Peter Greenberg’s tips for hassle-free holiday flights

[mtp51]

Some fun stuff in here.

http://www.kansascity.com/724/story/360642.html

“When it comes to flight times, departure boards in airports haven’t told the truth since 1947. The only reason to look at a departure board is to see which gate you’re supposed to leave from."

“Don’t bring cooked food on the plane. Nothing smells worse in an enclosed cylinder than a half-eaten meal or a brown McDonald’s bag on a five-hour flight."

[deangreenhoe]

Some very good stuff in there - pretty funny too. The only thing I'm not overly sure of is that I don't think you need to call the hotels and demand the manager on duty to get a decent rate. I imagine that might actually turn a few off if all you are doing is inquiring about getting a discount on a room. I would put that as more of a last resort tactic if you aren't getting anywhere otherwise.

Besides, you really don't have time in a pinch to be calling up every hotel at your disposal. Not to play "stump for the agent," but your TA can access a res screen that will compare all of the area choices for comparison and for most chains distressed inventory rates will appear in their GDS - not all of them certainly, but a fair amount.

“Don’t bring cooked food on the plane. Nothing smells worse in an enclosed cylinder than a half-eaten meal or a brown McDonald’s bag on a five-hour flight."

Might I add a ring of pickled bologna to that? I was on a flight out of Las Vegas once and the guy across the aisle actually pulled an entire ring of bologna out of his carry-on and started chewing on it until it was gone. Not only did it stink to high heaven, but the fact that he did it with such gusto kind of freaked me out a little. :lol:

[CruiseExpert]

the guy across the aisle actually pulled an entire ring of bologna out of his carry-on and started chewing on it until it was gone. Not only did it stink to high heaven, but the fact that he did it with such gusto kind of freaked me out a little. :lol:
Those wacky Michiganders.

[deangreenhoe]

Those wacky Michiganders.

We don't know if he was a Michigander. He got on in Nevada and deplaned in Minnesota.

I'm just lucky he didn't pull out a pouch of lutefisk. Something tells me if things had gone well in Vegas he would have been packing something a bit nicer than bologna for his self catered dinner. :rolleyes:

[mtp51]

We don't know if he was a Michigander. He got on in Nevada and deplaned in Minnesota.

I'm just lucky he didn't pull out a pouch of lutefisk. Something tells me if things had gone well in Vegas he would have been packing something a bit nicer than bologna for his self catered dinner. :rolleyes:


hey, that's better than head cheese! That is really yucky!

[DenaLou]

“Instead, bring salads, fruit and bottled water.”


Like I eat that on the ground??? Why would I eat it on a plane?

[AaronK]

Hmm. Interesting article.

How many hotel managers want to deal with guests looking for a cheap room (unless they are manning the desk)? Whats the feasibility of shipping your luggage? It could cost as much for you to fly.

While Mr. Greenberg has some decent tips, its time to introduce reality into the boat. How many airports let you go out the departure's area? I know my local airport pushes everyone straight to baggage claim.

I think the best tip for a hassle-free flight is to be prepared for anything and everything, and when something goes right, call it good.

[Ned]

I agree Aaron. Some tips are good, some are obvious, some make little sense to me.

If you're going to fly on Thanksgiving, it makes perfect sense to be on the first flight out. You miss the delays which will start occurring by 10am and you've got a better chance of making it to dinner on time. Coming back Friday makes little sense to me, unless you've got to do it, but going back Saturday can avoid that Sunday return madness.
Shipping your bags makes little or no sense to me, especially if you're only going to be at your destination Wednesday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, which is typical. Even I can do a trip like that with only carry-on. :lol: Shipping standard overnight can cost as much as an airplane ticket.
Printing your own boarding pass at home and having only carry-on is obvious and is definitely the way to go. You can go right to security that way.
I don't know what airports Mr. Greenberg frequents, but at the ones I use often you can't wait even for 10 seconds at the departure hall, but you can wait a little bit at baggage claim. Plus, unless you're coming in on Thursday afternoon, the departure hall entrance is just as crazy as baggage claim, so what's the point.
Don't trust the Departure Information Board; no kidding. Anyone who's flown more than once knows that. I have a program in my Treo which get's departure information directly from the airline's computer system. You can always call their 800 number too, as suggested.
I know a few people who tried to make reservation directly through the hotel manager. The manager was not happy and immediately passed them off to reservations anyway. If you're making a reservation that late, I would just call the front desk of the hotel. I've never been sent to the 800 reservations center of the hotel as long as I didn't call at the morning rush to check out, or the late afternoon check-in rush.
Cross packing is always a good idea, but when traveling during a holiday, using only carry-on, including for children, is still best. Putting your name in the luggage is a good idea, but due to potential theft, I never put my name obviously in the bag. It's behind the cloth covering the structure of the bag on a card taped backwards to the bag.
Did Greenberg think we weren't smart enough to know we need to allow enough time to get to the airport and be aware of traffic problems? I guess he did.
Mr. Greenberg is right about a half eaten Mc Burger smelling rotten by the end of the flight, but there's a lot that can be done to avoid that, and still enjoy something more than a salad, fruit and water. I never buy any "fast food" for any reason any more, but for example, the last time I flew home from Houston, I had the hotel make me a lunch to go for my flight, from room service; spinach salad, to start, a fruit salad to finish, and a sliced filet mignon sandwich on thinly sliced French baggett. They gave me packets of dressing for the salad, and steak sauce for the sandwich. I also had plastic silverware and napkins. I bought water in the airport.
His mother's advice was good. I'd put it a little differently than she did. I've been known to say, "A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar," ... or was that Ben Franklin, mmmm.:rolleyes:
...While Mr. Greenberg has some decent tips, its time to introduce reality into the boat. How many airports let you go out the departure's area? I know my local airport pushes everyone straight to baggage claim.

I think the best tip for a hassle-free flight is to be prepared for anything and everything, and when something goes right, call it good.

[Loonbeam]

Honestly, I found the tone of the article to be a bit snarky, and in some ways stereotypical of traveler attitudes out there, i.e. every person for themselves.

[Ships 'N' Trips Travel]

Honestly, I found the tone of the article to be a bit snarky, and in some ways stereotypical of traveler attitudes out there, i.e. every person for themselves.

The way airlines treat people these days it IS every person for themselves!! :rolleyes:

I won't be flying this week, but will have the dubious honor of flying Dec 22 (Sat), Dec 25 (Tues) and Jan 2 (Wed). I'm taking all of my Southwest drink vouchers with me ... think I'm going to need them!! :cool:

[jimtbay]

As related to calling a hotel manager, they may book your reservation for you, but chances are you are going to pay the going rate. Most major brands are trying to build loyalty, not fill with guests looking for cheap rates. There are exceptions of course.

With frequent guests, it is usally an issue of availablity vs. rate.