Four High-Tech Luggage Tags and Apps That Will Save Your Trip
Theres a store in Alabama thats as big as a city block. Its called the Unclaimed Baggage Center, and it sells the forsaken contents of lost luggage. Most bags lost by the airlines are eventually returned to their owners. But many arent. Its not just a matter of insufficient id
Seven Smart Ways to Bypass Baggage Fees
Last year U.S. fliers spent more than $6.4 billion on baggage fees from the airlines. This suggests that legions of passengers are continuing to shell out hundreds of dollars for optional charges that can be avoided with modest effort.Naturally, packing light is one of the bes
Children Flying Solo
A father watched as his 11-year-old son Seth embarked on a flight alone to visit family. Seeing Seth walk down the runway, he went home, assuming his son would arrive safely. Six hours later, he discovered Seth had walked off the plane before departure. He left the airport, st
Sleeping on Planes
Not enough legroom. People climbing over you. Noise from movies and video games and screaming children. Sunlight pouring in your neighbors window at 35,000 feet. With all the distractions and hassles of air travel, what doesnt make it tough to sleep on planes?If you struggle t
Get the Best Airplane Seat
Weve all been there -- the small child kicking the back of your seat, the lack of legroom, the war over the armrest. While theres no fail-safe way to guarantee that aisle seat in the exit row near the front of the plane with no one sitting next to you, we have some tactics tha
Avoiding the Airplane Cold
Many travelers would swear that they get sick after every trip or vacation. They wonder if it was the food, the water, the pina coladas -- or, like me, the airplane ride. While I dont think you can count out the pina coladas (or that burrito you bought on the street), it turns
Airplane Horror Stories: Part II
After our first edition of Airplane Horror Stories, we felt satisfied that the most frightening accounts of airline travel had been fairly and completely dealt with. But your continued and varied responses prove otherwise. Our readers continued to send in stories replete with
Airplane Horror Stories
Sure, you can laugh about it now -- but at the time, it was far from funny. Unfortunately, its also inevitable. The more you travel, the more likely it is that youve had an ill-fated journey (or five). In this day and age, the transport du jour is the airplane, and stories abo
Five Things You Shouldnt Wear on a Plane
Knowing what to wear -- and, more importantly, what not to wear -- on a plane is crucial. Just ask Lady Gaga. In 2010, the pop star donned Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes and a wild outfit of black and yellow tape on a transatlantic flight. During the voyage, Gaga began to e
10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight
Hearing about a recent IndependentTraveler.com staff discussion concerning the worlds longest flights made me remember my first true long-haul flight to Sydney, Australia, for the 2000 Summer Olympics. About six hours into the 15-hour flight, I was feeling strong and confident
10 Things Not to Do at Airport Security
Airport security is a necessary nuisance travelers must accept if they wish to be able to fly around the world safely. The best any flier can hope for is to get through security as quickly and painlessly as possible. That means being prepared and avoiding mistakes that will sl
Confiscation Confidential: Weirdest Items Taken by the TSA
The list of items that the Transportation Security Administration bans at security checkpoints -- and those it allows -- can be puzzling to travelers.The TSAs well-written (and often humorous) blog, overseen by Blogger Bob, agency Social Media Analyst Curtis Robert Burns, regu
Airport Internet Tips
Waiting out yet another flight delay? The Department of Transportation reports that only about 75 percent of U.S. flights arrive on time. Luckily, your email, the latest news headlines and that trashy gossip blog you cant resist are just a mouse click (and perhaps a credit c
Healthiest Airport Food (and Airport Food to Avoid)
Air travel, like holiday parties and office bake-offs, is one of those occasions during which its acutely difficult to eat wholesome, healthy food. Once youve entered the airport, your stomach is at the mercy of faceless fast food corporations and busy airport cafes that serve
Airport Layovers: 9 Ways to Make the Most of Your Layover
Flights with layovers are often cheaper than direct flights, but despite the savings, many travelers will pay more to avoid the extra time in the airport. Can we blame them? The thought of sitting around in an airport for six hours is only vaguely more enticing than a dental a
Long-Term Airport Parking
On a recent trip to North Carolina, an IndependentTraveler.com staffer found herself circling LaGuardia Airport -- but she wasnt on a plane. Instead, she was driving her car with growing irritation from one airport parking lot to another, searching for an empty space to leave
Five Foods to Avoid Before Flying
Pre-flight anxiety -- spurred by endless baggage lines, security checkpoints and screaming children -- need not extend to fears of repeat trips to the airplane lavatory. But eat the wrong thing before you fly, and you may be contending with more than just an awful in-flight mo
Best Airports for Layovers
When my husband and I traveled from New York to Bali for our honeymoon, our flight itinerary called for two layovers -- one in Frankfurt and one in Singapore. A flight I was on the previous year had been routed through Frankfurt and I knew what my layover there had in store fo
Seven Ways to Score Airport Lounge Access
When youre waiting out a long airport layover, nothing seems more enticing than the airport lounge. With amenities such as free Wi-Fi, drinks, snacks and glossy magazines that youve never seen before (and may never see again), the lounges feel like the answer to most of your ai
The Worlds Best Airport Restaurants
There are few things more depressing at the end of a great vacation than eating your last on holiday meal from a greasy paper sack while sitting in an airport waiting lounge.Technically, youre still living the good life on vacation until the moment you arrive at home. So why n
