Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to change your seat. And you don't have to fly to earn points;
frequent-flier
credit cards
can earn you thousands of miles for doing your everyday shopping.
With more than 70 mileage awards programs on the market, consumers have
never had more options. Investigate the program details of your favorite airlines
before you sink points into any one. Consider which airlines have hubs in the
airport nearest you, and, of those carriers, which have the most advantageous alli-
ances, given your most common routes. To play the frequent-flier game to your
best advantage, consult Randy Petersen's
Inside Flyer
(www.insideflyer.com).
Petersen and friends review all the programs in detail and post regular updates on
changes in policies and trends.
LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS: HOW TO STAY COMFORTABLE
W
Your choice of airline and airplane will definitely affect your leg room. Find more
details about U.S. airlines at
www.seatguru.com.
For international airlines, the
research firm Skytrax has posted a list of average seat pitches at
www.airline
quality.com.
W
Emergency exit seats and bulkhead seats typically have the most legroom. Emer-
gency exit seats are usually left unassigned until the day of a flight (to ensure that
someone able-bodied fills the seats); it's worth getting to the ticket counter early
to snag one of these spots for a long flight. Many passengers find that bulkhead
seating (the row facing the wall at the front of the cabin) offers more legroom, but
keep in mind that bulkheads are where airlines often put baby bassinets, so you
may be sitting next to an infant.
W
To have two seats for yourself in a three-seat row, try for an aisle seat in a center
section toward the back of coach. If you're traveling with a companion, book an
aisle and a window seat. Middle seats are usually booked last, so chances are good
you'll end up with three seats to yourselves.
W
Ask about entertainment options. Many airlines offer seatback video systems
where you get to choose your movies or play video games—but only on some of
their planes. (Boeing 777s are your best bet.)
W
To sleep, avoid the last row of any section or the row in front of an emergency exit,
as these seats are the least likely to recline. Avoid seats near highly trafficked
lavatory areas. Avoid seats in the back of many jets—these can be narrower than
those in the rest of coach. You also may want to reserve a window seat so you can
rest your head and avoid being bumped in the aisle.
W
Get up, walk around, and stretch every 60 to 90 minutes to keep your blood flow-
ing. This helps avoid
deep vein thrombosis,
or “economy-class syndrome.” See
the box “Avoiding 'Economy Class Syndrome,'” p. 31.
W
Drink water before, during, and after your flight to combat the lack of humidity
in airplane cabins. Avoid alcohol, which will further dehydrate you.
W
If you're flying with kids, don't forget to carry on toys, books, pacifiers, and chew-
ing gum to help them relieve ear pressure buildup during ascent and descent.
3
MONEY & COSTS
Pounds & Pence
Britain's decimal monetary system is based on the pound sterling (£), which is made
up of 100 pence (written as “p”). Scotland issues its own currency, but English and
