Flight Attendant Blog, airline blog, travel blog

In the Clouds

Taking the Kids Along: Two Books That Can Change Your Life (or at least make your travels easier)

By Margery Wilson Here at Skysteward we like to say “How you travel says a lot about you.”  Let me tell you about two women who helped me find first class travel on a shoestring budget. Cynthia Harriman and Nan Jeffrey are two moms who gave me great advice and shaped my travel life. I feel like I know them, and their families, but – we have never... Read More

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Armchair World Travel for Kids: Little Passports

By Margery Wilson Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.    ~~Mark Twain Back in the days when I was a single mom with little... Read More

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Pay As You Go: Charging Fees to Use the Onboard Toilets?

by Margery Wilson “Spend a penny” in British slang means to visit a public toilet, a phrase which was first used back in the 1850’s when the first pay toilet was introduced in London.  As a kid growing up in California I remember pay toilets being common, but it has been years since I have seen one. That may change soon. On January 16, 2010... Read More

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Pleasant Pet Airline Travel Tips

Dear Sky Steward, I am planning on traveling with my toy poodle in the next month and then periodically for the rest of the year. To be completely honest, I am a bit nervous about it. What do airlines charge for pets to travel and what are the policies? BTW, the last time I traveled with my pet, I was barked at by a flight attendant because I... Read More

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TYRONE GREEN, AA GATE AGENT & CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR

By Margery Wilson As a frequent flier I spend lots of time interacting at various levels with airport and airline personnel.  Maybe surprisingly I do not have any horrendous customer service stories to relate.  However, I have encountered a fair share of customer service superstars.  At the top of my list is American Airline’s Gate Agent Tyrone... Read More

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How to find the best airfares and flights in one stop

When you are planning a trip you naturally want to find the best airfares. The Sky Steward has advice and website resources that will make your search for cheap tickets much easier. Rather than visiting site after site, wouldn’t be great to be able to use a couple of high-tech tools that beat other sites at their own game?  On a recent Jetiquette... Read More

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Avoiding illness during holiday travel; from the common cold to swine flu

I heard someone say that placing Neosporin in your nostrils is a great way to prevent illness when traveling by air. It sounded like a great idea to me at first, but after squeezing a tube of it into my nose and a little further investigation, I learned that it was not effective from a scientific standpoint. So what are some ways to stay healthy... Read More

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Which Airline is the Fairest in the Land? JetBlue or Virgin America?

It’s almost like a fairytale. I give you an exerpt from my storybook collection: “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, fair maiden name JetBlue. She was admired for her  revolutionary on-board entertainment and her perky employees who lived the JetBlue brand 24/7. Her beauty was powerful as she moved into the golden markets of the older,... Read More

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Airline Checked Luggage Fee Chart

How much do airlines charge for checked baggage? Bookmark this chart for future reference or to pass on to friends. Airline checked baggage fees are causing even those with nerves of steel to lose their composure. Sky Steward fliers now have a simple reference tool to make travel planning a little easier. There are also direct links to each airline’s... Read More

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Turning My Phone to Airplane Mode or Off on the Airplane

"Don't worry, I'm on airplane mode" One of the biggest issues that I hear about from readers of  Dear Sky Steward and from airline crew on is the electronic device policy debate between passengers and flight attendants. On a recent flight from San Francisco to Miami one of the flight attendants was given a lecture by a passenger... Read More

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At the Gate

Jetiquette at DFW Airport: Spa Life & Wine Flights

Got a 2 hour flight delay? How about 15 minutes? Making marvelous use of your time at the airport may improve the quality of your trip ten-fold. That is of course if you know what to do with your time. Remember, people watching gets old especially when you realize they’re all going to be on your flight! Why not make a decision to pamper yourself... Read More

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Airline Ambassadors: Making A Difference — and You Can, Too

On our January 29 show we had the honor to have Nancy Rivard, President of Airline Ambassadors International, as our guest.  AAI is a non-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations and recognized by the US Congress.  Airline Ambassadors provides humanitarian aid to children and families in need and conducts international relief and development... Read More

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Airport Workout Locations Via Airport Gyms

Finding a Fitness Center Near the Airport is a Cinch! A workout on a long airport layover seems like a good idea right? But where should  you go since a jog on the runway may delay your trip? We’ve been enjoying a website that makes it easy to find the closest airport gyms of which many offer day passes if you don’t already have a membership. The... Read More

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The Best US Airports Have Jetiquette

