Travel Tips

On Flight Check-In/Baggage:
The internet is a wonderful tool when it comes to travel. It is always a good idea to use the online links to confirm your reservations at least 24 hours before your flight leaves.

However... Just make sure the computer has a printer (with paper) attached. That way you're not scrambling to cut to the front of the line to get your boarding passes printed at the last minute, thus angering other passengers.

On Travel To/From The Airport:
It's always nice to have a friend(s) who are willing to pick you up and take you to the airport, that way you can save valuable time and money on public transportation/taxis/airport shuttles. But I especially recommend using long-term parking if you have a vehicle. If you think about it, it's worth the $40-50 bucks in parking for a few days versus the same in cab fare.

However... Be sure said friend(s) are reliable so you're not having to make last-minute plans to take public transportation to get to the airport. At three in the morning. Very. Bad. Idea.


On Dining Before You Leave:
If you're on vacation or just passing through, it's a good idea to pick up a guide to find interesting places to dine. They usually offer coupons and discounts to make your dining experience a good one.

However... Try not to dine at any restaurant OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT two hours before your flight leaves. Fast-food, maybe. But it's a bad idea to eat at a sit-down place that close to flight time. (You might be saying to yourself, "Well, duh!," but some people, like myself, actually thought there was enough time.) You'll not only avoid (barely) making your flight by the skin of your teeth, but you'll avoid having to run across the airport on a full stomach. And you won't have to drive back to an out-of-the-way airport the next day to retrieve your bag.


On Flying With Other People's Children:
I cannot believe parents today. It's one thing when you see a parent struggling with an upset child. You forgive their kid's kicking and screaming-with-reckless abandon. Sure, they're not used to flying. Or they wanted chocolate and not pretzels. Or they wanted to watch Spongebob with Billy (who's sitting in the aisle on the other side.)

However... I have very. Little. Patience. For parents who are adept at tuning out their own children, thus subjecting myself and the other annoyed passengers on the plane to shouting every five minutes, getting up to the bathroom every ten, and having a screaming match to quiet their own kids down. And Mom is just quietly sitting and reading her magazine, while Dad is fussing with the twins. I do recommend you purchase an MP3, though. With the volume ALL THE WAY UP.

And I think I should look into those noise-canceling headphones. I think they go for about $50 in the in-flight store.

But so does a few bottles of Jack. That should about cancel any noise.