The Perils of Traveling by Private Jet

Smoke-Free Hotels On the Rise

Los Angeles Native Jonny Olsen: Huge in Laos

Saving Chekhov’s Yalta ‘White Dacha’ Home

How Can I Save on Transportation During a Round-the-World Trip?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

13 Great Travel Horror Movies

The Hollywood horror archives are filled with tales of bad trips. To celebrate Halloween, Eva Holland and Eli Ellison sift through the carnage to pick their favorites—and lose a little sleep doing so.

Matt Weiland: Through 50 States With 50 Writers

The coeditor of “State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America” talks to Frank Bures about the book, the WPA and how the United States hasn’t been “bulldozed for speed”

Love Herring in Sweden

From artery-clogging casseroles to a fermented concoction that smells alarmingly like vinegary flatulence, Lola Akinmade digs in to a smörgåsbord of herring and explains how to best appreciate Scandinavia’s favorite fish. 

The Water Is Wide

Bronwen Dickey considers Tim Butcher’s “Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart,” which takes readers deep into the Congo

Vagrant Ruminations of a Compulsive Traveler

Where does the urge to hunt for that “fleeting fix of elsewhere” come from? Peter Wortsman recalls a life of travel inspiration. 

Notes From an Unofficial Tourist Greeter

Summer is over, and so is Julia Ross‘ season as an ambassador to travelers in Washington, D.C.’s Woodley Park neighborhood. She’s happy to be off duty.

Should We Blame the Government for Our Poor Air Travel System?

I work for the government.  Are you sure that asking non experts into an industry to regulate it is the answer? It appears to me that raising prices will fix a lot of the problems mentioned such as 1.  covering the price of gas which is not 40% of the price of a ticket compared to 15% of a ticket a short time ago, 2. decreasing passengers will lesson the amount of flights needed and queues on the runway as delays, as well as eliminate the surcharges for checking baggage and bringing oversized bags on board.  If airtravel reverts to the the moderate luxury it used to be better behaving people will be flying, staffs will be less stressed, etc.  The American public is getting exactly what it is willing to pay for.

Blaming the goverment is a complex question and answer—since we should ask what the government is doing about rising gas prices, but not placing direct blame for rising plane costs.  This is not the first time the U.S. has met a spike & shortage in gas, therefore, the ultimate question should be what has the government done since to make sure we don’t repeat history.  Why not encourage fuel alternatives?  So, what little fuel we have can be given to industries—like the airlines. 

Does Grizzly Bear Mom believe we should revert back to the days of ‘Robber Barons” where ONLY the rich may due as they please?  What would that say about our society as a whole?  There is already a deepening divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.  As well as a growing emphasis that the middle class is being phased out.  Again, what will this say about our society? De-evolution!

If by the “government”, that includes the FAA, then yes...A large part of the “sorry state” of air travel can be laid at their door. Along with the high cost of jet fuel,(which, let’s face it..the government can do something about) is the added charges per ticket, the FAA charges a tax, why??, for what??. Every time a plane is stuck on the runway, it’s more than likely due to FAA regulations (not the airline). Higher prices for air travel will in the long run only serve to cause the average traveller to find other ways to travel. The airline industry in the US has not kept pace. They are still trying in 2008, to run a system that has not been updated since the 1980’s.