Charm City Traveler: More Great Travel Articles

A few more travel articles for you to peruse today. The first is from Chris Elliot, noted travel blogger and consumer advocate. I don't always agree with Chris (for instance, he has gone on record saying that airline/hotel loyalty programs are bad propositions for consumers), but he does put some pretty good content out there. The article, titled the 5 Things You Should Never Say to a TSA Screener, is more tongue-in-cheek than anything else. Basically, Chris's point is that TSA Agents shouldn't be berated when things go south (such as when you are selected for additional screening measures) otherwise your situation will probably get much worse in a hurry.

The second article, from Conde Nast, offers some very helpful advice. The article explains how to deal with airlines when you absolutely have to be somewhere due to a death in the family, critical connecting flight, or poor weather on the horizon. I can't agree with the article's author, Brett Snyder, enough. Take his tip "Don't Waste Time" to the bank. During a particularly bad blizzard in Baltimore three years ago, I observed people huffing and puffing at airline customer service agents who were powerless to help them. They should instead have been on the phone with the carrier or furiously researching alternate flights. Screaming at the nearest person wearing a uniform is just wasted breath.

The final article I chose more for the pictures and the inspiration. From CNN Travel, they highlight ten of the best airport lounges in the world. Many lounges around the U.S. are basic in nature, featuring slightly more comfortable seating than the terminal along with some light snacks. However, there are truly some that stand-out, including the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in JFK. I'm looking forward to trying some of these out on future international trips, including the Concorde Room in London-Heathrow and the Qatar Airways spa room in Doha. To access most of these lounges, you usually have to be traveling on an international first or business class ticket. Luckily, they don't distinguish if you are using miles! If I do get to try any of these lounges out, you can be certain I will review it for the site.