A Pilot's Wife Travel Tips

From a flight attendant's point of view

2010-12-02T23:23:00.002-05:00

Something a flight attendant shared. So funny! Be warned-profanity.

A Great Las Vegas Deal

2010-02-09T20:52:00.003-05:00

I just saw a commercial for a special that is running at the Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas. I couldn't believe my eyes. They are running a room special for $79 per night. That really is incredible. I've stayed at the Treasure Island and it is a great hotel. The rate is a good one for a hotel of that status. But the deal doesn't end there. You also get 2-for-1 show tickets to Mystere-the Cirque de Soleil production. They also have 2-for-1 dinner buffet and 20% off spa services. There are some restrictions. Here's a link to their website. Treasure Island Hotel Deal. There is no commissions or any other type of compensation I'm receiving. I'm just passing along a good deal. I sure wish they would have had this the last time I was in Las Vegas.

Hurry the offer is only good through 2/25/10.

Hysteria in the Air

2010-01-22T03:25:00.002-05:00

For the second time, military jets were scrambled when a mainland-bound flight from Hawaii reported disruptive passengers. Disruptive passengers have been part of situations that air crews have had to deal with ever since airlines have started carrying passengers instead of mail in the early part of the 20th century. Since the underpants bomber, I think we've gone a little overboard (pun intended). This level of hysteria has been unmatched, even since 9/11/01.

I asked my airline husband pilot to comment on this. He relayed an incident he had on his aircraft where a flight attendant wanted him to remove a passenger. Being the kind of cool and level-headed person that he is (one of the traits I admire about him!), he asked some questions. The situation was that the man had gotten upset because they made him check his bag plane side. This is standard operation for the smaller jets since there is very limited space in the under seat storage and overhead bins. He was "Muslim looking" and had pulled out a book that had, "some kind of funny writing." When questioned further, he had made no remarks to the flight attendants or any other kind of threatening gestures. Even his first officer wanted the passenger removed. My husband patiently explained to the worried flight attendant that without him being disruptive and knowing exactly what he was reading that the flight would go on as scheduled and should anything occur they would deal with the situation. Nothing happened. The man was just upset because he didn't trust the airlines to return his belongings to him. I can't say that I blame him-I always worry when I have to check in my luggage. The airlines don't exactly have a good track record with you and your luggage arriving at the same destination at the same time-or ever!

I'm not saying that air crews should not be cautious. I'm saying that air crews should use some common sense. Rather than reacting by emotion, some rational analysis is called for to decide on the best course of action. That's probably why my husband is a captain for an airline. That's also why when two engines went out in an Airbus over the Hudson River, the captain was able to land it on the water with no lives lost.

Look For Gifts and Souvenirs at the Grocery Store

2010-01-21T08:43:00.004-05:00

Part of the fun of travel is bringing a little bit of it back with you to remember your trip. If you look in typical places like airports, souvenir shops and gift shops you can wind up paying a lot for something very cheap. Having relatives that live in Greece we definitely get to see the "real" Greece and that included going to the grocery store. There I was able to get some Metaxa and Ouzo to take back for friends to try and it was soooooo much cheaper than the duty free stores. I also found the chocolate that I always bought to take back at more than half of what I used to pay in the specialty shops.

Even in American tourist areas, always check the big super stores like Wal-Mart and K-Mart. In high tourist areas some will have t-shirts. My daughter always goes to Panama City Beach, FL with her dad every summer. In the Wal-Mart, they have an air brush place and she gets a shirt from there every year. Although still a little pricey, she still pays much less than the places along the beachfront.

You might also look for souvenirs that you don't have to pay for. When in Germany, we took the coasters with us from the tavern where we stopped to have a beer and bratwurst. We've taken place mats from our favorite restaurant in Savannah, GA since it has a recipe and written history of Chatham Artillery Punch. The staff are accustomed to people asking and don't mind giving you a clean one to take with you. We always get a postcard for ourselves, too. Even though they cost money, they are super cheap. When we remodel our basement, we've decided to take all our postcards and line the stairway with them.

Share your ideas of some of the unusual you gotten for souvenirs. I'd love to hear from you.

Jet Lag-No Need to Suffer

2010-01-20T22:58:00.001-05:00

Jet lag happens when you fly long distances across time zones. It disrupts your body ryhthm making it difficult to adjust your sleep. Anyone can get it, but it's up to you as to how long you suffer with it after you reach your destination. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help you along so the time you spend at your destination will be enjoyable.

Keep yourself well hydrated on the flight. The airplane cabin pumps in pure oxygen which can quickly dry you out. Drink plenty of water during the entire flight. Flight crews know this and don't mind getting you water. A good crew will constantly push it during the flight. When you're well hydrated you don't have your body fighting that as well as the fatigue.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine during the flight. Alcohol and caffeine not only dry you out, your body has to spend time withdrawing from it during the flight. It takes several hours for your body to completely rid itself of caffeine and alcohol which disrupts the restfulness of sleep.

After you arrive at your destination, do not go to sleep. Don't even take a nap. It's best to try and adjust to the local time. Take it easy the first day of your arrival and go to sleep for the day when it is dark outside.

Get into the sun. The presence of sunlight is how the body establishes its body rhythms. Getting out in the sunshine and walking around shortly after you reach your destination will help you readjust.

Do not use a sleeping aid. Whether you are considering prescription or over-the-counter sleeping aids, don't be tempted to do it. It's a temporary fix and actually makes the problem worse.

Eat small meals made of easily digested foods. Avoid heavy foods such as meats and those that are greasy. They will cause the body to bog down with digestion when it should focus on rest and recovery.

Jet lag may be unavoidable, but using these tips will help you to make a swift recovery. Spending time at your destination enjoying the experience is certainly a much better choice than suffering the discomfort, fatigue and irritability from jet lag.

Scheduling a Flight-When is the Best Time?

2010-01-17T10:12:00.000-05:00

The best time to schedule a flight depends on many things. The most important thing to consider is leaving yourself enough time to get to the airport to make your flight and then enough time to make any connections. Here are some things you should consider when scheduling your flight.

Transportation to the airport

Depending on where you live, you have to consider the amount of time it will take you to get to the airport. If you are using mass transportation such as a bus or subway or even if you use a transportation service, you have their schedule to consider. This includes stops to pick up other people. If you are driving there, you need to allow enough time for traffic delays particularly during rush hour.

How much time to get to the airport

Always add an hour cushion. If it usually takes you an hour to get there, then give yourself two hours. It's stressful enough to travel without the added worry of trying to hurry for an unexpected delay.

Give Yourself Enough Time for the Airport Process

If you are taking your own vehicle, don't forget to leave enough time to park your car and get to the terminal. Once in the terminal, you will also need time to check-in. Even if your printed your boarding pass at home, you will still have to check in bags if you have them. If at all possible, travel with a carry-on so you can skip this step. Most people tend to pack to much anyway. Airlines are starting to cut people off from taking their scheduled flight if they have not checked in 45 – 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Also allow yourself enough time to get through security. If your traveling during a peak time, give yourself at least 30 minutes to get through security. Depending on the size of the airport and where your gate is located, you will need to allow yourself enough time to get to the gate once you've made it through security.

Take the First Flight of the Day

The first flight of the day is generally your best bet for avoiding delays. Those delays have a domino effect and get worse throughout the day.

Scheduling a Connecting Flight

Avoid a tight connection by making sure your layover is at least two hours. Problems with weather, having to go through customs, or any number of things that can cause a delay in your flight from arriving will leave you scrambling if you miss your connection. Sometimes, your connecting flight may be the only one out to your destination for a day or two. If you also book directly from the airline and not an online ticket service, you will get priority re-booking if your flight is canceled.

Leaving yourself enough time to get to the airport and through the airport check-in process as well as taking the first flight of the day and booking directly through the airline is your best bet to consider when scheduling a flight.

Airport Security-Europe vs. the United States

2010-01-16T13:52:00.002-05:00

The pilot and I are going on a much needed vacation to see family in Thessaloniki, Greece. We take his airline over to Germany and then pay for a flight on one of our favorite airlines, Aegean Airlines, from Stuttgart to Thessaloniki. In the United States, we breezed through security. I could see no difference in procedures post-underpants bomber. In Germany, where security has always been tight, (German police have a heavy presence in the airport and carry guns on them as they patrol), they picked up something that the United States did not. I did not realize that I had a decorative metal piece on my pants. Of course, the metal detectors in Germany picked it up and I was subject to a pat down. (I've never gone through Germany without being patted down). That's when I saw that there was a metal piece on the pants. These were the very same pants that I wore out of the United States and through TSA security. I'm really starting to believe that you could probably drive a semi-truck full of explosives through the security screeners in the United States and they would never pick it up.

Bottom line is this...if the sensitivity for the metal detectors is not set high enough, it won't pick up metal very well. What I had on my pants was pretty substantial. I've been through courthouse metal detectors that picked up a foil gum wrapper that I had in my pocket. I think it's disgraceful that a courthouse, which has a less likelihood of trouble, has a more sensitive scanner than the busiest airport in the world. I think if I can figure this out, then it's not a stretch to think that terrorists bent on destruction will, too.

All the time and money that the United States has spent on the illusion of security is laughable. However, I'm not laughing and neither will anyone else when the next near miss, or God forbid, a tragedy occurs. The political posturing needs to stop and real security needs to take precedence.

The Georgia Guidestones-An Unusual Landmark

2009-12-30T23:07:00.004-05:00

The Georgia Guidestones are an unusual landmark. A lot of landmarks were purposely made to draw in tourists, such as the Eiffel Tower. Some landmarks are naturally occurring like the Grand Canyon. In Georgia, the purpose of the Guidestones, which are also referred to as the American Stonehenge, was quite different. There's a lot of information on the Internet about the stones, but here's a brief summary so you don't need to interrupt this article to find it.

Basically, the Georgia Guidestones are a granite monument arranged with a center rectangular tablet surrounded by four upright rectangular tablets joined by a capstone. Each of the outer rectangular tablets has a message presenting Ten Principles for Living an Age of Reason. The ten different principles are written in eight different languages on each side of four different upright slabs of granite. The capstone has four ancient languages represented espousing an appeal to reason. The stones also have the feature of being arranged astronomically. The unusual way in which they came to be by an anonymous sponsor that called himself, “R.C. Christian” adds to the mystery of what the messages all mean. The stones are a curiosity and controversial and best described by this quote: “raised the stones from local curiosity to the subject of national notoriety among conspiracy theorists and Christian dispensationalists.” In a book at the local library from the mysterious sponsor, Mr. Christian himself, states that the stones are a “message for human guidance” and that, “They are intended to stimulate discussion and logical compassionate action.” Being an adventurer myself and having the Guidestones within driving distance for a daytime road trip, off I went with my friend and my daughter.

My first impression was that they were not as big as I thought they would be. I think the air of mystery and a lack of perspective from the photos and videos contributed to that. While there, I searched the internet to see how they compare to Stonehenge. The Guidestones are only four feet shorter than the tallest tablet at Stonehenge. As far as the area, the Guidestones also don't cover a large land area. Another thing that was striking was the defacement of the stones. There was some pretty raunchy graffiti present as well as comments about the stones being representative of the anti-Christ and how they needed to come down. Other than the disgrace of the graffiti, the area was clean and overgrowth kept to a minimum. There were also some interesting features on the explanatory stone that was just to the west of the Guidestones. It referred to a time capsule that was buried underneath, but the date to open it was left out. From all the research, it was not ever clear whether there was truly a time capsule under the center stone. Also apparent were the many misspelled words on the tablet.

There were some other visitors to the Guidestones while we were there. There was a family that had some business in the area that came to visit and an older couple from 30 miles away that told us they had always heard about them, but this was the first time they had ever visited. We had an energetic discussion on what they thought the principles meant and how they had stirred up controversy. We also talked about how there were no markings or widespread pointers to the area other than the small sign right at the short roadway leading to the area of the Guidestones. It was obvious that we all thought that we found the experience to be thought provoking and a purposeful trip to do nothing other than to see them.

It's unfortunate that there are groups that think that the Georgia Guidestones represent the anti-Christ and are a message about the annihilation of 2/3 of the world's population. The Guidestones are off the beaten path, but it's worth it to go because it is interesting and different.

Here comes a rant...

2009-12-25T13:54:00.002-05:00

Being the wife of an airline pilot is challenging. My husband is gone for 3-5 days at a time. Since he doesn't have a whole lot of seniority, he is on call and has to be at the airport within 2 hours of a call if he hasn't gotten advanced notice. He has to work holidays, including this Christmas. Since there was a blizzard in the middle of the country, he and his crew and fellow travelers were stranded. Now the problem is compounded by the fact that many of his fellow pilots have called in "sick" and they are having trouble getting holiday travelers to their destinations. His fellow pilots (with more seniority) have also complained because with the furloughs at the airline they now have to work four day work weeks instead of the 2 and 3 day weeks they had prior to our American economy tanking. I think his colleagues need a serious reality check. Unemployment is over 10%. They make salaries close to six figures a year with generous benefits. A little gratitude for being able to work in an industry that is doing everything it can to survive even in the best of times and empathy for their colleagues that have not enjoyed the benefits of longevity with a company as well as holiday travelers trying to get to spend time with friends and family-now that is the true spirit of Christmas. Bah humbug to the pilots that called in sick and feel entitled!

Airline Lounge Passes Make Great Gifts for the Traveler on Your Christmas List

2009-12-24T13:27:00.003-05:00

Airline Lounge Passes are available for a one day stay. If you have a traveler on your Christmas list, this would make a great gift. This is really great
if you have someone you know with a long layover that could use a little refreshment and relaxation. I know I would have loved to have one for a trip to Dusseldorf when we had a six hour layover. I didn't sleep well on the trip over and after the layover it was another 2 1/2 hour flight to our final destination. Here's a list of the major US airlines that offer one day lounge passes. Each has various ammenties that may include Wi-Fi, Conference Room, Full-service bar, Complimentary Bar, Showers, Putting Green, Smoking Area, Children's Area, Music Room, Food for Purchase, airline customer service, fax machines, newspapers, concierge service, Some also have rules such which typically revolve around conducting yourself in a business-like manner. Check each airline website for specific details. Here's a list of airline's club locations:

Delta:
Acapulco,Mexico; Adelaide, Austrailia;Anchorage, Ak; Atlanta, GA; Barcelona, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Boston, MA; Brisbane; Australia; Canberra, Australia; Cancun, Mexico; Chicago (O'Hare), IL; Chihuahua, Mexico; Cincinnati, OH; Cuidad Juarez, Mexico; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Frankfurt, Germany; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Geneva, Switzerland; Guadalajara, Mexico; Hong Kong, China; Honolulu, HI; Jacksonville, FL; Johannesburt, South Africa; London (Heathrow), England; Los Angeles, CA; Manila, Phillipines; Manchester, England; Melbourne, Australia; Memphis, TN; Merida, Mexico; Mexico City, Mexico; Miamia, FL; Milan (Malpensa), Italy; Milwuakee, WI; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Nashville, TN; Newark, NJ; New Orleans, LA; New York (JFK), NY; New York (LaGuardia), NY; Orlando, FL; Paris, France; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil; Rome, Italy; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santiago, Chile; Sau Paulo, Brazil; Seattle/Tacoma, WA; Seoul, Korea; Sydney, Australia; Tampa, FL; Tijuana, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Vancouver, BC; Washington DC (National); West Palm Beach, FL; Zurich, Switzerland.

American Airlines:
Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Bogota, Columbia; Boston, MA

Continental Airlines:
Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Guam; Honolulu, HI; Houston (Intercontinental), TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; New York (LaGuardia), NY; Newark, NJ; Panama City, Panama;
San Antonio, TX; San Francisco; Seattle, WA; Washington DC (National).

US Airways:
Boston,MA; Buffalo,NY; Charlotte,NC; Greensboro,NC; Hartford/Springfield,CT; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY (LaGuardia); Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Raleigh/Durham, NC; Tampa, FL; Washington DC (National).

Paris in January?

2009-12-21T01:00:00.002-05:00

If you ask people about when to visit Paris France, most will probably talk about Spring. It's a popular time for tourists and locals alike, and why not? The weather will be sunny more often the later you go in Spring, and by the end of April and into May the gardens will be blooming.

Winter in Paris-are you crazy? Yes, we were. On our way back from Greece this year, we had to stay overnight somewhere in Europe before catching a flight back to the United States. We usually go through Germany, but but the flights were cheap and we had a good 1/2 day available to spend there. Off we went. It was cold! There was no snow so the gardens weren't buried under and the Eiffel Tower was not closed due to ice. We bundled up a got to hit the highlights which included a stop by the Eiffel Tower and a boat trip up the Seine. There were still plenty of tourists, but not so crowded during the typical high season. We also got a 4 star hotel close to the Metro and all the sites for a little over $100 US. We would still like to see Paris during one of the other seasons for the most enjoyable time to visit. Either way, a 1/2 day wasn't nearly enough and we would go back again. I think no matter what time you go, the City of Lights is wonderful anytime of the year.

When's The Best Time To Go?

2009-12-13T16:41:00.002-05:00

If you're ever wondering when it's the best time to go somewhere on a trip, there's a website for that. It's called, of course, Best Time to Go. It has it's own search engine where you put in the month you want to go and the place you want to go. It also tells you about holiday times for your destination, cruise information and passport information. They also feature some interesting articles on topics like supernatural places and health secrets of travel doctors. There are also a few travel journal entries from fellow travelers.

I think it's best feature is a comprehensive collection of useful travel sites. It has links to such sites as where to find a private guide in Europe, internet cafes around the world, finding a public toilet, traveling with pets and so much more.

What a great little gem not only to find out the best time to go somewhere, but on lots of hard to find information and information on things you didn't even know you needed. Check it out-click on Best Time to Go.

TSA Self-Selecting Security Lanes

2009-12-12T16:43:00.001-05:00

TSA has self-selecting security lanes. If you don't know what that is, it refers to black diamonds, blue squares and green circles. I know you may be thinking, “Huh?!” These are the color coded signs at TSA airport checkpoints designed to expedite you through the security process. According to the TSA, those lanes are working. Every time I've ever been to Atlanta, they don't ever seem to have them going. As a matter of fact, not at any other airport I've been to since they've had them up.

In the last year or so, the U.S. Transportation Security Agency, the TSA, has implemented a plan that they hope will speed up the screening lines at U.S. airports.

Instead of having just one security line for everyone, there are three lanes. They are color coded, and the TSA has chosen to model them after signs on ski runs that tell skiers where the hill is difficult and for experts, or where it's moderate, or easy.

The Black Diamond Lane is for "Expert Travelers". This is where frequent flyers go. People who know the routine and can get through the checkpoint quickly. They are familiar with the rules and procedures, have their plastic bag of liquids packed correctly and out of their carry-on, and they are prepared and ready to go through.

The Blue Square Lane is for "Casual Travelers". This would apply to travelers who are familiar with the rules and regulations, but they may take a bit longer to sort out the plastic bag, the computer, the shoes... and they just don't want to feel rushed at the checkpoint.

The Green Circle Lane is for "Families and Passengers with Medical Liquids". If you're really not sure what you need to do as you go through security, this lane is for you. It's for families with small children, strollers, and liquids for children. Passengers with special needs should use this lane if they need assistance or extra time.

You are allowed to take more than 3 ounces/100ml of "medically necessary liquids" outside of the one quart plastic bag, but these must be declared to a TSA Officer. If this applies to you, you should use the Green Circle Lane where possible.

Though it's up to individuals to choose the appropriate lane, the TSA says the honor system seems to be working. According to them, the black-diamond lanes are 21 percent faster on average. So far 50 airports have the new lanes in place.

The self-selecting lanes seems to be lowering the stress and anxiety levels of all passengers. Expert travelers don't feel that they are being slowed down, and families are able to take their time with all the things they have to carry for the kids. The TSA officers are happier when you aren't so stressed so everyone wins.

So no matter what level of traveler you are, if you see those Black, Blue and Green signs at the start of the security line, choose the level that suits you best, and everyone will be on their way with fewer problems.

I haven't really seen a difference. Comment and let me know about your experience.

Travel to Huntley, IL for the Turkey Testicle Festival

2009-12-05T14:45:00.003-05:00

One of the things I always tell people is to try to travel somewhere while there is a festival. You get food, entertainment, and shopping all in one stop. Well...here's an unusual festival. Check it out.

Dealing With Canceled Flights

2009-12-05T01:33:00.003-05:00

Dealing With Canceled Flights

Bad weather this weekend again has delayed and canceled flights. Although the priority of the airlines is to get passengers to their destinations without delay, safety is a priority, so here's an article for you if you find yourself stuck at the airport dealing with a canceled flight.

---------------

Canceled flights are a headache for everyone. Believe me, the airlines don't like to cancel. It starts a whole domino effect. Not just for your flight, but for flights at down line airports all through the day. Planes end up in the wrong places with crews that can't fly them because of time regulations.

Probably the most common reason a flight is canceled is weather. Sometimes this is pretty obvious, like if you're sitting in the middle of a snow storm, and no one is moving anywhere.

Sometimes you look outside, and it's sunny and calm. How can the flight be canceled for weather like that? Think about it. The weather might be occurring somewhere else. Maybe there are severe thunderstorms on the East Coast, and that's where the flight is coming from. Maybe the flight is coming from sunny Florida, but it's coming THOUGH a hub in the middle of one of those storms. Maybe there is a sandstorm in the Sahara or a typhoon in Japan. Weather anywhere in the world can affect your flight if it is a long haul flight.

Another reason flights may be canceled is mechanical problems. If this is the case, you want them to cancel, but it's hard not to feel frustrated anyway.

Or a flight could be canceled because there have been delays, and now the crew has been waiting for too long. There are rules about when they can fly and when they can't. You really don't want pilots who have already been on duty for the past 14 hours to get in the plane and fly you. Pilot fatigue contributes to a lot of air mishaps.

If your flight is canceled, the second you hear that your plane is not going anywhere, call the airline's toll-free number. (It's a smart idea to have it programed in your cell phone.) Get into the line at the counter, especially if it's fairly short, but make that call while you're standing in line. There's a good possibility you'll get rebooked more quickly on the phone than at the counter where a couple of overwhelmed airline employees are being swarmed by a plane full of disgruntled fliers.

Ask what your options are. Actually, it pays to have an idea of alternatives before you get to the airport. True, most times you won't need to use the alternatives, but with canceled flights, the sooner you can act on those alternatives, the more apt you are to get on your way while everyone else is still looking them up.

Most airlines will rebook you, with no fees or penalties, on the next flight on which space is available. NOTE: Delta airlines automatically books you on the next available flight. Not necessarily on the next flight... the next flight on which space is available. During holiday periods or really bad weather situations, this could be more than just hours. If you seen the news the last few years, you know it can even be days! NOTE: If you book your travel with an online service like Expedia or Priceline or others like it, your priority for getting on the next available flight is dead last. Always try to book your flights directly with the airline on their website. You can always sign up at the website for notification of their weekly deals, too. Oftentimes, you'll be notified of the deals long before the online booking services.

If the wait seems too long, ask the agent if there might be a seat on another airline. Remember they are in competition, but airlines will often endorse your ticket to another carrier to try and get you on your way in a timely fashion. You'll have the most luck if the flight is on a partner airline.

If these things don't work, suggest solving your flight problem by connecting through another city or going to another airport. Remember, all of these suggestions only work if your canceled flight is pretty much an isolated situation. If all the airlines are canceling flights, as they must in bad weather, ....patience is the only thing that will work. Remember that if you are rude to the gate agents, ticket agents and customer service agents, you'll will not get the best service you can get. They really are trying to accommodate you while having to work out a tough situation. Politeness and a smile would be welcoming and could go a long way for you.

Should Personal Electronic Devices be Banned on the Flight Deck

2009-11-26T18:59:00.003-05:00

This question was recently asked on a travel website that I regularly follow. It's being asked in light of the recent Northwest Airlines pilots missing their mark by 150 miles. Their explanation was that they were on their laptops looking over new company information and were distracted. Here's my 0.02 us dollars.

There are laws and regulations already on the books so this legislation would be pointless. The problem is not that electronics are being used on the flight deck, but at what time they are being used. During critical phases of flight is not a good idea. However, if there's a long flight and the autopilot is on, it wouldn't appear to be a problem. Pilots are reading magazines and other things during that time. What's more scary is when the pilots are listening to their mp3 players and not able to hear any audible alarms. Many senior pilots are finding that when they look over at their younger colleagues, they have their ears covered and their favorite music going. This has even happened during sterile cockpit conditions ie. take off and landing phases of flight. If the Northwest pilots would have fessed up and told what is more likely the truth in that they were probably sleeping, none of this would be discussed now.

What do you think?

Free WiFi for the Holidays

2009-11-17T00:43:00.002-05:00

Through a generous offer from Google, there are 47 lucky airports that will be getting free WiFi until January 15, 2010. Of course, the airport we fly out of will not be getting it. The downside is that Google would like you to set your homepage browser as, well, Google-of course! That's not such a bad trade. Here's the list of the lucky 47 airports to receive free WiFi from Google:

• Austin (AUS)
• Baltimore (BWI)
• Billings (BIL)
• Boston (BOS)
• Bozeman (BZN)
• Buffalo (BUF)
• Burbank (BUR)
• Central Wisconsin (CWA)
• Charlotte (CLT)
• Des Moines (DSM)
• El Paso (ELP)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Fort Myers/SW (RSW)
• Greensboro (GSO)
• Houston (HOU)
• Houston Bush (IAH)
• Indianapolis (IND)
• Jacksonville (JIA)
• Kalamazoo (AZO)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Louisville (SDF)
• Madison (MSN)
• Memphis (MEM)
• Miami (MIA)
• Milwaukee (MKE)
• Monterey (MRY)
• Nashville (BNA)
• Newport News (PHF)
• Norfolk (ORF)
• Oklahoma City (OKC)
• Omaha (OMA)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Panama City (PFN)
• Pittsburgh (PIT)
• Portland (PWM)
• Sacramento (SMF)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Jose (SJC)
• Seattle (SEA)
• South Bend (SBN)
• Spokane (GEG)
• St. Louis (STL)
• State College (SCE)
• Toledo (TOL)
• Traverse City (TVC)

Planning a Flight around the Holidays

2009-11-17T00:15:00.001-05:00

The holiday season is about to begin. Here's a great article on planning a flight around holiday travel. Whether your holiday plans have your traveling near or far, we extend our best wishes to your and your family.

============

There is always a chance that your flight will get canceled or delayed regardless of when you fly. However, the holidays are a very busy time for airports and you don’t want to spend Christmas there instead of with your family. Be prepared for long lines at the check in desk and security. Even though you should be at the airport two hours before your plane takes off during normal travel times, you will want to increase that up to three hours when you travel around the holidays.

Try to keep the amount of items you bring along to a minimum. It will make checking in your baggage easier and prevent such items from being lost or damaged. If you are traveling for Christmas and you want to send gifts it is a good idea to mail them separately and they will be there when you arrive. If you do decide to pack them don’t wrap them as they are subject to being inspected. You can wrap the gifts when you arrive at your destination.

Traveling around Thanksgiving or Christmas always comes with the risk of the weather being a problem so make sure you are prepared. Some travelers have had their flights delayed for a couple of days due to storms coming in during these times. It is a good idea to arrive at the airport prepared for the worst. Make sure you have plenty of activities with you for children to stay busy with. You also want to carry snacks and drinks so you don’t have to pay the outrageous prices at the airport for these items.

If you have specific dates of travel in order to be spend the holidays away from home you will want to secure your travel arrangements early. Look for the best possible deals online and with a travel agent. If you want until the last minute though in hopes of prices dropping you may be disappointed that you won’t get to go because the flights are sold out.

Many people save money on flights by taking connections or accepting a layover or two. You may want to skip this money saving tip during the holidays just because most airports will be very busy. You don’t want to have to deal with hurrying across a busy airport terminal to find your connecting flight. If you can get a decent price on a direct flight then make sure you do so.

It is very important that you have all your travel documents and a printed copy of your travel itinerary. Most airline staff will be overwhelmed with people asking for assistance during this time of the year. You don’t want to arrive and discover that you don’t have a reservation after all and that there is not a space on the plane for you.

If you want to avoid the crowds during holiday travel, consider taking a very early morning flight or a late evening flight. You will find these are often less expensive as well. While it may interrupt your normal sleep patterns, it can help to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety while you are traveling during the holidays.

For those planning to fly with children around the holidays, make sure you keep a careful eye on them. They can quickly become separated from your family in the crowd of people moving around. Strollers are a good option for small children. Make sure all the adults in the party know which flight they are taking and the airline in case they get separated as well.

You can have a fabulous trip to visit your family and friends over the holidays if you are prepared. Paying attention to the guidelines of the airlines is very important to ensure you have a save trip. Being on time will help to ensure that you don’t have your plans crushed because you have to catch a plane in the following days.

Damaged Items-One Man's Story

2009-11-12T23:37:00.002-05:00

Dave Carroll is a musician that had a really bad experience with United Airlines this past summer. Like any good musician, he told his story in song. Just a few weeks ago, while traveling to Colorado and giving a speech, he decided to give United Airlines another chance. This time they lost his luggage. Here's the video that now has almost 6 million views on You Tube. Enjoy!

NW Pilots-The Hyposcrisy

2009-11-10T22:53:00.002-05:00

Great commentary by Steve Kelly from the October 29, 2009 Times Picayune

Click here

Warning-Contents Under Pressure

2009-11-09T23:13:00.000-05:00

Ever open a bottle of hair gel or shaving cream after a flight only to have contents shoot out all over you and the bathroom? Changes in air pressure during flight can cause all kinds of things to become unsettled.

Always open any pressurized or airtight canister or container gently after you've just flown. Keep shampoo, hand lotion, and similar items in a resealable plastic bag to help limit messes.

Flights From Hell

2009-04-02T21:39:00.002-04:00

If you've done your fair share of traveling by air, I'm sure you can come up with an experience that qualifies as a Flight from Hell. There's even a website that you can share your story. Check it out by clicking here.

Is It Safe To Go To Mexico?

2009-03-24T22:43:00.003-04:00

Mexico is a popular destination for spring breakers. Since violence is at an all time high in Mexico, naturally this is a concern. I'm especially concerned since my daughter is going on a cruise this summer with her father and Mexico is one of the stops. Does that mean you should change your vacation plans or destination? That's a decision that you will have to make. At this time, there have been no attacks to tourists in popular destinations like Cancun and Cozumel. The US State Department has issued an advisory. Click here to check it out.

If you do decide to go, follow some safety tips. Stick to the areas that tourists hang out and don't go off the beaten path. Use reputable services-get recommendations from your hotel concierge. Better yet, use a travel agent to book reputable vendors before you ever leave. Before you go, make sure you have someone in the US or your home country that knows your itinerary and has a copy of your travel documents. Stay updated with travel advisories and be prepared to change your plans if you need to.

The bottom line is to stay informed about what's happening so you can weigh the risk for yourself.

Good luck and safe travels!

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Makes History!

2009-02-27T15:35:00.003-05:00

A first in aviation history happened on February 12, 2009-the first all female African-American crew to fly together in the airline industry. This was confirmed by the Organization of Black American Pilots. Pictured above is Captain Rachelle Jones, First Officer Stephanie Grant, and Flight Attendants Diana Galloway and Robin Rodgers.

Rachelle also has the distinction of being only one of five African-American female Captains in the airline industry today.

What a great way to mark African American History Month! Congratulations!

Pay to Pee?

2009-02-27T15:15:00.003-05:00

If you're not familiar with Ryan Air, let me acquaint you. There are an Irish owned regional airline that pioneered the pay-for-fee services that have swept all airlines. We can thank the owner, Michael O'Leary, for the start of charging for checked baggage, using your credit card, using a check-in desk, etc. The employees are also treated like second class citizens. If this company was based in the US, employees would not be treated so poorly.

Mr. O'Leary and company are now drawing fire because they want to charge a fee for using the toilet on the aircraft. He wants to charge one British pound-the US equivalent of $1.40-for the use. Some have called it, "toilet extortion". He was also quoted as saying that it would be quite unlikely that anyone would need to use the toilet and not have the money. I don't know about you, but if you've ever traveled with young children you can count on that scenario happening.

Mr. O'Leary we are glad you aren't here in the US. You would never be able to get away with that. Don't you also remember how the French came under fire for charging to use the public toilet? On our recent trip to Paris, they indeed had done away with it. Mr. O' Leary could use a lesson from others.

Montreal-A Great Winter Destination

2009-02-19T21:43:00.005-05:00

I know, I know...when you think of winter destinations you probably imagine warm Caribbean water that is just as clear and blue as anything you've ever seen. Even though Montreal averages temperatures that tend to be below freezing during the month of February, it's a great winter escape for one reason-the underground pedestrian network. According to the official tourist agency, Montreal has 33 kilometers of passageways that snake around the downtown area and it's all underground. It's a hub for the subway, bus and train system and full of world class restaurants, shops and entertainment. So while everyone is paying premium prices to head south for the winter, look for bargains in our neighbor to the north.

For more information, click the title and it will take you to the Tourisme Montreal-the office tourism site for Montreal.

A+++ to E-Z Rent-A-Car and Tampa, FL airport

2009-02-01T20:48:00.003-05:00

I was really impressed with this rental car company. I had to go to Tampa this week. I went mid-week and I didn't realize that the Super Bowl was the following Sunday until someone on the bus pointed it out. That's why I had such a time finding a decent price for a rental car. I started out by going to our favorite rental car company. They quoted me a price of $100 for a compact car for ONE day! Someone on the shuttle also told me that they visit Tampa during this same week every year and because of the Super Bowl it's costing them an extra $100 to rent a car for the week. I was not about to pay $100 for 1/2 day, so I went to a meta search engine and found E-Z Rent-A-Car.

Just because they were a budget car rental company they did not skimp on service. They directed me to use the courtesy phones in the airport which were easy to find. They gave directions and it was exactly as it said. Everyone I came into contact with was friendly and courteous. Unfortunately, they are not all over the USA, but they do have some locations in Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, St. Maarten, Jamaica and Ireland. I will definitely check them out first before I check out all the big national brands. If you want to check them out, click on the title above and it will take you to their website.

Tampa airport was also a breeze to go through. It's well marked and well laid out so it's easy to navigate. Everyone I came into contact with their was also friendly and courteous. I hope to go there again soon.

