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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Skip,
I think I'll drive now, domestically at least. It's about the same price. The only extra thing it costs me is time. So I weigh my time against a full body cavity search that the TSA just loves to give you, along with an airline charging me not only to sit on their plane but to actually take anything with me, rude everybody at the airlines etc etc. I think I come out ahead in the long run. Plus I get the opportunity to go on road trips with Sara and see more of America than I ever would have in a plane. Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Hmmm...I thought those full body cavity searches were one of the perks! I'm with you Robert - Seeeeeeeeeeee theeeeeeeee U.S.A. in your fuel-efficient-and-reliable-foreign -import today! (Sorry, Dinah...)
On the other hand, you meet the nicest people in an Amtrak Dining Car, the fares are reasonable and they're fast & reliable. Alternatives, friends...
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Here's a Viz style travel tip.
Make the starting point of yourjourney as close to the venue as possible. That way you'll not have so far to go. Neal
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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John Martin Inner circle 1017 Posts |
Robert,
We here (Montreal) have an airport tax as well. I think it's up to $25 just to get thru the gate to leave the airport. That's on top of the twenty or so dollars the airport charges parking, extra taxes on the fligth tickets, surcharge for the incease in fuel, federal sales tax, provincial sales tax and fees for checking a second bag. Not to mention with Air Canada you can pay an addtional $25 for "extra" customer services. In oter word, pay them to be nice to you!!! On our last vacation, after Jane and I had paid parking, airport fees, all the other fees and taxes, we got as far as the duty free shop and had to go back home because we were out of money LOL. John |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Quote:
John: We here (Montreal) have an airport tax as well. The French cannot be trusted! :) Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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John Martin Inner circle 1017 Posts |
OH you don't know how RIGHT you are!!!
John PS(Robert) I know this is a little off topic, but per your comment, check out this article. I'm sure you can relate. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/co......8a5cc577 |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
*shakes head*
Unreal.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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The Village Idiots Elite user Orlando 464 Posts |
US airways, and Song also charge for the first bag. I love AA but I have flown a million miles with them so it is easier. I don't like flying Southwest but I don't have any status with them.
Travel Tip: Get a Clear Card if they are available in your local airport. They cost a little over a hundred dollars a year but they are so worth it. They do a complete back ground check on you, finger prints, iris scan. But you get to cut in line, often in front of the flight crew. No long cattle lines that make me moo. http://www.flyclear.com Will
Some are born idiots.
Some are made idiots. Some have idiocy thrust upon them. |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Quote:
Travel Tip: Get a Clear Card if they are available in your local airport. They cost a little over a hundred dollars a year but they are so worth it. They do a complete back ground check on you, finger prints, iris scan. But you get to cut in line, often in front of the flight crew. No long cattle lines that make me moo. I can hear TAPS playing in the background at the burial of our civil liberties already. Ugh. On a brighter note - I've never had an issue with Southwest. They're a great airline and currently still allow two free bags with fees applying to 3rd and higher. But when you're Southwest you can do that. To this day they are the ONLY airline that has been profitable every quarter since Sept. 11 (and prior). Their business model is this: They don't buy what they can't pay for. Unlike other airlines that finance themselves into hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, Southwest waits to add routes, equipment etc until it's financially feesable to do so. We could learn something in our own businesses from them. ...Okay, back to travel talk. Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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MrHyde Special user 810 Posts |
Speaking of Travel Talk, most of you probably know http://www.flyertalk.com/
but it's very useful site if you fly a lot. Neal, that's a great tip about the seamans book for getting extra baggage allowance. I've found some travel agencies are able to do this, especially if they do entertainment/corporate roadshows etc, but I might start flashing my UK Seamans Discharge Book more often timothy |
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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Something else you frequent flyers might want to consider. I just signed up to the 'IRIS' program here in the UK.
It's a rential image recognition system. It takes a few minutes at most to sign up and have your retinal image taken and from then on whenever you enter the UK via one of the main airports you can avoid the often long lines at immigration and nip into the booth that reads your retina and lets you through. I don't know why it took me so long to join this program. I used it for the 1st time today coming back from my last gig and it worked a treat. No standing in line. You sign up for the program in the departure lounge area just after secturity at most of the main airports. Oh and it costs nothing. Neal.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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John Martin Inner circle 1017 Posts |
Hi Neal,
Do you perhaps mean "retinal" as in eyes? John |
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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
LOL...yeah John I did mean retinal. (hey I got it right two times out of 3 )
I also meant security and not secturity. Another travel tip that I've just reminded myself of as I've just this minute made use it again. If you're a frequent traveller here in the UK joining the Automobile Asociation (I've had to spell it with 1 's' because the Café's ridiculous censor system kicks is otherwise) can save you a good bit of money with airport car parking fees. I make all my airport car parking arrangements through online through the Automobile Asociation's web site and get a discounted rate. Over the course of a year this more than covers the cost of the subscription to join them. It is effectively equivilent to being paid to sign up to an established nationwide breakdown service. Perhaps there are similar arrangements in other countries? Add them to this thread if you know of any. Cheers Neal.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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The Village Idiots Elite user Orlando 464 Posts |
Here is a guy that has some tips. Not many pertain to me except for the Porter Case. That thing is amazing. I only buy cheapo depot cases to check since TSA beats the heck out of them.
http://www.frankcandy.com/suitcase.htm He does talk about something called The Official airline guide. I checked out their site but couldn't make heads or tails. Perhaps it could help one of you. http://www.oag.com/ With my clear card, with or with out my livil liberties intact, and my boarding pass printed out I only show up to the airport 15 minutes before my flight boards. That's 45 minutes till it takes off. Knock on wood but I've been doing it for 4 years and have never had a problem catching a flight. Travel Tip: I carry ear plugs in my pockets and wouldn't leave home with out my noise canceling headphones. I also purchased a lumbar support pillow from that extremely over priced travel store in the airport. It cost 40 bucks but I no longer feel as though I will be coming down with scoliosis from the airline seats. Will
Some are born idiots.
Some are made idiots. Some have idiocy thrust upon them. |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Yep, there is an official airline guide book,
thick as a big city phone book, tells the airline staff how/what/when to do whatever. For instance, if you have a bass fiddle it must have it’s own first-class seat. Guess what? In this whole huge book, it does NOT cover magicians or magic. I’ve spent hours figuring out the best “rules” that might apply, and it’s still a crapshoot. My best advice is COMMUNICATE with all the employees early and often! Just got back from a week of gigs in Florida and ten days in Chicago, they did not loose or damage anything and I was on time…. this time. Best of luck, Walt |
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Agent86 Regular user 154 Posts |
Hey guys, I'm flying United on Sunday to work the castle for the week. The first stowed bag is free and for a second stowed bag it's $25 extra, and so on for each additional bag. You're also allowed the normal personal item and smaller carry on. Thankfully everyone of my effects can fit into a thin folder if needed. Makes packing a cinch when you're doing 15+ shows per week.
On another note, I like Will have the fly clear card. It really is a must have if you travel by plane often. cheers, chris |
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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
Wow... I have to contribue to this thread. Well I don't *have* to but...
I'd LOVE to be able to carry my act onto the airplane. Technically, I can as it all fits into an "AWOL Bag" from Duluth Trading Company along with sufficient costumery... however... ... a little while ago I took my act as it stands with me to the airport to talk with the TSA folks - I didn't have a flight that day, but I wanted to get a "sanity check" on the gear since my show's tagline is "Dangerous and More Than a Little Stupid". My act deals with ropes, chain, scissors, and Paul L's still-working-brilliantly-after-six-years "Iron Garotte". About 30 minutes later, I discovered that the TSA agent and his supervisor were just fine with the big silk scarves, the ropes, the chains, the scissors (really?) as carry-on. They had a problem with the garotte. The problem: The two six inch long wooden handles could be used as a weapon to hurt someone. *Not* the six feet of chain between them. *Not* the fact that I'm one roll of duct tape away from carrying what the FBI calls a "Kidnap Kit"... no. It was those two stupid pieces of wood. In regard to Southwest: They've diced things up a bit finer now - and will actually assign you a place *in line* rather than a general boarding group, based on when you check in. A1-A20 are reserved for folks who splash out for the Business Class ticket - early seating, more frequent flyer credits, free drinkies on the plane. However, if you log into the Southwest web site 24 - 30 hours before your flight, you can pretty much set yourself up for being one of the first 30 people on the airplane *and* print out your boarding pass so you can zing on through if you're one of those lucky sods who can carry your act with you onto the plane. (Another bonus - if you have a brilliantly smart internet savvy phone - you can check in on line via the phone, then print out your boarding pass with your super low number when you get to the airport.)
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
ADDENDUM: Peter L. Not Paul L. And I'm a dimwit. And that was my 300th post. I feel proud and stupid at the same time.
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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