I still remember the long lines and paper forms from my first international trip in 1999. Today things look much different at the CBP. Here’s an overview of the ways CBP is making entry into the U.S. more efficient. Global Entry (and other trusted traveler programs) Global Entry is a CBP program that allows expedited clearance for…
For the average person looking for cheap airfares in the United States, Google Flights is probably the best tool to search for flights. Google Flights offers a combination of powerful search features and ease of use that make it my go-to site for searching for airfares. Here are the basics. Note: I searched for these flights on…
I’m traveling to Houston for work now, which means longer flights and (hopefully) more time to update the blog! One of the best improvements to air travel in recent years has been the addition and expansion of subsections of economy containing seats with extra legroom. Generally frequent flyers can select these seats at no charge, so these…
You’ve heard the story before… a friend goes on a week-long vacation and uses his phone “once or twice”. A month later, he opens his mobile phone bill to learn that he has been charged north of $1,000 in international roaming charges. He then has to spend several weeks fighting with his telephone company to…
Sometimes you need to make a connection between airports in New York City. On a recent trip, I was connecting through LaGuardia, but my flight was late and my rebooking required me to transfer to JFK. The easy solution in this case was to take a taxi, but I was in the mood to explore…
Reader Anne pointed me to a story about a product called Coin a few days ago. Since then, it seems that the idea has exploded all over the internet. Haven’t heard about Coin yet? Read on. From the manufacturer: Coin is a connected device that can hold and behave like the cards you already carry.…
Time to empty the RSS feed again… People in Venezuela are making money off of exchange rate arbitrage in conjunction with airline tickets. The Venezuelan government allows people to purchase $3000 at the official exchange rate (which is makes dollars VERY artificially cheap) if they have an airline ticket to the US. So, people are…
I am a sucker for airline route maps. On almost every flight, I flip to the back of the in-flight magazine to check out the airline’s route network and see if I can identify new routes or partners. Sure it’s interesting, but can doing help you navigate the airlines more effectively? Absolutely! Knowing my airline’s…
When you are stranded overnight without your luggage, one of the most immediate annoyances is the lack of toiletries, in particular the lack of toothpaste and a toothbrush. Fortunately, most airlines have small amenity kits, which they offer to all passengers who ask. You just need to know where to find them. Where to find…
Minneapolis is my home airport and one of my favorite airports. If you are traveling through the Minneapolis airport and need some peace and quiet or a place to corral the kiddos during your layover, here are two places where you can seek refuge.
The Flying Consultant 