Well-Mannered Traveler

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As summer winds down, the bad news about air travel just keeps piling up. Airlines are announcing system-wide route cuts while hiking fees for everything from checking bags to serving snacks and water. And while fuel prices are finally dipping, airfares are not — nor are the irritations associated with flying. (Column illustration by Kim […]

How to stay out of jail at the airport

08/21/08

Given how stressed we all get over air travel these days, it’s easier than ever for even the most well-mannered traveler to do or say something that gets them in hot water at the airport. But sometimes a mishap or a meltdown can boil over into a potential or actual federal offense. So it’s a […]

Well-Mannered Traveler

My Miserable Summer

07/24/08

Well, gang, we’ve made it to the mid-point of the summer travel season. For folks who’ve had to scale back or cancel summer plans due to rising gas prices, airline fare hikes, or the deeply dipping dollar, it’s already a miserable summer. I’ve been there and it stinks. Rising gas prices, and comments such as […]

Well-Mannered Traveler

Summer

Spitting, slurping, and other tips for traveling to Beijing

07/10/08

Unless the International Olympic Committee acts fast and makes heaving overweight carry-on bags into overhead airplane bins an official Olympic sport, my chances of visiting Beijing this summer are nil. But if committee members do finally come to their senses, I’m ready to go. I’ve been practicing my technique on plane trips with multiple connections. […]

Beijing Summer Olympics

Cars, couriers, and fast cross-country plane rides

07/04/08

Flying anywhere this holiday weekend? I volunteered to serve as a courier and will be heading to the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to pick up Joplin, a retired service dog being adopted by a friend. While I’m there, I may have just enough time on the ground to do a little shopping for […]

Summer refresher course for air travelers

06/26/08

Do higher fares, new baggage check fees, and the inevitable long lines at the security checkpoints have you dreading your next trip to the airport? Maybe I can help: here’s a link to the Well-Mannered Traveler summer refresher course posted today on MSNBC.com. There’s even a chance to earn extra credit. Column illustration by Duane […]

Setting air fares by weight

06/13/08

Folks were intrigued to learn about Derrie-Air, a new “carbon-neutral luxury airline” that charges passengers by the pound. It turned out to be a publicity stunt, but it got folks talking about the concept of treating passengers more like freight. The folks at NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, found it “sort of […]

On the road, every little bit helps

05/29/08

US Airways just announced a new cost-saving measure: no more free snacks for coach passengers. Complimentary soft drinks are still on the menu, but probably not for long. Now more than ever, travelers need a little relief. In my Well-Mannered Traveler column today, I offer a round-up of some of the gas-rebate offers travelers can […]

US Airways

Votes on in-flight cell-phone service

05/26/08

More than 2800 people have voted, so far, in the survey about in-flight cell-phone service that accompanies one of my recent Well-Mannered Traveler columns on MSNBC. The results? 64% say “In-flight text and e-mail service is great, but please no phone calls!” So I’m not that surprised at the results of a recent Harris survey […]

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Stuck at the airport