billion state-of-the-art terminal with some of the most luxurious accommodations in the world. The bad news: Unless you are a higher-fare premium customer you won’t get the opportunity to indulge in the terminal’s ultra-luxe amenities. Still, airport officials say the addition of the new Terminal 5 will greatly improve the travel experience for millions of travelers who fly British Airways. (The new facility was designed specifically for the 30 million or so passengers who fly with the carrier.) For example, frequent flyers will now be pampered in the terminal’s … Continue reading →

Why You Shouldn’t Have Your Film Go Through Airport X-Ray Machines

In my previous blog I reminded you of the TSA’s rule, which prohibits travelers from packing unused rolls of film in checked luggage. The airport’s sophisticated, high intensity x-ray machines used to screen checked bags have been proven to destroy unused rolls of film. However, the TSA maintains film (both used and unused) can safely be screened in x-ray machines used for carry-on bags. But camera experts disagree. They recommend travelers have all their film hand inspected by airport security personnel. TSA agents are schooled to inform passengers that the x-rays used to screen carry-on bags will not damage or … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Singapore’s New Ultra-Luxe Airport Terminal and a Bicyclist’s Worst Enemy

If your air travels take you to Singapore any time soon you will be among the first to experience life at the newest and most luxurious airport terminals in the world. Changi Airport Terminal 3 opened to the public on Wednesday and it’s already causing quite a stir among frequent flyers. The state-of-the-art structure features first-class restaurants, a host of upscale shops, a vertical garden of climbing plants and four waterfalls that spans 984 feet inside the main building. It also boasts a roof with more than 900 skylights and reflector panels that automatically allow an optimum amount of natural … Continue reading →

Travel Tips to Help You Survive the Holiday Crush

If you are reading this blog as you wait for your delayed flight in New York, Chicago or Boston—I feel your pain. I was in your place almost a year ago to the day. If you are one of the lucky ones whose holiday travel plans won’t take you anywhere near an airport over the next two weeks count your blessings. The airport–or more specifically–airport security checkpoint lines are the last place any of us want to spend our precious vacation time. That said, my family lives in Hawaii, roughly 5,000 miles away from my current residence so I realize … Continue reading →