Fed Up

Dear Clever Traveler,

I flew last week from Philadelphia to Detroit to Denver and finally to San Diego. The first flight was delayed, and the second flight was cancelled. By the time I finally got there, it was so late I had missed my dinner meeting. Airline personnel said that each delay was because of weather. But plenty of planes were landing and taking off while we were shuffled from gate to gate. To add insult to injury, the flight attendants ran out of food by the time they got to my seat, and I didn’t eat all day.

—Fed Up

Dear Fed Up,

Let’s add this up:

1. You had 3 flight segments…

2. In the winter…

3. Through northern cities that regularly experience weather delays.

4. You needed to be at your destination at a specific time, without much leeway.

5. You didn’t bring food.

Lewis and Clark made some of the same mistakes.

We all know that air travel has gotten exponentially more difficult. But sometimes we don’t know how we can make things easier for ourselves.

For starters, plan the fewest number of flight segments possible. You probably saved some money by booking that itinerary. But you’re not getting a good value if you don’t get where you want to go when you want to be there. If you really need to be somewhere on time, spend the extra money to minimize the delays.

Start your planning by assuming the worst. Consider where weather can be a big factor and where bottlenecks might occur. Among the worst cities to fly through are Philadelphia (frequent weather delays), Detroit (hub airport with few airline options, so you’re held hostage to Delta system delays), Chicago O’Hare (considered the worst airport in winter based on number of delayed flights, possible weather, and hub status), and Denver (great snow capabilities, but it’s a hub city, so it’s a bottleneck).

If you have 3 flights and the first flight is delayed, you’re already in trouble. When your second flight was cancelled, you should have known you were not going to make your dinner meeting.

You didn’t mention it, but from your itinerary you appear to have booked on several airlines. That means you likely booked through a travel website like Expedia or Travelocity. Those sites can give you great deals. But when things start to go wrong, customer service may get tricky.

At the first sign of trouble, get in line at the desk. Call the airline while you wait your turn. Ask what new flights you’ve been assigned and what the options are. The agent will do what the computer says, but it may not be the best option for you. If you were smart, you researched alternatives online before you left home, looking also at other airlines’ flights. Suggest these alternatives to the agent.

Before you leave home, put the customer service numbers of the company you booked through and all airlines on your itinerary into your cell phone. Print out copies of all flights and confirmations to show airline agents.

Always pack energy bars in your carryon bag. These days, don’t count on anyone to feed you.

Dear Clever Traveler,

I have a long flight coming up, and I want to be comfortable. Do you think I can wear a nice sweat suit on the plane?

—Comfort First

Dear Comfort,

In a word, no. If you call it a sweat suit, the only place you should wear it is the gym. Even then, the person next to you on the elliptical trainer might complain. However, if you call it a track suit and you are a 21-year-old socialite with a nasty little dog stuffed into your $10,000 designer bag, you can pull it off.

It’s possible to be comfortable without looking like you’re going for outpatient surgery. Depending on your age and body shape, try leggings or knit pants with an oversized sweater. Always dress in layers for the varied temperatures on planes and when you land. A pashmina or shawl is a must for a nap on the plane, as blankets are now a thing of the past.

Dear Clever Traveler,

I hesitate to fly any more because of the horrible bathrooms in airports and on the planes. The restrooms in the airports are always filthy, and the toilets on the airplane are so small you can hardly get into them!

—Horribly Disgusted

Dear HD,

Don’t you just hate it when your shoes stick to the bathroom floor on the airplane? Eeeuw! You don’t even want to think what substances…never mind.

One of the paradoxes of modern travel is that you know you have to hydrate to stay healthy on a long flight. But if you drink enough water, you’re forced to use the dirty toilets. And if you’re not slim and agile, it’s difficult just to get in and out of them.

If you have enough time between flights, walk the concourses to find areas with less traffic. The restrooms are cleaner there. (I’m not kidding. I do this myself, and it’s great exercise.) For example, the international departures area has less traffic in the mornings in most US airports (but don’t bother trying this at JFK). Look for bathrooms that are closed for cleaning, and loiter outside until they reopen.

Once on board, you’re out of options, and you really do need to drink water. So don’t look too closely in the corners. Don’t let your clothing touch any surfaces, and get out fast.