Boo to Spirit Airlines

2009-01-30T22:02:00.002-05:00

Spirit Airlines, a budget carrier, is drawing fire from the flight attendant's and pilot's unions. The controversy is around some rather raunchy and sexually suggestive ads they are currently running. I'll let you do your own internet search to see for yourself. As you know, sex sells and Spirit Airlines is claiming that their new ads are a hit with the public. At further controversy is that they are making flight attendants wear aprons with a logo for a certain brewing company (Budweiser). This is a way to generate revenue. So after charging a fee for everything they could possibly get, they are now pushing it on to their employees to be walking billboards. Boo to you Spirit Airlines. Poor taste.

New Visa Requirements for South Africa

2009-01-18T00:35:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wanted to travel to the Southern hemisphere of the dark continent you will have new requirements. In this message from South African airways, it spells out the requirements: "As we begin 2009, it is a good time to remind you of the special passport requirements for travel to South Africa to ensure that your clients have a pleasant and uninterrupted travel experience.

All non-South African passport holders are required to have at least one entirely blank (unstamped) visa page in their passport each time they enter South Africa. These pages are in addition to the Endorsement/Amendment pages that are found at the back of the passport. South African government regulations prohibit airlines from boarding passengers without the required blank visa page. SAA is required to enforce these visa requirements and unfortunately, customers not processing the proper documentation will be denied boarding at point of origin."

As of May 1, 2009, South African Airways will start offering daily non-stop service from New York's JFK and Johannesburg.

Airline crashes are a pilot's family's worst nightmare

2009-01-17T17:12:00.002-05:00

The US Airways crash into the Hudson River the other day had a happy ending with all 155 lives on board spared. This always brings it close to home that air crews put a lot on the line every time they go up in the air. Now comes the long work of the investigation. I think that geese belong cooked on a Christmas platter and not the engine of an Airbus.

Who said the French were rude?

2009-01-15T18:56:00.003-05:00

Bonjour!

There seems to be the perception in America that the French, particularly in Paris, are rude to Americans or just plain rude. We did not find that to be true when we were there at the beginning of the year. Ok-we did have a rather surly waiter when we ate at a restaurant on the Champs Elysee, but that was a stereotype we could live with. We went to Paris after having brushed up on French that I haven't used since high school (that's been a really long time) and many times would ask in French if they spoke English and used French as often as we could. Everyone we encountered-at the airport, at the hotel, in shops, in the train station, at the restaurant-spoke English when we asked if they did. Some were better than others and between their limited English and my limited French we were able to figure it out. Often they volunteered-apparently we must look quite American. Someone also overheard us when we were having difficulties buying tickets for the Metro and volunteered to help us. I think if you show some respect and attempt to use the language of the place you're traveling, people may be more apt to help you. So if you're traveling anywhere soon, take the time to learn a few phrases and hope that you'll find someone that speaks English, which is very likely.

In Greece, where the pilot is a native, the situation is the same. I don't have the same worry there since that is the pilot's native language. His cousin told us that learning English is mandatory in the schools. America could learn a lesson by requiring students to learn another language. The world is increasingly becoming a smaller place and travel to places outside the United States is not such a rarity any more.

Au revoir!

One-half day in Paris is not enough

2009-01-14T02:38:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's been a while since I posted. We've traveled recently and I got to fulfill a life long dream of going to Paris. We stopped there for 1/2 day on our way back to the USA from Greece. Paris is beautiful! It's huge and so much to see. We only had an afternoon and evening and it wasn't even close to being enough. We hit a few of the highlights: the Eiffel Tower, of course, Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysee and went on a boat tour in the Seine. If I wasn't jet lagging so bad and it wasn't cold, it would have been near perfect. More details to come.

More Airline Fees

2008-11-12T19:48:00.003-05:00

Today Airtran has followed the lead of other airlines in charging a fee for the first bag checked. They followed suite with Delta who just started last week and United, US Airways, American, Spirit and Allegiant who started last summer. Airtran officials claimed it needed all the revenue it could get after a rough summer. Just because there's been some relief with current oil prices doesn't mean you'll see ticket prices drop. Many airlines have been operating at a deficit to remain competitive while we have experienced the highest fuel prices in history.

La Tomatina-The Spanish Tomato Fight

2008-11-11T23:59:00.002-05:00

During this summer in Milan, Italy a huge pillow fight broke out and was captured on video. It made the rounds of youtube and facebook and others. Now it's showing up in television advertisements. While watching, the pilot told me about a tomato fight that takes place in Spain every year. Naturally, I had to find out more. Here's what I found: In the Spanish town of Bunol in the Valencia region of Spain, there is an annual tomato fight where 240,000 pounds of tomatoes are thrown at festival goers. This festival is held on the last Wednesday of August and called La Tomatina. Here's a video from youtube that shows the fight from 2006 and shares the colorful history.

Don't Buy Gas From the Rental Car Company

2008-11-06T15:10:00.002-05:00

On our last trip to the Eastern Seaboard in early October, we rented a car. We got outstanding service from Avis. In fact, we liked the car so much we're considering buying one when we make our next vehicle purchase. The pilot took care of all the arrangements. The friendly person behind the counter asked him about taking care of his gas so he wouldn't be so inconvenienced when he returns. The pilot inquired about gas and thought he was getting a great deal. This was when gas was the highest EVER. Georgia had some of the highest prices in the country at the time, so the gas price he got looked very good. Well, as we drove along we were totally shocked at the low gas prices. Georgia has taxed gas so highly that it remains fairly high compared to other states. Lesson learned-no more gas from the rental car company.

Virginia Beach Can Kiss My A@@

2008-10-31T21:51:00.002-04:00

From the title you can figure out the pilot and family did not have a good experience in Virginia Beach. Due to our stand-by status with the airlines, we travel off peak which makes good economic sense (although it does have its downside). Since the Atlantic coastal beaches have their peak from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it seemed like the shoulder season during the first week of October would be ideal. The weather still remains fairly nice in that area during the time of year and this was no exception. Well in Virginia Beach they damn near rolled up the boardwalk. First, we had to walk and walk to find a restaurant that wouldn't call for selling any organs in exchange for lunch. While we were walking along, rather than keep going back and forth to the boardwalk to each restaurant, we walked along the bike path to the side. Some rude person on a bike nearly hit us and loudly pointed out that the boardwalk was "over there." We finally did find a little local owned restaurant. There were still a few people there on the covered patio eating and drinking beer. We didn't even sit down when the waitress nearly broke a marathon record to tell us they were closed. We questioned it since it was only 12:30. She nastily told us that they closed at 1:00. We pointed out that was still 25 minutes away. She then stated in her most exasperated voice, "Well it's off season." So we again wandered away only to find Quiznos where we spent $25 on a wrap, a half-sandwich, whole sandwich and one bag of chips.

Rest assured that we will never intentionally go back to Virginia Beach. We went for a long weekend trip to the Outer Banks and Norfolk which more than made up for the rudeness and overpriced Beach in Virginia. More on that later.

Be Prepared

2008-09-05T00:24:00.002-04:00

The Scouts had it right to make this their motto. The other day when I was merging from one interstate to the other my tire blew. Everything was okay-my husband was home to change the tire and take care of business (my hero!). That added about another 45 minutes to a day filled with activity. I had to go potty, but figured I would be home shortly. Needless to say, once the tire was changed and we were back on the road, the first order of business was to find a bathroom. The moral of the story is that whenever you have a chance to stop then stop. You never know what's in store for you--a traffic jam, a tire blow out, etc.

Your Travel Profile

2008-08-22T01:28:00.002-04:00

This little widget will help you find your travel profile. It gives you a series of pictures and you pick the picture that best fits for the question they are asking. I found it to be quite accurate. So take a look and find out what your travel profile. Mine was Easy Rider. Have fun!

Kentucky Wines

2008-08-14T22:09:00.006-04:00

As I was driving through Kentucky recently, I kept seeing signs for wineries. It was a pretty regular occurrence. It got me to wondering if there were really that many wineries or just a way to draw some tourism, so I did a little research when I got back home. Kentucky is home to 34 wineries. Who knew! When you think of wineries in America, Kentucky doesn't ever come to mind. Due to time limitations, we weren't able to check any of them out personally. For more information, check it out here. www.kentuckywine.com.

Traveling Abroad with Your Child

2008-07-20T13:26:00.002-04:00

If you are a single parent or if you have re-married and take your child abroad, make sure you have a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent giving permission. Some countries require it. On our last trip home from Greece, the border agent intensely questioned my daughter's step-father (my husband) since she had a different last name than we did. So err on the side of caution, and get this done whether or not the country you are traveling to requires it.

Caribbean Travel Documents: What do You Need?

2008-07-16T17:14:00.001-04:00

With internationals rules constantly changing, it is hard to know exactly what kinds of Caribbean travel documents you need when leaving on vacation. Ever country has specific rules and regulations, so you should check ahead by calling the airport, but in general, you’ll need ID and a passport at the very least to fly into a foreign country or foreign territory.

