Why female crash dummies have a tiny place in safety testing today
A House bill is introduced to use female crash dummies in auto safety studies. Safety standards should be designed for both men and women, especially when 50 percent of drivers are women. Until now, only male dummies have been in crash studies.
How the cruise line bill of rights and refund policy affect you
CLIA's Cruise Line Bill of Rights outlines passenger rights. According to a new guide issued by Christopher Elliott about the cruise line industry, this is the definitive definition of a cruise line bill of rights. These are the 10 rights cruise line passengers have...
Ignoring the advice of travel professionals. Here’s why that could be a mistake.
When Sharon von Wolffersdorff booked a flight from Seattle to Rome, she considered ignoring the travel professionals advice. The travel professionals — in her case, her airline and airport — assured her that she could make a connecting flight in Frankfurt within an...
Learn to ask yourself this important early hotel check-in question
Most travelers who book hotels and arrive in a city early in the day would love to get early check-in when they arrive. But most hotels have a regular check-in time of 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. Knowing this important early check-in question may make all the difference.
My top 18 tips to shoot stunning July 4th fireworks photos by camera or smartphone
I have 18 tips to help you shoot stunning July 4th fireworks photos using your camera or your smartphone at this 250th Independence Day celebration. On Saturday, the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the ratification of the Declaration of...
Airline competition keeps airfares low — that’s why airlines hate it
Not enough airlines are competing. Airline competition is going to be a big issue this coming year. It is already, but the big airlines are making moves that beg for pushback from those who want to keep them in check and keep a competitive marketplace operating. Here...
Is it time for an international blacklist of problem passengers?
A new cross-airline ban of a blacklist of problem passengers could also hand airlines a weapon against ordinary travelers. If you find yourself on a blacklist of problem passengers, you can usually walk over to a competitor’s counter and buy a ticket on another...
Why you might want to splurge for preferred or premium economy seats
If you want a less stressful flight, it may be worth a splurge for preferred or premium seats. If you're an elite level flier already booked for holiday travel you probably have your seat assignments confirmed, so you can disregard this post. Ditto if you're an...
Top five traveler credit card and bank account scams by phone and Internet
Review the top five traveler bank account scams. Ensure that you don't fall prey to them and maintain your credit/debit cards and bank accounts in good order. When we travel, most of us use smartphones and many also use tablets, smart watches, etc. Unfortunately, we...
Do passengers really want on-time flights or flight availability?
Airlines are cutting flight availability dramatically and unexpectedly. Fewer on-time flights do not bode well for future bookings. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that they are now recording the most fliers at US airports. More...