A new website, Luggage Limits, is using algebraic equations to help simplify the morass of information about the luggage policies of the airlines.  This FREE site offers you the ability to search for the luggage policy that applies to your flight, hopefully saving you from overweight or excess bag charges.
You can search by airline, there are 60+ represented so far, then enter your flight information, and up will come information about the size and weight allowances for checked and carry-on bags, what is free and what is for a fee, excess bags and overweight charges, any online discounts available, …read more

Tired of packing and re-packing to make sure that you are traveling with everything that you need?  Are you exhausted from lugging around a heavy bag?  Do you want to pack light – and I mean really, really light?  Zero Baggage is hoping you answer those questions in the affirmative and will take advantage of it’s soon-to-be-launched concept of renting your vacation clothes.
Zero Baggage, expected to launch in Spring 2010, will be an online service where you can rent, or as they call it “borrow,” clothes for a short period of time on your vacation.  After wearing, items can …read more

With meals on flights either non-existent, expensive, or horrible tasting, and airport food not too much better, one way a traveler can make their vacation a little more pleasant is to make some food to take along.  You’ll still have to avoid liquids and gels (get those once you pass through security), but packing a few healthy and yummy snacks, can stave off hunger and the crankiness it can cause.
Since I’m not a fan of prepared energy bars (or prepared anything for that matter), I look for the closest thing to real food that I can get, and that …read more

Summer time and the traveling is getting hectic!  People are still traveling, and that means full planes, busy airports, and long at airport security.  Summer is also a time when there are lots of novice travelers trying to figure out how the whole systems works.
Here’s a video that does a pretty good job of explaining how the systems works, as well as giving some suggestions for how to make the process as painless as possible.
It’s tough to make a definitive video on the topic, because regulations and requirements are constantly changing, but it’s a good starting point to help you …read more

Traveler’s continue to find dissatisfaction with the airline industry, according to J.D. Power & Associates, making this the third consecutive year.  No surprise that new fees (the result of ala carte ticket pricing), baggage problems, and personnel reductions are not making anyone happy.  Is it all the economy?  You’ll have to decide.
Here’s how the airlines faired.
Alaska and Continental scored one and two among traditional carriers, and Jet Blue and Southwest and WestJet a close second among the low cost carriers.  Alaska scored highest for its inflight crew, Continental for its inflight service, JetBlue for its aircraft, and Southwest for …read more

The safety demonstration is one part of the pre-flight routine where people seem to turn out.  Whether it’s talking to their neighbor, reading the paper, or burying their nose in a book, many people ignore this important information.
Air New Zealand is hoping to change your mind with a safety demonstration video called Bare Essentials – starring employees with body paint.
What do you think?  Would this make you pay attention?

As if air travel and checking your bag isn’t hard enough, Air Jamaica seems to have thrown a new wrinkle into the mix earlier this week.
The Jamaican airline is now charging passengers $25 for a second checked bag on flights operating from New York to Grenada and Barbados.  OK, that’s pretty routine actually.
Here’s where it’s not so routine:  Your bags won’t be traveling with you.
That’s right, your first bag travels with you, but your second, that you’ve PAID FOR, will be sent on another fight.  Which “other” flight?  Sometimes within the next 7 days – and oh yeah, you’ll …read more

Siggggghhhh! So wait — now you can take liquids onboard a plane? You know, I have to wonder, when are they going to start giving train and cruise-liner passengers the same twaddle regarding packing as they so strenuously give to plane passengers?
Anyway, as you start thinking about a winter break, it may be helpful to think about both the new rules and your in-flight needs.
There is New York Magazine’s list, suggesting a glamour-filled product pouch — which includes such must-have items as L’Occitane Pure Shea Butter and Darphin Eye Serum.
Aaaand, then there’s the official Do’s and Don’t’s list from …read more