First and foremost, no matter what documentation you have, travel to Cuba is illegal for most United States citizens. Cuba is under a strict communist dictatorship rule, and United States citizens risk their lives by going there. The only people allowed to travel to Cuba are special government officials with certain clearances. Traveling to Cuba by going to another country, like Canada, is also illegal. You can be caught quite easily doing this because the U.S. customs officials will see the Cuban stamp in your passport. It is smarter and safer just to avoid traveling to Cuba, because you will be less likely to get hurt while in the Caribbean and less likely to face charges when entering the United States to get home.

For most Caribbean countries, you will need a passport to travel from the United States into the country. The Caribbean is not a country on its own—the region is actually made up for number of small island countries and European territories. Therefore, every time you enter a new country, you will need to present your passport to be stamped. Regardless of if you need a passport by the island’s law or not, you will need a passport to reenter the United States. If you lose your passport or otherwise find yourself without a passport in a foreign country, contact the airlines immediately to find out what to do.

In some Caribbean countries, you will also need to present your airplane ticket showing that you have a ticket to return home or a ticket to fly on to another country. Immigration is a problem, and if you have not figured out when you’re going to leave, some countries will not let you leave the airport at all. Make sure you have a return or forward flight, regardless of where you go.

When traveling, keep your documentation, tickets, and identification in a safe place that is quickly accessible. Remember that your luggage may arrive long after you actually get to the Caribbean, so keep everything on your person instead. It is a good idea to use a small outside pocket to carry this or to have one person from the family in charge of all of the information in order to prevent it from getting lost.

Avoiding Crime during Caribbean Travel

2008-07-16T17:11:00.000-04:00

Crime is one thing that can ruin your Caribbean vacation in a heartbeat. If your information is stolen, you may have to rebook flights, leave early, contact your credit card company while on vacation and generally stress out over the items that were stolen. Most anything is up for grabs, including money and traveler’s checks, cameras and other technological equipment, passports, plane tickets, jewelry, and other things that you carry with you or leave in your hotel room. If you want to enjoy your Caribbean vacation the best way possible, take steps to avoid being the victim of crime in the Caribbean.

First and foremost, if you are a tourist, local pickpockets will assume that you are an easy target. Don’t be. Stay aware of your surrounding at all times and if you are carry money or anything valuable, make sure that if is somewhere very secure. For example, carry a purse under your arm instead of a backpack, which can easily be unzipped without you noticing.

Another common way to avoid crime is to consider how you are dressing. Of course you’ll want to look your best, but if you dress too flashy, thieves will know that you are a tourist and that you have money. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying designing purses. Instead, go for a more casual look. You’ll be more comfortable that way anyway.

In fact, leave your valuables at home all together. That’s the best way to keep them from getting stolen on your Caribbean vacation! Travel light—if you look like you’re ready to run after a thief to catch him or her, the thief won’t approach you. However, if you’re carry two heavy suitcases and have a camera case around your neck and a purse under you arm, a thief can quickly grab the money from your back pocket and run off without worrying that you’ll case him. If you do have to carry valuables with you for whatever reason, keep them locked in the hotel safe during the day. Remember, maids and other hotel personnel can rob you too, unless you use the safe, and that will be hard to prove if it happens.

Lastly, remember to protect your items at home as well. Have someone watch your house while you are traveling to the Caribbean to make sure that it is safe. You can even ask a friend or relative to stay there to defer thieves as well as take care of your pets and plants. Another tip is to make sure that your luggage is clearly marked with your name and address in case it gets lost, but at the same time, make sure that this identification is covered so that the person standing next to you can’t clearly read it. If a thief sees an entire family leaving on vacation ad reads you address, he or she can easily rob your home since you will definitely not be there.

Weather Watch: Planning Caribbean Travel

2008-07-16T17:09:00.002-04:00

The fastest way to ruin a beautiful paradise vacation is to find out that the weather forecast is calling for rain in the Caribbean during your entire stay. There’s not much you can do to change the weather, but there are a few things you can take into consideration when planning a Caribbean vacation. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy beautiful sunny weather during most of your stay.

Obviously, the Caribbean is often hit hard by hurricanes. Therefore, your first and foremost plan is to not book a Caribbean vacation during hurricane season. Hurricanes and tropical storms can occur during various times in the year, but most fall during the official hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Most of the storms happen specifically between August and October, with September being an especially volatile time. Try heading to the Caribbean during a different time of the year.

However, if you must plan your trip during hurricane season, try visiting islands that usually do not get hit. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, which are sometimes known as the Netherlands Antilles islands or the ABC islands are rarely in the path of the storm, and you can avoid a direct hit by traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados. If you want to learn about a specific island’s weather report, contact a travel agency dealing with travel to this location or a tourist center on the island itself.

In fact, before you plan your island vacation, learning about the weather on specific islands is crucial. For example, if you plan to visit Dominica, you should be prepared for some rain. The wildlife there is beautiful, but they get over 300 inches a year, more than anywhere else in the world. Another example would be Bermuda. It’s actually a northern Caribbean island and has a climate close to that of North Carolina, so if you visit in the winter, you won’t want to lie on the beach or swim in the ocean. You’ll have to head south for warmer weather there.

About a week or two before you leave, track the storms and weather happening on your island. Remember that every storm hits not every island. If you work through a travel agency or buy a packaged deal, sometimes you can get your money back if a hurricane hits your island and you can’t fly in for your vacation; otherwise, make sure that you know some of the indoor activities to do as well, like spending time at the resort or touring local museums. These will help battle your rainy day blues.

A Good Time for the Caribbean

2008-07-16T16:58:00.002-04:00

Right now is a good time to go to the Caribbean. Yes, I realize it's hurricane season. The odds of getting hit by one still show that it's not likely you would be in harm's way. Besides that you would have enough of an advanced warning to get out in time. What a vacation tale that would make!

It's off season in the Caribbean and you can find good deals on airfare and hotels. We went to Aruba this this time a few years ago and had a blast. The temperatures are nearly the same year-round for all the Caribbean islands. Although it's nice to get away to a Caribbean island when the temperatures are freezing or below for the winter Northern climates, with all the activities, shopping and gorgeous scenery, consider the Caribbean right now.

The Greek Popular Market

2008-06-28T21:49:00.003-04:00

Join us on this video while we take you around the Greek popular market.

Vergina-Home of the Royal Tombs

2008-06-28T18:58:00.003-04:00

Here's a video I stumbled upon. It gives a close up look at the newest National Treasure in Greece. We had the opportunity to visit the Royal Tombs at Vergina last year. No photography of the interior was allowed, so I was delighted to find this video. There is a political statement being made, so please over look that and enjoy the pictures of this archaeological treasure-the resting place of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

Greece: Mountains and Sea

2008-06-28T18:57:00.003-04:00

Here's a brief video of a few of the sights where we stay on the beach.

New Video

2008-06-28T18:31:00.003-04:00

This is the first in a series of videos that we took when we went on our annual trip to Greece to see family. We'll be posting more as we get them edited and uploaded. Enjoy!

Staycation

2008-06-28T01:53:00.003-04:00

Staycation is the buzzword this season. Since transportation costs are getting so ridiculous taking a mini vacation within 100 miles of home has become a "staycation." We used to call it a Sunday drive.

So where do you find places to go? Here are places to look for ideas: your local library, the internet, your local book seller, the chamber of commerce, the local and/or state historic society, the newspaper, the convention and visitor's bureau, the state park system, the national park system, recommendations from friends and co-workers and the local parks and recreation department.

So where are you taking your staycation this summer?

Get Ready for Increased Air Fares

2008-06-26T23:15:00.002-04:00

There are rumblings in the airlines about raising air fare to match the rising cost of fuel. The fees they are charging (see chart on previous blog post) are not even coming close to cover the cost. All the major airlines are scrambling to stay afloat and it seems that flights and routes are being cut faster than the speed of sound. It won't be long before air travel is out of reach for most everyone. The airlines are also the next industry that will make cuts to their workforce. Pretty soon, there will be more TSA agents working than pilots.

Airline Fees Chart

2008-06-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

I found this and thought it would be helpful.

