SoSauce (travel geek blog) an Indian cooking lesson, including Naan.  Yummmmmmm!

LA Times Travel compares and contrasts Halloween activities at Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios.

PlanetEye Traveler – Philippine Culture (formerly Filipina Soul) shares a delicious and easy  lumpia recipe.  I’m going to give it a try.

Intelligent Travel asks us if we’d take the Titanic cruise.

Consumer Traveler debates the issue of whether airport lounges are worth the price of admission.  For frequent travelers, I say yes.

A second post from Consumer Traveler outlining a new boarding process being tried out at Virgin America.  Travelers with NO carry on bags go first.  I think I like it!

PlanetEyeTraveler – Boston lists 5 great north end Italian restaurants.  A trip to little Italy is a must for any Boston visit.

My Bella Vita lists five essential Italian experiences.  How many have you done?

Itallyville provides a recipe and instruction for make homemade tomato sauce.  It’s a lot of work, but can’t you just taste that delicious freshness?!

Sharing Experiences lists five cities sure to part the shopper from some serious cash.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

PlanetEye Traveler – Las Vegas (formerly The Las Vegas Adventurer) lists the best places to hang out for Monday Night Football.

Italylogue lists options on how to get to Croatia from Italy, along with costs, pros and cons.  Having done this myself a few months back, I can tell you that it’s a close distance away, but takes a long time.

Up Up and a Gay portrays some classic traveler profiles.  Any Flight Attendant or frequent traveler will recognize these types.

Gadling gives us a look the shower on the Emirates Airbus A380.  First class only!

I hope you enjoy these travel posts as much as I did.  And if you stop by, please let them know that you read about them here at Flyaway Cafe.

Photo credit:

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Earlier today I was interviewed by Addison Schonland from IAG (Innovation Analysis Group), an airline industry consulting company.

Addison and I talked about what it was like to travel these days, managing airport security and the TSA, dealing with potential confrontational situations on the airplane, and ways to deal with potentially difficult situations.

My simple answer is that when you can’t change something, you have to change the way you think about it.  And for air travel, there’s lots that you can’t change – at least at the very moment it’s happening to you.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes and go listen to the interview, Air Travel Etiquette.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Now, word is out about a holiday fee.  That’s right, Delta, American, United and US Airways have added on a $10 surcharge to fares on the weekends after Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  The fares for that time already priced higher to start with (don’t believe me, try searching), and now we have a fee on top of the fare simply for traveling.  The fee applies to most ticked purchased for travel on November 29th, January 2nd and January 3rd, the traditionally busiest travel days of the year.

While airlines may be able to make an argument that the other fees are going to offset charges that they have to absorb (OK, the argument might be a stretch, but at least it’s there), there is no legitimate arguments other than greed that supports this holiday fee.  Simply put, the airlines know that people will be traveling, and they’re going to make a grab for as much additional money as they can get. 

I’m not a fan of a la carte airline pricing to start with, so this fee truly galls me.  Anyone else outraged, or is it just me?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  Is there anything I can do (that might be more of a secret) to get a better seat/1st class?  I fly 1st as often as possible, but sometimes it’s just not doable.  I know it’s a silly question but I’ve always wondered.

A. It’s not a silly question at all, and is one that gets asked all the time!  And the answer has changed a lot since I first wrote about scoring an upgrade over three years ago.  Upgrades are getting harder to come by, but they aren’t impossible.  Here are a few of my recommendations:

• Frequent Flyer status – This is the number one best way to score a flight upgrade.  But you can’t just join ever program and expect it to work for you.  Take a look at who you usually fly on, taking into account your home airport and the destinations that you most often go to.  Then look at the airlines that fly those routes.  Once you know which airlines you have to deal with, take a look to see if they share a frequent flyer program.  Take a few minutes a map it all out, and hopefully you can find one (or two at the most) who cover most of your usual flying.  Then be sure to use that same number for all your flying.
• Change from the competition – If you have an elite status on another carrier, many airlines are eager to woo you away.  There are lots of programs in place that will grant you elite status on a new carrier if you have that status on a competitor.  Be prepared to substantiate your position.  This wooing frequently involved upgrades.
• Buy your tickets from the airline – Most airlines will meet or beat any price out there, so I’m not sure why everyone is rushing to all the third party sites any more.  Buying directly from the airline will mean that you’ll be in compliance with all the rules regarding making a connection, and if you run into any problem you’ll be protected.  And when it comes to an upgrade, agents will look first at people who dealt directly with the airline.
• Be nice – Given a choice, most people will opt to upgrade someone who is nice to them rather than someone who is not.  I know regular flyers who bring candy or some other small item to the agents.  They swear it helps.  You probably won’t find a agent that will admit to that, since it violates policies of some sort or another, but it can’t hurt.
• Let people know if there’s a special occasion.  But be honest and credible.  Agents can spot a scammer a mile away.
• Dress well – No one wants to put a slob in first class.  You don’t have to be in a suit and tie, just be neat and well-groomed.
• Ask politely – There’s nothing wrong with politely asking if an upgrade is available.  It helps to have frequent flyer status, but don’t let that stop you. A few things to keep in mind, however, are that not all fares are eligible for an upgrade and not all upgrades are free. Know what you would be prepared to pay for an upgrade so you can make an instant decision.

The above list are things that happen before you ever get to the plane and see a Flight Attendant.  If you haven’t been successful, your odds of scoring an upgrade are lower once onboard, but still not impossible.

• Ask politely – This is really just a follow up in case there’s an extra seat in first class or someone no-shows at the last minute.  Just let the Flight Attendant know that if there’s a vacant seat that you would be interested in an upgrade.  Most of the times this won’t happen, and again it helps to have elite frequent flyer status, but we’ll try to accommodate you if we can.
• Recognize airline policy – Some airlines have policies that prohibit Flight Attendants from upgrading a passenger, and there may be punitive measures taken for ignoring the policy.  If you run into that, don’t push the issue.
• Be helpful and polite – If you see that the Flight Attendant is trying to get a family together or working to help people sit by one another, offer to help out if you can.  Sometimes, if they ask you to move, they are asking you to move to first class.  We’re most likely to move someone who is nice to us.
• Be a nice guy or gal – What doesn’t work is to threaten or try to intimidate.  Such phrases as “do you know who I am” or “I know the CEO” or “do you know how many miles I fly on your airline” don’t impress us.  If we don’t know who you are, you aren’t that important.  We know the CEO as well.  And we fly more miles that you do.  If you’ve had a bad day, or it’s a special occasion, feel free to mention it, but don’t take it out on us.  We want your flight to be pleasant, and if you’re trying to make it so on your side of things, chances are we’ll do the same.

If it didn’t work out for you this time, prepare for the next time with a few actions:

• Write a complaint letter – This is where people sometimes get turned around, and think that writing a flaming complaint letter will get them tons of free tickets or an upgrade.  That scam has been tried by a whole lot of people, and the “something for nothing” letters can be spotted.  If something has gone wrong, and it’s the fault of the airline, by all means set forth the details in a polite, but firm, way.  The airline needs to step up and address what went wrong, and there is nothing wrong with you holding them accountable.  Be honest, realistic, and don’t make something up.  It’s easier, and more justifiable, to reward and recognize good behavior than bad.
• Write a praise letter – Everyone loves a happy passenger!  So why not be that person.  Write a letter talking about the things that went right with your experience.  Mention people by name and talk about how they’ve made a favorable impression.  If it’s your first flight, mention that, and that you’ve joined the frequent flyer program and are anxious to experience some of the perks (upgrades of the program).  If you’re not quite at elite status, or are between levels, mention that, and that you’re positive experience is what keeps you coming back to fly that airline.  If you’ve just switched over, or were going to put stuck with it, mention that as well.  It has to be credible, don’t make things up, but who wouldn’t want to reward a flyer who’s thrilled with the airline.