Do you “connect” with some airports better than others? Whether you are making a connection or traveling to or from any of the “Top 50 Airports” in the United States, you may want to refer to our chart for links to terminal shopping and dining, wireless internet information & terminal maps. Airports that have created... Read More

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TYRONE GREEN, AA GATE AGENT & CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR

By Margery Wilson As a frequent flier I spend lots of time interacting at various levels with airport and airline personnel.  Maybe surprisingly I do not have any horrendous customer service stories to relate.  However, I have encountered a fair share of customer service superstars.  At the top of my list is American Airline’s Gate Agent Tyrone... Read More

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Bags fly free on Southwest, not crying babies

Southwest Employees celebrate "Bags Fly Free" NOTE: See airline checked baggage fees The situation at Southwest Airlines in which a crying 2-year old boy created such a fuss that he got himself and his mother thrown off has me thinking. It seems that though extremely friendly and customer-centric, Southwest’s employees definitely take... Read More

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Check-In to Gourmet Dining at JFK

If airport hot dogs and ham sandwiches are your thing then this post won’t mean much to you. If you believe in great food or nothing at all, then perhaps JFK should be on your next New York itinerary. After  all, what’s wrong with passing away a possible flight delay with a sumptuous meal and a cocktail or two? Nothing I say. JetBlue’s... Read More

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Connect Via Helsinki; Spa On-The-Fly!

The next time you fly Finnair, you’ll be enjoying the convenience of the brand new terminal extensions at their Helsinki hub. And coming in December 2009, when making connections at Helsinki you’ll have the opporunity to relax and recharge in a fabulous new 250 seat via.lounge and a restful spa area, via.spa. The spa offers four... Read More

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Read More Posts From At the Gate

Travel Essentials

3FLoz.com:Bite-Size Luxury Travel Sized Beauty Products for Your Next Flight

Your favorite beauty and grooming products are good-to-go! 3FLOZ WebsiteFounders, Kate Duff and Alexi Mintz Have you been pulled over by the TSA and “reminded” about the size limitations of liquids in your carry-on? Yes, there are things you can do, like switch to non-liquid alternatives like those suggested by Doug... Read More

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Review: Live Language Learning with Rosetta Stone’s TOTALe

TOTALe from Rosetta Stone unites live instruction, student interaction & an award winning language program If you’re preparing for an international trip or your just someone that realizes the benefits of speaking additional languages, you’ve most likely thought of either hiring a private tutor, attending classes at a language learning... Read More

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Travel Pillow Talk

Buy Your Kiro Pillow Here How we travel says a lot about us right? It even affects how we feel when we’ve reached our destination. With this in mind, The Sky Steward felt it was time to set out on a search for the best travel pillow in the sky. The best travel pillow was chosen from dozens of contenders including the free pillows provided... Read More

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The Pan Am Orion Bag

The Beatles arrive on Pan Am flight Get your own Pan Am Bag at the Sky Steward Store October 28th, 2009 marked the fifty-first anniversary of Pan American World Airways’  first Boeing 707 jet flight from New York to Paris on October 28th, 1958. The jetset was created by Pan Am and the jetset traveled with Jetiquette. This elite group of stylish... Read More

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Are You a High Flying iPhone Addict? Time to Face Music!

iPhone Earrings at Etsy.com I have to be completely “real” with you right now when I say, “My name is Gailen David and I am an iPhone addict”. This week, my iPhone and I have become practically fused together from constant contact. I don’t know about you, but I resisted getting an iPhone for a long time, saying things... Read More

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Luxury Travel Blankets

The Pam Bee Just In: See The Sky Steward’s Favorite Travel Blanket, THE PAMBEE! (Watch for a full review post on the PamBee Pillow/Blanket/Eyeshade Set coming soon) Has that airline blanket you’re snuggling with been sleeping around? Is it time for you to travel with your own travel pillow and blanket? We’ve all seen many articles... Read More

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Travel Protection Kit

Wondered whether you would be hit with the swine flu? Getting a little nervous about traveling this flu season with all of the media reports about a possible epidemic? One of the best ways to travel stress free is to be prepared for anything. You’ve got everything else imaginable in your bag; iPhone, digital camera, noise cancelling headset,... Read More

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Bed Bug Spray

Did you notice red bumps or pimples on your legs and arms while away recently. Could it be bed bugs? Is there an invisible, bustling “Bed Bug City” in your next hotel room just waiting for you to arrive? They may even be waiting for your luggage; which to them is a jumbo jet that will whisk them to a lavish vacation at your home! Well,... Read More

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