Airline Fees are a fact of life (hastened by $130/barrel oil), it is important that everyone take into account airline fees while shopping for airfare. To that end we have compiled a comparison list of U.S. domestic airline fees. Fees are changing rapidly and we’ll do our best to keep the chart up to date.

updated 24-Jun-2008

	Reservation by Phone (per person)	1^st Checked Bag Fee (each-way)	2^nd Checked Bag Fee (each-way)
American	$20	$15	$25
Continental	$15	Free	$25
Delta	$25	Free	$25
Northwest	$15	Free	$25
United	$25	$15	$25
US Airways	$25 - $35	$15	$25
AirTran	$10	Free	$10 - $20 ⁵
Alaska	$15	Free	$25
Frontier	$15	Free	$25
JetBlue	$15	Free	$20
Southwest	Free	Free	Free (3+ $25)
Spirit	$20	$10	$20 - $25 ⁵
Midwest	$10	Free	Free (3+ $100)
Hawaiian	$10-30	Free	$25
Go	Free	Free	Free
ExpressJet	Free	Free	Free
Virgin America	$10	Free	$25
Allegiant	$10 - $15 ea/way	$10 - $20 ⁵	$10 - $20 ⁵
Sun Country	$10	Free	$25

	Beverage/Snack Packet	Meal	Alcohol	Oversize Bag Fee (each-way)
American	Free/none	$3 - $10	$6	$150
Continental	Free	Free ²	$5	$100
Delta	Free	$4 - $10	$5 - $6	$150
Northwest	Free	$7 - $10		$100
United	Free	$5 - $7 ³	$6	$100
US Airways	$2 bev/none	$5 - $7	$7	$100
AirTran	Free	None	$6	$29 - $69
Alaska	Free	$5	$5	$50 - $75
Frontier	Free	$3	$5	$75
JetBlue	Free	None	$5	$75
Southwest	Free ($3 Energy)	None	$4	$50
Spirit	$2 - $4	$5		$100 - $150
Midwest	Free (Cookie)	$6 - $11	$5	$80
Hawaiian	Free			$160 - $360
Go	Free	None		$25
ExpressJet	Free	Free	$1 - $3	$50
Virgin America	Free	$6 - $8	$5 - $6	$50
Allegiant	$2-$4	LAS-only $5	$5	may apply
Sun Country	Free	Free	$5	$60

	Travel w/ Pets (each-way)	Unaccompanied Minors (per flight)	Curbside Check-In
American	$100 - $150	$100	Free
Continental	$95	$75 - $100	Free
Delta	$100 - 200	$100	$3
Northwest	$80 - $359	$75 - $100	$2
United	$100 - $200	$99	$2
US Airways	$100	$100	$2
AirTran	$65	$39	Free
Alaska	$100	$75	$2
Frontier	$100 - $200	$40	n/a
JetBlue	$100	$75	$2
Southwest	No Pets	Free	Free
Spirit	$75	$75	$2
Midwest	$100	$50	Free
Hawaiian	$35 - $175	$35 - $95	n/a
Go	$25	$25	n/a
ExpressJet	$50	$50	n/a
Virgin America	$100	$75	n/a
Allegiant	$75	$75	n/a
Sun Country	$75	$50	n/a

	Seat Selection / Priority / Leg Room	Non-Refundable Ticket Change Fee	Overweight Bag Fee (each-way)
American	None	$150	$50 - $100
Continental	None	$150	$50
Delta	None	$100	$80 - $150
Northwest	$5 - $35	$100	$50
United	$14 - $109	$150	$100
US Airways	$5 - $30	$150	$50 - $100
AirTran	$6 - $20	$50	$29 - $69
Alaska	None	$50 - $75	$50
Frontier	None	$100	$75
JetBlue	$10 - $30	$100	$50 - $100
Southwest	$10 - $30 ¹	Free	$25 - $50
Spirit	$5 - $15	$100	$100 - $150
Midwest	None	$100	$50 - $65
Hawaiian	None	$150	$50
Go	None	$20	$25-50
ExpressJet	None	$50	$50
Virgin America	$15 - $50	$75	$50 - $100
Allegiant	$11 - $13	$50	may apply
Sun Country		$75 - $100	$60

Hidden Hotel Fees

2008-06-21T00:27:00.002-04:00

I just read an article about hidden hotel fees. I think we've all become accustomed to accepting that the mini bar is not free. However, in this article the author stated that when he booked from one of the online travel services that it stated that there was a cleaning fee. He was quite surprised to find out is was $166 after he got his bill when he returned home. Buyer beware-know exactly what the charges are ahead of time before making the reservation so you won't have an unpleasant surprise like this. Without stating what the cleaning fee was, they could have charged $10,000. Luckily, he got this situation resolved and had most of his money refunded. Save yourself the hassle, use a credit card vs. debit card to add an extra layer of protection by having the right to dispute it and ask for specifics before you commit.

What is Bonnaroo?

2008-06-16T09:17:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I might be one of the few that don't know about this summer music festival. As I was driving through the lovely Tennessee mountains this weekend, traffic came to a crawl around the Manchester area. When it started to ease up, I saw a sea of tents as far as the eye could see. I wondered what it was. The friend I was visiting didn't know what it was either. Ironically, when I got home the pilot had some co-workers over from that area and filled me in. If you're interested, you can Google the word "Bonnaroo" and get all kinds of information.

So I got to thinking about when I was at a great summer festival years and years ago in Birminham, AL called City Stages. It just happened to be this weekend, too. It's much more than the $20 I paid for a weekend full of great music with big name stars, but still quite reasonable if you get your tickets early. If you're interested in other music festivals around the country this summer, I dug up this article from MSNBC. Click here to read.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

2008-06-03T12:11:00.002-04:00

Our family takes an annual two-week vacation to Greece every year to visit family. We just got back. This year I fussed and considered not going-too much to do to be away for so long. Luckily the pilot did not listen. As we had our daily walks on the beaches of the Aegean Sea, I kept thinking that I sure liked the Tracy that visited Greece and not the one that existed in the United States the other fifty weeks of the year. All the stress of making ends meet and doing the work that paid the bills vs. the work that fed the soul takes its toll. Now to figure out how to bring that peace home and make it last until I get my batteries recharged next year. Only fifty more weeks to go! Any suggestions?

Don't Forget Take Out the Batteries

2008-05-19T01:21:00.003-04:00

As we're getting ready for our annual trip to Greece, we're busy taking the batteries out of all the electronic gadgets we're taking. The pilot related an embarrassing incident when one of the flight attendant's bags was set aside and waiting with the rest of the crew's bags. When the crew went to get their bags and board the van to the hotel, there was something buzzing inside of her bag. Save yourself the inconvenience of dead batteries and embarrassment by taking batteries out before you pack anything away. Now we just have to worry about being overweight with our bags.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2008-05-02T09:18:00.003-04:00

Cinco de Mayo marks the celebration of victory of the Mexican Army over the French in the Battle of Puebla. Ironically, it's a celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico. As a matter of fact, the pilot was in Mexico last year during that time. He said there was no celebration. When he asked about it, they told him that only it was a holiday for the gringos.

Most Americans also think it's the equivalent of Independance Day (July 4) and Bastille Day (French) on July 15. Mexico celebrates its independence day on September 16th.

Whatever way you choose to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, just don't go to Mexico for it (unless you're in Pueblo). Ole!

New Feature: Monthly Video

2008-04-28T13:39:00.002-04:00

Since we are going to Greece in May, the featured videos for the month of May is Greece. Just click on one of the video images on the left to watch.

This is a great time of year to go to Europe. It's what's called the "shoulder season". It's not quite high season and it's not off-season. It's still a little chilly in the northern region of Greece where we stay, but in the Greek Islands it's ideal. Flowers are profusely in bloom and the temperatures are perfect: not too cold and not too hot.

Have a look at the featured videos and I'll have more coming to you as the pilot's family prepares for its annual trip to Greece.

Carry On!

2008-04-25T00:50:00.004-04:00

We're getting ready for our annual trip to Greece (the pilot's family still lives there-OPA!!!). I always over pack. As I sit here and type this I am vowing not to do it again this year. The airlines are also getting tougher and tougher about carry on and baggage allowances--(thank goodness the airline we fly standby is one of the more liberal). So the objective with carry on baggage is this: how to get the most in and have it still fit either under the seat or overhead bin without you needing to see a chiropractor for the rest of your life. Here's a little tip I learned which would be more helpful for the ladies.

Ladies: If you get a big shoulder bag, you can slip your purse in there along with some other items and still have your small wheeled suitcase. Just watch the weight because flight attendants may not help you get it into the overhead bin. I've heard many complain that they have back problems from years of helping people do this. Also, there's not always a gentleman around to help. If you are traveling with a gentleman you may be able to pack in a little more.