It’s not always going to work, and there are going to be times when that upgrade just doesn’t come through.  A little thinking ahead, though, may make a world of difference.

If you’re a frequent flyer and have had any of these tips work for you, I’d love to hear about it.

If you’re a Flight Attendant, please chime in with whether you think these will work on YOUR airline, and add anything that I’ve missed!

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

In lay terms, “black box” refers to the the flight data recorder (a device used to record what’s physically happening with an aircraft) and the cockpit voice recorder (that records the audio that occurs in the flight deck).  Together, these recorders are analyzed for a variety of safety issues, human factors, performance standards, and more, and then the experts can piece together what happened to Flight 447.

That’s why recovering the black box is such a high priority.  It’s the only thing right now that holds the answers to all the questions that we have.  There’s lot of painstaking recovery to occur.  When it’s found, teams of experts will then have months of painstaking work trying to analyze their part of the information.  Once that’s done, the piecing together will begin.

I know that it’s tempting to demand immediate answers.  I’d like those answers right away, too.  But it’s only be letting everyone do their job, and letting all the parts of the process play out, that there’s any hope of finding out how this plane disappeared from the sky.

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The question today, though, is one that I’ve gotten asked a lot over these past few weeks. 

Q.  Are any airlines hiring Flight Attendants right now?

A.  Not that I know of.  Most of the major carriers, and many of the regional and commuter airlines has furloughed Flight Attendants.  Furlough means layoff. 

Everyone is trying to ride out what looks like a very bumpy year, and that means cutting back on routes.  When you cut back on routes, you have to cut back on people.  So it’s not a good time to be a new hire in the airline industry – whether as a Flight Attendant or at any job function.

You can check specifically with the airline that interests you by visiting their website.  Most airlines have an employment or jobs links.

If your goal is to get hired as a Flight Attendant, there are still things that you can do until the industry turns around.  Get a degree, get some job experience, get involved in compelling work.  It will all give you an edge with the job market loosens up again.

Do you have a question about being a Flight Attendant?  The job, the life, the stories?  Email your question to me.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

For now, I’ll just let the video speak for itself —

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Hopefully, you’ve managed to get through airport security and are patiently awaiting the call for your flight’s departure.

With all that you’ve been through so far, whether it’s general holiday travel stress or exacerbated weather-related travel stress, you’re still going to have to get all your stuff on that airplane.  And that’s easier said than done with all the general crankiness going on out there.

Following a few basic guidelines will help the airplane boarding process go smoother for you and for the people around you. 

It may not seem like it, but there is a process for boarding a flight.  While airlines may vary the process a bit, it won’t be by much.  If everyone follows the process, the right thing happens – that is, everyone gets to their seat, has room to stow their bags, and there’s a minimum of delay.  BUT, when people don’t follow the process, it can become a mess.  It’s just not a good time of year to have this type of mess.

With most airlines, there is an order to how passengers are called for the boarding process.  It will generally be in the following three groups:

1. Pre-Boards. Families traveling with infants and small children, passengers sitting in First Class, and passengers needing a little extra time for boarding. This last category generally means elderly passengers, those who have difficulty with walking, special needs, things like that. It does not mean people cranky people who have been stuck at an airport for days.  Pre-boarding is design to allow people who need time to get settled, without holding up a long line of people adding to stress on both sides.
2. Next comes elite pre-boards.  Yes, it sounds snobbish, but this is the passengers at the premium level of the frequent flyer program.  While they may not be sitting in First Class this trip, their loyalty buys them an early boarding and a little extra time to get settled.
3. Then it’s everyone else in groups.  The agent will start at the back, working forward in groups of rows.

This is where you’ll have the first opportunity to slip up and delay the boarding process – boarding out of turn.

