Transportation

Change Your Name on an Airline Ticket: Lessons Learned

June 30, 2009
Change Name on Airline Ticket

I posted about a name change on my airline ticket.. In the end, I was able to travel on that ticket without paying a fee — but it wasn’t easy. Read on to learn how to fly with your current ticket, without paying any fees, plus 5 tips for tips for flying without changing your ticket.

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Green Flights: Is it Possible?

June 25, 2009
Green Flights

We list the ways to may green flights more eco friendly. You can search for green flights using search green travel, you can bring a bottle, and more.

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Colectivo 86: Insight into Buenos Aires Culture

October 8, 2008
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Running on 4.5 hours of plane-quality sleep (we got sucked into Baby Mama on the flight so we didn’t rest as much as we’d hoped), we stumbled through customs, acquired pesos from a bank, and found our way to the bus stop for collectivo 86, the bus to Hostel Arrabal — all in just 30 minutes…. I sat by the window and, had it been open, I could have easily reached out and touched the people in the bus next to us. Fortunately, I was too exhausted to be afraid.

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Changing the Name on my Ticket with American Airlines

September 18, 2008
Travel memorabilia

American Airlines and I have had a rocky relationship. Their lack of communication with their alliance partner Aer Lingus meant my Ireland trip was cut short. Their refusal to hold a plane for me for 5 minutes (because my connecting American Airlines flight was 2.5 hours late due to mechanical problems) meant that Elizabeth and [...]

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United to Charge for Meals on International Flights: Good for the Environment?

August 22, 2008
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Then my environmentalist side kicked in. Considering the sheer amount of plastic that comes with a single airline meal — from the Saran wrapped plastic containers and water bottles to the disposable plastic silverware and individual-size butters — maybe this isn’t such a bad thing, environmentally speaking…. Then reality set in. Are travelers more likely to pack a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bottle of water, or grab a burger, fries, and soda on their way to the gate?

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Stopover Itinerary = 1800 lbs More Fuel: Why Nonstop Flights are Better for the Environment

August 11, 2008
PlaneTakeOff

Why, exactly, are nonstop flights so much better for the environment than flights with a stopover? Here are some calculations: During a 143 mile direct flight (roughly Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, PA), 51% of fuel burned is from the taxi, takeoff, climb, and landing…. During a 1,151 mile nonstop flight (roughly Washington, D.C. to Minneapolis, MN), a plane burns about 13,896 lbs of fuel (1,819 of which come from take-off and landing).

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Google Maps Adds Walking Directions: Trial Run & Review

August 1, 2008
GoogleMapsWalking

There are lots of diagonal streets in DC, and when you combine those with the one-way streets, driving from point A to point B can be a time-consuming challenge…. I tried directions in a few different parts of DC and was unimpressed when I was told just about every time to go up a diagonal street that angled away from my final destination — even when there was another street that went straight there.

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Taking a Taxi is Greener than Public Transportation: Lessons Learned in Juneau, Alaska

July 29, 2008
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As there were 4 of us the taxi cab was only about $1 more per person; so we took the cab (that clearly operates solely for tourists: Mendenhall Glacier Cab Company )…. When we got to the Glacier he even got out of the cab and walked around with us for 10 minutes and pointed out spots where you can see salmon (during spawning season) and black bears (usually eating the salmon).

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Airline Baggage Fees At-a-Glance

July 21, 2008

Confused about the ever-changing baggage fees airlines are tacking on? The Washington Post has you covered, with an up-to-date (for now) guide on the latest fees. Remember, always check fees with your airline of choice before booking and traveling, since fees can change over night. Guide to Airline Baggage Fees Airline Baggage Charges Overweight Bag [...]

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The Extreme Hypermiling Guide: 450+ Tips to Increase Your Miles Per Gallon and Save Gas

July 1, 2008

In the U.S. we’re quickly approaching the 4th of July, which conveniently falls on a Friday this year, making for a wonderful 3-day weekend. Along with millions of other Americans we’ll be celebrating Independence Day by hitting the road, driving to New York from our home base in Washington, D.C. Because gas is now at [...]

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