Airport Wait Times

I read the TSA is just as peeved by long wait times as the rest of us and is testing 'Diamond Lanes' at some airports. Now whether you arrive at the gate with your shoes off, laptops out, and ready to be frisked; or come wondering if your shampoo is 8 ounces or 4, there's a line for everyone: Expert traveler, casual traveler, or families and special assistance.

Diamond (Lanes) are a girl's best friend...

Sounds interesting, but the whole thing is based on the honor system. Reminds me of when Ned Flanders took over Springfield Elementary and put all the students on the honor system and banished detention, etc. It all makes me wonder why the TSA is even going to bother with their fancy Diamond Lanes if no one is going to actually enforce it. Travelers need rules. Left to our own devices at the airport, it turns into a scene from 28 Days Later. I just somehow doubt anyone, including parents with 16 toddlers, would wait patiently in a line deemed for slow travelers. The second there's long airport delays, everyone's going to make a mad rush for the shortest lines. No one's going to be yelling "Wait, I'm an expert traveler, and you are clearly just a casual traveler! Even though there are only 2 people in this line, you really need to go to that line with 260 people in it over there, for casuals."

The TSA is just setting the stage for classism and travel discrimination! I always knew they were jerks.

"I guess everyone else is stuck in security in the slow
diamond lane. I have the whole place to myself!"

But let's give it a whirl. I hope this idea aids to cut down some of the wait time and keep lines moving. And despite my 28 Days Later reference, I do think there are some travelers who would rather take their time than be rushed, and would prefer a line for this purpose. We'll see how it works out. But in the meantime, I'm going to stick to my system of:

• Pack light and organized. It's easier for screening purposes
  

• Don't check bags

• Bring an extra quart sized bag

• Take off shoes before you get to the security check-point

• Laptop out

• Take belongings outside of security before you put everything back together, letting everyone else have room while still dealing with security

But to know before you go, check the wait time at every security check point in every domestic airport at waittime.tsa.dhs.gov.

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From the Travel Bag

Q: I don't think I have enough money to travel. I'm not sure how to go about making it happen.

How to afford a vacation?

Everything in life takes sacrifice whether you're making time to going to the gym or watching TV at night instead of working your latest brainchild. Travel is really no different. First, sit down and make a budget to figure out where disposable income awaits. $10 for lunch? Cut it down to $5 by brown bagging it or buying cheaper options. Than in itself can save $100 a month. You might have to shave off one social outing a week, or skip the latest CD or novel. Another easy way to save is to only use bills when you spend. At the end of the day, put all your change in a jar and cash in before your trip. I've saved upwards of $75 a month this way with ease. Open a special savings account like ING just for travel. They often contribute upwards of $25 to your account at sign-up. If all else fails, get a part-time job or do odd-jobs on weekends. Squeeze, and repeat. Cash will loosen up.

But I've found those standard, generic rules of thumb to saving do little without innovation. The holidays are right around the corner and chances are you'll be with family at Thanksgiving who will want to know that age old question -- what you'd like for Christmas, Hanukkah, or your holiday of choice. Just about every airline allows you to give frequent flyer miles as gifts. So pick one out and sign up before you start telling your family and friends to pony up. And remember just about every airline will also offer several thousand miles as a bonus at sign-up, putting even more in your pocket. Just keep in mind you need to be clear about which frequent flyer club you've joined and stick with one airline only so you'll receive maximum return. If you fragment yourself with several frequent flyer plans, you'll end up with a lot of points spread out without much return. However, some airlines like Continental and Delta have partnerships with the other. I belong to Delta frequent flyer club but get points every time I fly Continental.

And don't forget the gift certificates. American Airlines and Jet Blue offer gift cards redeemable for airfare. But if it's not airfare you need but hotel accommodations in a neighboring city or a much needed cruise, try Travelocity where you can pick and choose your means of travel and accommodations.

If you ask, they will come.

From the Travel Bag

Q: I'm an inventory specialist for an online company and wish I could travel for work. I'm tired of sitting behind the desk all day. How can I convince my boss to let me go somewhere, anywhere, and have them foot the bill?

How to Make the Boss Foot the Bill?

The fact that you want your boss to foot the bill leads me to believe that you think she might. If that's the case, you need to come up with a plan and not just a "I deserve to go somewhere" tactic. It's not your boss' problem that you want to go somewhere, keep that in mind. That is not your angle, your angle should be how to convince her that you should go somewhere and that it will benefit the company. Start researching inventory trends, businesses, seminars, your own clients, and anything that remotely relates to your job. Maybe a new computer program has come out and you could go to San Diego for a one week workshop? Maybe you have a dissatisfied client that might need a little face time to smooth things over? Then add in a day or two before and after your business matter to enjoy your own downtime -- if at all possible. But remember that having your boss foot the bill means she'll expect you to work, and that equals up to not having a 'real' vacation. You may get more satisfaction that the trip is free and not care about having to work. But make sure you really think about what you want out of this trip and plan accordingly.

If your boss doesn't bite, let her know you're open to the idea when she feels it's a better fit. That way you're leaving the door open. Then look at taking a 1 day work related class, meeting up with a client, or meeting with a consultant about your career in your vacation area. Beforehand, talk to your accountant about how and how much you can write off. You may end up being able to write off 100% of the vacation. And it's a great way to give something back to yourself.

From the Travel Bag

Q: I only get two week off a year. Short of moving to England, how can I survive the year with only 2 weeks off?

2 Weeks a Year = Crappy Vacations?

I'm assuming you're jealous of England because of their standard 4 week off policy (and that doesn't even include banking and government holidays!) Who wouldn't be? But don't defect just quite yet. Grab a calendar or just print a free one from online and sit down and fill out every company day off. 4th of July? Columbus Day? (I've never gotten that one off, by the way). Include any days off they have for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Any holidays you're not sure about, just ask your HR department or boss if you work in a small company.

Now that you've got your calendar sorted, break old habits. If you're planning vacations on a Monday and coming back on a Friday or Saturday, stop. That's just a total waste of your vacation. Get creative. Book all your vacations over a 3 day weekend. That doesn't mean you can only travel over 3 days, but use that company time off as a 'free' day. So what you want to do is leave on a Thursday evening after work. If your boss is cool, ask if you can duck out at 4pm to take a slightly earlier flight (without getting your vacay time docked). Then, if your 'free' day is say the Monday on President's Day -- come back from your trip on Tuesday morning and go straight from the airport to work.

It will make for a long day, but it's totally worth it when you realize you had 4 days of fun in your vacation destination and only had to take 1 day off work. If you do this over every 3 day weekend, you can end up with at least 3 or 4 vacations under your belt with only about 4 days off of work. And that still leaves you with about 6 vacation days left from your job.

Soon the trouble will be figuring out where to go 5 times a year, not how to take the time off work.