airplane

My Letter to Washington Against Full-Body Scans

by kelly on 11/12/2010

I make it a rule in life to not get super political. Frankly, I'd disappoint any right or left winger in my supreme apathy towards American politics. It's impossible to get me riled up. But, when I was faced with a full-body scanner on my way home from Hawaii last September, I became incensed, appalled and left without much of an idea of what to do to make my voice heard.

Tonight, I sent the following letter to my representatives in Congress, as well as the President. It may make very little impact, but it's a necessary step in the fight against these machines. If I were flying next week, I'd definitely be taking part in National Opt Out Day on November 24th. But, every trip will be opt out day for me. I won't ever go through one of those machines again and I'll begrudgingly allow myself to be badly treated by the TSA in order to do so. At the very least, instead of ogling me from a back room, exposing me to god knows what radiation, and stripping away my civil liberties, they'll have to keep their ugliness in public, for all to see.

Why I Will Never Subject Myself to a Full Body Scan, Again

by kelly on 10/19/2010

This post was sitting in draft until I read Chris Elliott's battle cry against full body scanners this morning. Read more about his opinions here and the more aggressive pat down technique.

"Put your hands over your head and stand really, really still. Good job! Isn't this fun?" That's the game that a TSA agent had to play with a six year old girl standing in front of me, as she went through one of those new full body scanners in Hawaii last month. No, they weren't playing hokey pokey, but for the sake of national security and our "freedom" we needed to be sure that this little girl wasn't carrying any bombs in her underwear.

I had been dreading the institution of these full body scanners ever since I had heard of them. The idea of someone seeing my junk as I passed through security wasn't what I signed up for when I decided to hop on an airplane. Frankly, I'm still getting over the fact that I have to take my shoes off and walk barefoot through airport security all in the name of "safety."

Quick Tip: Why Flights Get Bumpy

by austin on 03/02/2010

Image: yuan2003.

If you're anything like me, when you're on a plane and it starts rocking, you wish you were safely on the ground. Despite the fact that I know, in my heart of hearts, that a little bit of turbulence won't crash my plane, it doesn't stop me from thinking, "Is this it? Am I going to die?" But after reading Cliff Mass' recent post on turbulence and its causes, I have the best weapon to combat my fear, knowledge.

airplane

Five Reasons To Not Take The Cheapest Flight

by austin on 02/22/2010

Image: Jaako.

With all sorts of bad airline-related stories popping up lately (fees for blankets, Kevin Smith too fat to fly, and the ever present airline strike...this week it's British Airways.) I really got to thinking about the choices we make when we buy airline tickets. Many people simply buy the cheapest ticket available, without regard for other factors. Sure, a cheap ticket can get you from point A to point B, but are you really getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to your entire trip? Keep reading for a few reasons why the cheapest ticket may not be the best ticket for your next trip.

airplane

How To Recover From A Red Eye Flight

by austin on 04/27/2009

Image: Alex Dodd.

Red eye flights can be both the travelers best friend and worst enemy. These overnight flights are often inexpensive, but unless you're prepared to cope, they can completely mess with your internal clock. To help you deal with your next red eye flight, we've got five ways to help you quickly recover and get back to normal.

airplane

Your Flying Essentials

by austin on 03/27/2009

Image: duesentrieb.

Last week, fresh from a trip to SXSW, I featured all those little essentials I need for dealing with the rigors of flying. I also wanted to find out what you, our dear and loyal readers, thought was essential when flying. Since we've got the best readers in the world, you didn't disappoint. Check out the rest of the article to find out what other readers can't live without when they're trapped in a flying tin can.

Flying Essentials According to Austin

by austin on 03/20/2009

Image: aghman.

Whenever we head to the airport, we all have those few little things that we can't forget to throw in our bag. I'm sharing mine with you below, but would love to hear yours as well. Send your five to six "must haves" for your next flight to me at austin (at) travellious(dot)com. I'll feature it here in an upcoming post.

Twitter Tips: Another European Budget Airline

by kelly on 03/12/2009

Do you twitter? Twitter is not only a great resource to connect and meet new friends, but offers a world of advice for the traveler. Here's our latest find.

Image: scot w 9.

I'd heard of Ryanair and easyJet, but what about Fly Globe Span? If you're flying between Europe and Canada or want to connect between Scotland and less frequented Europe airports, this is a pretty cool airline. (Check out where they fly here.)

Thanks @romephotoblog for this tip!

Twitter Tips: Where to Find Power in the Airport

by kelly on 02/26/2009

Do you twitter? Twitter is not only a great resource to connect and meet new friends, but offers a world of advice for the traveler. Here's our latest find.

Image: Jake Mates.

Tired of searching out an electrical port for your cell phone or laptop at the airport? Plan ahead with this site, AirPower Wiki, which lists the location and quality of electrical outlets world wide. An added bonus...many users give the cost and location of wifi connections.

Thanks to scottkimber for this tip!

Breaking The Rules: Avoid Your Gate

by austin on 02/26/2009

Image: Marc oh!.

Waiting for your flight can be one of the most stressful parts of traveling. People are milling around and stressing, eventually spreading their worry, making you feel even more anxious. So why not wait somewhere else and break free from all those bad vibes?

airplane