Please board when your group is called.  If not, you will likely be asked to step aside and come back when it is your turn.  Just sit and the gate and watch it happen, and you’ll start shaking your head wondering why people can’t follow directions.  Each time it happens, it adds a few precious seconds to the boarding time.  And remember, the goals is to get everyone on and get going as quickly as possible.

There are enough seats for everybody, and even if there isn’t, it’s not a matter of who gets to the seat first.  And no, there’s probably not enough room for all the bags.  But boarding by turn helps the Flight Attendants onboard make sure that passengers who are seated at the back take their bags to the back.

Once you’re in line for your correct boarding category, have your boarding pass out so you can hand it to the agent.  They’ll need to check it off, scan it, or enter it into the computer, so have it out BEFORE you get to them.  You no longer have to present ID to board, so it’s okay to have that put away.

You still have to stow your bags, so keep reading!

Now some recommendations for stowing your bags:

• Once you finally get on the plane, walk down the aisle until you reach your row.   Carry your bags with caution, as all too often I’ve seen passengers get whacked by a backpack when someone turns around.  Those straps, packages, and rollers can really hurt if you bang into someone.
• Some roller bags are too large to roll down the aisle, so be prepared to carry it. 
• Do NOT stow your bags in the first overhead that you come to.  This is one of the reasons that things go so sideways with carry on bags, and it’s very irritating to hear so-called travel experts tell people to do this.  Doing this makes you part of the problem.  Stow your bags above your seat.  Flight Attendants in the cabin are going to be trying to keep passengers from stowing bags up front, making sure that there’s room for everyone.
• When you get to your row, quickly stow your bag overhead and step out of the main aisle to get settled.  If it’s going to take you a couple of minutes, let the people behind you pass so you don’t hold up the entire line.
• Be prepared to put a bag or package beneath the seat in front of you.  This is your personal stowage area and your are probably going to have to use it.  If you aren’t prepared to use the space in front of you, re-think whether you should be carrying it on.  And yes, I know that there isn’t much leg room if there’s a bag under there.
• If the area above your seat is full, don’t yell at the Flight Attendant about it.  The overheads are to be shared with everyone, and are not for your sole personal stowage.  Another reason why there’s not enough room is that people carry too much on.  It’s not our fault that the overheads fill up.
• Scoot the stuff that you place in the overhead close together.  Lots of gaps in the spacing just means wasted space.  Keep everything neatly packed up there, and you’ll get the most use of the space.
• If you’re putting a roller bag in the overhead, try putting it in perpendicularly to the aisle.  This won’t work in all overhead, but give it a try.  If it doesn’t work the first time, try turning the bag around so that wheels face out.  It won’t work on every plane, but when it does it help saves a lot of space.  Don’t put your bag in parallel unless it won’t fit any other way. 
• The aisles are going to be crowded, meaning that you are going to have to be fairly self-sufficient in stowing your items.  If your bag is too heavy to lift overhead, place it beneath the seat.  You may be able to get some help from the Flight Attendants or from other passengers, if they can get to you, but if you don’t want to throw your back out lifting your bag, why would you ask someone else to.

After your bags are stowed, it’s a matter of buckling up, turning off your electronic gear, and getting ready for take off.

I know that not everyone is going to follow these suggestion, although the boarding process would work a lot better if they would, so just remember that good manners, a polite attitude, and a little common sense will get you through. 

Safe travels everyone – and happy holidays!

Photo credit:  SXC; row of seat, interior of plane

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

There has been snow in places that normally never see snow, like Las Vegas and Southern California.  There has been torrential rain in San Diego, California.  There has been unseasonably cold weather (and I mean VERY cold) in Phoenix, Arizona and Palm Springs, California.  And there was snow in Seattle, my home town.

Today was actually a sunny day at 40,000 feet, making the snow on the mountain sparkle in the sunlight.

Too bad it wasn’t quite so pretty on the ground.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The most important consideration was price – but within a range that also addressed other issues.

In other words, we want a bargain, but we’re not willing to give up everything for the sake of the bargain.

That sounds about right to me!

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe