The confusion between a direct flight and a non-stop flight comes up all the time, so it’s worth a mention again.  It’s a key travel decision that you need to keep straight.
They are not the same thing, and if you don’t pay attention to the difference, you may find yourself on a direct flight from Miami to Seattle with all sorts of stops in between.
Here’s a simple explanation of the difference.
Non-Stop Flight:  You will travel from your Departure City to your Arrival City without any scheduled stops in between.  One take off, one landing, one airplane.  It’s the fastest …read more

With all the tools available for booking travel online, more and more people choose to do it themselves rather than use the services of a travel agent.
I think the ability to research, sleuth out the best and perfect deal, and make reservations yourself is a wonderful thing.  BUT – it also means that you have to take responsibility for those reservations, including the mistakes that you make.
One mistake that I’m seeing on a regular basis, is travelers not allowing sufficient time to make a connection.  This can have unintended consequence that can wind up costing you money.
Here are a few …read more

The best part about getting on the plane, is knowing that you’ll be getting off at your destination, and that you  have loads of great times ahead of you.
For many travelers, however, the landing and deplaning process can be just as confusing and challenging as the boarding process.
Here’s the scoop on how the landing process works and some tips that will make it easy for you to get off the plane.  Frequently flyers – pay attention, because you should take some of the suggestions to heart.

Once the aircraft is on the ground and taxiing into the gate, most airlines …read more

Mother Nature has wreaked havoc with airport conditions this week, leaving passengers stranded or with seriously compromised holiday travel plans.
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 …read more

After all the preparation that you’ve gone through, from packing efficiently at home, making sure that you have the important things in your carry on, getting to the airport, and checking your bags, you still have the daunting task of getting through the security screening process.
After you check your bags, take a deep breath, queue up, and get ready to wait.  The lines are likely to be long this time of year, but there are things you can do to put that time to good use.  Sure you can chat on your phone or with your traveling companions, but …read more

Although I check my bags on occasion, I’m very vigilant in not packing certain types of things.  Some things go in your checked luggage, some go in your carry ons, and depending on space, some things can go either way.
It doesn’t seem like I should have to spell this out, but most every day that I fly someone mentions packing one of these items in their checked bagged.  Usually, it doesn’t present a problem, but DON’T PACK THESE ITEMS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!

Itinerary.  Keep a copy of your itinerary in your checked bag, but make sure that you have …read more

Checking your bags does not have to be a traumatic experience!
While most of the time I carry on my bags, when I’m traveling for an extended stay, I usually check my bags.  I don’t want to lug them through the airport, carrying them up and down stairs, and I don’t want to have to worry about the 3-1-1 liquid and gel rule.
If you are traveling with small children or lots of bags or other stuff, checking your bags is the way to go.
The resistance to checking bags seem to center on two issues. 
People don’t want to wait …read more

As we rapidly approach the busiest travel time of the year, I’ll be having some extra Back to Basics posts.  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them every Wednesday, and that these Back to Basics Extra posts leading up to the holiday travel season that will make your travels a little easier.
Today, I tackle the the planning and packing that will help you comply with the liquid and gel restriction, and make getting through airport security a breeze.
Let’s be honest, the big headache at the airport is getting through security.  It’s time consuming, the rules seem to be continually changing, …read more

With all the rushing around during the holiday season, one place you won’t want to be rushing to is the airport.
While you can get away with being fashionably late to your office or party or neighborhood gift exchange, airport counters and security lines are not that forgiving. This will be a busy travel season, despite the recession, and if you’re one of the ones who’ll be flying it’s time now to start planning on how you’ll be getting to the airport.
As you’re making plans, remember to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, and make sure you …read more

With the Thanksgiving Travel Season on the verge on launching, I thought it would be a good time to review some basic travel information.
One complaint that I hear is the people are forever having to show identification.  When you check your bags, when you check in for your flight, when you’re queuing up in the security line, and then again after you pass through security. 
Here’s what the TSA has to say about why all those ID checks are necessary: