HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?

 I’ve been recovering from pneumonia so an in front of the tv more than usual and I saw two travel related stories that I can’t pass up put my two cents in about. First SPIRIT AIRLINE is now saying they will charge for carry on bags up to $100. So, we pay to check a bag and we pay to carry on a bag …. This is making the idea of FEDEXing your luggage not only more convenient, but also cheaper. I felt the charging for a checked bag was going to push the carry-on to this limit. My last 4 flights they announcement has gone out that they will not charge you if you volunteer to check your carry on because they have more carry-on than they have space for. Sure enough as I board I see a pile of suitcases being tagged to go into holding. It’s extra work, greater chance of loosing luggage and certainly not cost effective. If the airlines had just left the first checked bag free there would not be this major switch to carry-on. I can see for charging over a certain weight, but honestly, people need clothing when they travel. I saw one guy (on the news) who was at the check-in counter with his bag open and he was putting on layers of extra clothing to accommodate the carry-on rules, and said he’d just take them off and hold them in his lap since it was a short flight! What is SPIRIT thinking? This is the same airline that last year announced they were going to charge to use the toilet, but the outrage made them back off on that one… for now!

Another part of the story or maybe it was a different story was about charging based on weight, but the confusing thing about it was that if you were a 140 pound person with a 50 pound bag you would pay a fee, but if you were a 300 pound person with a 50 pound bag you would pay nothing. Now that doesn’t make sense. We all know that weight burns fuel so why should the person with less weight be charge more than the one who is actually causing more fuel to be burned? Then came the issue of an obese person paying for two seats so as not to impose on the person next to them. I have compassion for those who suffer with obesity, but I also believe in being fair and do not see how it is fare to the person who has paid for their seat to then have to contend with another person, a stranger, whose body also takes up part of their seat and their flesh presses up against yours. It’s just not right to impose that on the normal size patron. So, is our politically correct obsession taking us to the opposite end where the rights of the standard weight individual will be sacrificed so as not to hurt the feelings of the obese?

Both these news items made me shake my head at how we have lost COMMON SENSE. 

THE TITANIC REMEMBERED

This is the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and networks have had many movies and specials on the Titanic. I pretty much watched them all; fictional and documentary.

There was a documentary on the Discovery Channel that brought together veteran divers of the Titanic to map the entire debris field, and to answer once and for all the question of fault. Was it a fault in the ship design or inferior materials such as the rivets. Unfortunately, my Tivo had other things it was recording during the last hour of the special, so I didn’t get the answer. Did anyone see it?

I couldn’t help but think of the Concordia and how much the two tragedies had in common. Regardless of either ships physical vulnerabilities ultimately the fault lies with the ship Captains. In both cases the ships were just going too fast for their location. On the Titanic the Captain left the bridge and went to bed, and the Concordia’s Captain, if memory serves me, was socializing out and about on the ship. In both incidents the Captain’s were not honest with the passengers and minimized the damage and danger, while delaying evacuation. Had both Captains evacuated passengers earlier more lives would have been saved. Human error is always more tragic than machine flaws, because human errors are almost always preventable had the person paid attention, gotten more rest, not given in to some ego based choice and so on.

One of the many documentaries had actual footage shot by passengers on the Concordia and it was frightening. Am I going to stop cruising? No. Do you stop driving if you’ve been in a fender bender? No, life goes on and hopefully we learn. What I learned from watching the footage of the Concordia passengers was to always carry a small flashlight or on your smart phone there is a light app… when the lights shut down on a ship you need light because there are no windows for the most part for any light to seep in those halls. Also, on Carnival your MUSTER STATION is printed on your Sail & Sign card which should be on your person at all times: one of the first things you should do when you board the ship is to locate your muster station, walk the route to your nearest life boats and know which decks have access to life boats. The law has now changed to require they do the drill before they leave port, but don’t wait check it out as soon as possible.

There is a debate about the salvage of Titanic items that currently rest on the ocean floor: should we bring them up and put them in museums or leave them as they are? Personally, I feel they should save what they can and put them in museums since there continues to be a conscious interest and connection to the Titanic. Remembering and honoring the past teaches us how to live better futures. I send my prayers to all the souls who died on the Titanic and Concordia… 

TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES ON AIRFARES

As a passenger are you aware of how much of your airfare is taxes? Currently the aviation industry and passengers pay 17 different federal taxes and fees. It’s a hornet nest of fees that defy rationale and have no consideration for the impact on travelers and the relative expense of a ticket. In 1972 there were only 5 taxes on an airline ticket and today we have 17! How much do those taxes raise the cost of your ticket? Those taxes add 20 percent or more to the total cost of a ticket. You can visit http://www.airlines.org/Pages/Government-Imposed-Taxes-on-Air-Transportation.aspx to see all the taxes and a comparison from 1972 to now. Here are a few examples: Flight Segment Tax (domestic) - $3.80 every time you land, Frequent Flyer Tax 7.50%, Cargo Waybill Tax (domestic) – 6.25%, September 11^th Fee $2.50, International Departure Tax $16.50 and they get you for the same amount arriving! Check it out, the fees are out of control. There is even a “LUST fuel Tax (domestic)” now what is that about since they have at least 4 other fees I can attach to fuel.

At first I thought it was the airlines being greedy, but this is our government doing this for the most part. It seems more taxes are being proposed by this current administration. They propose increasing the passenger security, currently $5 to $10 per flight, and hiking it up to $15 and maybe even higher in the future. From the $24.9 billion the fee would bring in over the next 10 years, $15 billion of it would go to pay reducing the national debt. It doesn’t seem right to me that paying off the national debt should fall on the wallets of the population that flies. Not everyone who takes a flight is flush with money. I fly every month and often several times a month for work and I meet people who are headed back home because a family member has died or is ill, retirees living on fixed incomes trying to check off a few must-do sights from their bucket list, young families wanting their children to see their grandparents, and yes, business travelers, but the Donald Trumps and Oprah Winfrey’s who can afford the taxes are flying in their private jets for the most part.

Most of us never look at or ask about the tax side of our ticket, but recently the Transportation Department required all airlines and travel agents quote the fare with full disclosure of the taxes and fees. Airlines don’t like this because it makes their fares look 20 to 50 percent higher than before. I actually don’t think the airlines care about these taxes coming out of our pocket, I think they only protest because with the new full disclosure before you hit the buy button on that flight is influencing travelers to Skype that meeting, drive to their next vacation or look at alternatives like the train or bus.

While the tax gauge is the government sticking it to us all those added luggage fees, charges for seat selection, food, blankets, pillows, wifi and wasn’t it Spirit that said they were going to charge to use the toilet and got such a backlash that they put it on hold for now?  While the taxes have increase the fees for add-ons (most of which used to be included as part of your airfare) have multiplied at a far more alarming rate.

Do you think you are paying too much in taxes on airline tickets? Do you think airline tickets should be all-inclusive as they once were or do you like the ala cart fee structure?

Travel Secrets: AMERICANS SKIP VACATION – WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

Travel Secrets: AMERICANS SKIP VACATION – WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?: In USA Today Travel online articles there was a survey done by Radisson Hotels that revealed Americans skip taking their vacation d...

AMERICANS SKIP VACATION – WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

In USA Today Travel online articles there was a survey done by Radisson Hotels that revealed Americans skip taking their vacation days. As it is Americans only have 18 vacation days a year compared to Europe who takes 1 to 3 months off for vacation every year. What reasons could we have for not enjoying life? You guessed it…. Our workload! I’ve been conducting a little poll of my own on this same topic for the past few years and have met so many people that have not had a vacation in 10 years or worse… ever! When asked why they say they don’t want their boss to discover that someone else can do their job, or they are already over-loaded and any time away would bury them and make it impossible to catch up. Then there are the cost issue and instead of $5,000 for a family trip to Disneyland they need to paint the trim on their house or put in new plumbing. It’s no wonder we have so many stress related illnesses and people snapping and doing crazy things. Vacation time is vital to recharging your soul. If all you do is work, sleep, and work with no true rest and relaxation to reward your work efforts then the subconscious message is one that in my opinion spells DEPRESSION. Life is about so much more than stuff and things. It is about experience and feelings and learning… all of which travel supplies. I don’t care if you’re a 5-star traveler to Europe or a missionary traveler building bottle schools in a third world country or a backpacker through the National Parks, any travel always results in adding experiences and new information into your life. There is also research that shows how not taking vacation days and truly going on a vacation increase your chances for a heart attack. There is research that shows how those who take vacations are actually more productive just before and just after a vacation. As a travel host I see a lot of people on vacations and find that couples who do vacation regularly are the happiest individuals and the best marriages I see. Anyway, I encourage work/life balance and I believe travel for pleasure is a remedy for many things…. And that is another conversation. Do you take your vacation days? Why or why not?

CARRY-ON MUSTS FOR FLIGHT SURVIVAL

I fly a lot and have my carry-on down to a science these days. First, airlines are germ-ridden places, so I put in a travel size pack of antibacterial wipes to wipe down my armrest, seat-back-tray and the viewing screen in the back of the seat in front of me. I also have a travel size hand gel because as soon as I saw a study about the bacteria in the water onboard planes I stopped accepting any water that was not seal in a bottle and I don’t wash my hands in the restroom sink. I’ve run across some fliers who even carry a lightweight seat cover that engulfs the whole chair, but that’s a little too much for me. If you use the seat-back-pocket then bring a plastic grocery bag to insert into it so your items don't connect with the bed of germs laying in wait for your book, iPod or other items you wish to keep handy.

Now that the germs are handled I concern myself with my entertainment. Charge all your electronics the night before and do carry-on your plugs because some planes now offer outlets. I still pack a good old fashioned book to read or a magazine just incase technology fails me for some reason or other. The earphones for my iPhone/iPod fit most airlines and I prefer mine to theirs and it saves a few bucks.

For my creature comforts I carry some soft warm socks, a pashmina (guys get navy or black and no one will think it’s anything but a blanket) and sometimes two for my in-flight blanket and for a wrap once I hit my destination. I’ve recently found the best ever neck pillow, but will do a little blurb on it at another time. I also dress in layers for flying as the temperatures vary so much from starting point to final destination.

Eating: bring your credit card because in-flight purchases can no longer be made with cash. But if you’re mindful of the TSA regulations you can bring your own food from home as long as it’s not a thermos of soup or some other suspect liquid. I usually pack those single serving tuna & crackers or just the tuna pouch & baggie my own crackers and string cheese. I’ve also had success with the hummus/cracker packs, apples as long as you eat it before your destination if the destination is outside the USA borders (no fresh fruits or meats). A few times I’ve had nuts taken from me as well when going into Mexico, but it was only a couple of times out of the dozens a time a year I go there, so not sure if they just wanted those raw almonds or they thought they were hiding some pest that would set off a national disease control alert. If you make your food from home I bring it in containers I can toss to lighten my load and on my return flight I stop at a market or worse case I purchase at the airport once I’ve gone through security. Before security all liquids must be tossed, but I’ve never been asked to give up my bottled water I just bought at the airport newsstand and I see plenty of Starbucks coming onboard; one man even spilled his on my beige skirt because he couldn’t handle all his carry-on so that’s my next tip… be thoughtful of other travelers and don’t bring food with strong or possibly offensive smells and if your hands are already full don’t add a beverage with a lid that comes off if you’re not holding it upright every moment.

My 1-quart ziplock bag varies depending on if I’m flying carry-on only or I have a checked bag. With a checked bag it is limited to a 3.4 or less moisturizer, hand cream and Chapstick and I add shampoo, conditioner, face wash if I have no checked luggage. I also carry the small travel toothbrush/picks with the tiny drop of tooth gel in the center.

I have one large-ish carry-all or tote that I can fit my laptop, a small purse and all my other goodies into that way they are separate so I can find what I need quickly yet in one bag to make the airline happy that I comply with the one carry-on and one personal item.

The other thing I like to carry-on is a smile. Flying has always been stressful for people who don’t feel at ease with their feet off the ground and since 9/11 even those who loved to fly are finding the lines for security and all the hoops we jump through to make it in and out of the airports a stressor. So, a smile goes a long way in helping those around you feel a little better and if my smile can inspire another smile maybe it’ll be a delightful flight.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT ALL THE FUN WAS GONE FROM FLYING

A friend sent me the following info on a South African Airline called Kulula that not only put a smile on my face but had me laughing out loud. Flying has become such a serious and often negative experience that it is refreshing to see a company put some humor and fun back into it.

Their planes are even painted with humor: I love how the pilot is "the big cheese" and "flying 101"... this marketing team is brilliant!

WHAT A PITY KULULA DOESN'T FLY INTERNATIONALLY - WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM IF ONLY FOR THEIR HUMOUR - SO TYPICALLY SOUTH AFRICAN.
 Kulula is an Airline with their head office situated in Johannesburg . Kulula airline attendants make 
an effort to make the in-flight "safety lecture" 
and announcements a bit more entertaining.
Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced,
"People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
                  ---o0o---
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
                  ----o0o---
On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings.. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."
                  ----o0o---

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane." 
                  ---o0o---
"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
                  ---o0o---
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
                  ---o0o--
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant 
on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
                  ---o0o---
From a Kulula employee: "Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth . To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
                  ---o0o---
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
                  ---o0o---
"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
                  ----o0o---
"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
                  ---o0o---
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all 
of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."
                  ---o0o---
And from the pilot during his welcome message:
"Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
                  ---o0o

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard 
landing in Cape Town : The flight attendant 
came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight  attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."
                  ---o0o
Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said,"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
                  ---o0o
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
                  ---o0o
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular 
flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door 
while the passengers exited, smile, and give 
them a "Thanks for flying our airline". He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard 
time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
                  ---o0o
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with,"Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."
                  ---o0o
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement:
"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the insane 
urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."
                  ---o0o
Heard on a Kulula flight: "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing....If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."
             

Oops! More Lunch on My Shirt Than in My Mouth

What to do when you’re traveling and you spill mayonnaise from your sandwich, or drip butter from your lobster tail on your clothing; carry a small baggie of white flour and mix it into a paste with water, apply to the stain, let dry and scrape off. Now no one is going to pack bleach so what about stains that need a little lift? Lemons are easy to come by when traveling, order an ice tea with lemon on the side and pull out one of your extra plastic bags you always pack to transport it back to your hotel. Squeeze a little lemon jouice on the spot and if possible let it dry in the sun then hand wash. I also never leave home without my Tide To-Go pen, but Shout is just as good. I also just learned about Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover which comes in 2 ounce bottles and can be bought at Walgreens or most craft stores and is said to work on all types of stains, which could save you from the baggie of flour being mistaken for something else by TSA. 

Always pack a travel wardrobe that hand washes, no time for dry cleaners when you're city hopping. Also, I try to keep my color palate on the darker side, even tan is better than white. 

SKI INTO A BETTER PERSON

I was taken by an article in The Wall Street Journal on March 3, 2012 on page D8 entitled Mind Over Mountain. It talks about a former U.S. ski team member, Kristen Ulmer, who teaches ordinary people to be better skiers through Zen, a western psychological technique called “voice dialogue,” yoga and Ms. Ulmer’s own experience. I don’t ski. In fact many years ago I was dating a man who loved to ski, as did his close friends who decided they should take me to Big Bear, CA to teach me how to ski. Let’s just say if reality TV had been invented at that time I would have been my own show and provided you all with many laughs. I tried the knees together to stop, but after gliding through and dragging with me a rope of flags to section off the children’s area hurling myself into the snow to stop seemed the lesser embarrassment. Anyway, it’s not the skiing that caused me to read this article but the whole Zen-Mind aspect. I do believe it all starts in our mind and our belief. The dialog we tell ourselves, the day dreams we see in our imagination become the reality of our living lives. Just some food for thought. I know all my ski-loving friends are looking for places to go right now, and if you’re up for something different you may want to read Mind Over Mountain or check out www.kristenulmer.com for her $525 pp ski camp. 

Travel Secrets: MY TOP 5 SAFE PLACES FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ALONE

Travel Secrets: MY TOP 5 SAFE PLACES FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ALONE: Feeling safe is subjective, and I must say I am not easily frightened. As a young girl I used to frequent an area of Tokyo that was a treasu...

MY TOP 5 SAFE PLACES FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ALONE

Feeling safe is subjective, and I must say I am not easily frightened. As a young girl I used to frequent an area of Tokyo that was a treasure trove of bargains, but also said to be a huge area for white slave traffickers. How true it was and how much was urban legend or foreign parents being over protective I don't know. That same area today is very fashionable. Besides criminal danger there are dangers from weather, wildlife, social dangers like discrimination or political corruption, and countries at war are certainly not safe for anyone. Ultimately you must trust your gut and do your research.

My top places to travel alone and feel safe are 1) Japan; even the police do not carry guns and crime is very low. There is the language, but find any teenager in a school uniform and most likely they speak enough English to help you out. 2) Ireland; the people are very friendly, all signs are posted in English and Irish, and the population speaks English. 3) Singapore; they are very hard on crime so crime rates are like Japan very low. 4) Australia; is much like travel within the USA and is safe throughout, but has it's pockets of places to avoid or be be mindful of such as parks at night, questionable neighborhoods, isolated roads or countryside and dark allies. 5) USA; everything I said about Australia applies here, and there is so much to see and explore right in our own country. every state has something to offer.

Being safe is as much about how you carry yourself. Being a believer in the law of attraction I totally believe my safety is what I do to attract or repel unsafe people or situations. Check back for some tips on things you can do to shield against dangerous people and situations.