Tag Archives: flying

Meals Most of Us WON’T Be Dining on at 35,000 Feet

A new study shows that today’s average first-class, round-trip ticket costs $13,000. (So basically you could buy a compact car or fly in luxury for a day.) For that amount of money you are not guaranteed a delay-free flight or one that is void of turbulence. Heck, for $13,000 the airline can’t even promise that your luggage will arrive at your final destination in one piece. However, what you are guaranteed in first class is a four-star meal. Champagne, caviar, lobster—-you name it. These days the sky is the limit when it comes to dining on fancy food in first … Continue reading →

Outrageous Passport Fees

How much did you pay for your passport? If your passport was issued after 2005 you probably paid $97 (adults). For children under 16 the price for a passport is $82. Steep. No question about it. In fact, the price seemed so high that congressional investigators were recently asked to study whether a $30 portion of the passport charge was justified. According to the State Department the $30 is intended to cover the cost of clerks examining and accepting passport applications at post offices, State Department passport offices, courthouses, libraries, municipal offices and universities. But, now it appears the State … Continue reading →

How Much You’ll Have To Pay If You Want To Extend Your Vacation

Remember the good ol’ days when changing your flight at the last minute was as easy as showing up to the airport a little earlier? Or, if you were having such a wonderful time soaking up the sun on a tropical island and wanted to stay a few extra days all you had to do was call the airline and book a later flight… and not have to offer up your first child to do so? These days it’s next to impossible to make changes to your itinerary without being socked with a fee. Some carriers are a bit more … Continue reading →

Keeping Germs Away At 35,000-Feet

For some travelers the mere thought of having to be cooped up with hundreds of strangers in an airtight environment is enough to make them sick. But are you really more susceptible to cold viruses at 35,000-feet? I have friends who have told me that they have boarded a flight feeling great, but shortly after they landed a horrendous cold set in and their vacation was ruined. Is this possible? According to doctors, there is little evidence that indicates riding on a plane increases the likelihood of contracting an illness. In fact, the notion that the air in planes is … Continue reading →

Ways To Save On Holiday Travel

When I told my brother I had already gotten my daughter’s Halloween costume he about choked on the burger he was eating. He’s single and obviously has no clue that savvy parents who aren’t crafty enough to piece together a homemade disguise for their children buy Halloween costumes in August. Sure, fall just officially began today and most parts of the country are still basking in summer-like temperatures, but like it or not, the holidays will be here before we know it. Christmas is coming… and before that Thanksgiving. Not to mention Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, etc. The happy … Continue reading →

Travel Deals: Catering To Californians

Whether you are a resident of California or just enjoy traveling to “The Golden State” you are in a position to take advantage of some hot deals. Airfare deals are as sizzling as the summer temperatures in California right now and if you are looking to fly in or out of any of the state’s major airports you won’t have to look far to bag a great bargain. Thanks to a surge in new airline competition at San Francisco International Airport tickets prices are going down. In the past few months Virgin America, Southwest and JetBlue have all begun service … Continue reading →

Insults Flying In The Not-So Friendly Skies

If you are enrolled in a frequent flyer program with one of the country’s largest air carriers then you may have received an email asking for your help to convince Congress that private aircraft owners should pay more to help modernize an outdated air traffic control system. I happen to be enrolled in several frequent flyer programs and have already received a note encouraging me to pen a letter to my congressional representative and demand that private aircraft owners dig deep to help pay for a new air traffic control system. If you haven’t received an email from a major … Continue reading →

Being Polite At 35,000 Feet (It’s Really NOT That Hard)

Can’t we all just get along? Following the recent incidents involving rude airline passengers and ruder flight attendants, one is left to question whether airplanes are carrying any travelers who are not disgruntled. Which is not to say that most peeved passengers don’t have a right to be, especially when they have to endure record-breaking delays, a less than patient flight crew and countless airline lavatories that simply don’t work. But, as we head into the last long weekend of the summer season, perhaps, we could commence a moratorium on travel-related complaints and practice some common courtesy. For example: · … Continue reading →

Are Airlines Becoming More Family Friendly?

Well, at least one is trying to be. Southwest Airlines recently announced that it is experimenting with innovative ways to board and seat traveling families. The company calls it their “Family Boarding and Seating Plan” and has been testing out a few different ways to conduct boarding for those people single passengers glare at in the gate area. According to Southwest officials, most of the testing has been done on flights departing from San Antonio, Texas. Some of the boarding and seating options being tested by the airline include: having designated rows for family seating, having families board with no … Continue reading →

Putting The “Friendly” Back In The “Friendly Skies”

I’ve flown in business class several times, though none of the trips were business related. They were all overseas flights and I don’t remember a single time when I was not surrounded by suits. Which is not to say I was surrounded by a single gender, it’s just that the passengers I was sharing cabin space with were serious travelers and flying for a reason besides visiting their Aunt Sue in Lisbon. They are the individuals I thought of when I received a letter from United (I’m a part of their frequent flier program) announcing that they recently revamped their … Continue reading →