Air Travel

Eric McCracken busking in Paris (based on a Lion Den tip)

Turn waiting time into pure profit. While waiting for your flight to depart, you can make some extra spending money by busking. Busking is singing, playing an instrument, or otherwise entertaining the crowd and then accepting tips for doing so. For example, I like to juggle carry-on bags for the crowd's amazement. If I had a decent voice, I'd sing. Be careful, though: busking isn't legal in some airports.

The photo here was taken on our March 2000 Study Tour of France. Eric McCracken is shown using the tip he learned right here. We were waiting outside the Hotel Cujas in Paris for our coach to pick us up and Eric had just purchased a guitar at a Paris shop --as well as the cap at his feet containing a few coins from yours truly.
[This photo Š2000 KPatton appeared in the April 20, 2001 editions of the St. Charles Journal Newspapers]

Looking for more serious ideas about
constructively using layover time?
Stuck at the Airport: A Traveler's Survival Guide
by Harriet Baskas

Keep track of your flight On all international flights, you MUST confirm with the airline a day or two in advance of your flight EVEN IF YOU HAVE YOUR TICKET IN HAND. Just call the airline reservation number and the operator will help you --but start early because those phone wait times can be long. If traveling with a group, your tour leader will probably do this for you BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT. Another thing: you MIGHT find out that your flight time or flight number has changed or (hold on to your hat) your flight has been cancelled. Hakuna shida [no problem] you're calling ahead so you can reroute and still have a great trip! To track any flight click here: Flight Tracker

Keeping the seat next to you empty. If your flight isn't full, there may be some stand-by passengers who will enter looking for an empty seat. If you'd like to keep the seat next to you unoccupied so you can have a little more room, try this: carry some fake vomit in your pocket and place it in the seat next to you. You may even be able to keep the seat unoccupied even if it's been assigned to someone! If you forget the fake vomit, you may have to improvise and use the real thing. (on a recent flight, someone had an "accident" in on of the plane's rest rooms and my group accused me of using fake poop to "reserve" a private bathroom --I didn't do it, but it's a possibility . . .)

Strap it. I always put a luggage strap around my locked suitcase or duffel before I check it with an airline. This helps thwart thieves, helps keep things together if the suitcase should break or accidentally open, and makes it easier to identify on the luggage carousel (also see blue ribbon panel). Check out the busking photo above. Can you see the red/white/blue luggage strap around my black suitcase to the right of the guitar-player? DO NOT use a locking luggage strap, or the Feds will break it when they do their security check during luggage screening.

Want First Class? Just ask! When you check in, tell them your name as if they should recognize you as a celebrity and smile cordially as you ask them for an upgrade to first class. It rarely works but, hey, it's worth the 100-to-1 shot --and what do you have to lose? Rudy Maxa, the "Savvy Traveler" on public radio, "happens" to have brought along some yummy, fresh pastries from the local swanky pastry shop to offer the check-in clerk. Sometimes it gets him an upgrade.

Stay hydrated. The main reason folks feel so worn out after a long plane trip is dehydration. To avoid this, drink as much water as you can. Avoid too much alcohol and soft drinks --both can actually remove water from your body! If you can't stay well hydrated on the plane, stop at an airport snack shop when you arrive and get a bottle of non-carbonated water (don't drink the local tap water, silly).

Know the rules. Each airline and train operator has different rules regarding carry-ons, children, etc. It really pays to know EXACTLY what you are getting into --it could mean having to check that carry-on that you simply must hold on to. Check out this website Rules of the Air for the latest rules (and a "plain English" translation) including bumping/upgrade policies --or check directly with the carrier.

Know the law. This tip is related to the previous tip. Know YOUR rights and what the law says about airline's rules and how they implement them. Throwing around a few correct facts about the law could persuade an airline rep to back down from bumping you from a flight. Check out this web site for more info: www.nolo.com/ChunkCTIM/ctim.index.html#1

Plan ahead. You can almost always find great deals on fares if you plan well in advance. Check Travelocity in the Lion Den for some great deals! If you can't plan in advance, then try asking your favorite airline for the "specials" of the week --they always have some fares they've discounted that week. Some even offer discounted hotels and car rentals to go with the discounted air fares. TWA, for example, sends me a list of weekend specials via email each week. Here are other sources for low-cost last-minute travel: Discount Ticket Brokers or Travel Secrets or if you are really flexible AirHitch

What will you do when you get there? Always have a plan for how you will get from the airport, terminal, dock, to your first destination. If you can, arrange for a transportation ahead of time (but be careful not to book things too tightly or permanently, in case of a delay in arriving). For example, always book a rental car in advance so you won't be disappointed when you get there and all the cars are gone!