I'm also including a list of the carry on limits for US airlines. Kalo taxithee - that's the Greek phonetic pronunciation that translates into "good travel"

Domestic Airline/Flight Policies - Carry On Luggage

Airline	Allowance	Max wt per piece	Max size per piece
AirTran	1 plus 1 personal item	-	55"
Alaska and also Horizon	1 plus 1 personal item	-	10"H x 17"W x 24"L
Aloha	1 plus 1 personal item (sometimes on interisland flights - none!)	20lbs	44" = 8" x 14" x 22"
America West	1 plus 1 personal item	-	45"
American	1 plus 1 personal item	40lbs	45"
ATA	1 plus 1 personal item	-	9" x 15" x 25" but on L1011 is only 9" x 13.5" x 19"
Continental	1 plus 1 personal item	40lbs	51"
Delta	1 plus 1 personal item	40lbs	All items must each fit in a 'Size wise' template, approx 22" x 14" x 9"
Frontier	1 plus 1 personal item	35lbs	49"
Hawaiian	1 plus 1 personal item	25lbs	45" or 22" x 14" x 9"
JetBlue	1 plus 1 personal item	-	-
Northwest	1 plus 1 personal item	40lbs	22" x 14" x 9"
Southwest	1 plus 1 personal item	-	24" x 16" x 10"
Spirit	1 piece, no personal items	40lbs	22" x 13" x 10"
United	1 plus 1 personal item	-	22" x 14" x 9"
US Airways	1 plus 1 personal item	40lbs combined weight for both	24" x 16" x 10" for overhead 21" x 16" x 8" for underseat

Delta and Northwest Merger

2008-04-25T00:36:00.002-04:00

The merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines has created a lot of buzz. There's always the concern that it's not good for passengers or employees. There's nothing worse than having a disgruntled flight attendant or baggage handler working the flight that you're taking. However, from the inside, I can tell you that there's a lot of positive comments. The company (Delta) has been assuring that this merger is not subtractive i.e. losing jobs and closing routes. They contend that it's additive i.e. good for passengers, good for employees and good for business. What is known for sure is that if nothing is done two of the giants in the air will go down. Pun intended.

Grounded!

2008-03-27T18:48:00.002-04:00

Headlines this week about Southwest Airlines having been grounded for "unsafe planes". This was followed by more planes grounded by the FAA at United Airlines and voluntary groundings by American Airlines and Delta Airlines. Does this mean the flying public is any less safe? So far nothing has been found that has been unsafe. What has happened is that regular maintenance inspections required by the FAA have not been followed. The "irregularities" were not in the physical structures of the planes, but in the required inspection and maintenance routines of the airlines. It was put to me this way: like your car you need to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. It doesn't mean that your car isn't running right, but to prevent problems you need to have this done. Unlike your car, it's still safer to fly than drive.

New Passport Card Option

2008-03-27T02:14:00.002-04:00

The U.S. State Department, starting on February 1, 2008, started accepting applications for a passport card. What this card does is provide an alternative for passports to persons traveling by land and sea ONLY to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Why this is good is that it's cheaper (only $45 for adults and $35 for children). There's still no word on whether they are processed any faster than a passport. If you are traveling by air, passports are still required. For more information, visit the U.S. State Department website. Click here.

Don't Ever Drink From Hotel Glasses

2008-03-14T11:04:00.002-04:00

A friend sent me this video to check out. You will never drink from hotel glasses ever again after watching it. The pilot said the only ones he drinks out of are the disposable ones that are sealed in plastic. After watching this video you will know why. (Click the article title to watch the video)

Rude Awakening

2008-03-07T11:21:00.003-05:00

I just looked at an e-mail from a colleague. He stated that he was up and starting his day at 5:00 am. He said that it happened because the person that had the hotel room before him had the alarm set for 4:00 am. He tried to go back to sleep, but could not and started to be productive instead. So the lesson here is to check the alarm clock in the hotel room so you won't be awakened before you want to be awakened.

And since we're on the subject of alarm clocks. You don't have to purchase a travel alarm. Most cell phones have them built in. Wake up calls may be unreliable and alarm clocks difficult to figure out and there's a risk of them not working if the electricity goes out. Besides that you can select the sound you want to wake you up rather than having a nasty blast.

Aegean Airlines Announces New Destinations

2008-02-27T00:15:00.002-05:00

Aegean Airlines is one of our favorite airlines. The most obvious reason is because it takes us "home" to see our Greek family. The other reason is because they have excellent service. They've just announced four new destinations: London, Tirana, Limnos and Kefalonia. (Kefalonia is the setting for Captain Corelli's Mandoline). We're excited because it offers us one more way to get to see family. If you ever get to Greece, there is no choice for an airline as far as we're concerned.

Why Baggage Gets Lost

2008-02-25T21:16:00.002-05:00

In case you're ever wondering why baggage gets lost, here's a humorous explanation. Enjoy!

Scam Going on in Hotels

2008-02-23T01:04:00.001-05:00

A hotel my husband, the pilot, recently stayed at shared this warning. There are others that are calling hotel guests identifying themselves as hotel personnel. They state that they are having trouble with your credit card and need to verify your information. Once these scam artists have your credit card information, they steal you blind. Actual hotel personnel will never call you and ask you for your information over the phone. If they are having any problems, they will call you and ask you to come down to the front desk. A good rule of thumb is to never give any credit card information over the phone no matter how convincing they sound under any circumstances.

Drink Refills

2008-02-23T01:03:00.001-05:00

When eating at restaurants, make sure drink refills are free. At home, we tend to take that for granted. Always ask, particularly in a resort area. We found that out the hard way when we were in Puerto Rico. We let two kids have three drinks each (what can I say-we were on vacation) and much to our surprise it was 1/3 of the bill. The drinks were way overpriced and we made sure they drank every drop before we left. Too bad they weren't 21 because I think it would have been cheaper to buy them some beer.

Stop Those Bloody Noses

2008-02-23T01:01:00.000-05:00

This is a tip we got from one of the flight attendants (please note that they are flight attendants and not stewards/esses) that recently flew with my husband. In certain parts of the country and certain times of the year, the climate is dry. It's likely during the night you will get a bloody nose due to the dry air . This happened to my husband last week and my daughter when we were in Las Vegas. Do this and it will stop that from happening. When you check into your hotel ask for an extra towel. When you get into your room, wet it down and put it over the blower of the heat/air unit and set it to high. This will ensure that the air at the temperature you desire will get circulated and push the much needed moisture into the air.

How About a Chance to Win $500,000?

2008-01-08T22:26:00.000-05:00

Officials at the worlds busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, announced a contest today. Atlanta is noted for long waits during peak travel times. I know it has taken me up to one hour to get through. In all fairness, I have also breezed through in just a few moments as well. I tend to fly at off-peak times because that's when seats are most available for stand-by flight. If you think you have what it takes to come up with a security device that will reduce wait times, you could possibly win $500K. For more information, check it out here: www.flyclear.com/innovation

It Ain't Just the Water in Mexico That You Have to Avoid

2008-01-06T16:10:00.001-05:00

Montezuma's revenge. I got it and it was not fun. I spent the last night of my Mexican honeymoon sitting on the toilet with the trash can in front of me. These tips can also be used for any country where the water and food quality is questionable.

1. Ask the restaurant/hotel etc. if they have a working water filtration system.

In the high tourist areas they likely will have them. The chances decrease in the more remote areas. It's best if you stick to eating and drinking in well established places.

2. Take some anti-diarrheal medicine with you.

I know it sounds simple, but when you're young and excited to go on a honeymoon, simple things get overlooked. I was never so glad to be back in the United States and able to buy something for my symptoms.

3. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables.

I think that's why I got so sick. In third world countries they often use untreated human and animal feces to fertilize their crops. Stick to cooked food no matter how enticing the salad and fruit look.

4. Take some toilet paper.

This applies more to Central American countries. Their toilet paper has antibacterial properties. This is not good if you're a woman that's prone to yeast infections. There's a normal balance of bacteria and yeast in your body that will get out of control if you wipe out the bacteria with the toilet paper.

5. Use bottled water for everything if you think the water is questionable.

When my husband flies to certain places in Mexico, the crew loads up on bottled water to take to their hotel rooms. They use it to wash their faces and brush their teeth. Many crew members have gotten sick when not following this advice.

6. Don't buy or eat any food from street vendors.

The food handling standards are not as high as in the United States. Combined with exposure to blistering hot temperatures for most of the year, it's a great breeding ground for the bacteria that can make you sick.

When you're thirsty, beer (cerveza in Spanish) or tequila is a great alternative! Remember moderation or you'll be just as bad off as with Montezuma's revenge.

New Year's Eve

2007-12-31T13:13:00.000-05:00

We're off to Orlando, FL for New Year's Eve. We found a Greek restaurant in the Delta Sky magazine that looks interesting and has a package available. I'll let you know whether you should try it out when I get back. Let me know what your plans are and how they turned out. Happy New Year everyone!

The First Travel Tip-Snow Globes

2007-12-29T20:04:00.002-05:00

Snow Globes

Don't buy a big one to carry on-TSA will confiscate it because it's over the 3 oz. liquid limit. Buy one that will fit in the 1 quart zip top bag along with your other toiletries.

Who would have thought?

Greetings!

2007-12-29T18:21:00.000-05:00

This is my kick off post. This is my first blog and I'm looking forward to posting lots of great information for you. If you have any travel tips you'd like to share, please e-mail them to me. In the subject line, put "I have a travel tip". Send it to t-kristalakis@cox.net.