Please Hug Me - I've Been Delayed » Providing support for weary airline travelers worldwide

No company has ever succeeded by treating their customers like crap. The airline industry is notorious for not always keeping their customers first in mind when making their decisions…

Chronic Seat Kickers (CSKs)

Apparently, my ranting on NPR about the Chronic Seat Kickers (CSKs) on board our flights has been hitting home. And while this is a terrible problem we must all face, I’m happy to find there are others out there as unlucky as I am to always find themselves sitting in front someone who thinks they are the only human on the plane. Now, as I mentioned in Please Hug Me–I’ve Been Delayed, you have to remember that Chronic Seat Kickers need to be broken down by age before you can determine how to react to their barbaric behavior.

Is a patdown really necessary? (Only if he’s cute)

Everyone is up in arms about the new security procedures, claiming our human rights are being violated, and freaking out about privacy once again. Here’s the thing kids. In case you haven’t noticed, privacy is a thing of the past. Everything you do is for public scrutiny these days. Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, I know what every single one of my friends ate for breakfast, how their first date went before they even get home, and on the day after Halloween, what they look like naked.

Getting Bumped: The Art of Free Air Travel

Everyone has that one annoying friend who is constantly bragging about all the free stuff they get. Free hotel stays, free meals, free prizes in cereal boxes (some people just have to brag no matter what), etc. With overbooked flights at unprecedented levels, your opportunity to become one of these annoying people has finally arrived.

Why should you book all your connections through Salt Lake City?

Travel and Leisure recently released their report of the best and worst airports for delayed flights for 2009. Topping the list of the worst was Newark, NJ (EWR), which confirms what we’ve known all along–everyone in Newark is so excited about Jersey Shore they’ve forgotten all their responsibilities, including getting the planes off the ground on time.

Here’s a nice little app that can be of great value for your next trip

By HugMe • January 27, 2012 • Flight delays • Leave a comment

Having recently become an Android fan with my new HTC phone I spend far too much time , I thought I’d share a new app from FlightView that can be a big help next time you’re stuck in the terminal. Check it out! Description Flight tracking app from the leaders in real-time flight information.Real-time flight [...]

Are crying babies old news?

By HugMe • January 23, 2012 • Crying Babies • Leave a comment

Is it possible? Have my suggestions for charging just a few dollars more to sit in a crying-baby free row been taken into consideration by the FAA? Well, perhaps. I have to say, having just flown the red-eye on Virgin America, I was pleased that the only time I was awoken during the night was [...]

Green Travel Tips for The Holidays

By HugMe • December 16, 2011 • Green Travel • Leave a comment

There’s not denying it—the holidays are exciting. Reindeer. Shopping. Trees. Presents. Candles. Carols… far too exciting to worry about remaining green throughout December, right? You can pick that back up in January. Wrong! Staying green during the holidays is just as easy as any other time of year. And who knows… maybe if you stick [...]

Recipe for the Best Thanksgiving Dinner Ever!

By HugMe • November 21, 2011 • Flight delays, Random Musings • Leave a comment

In true holiday spirit, I thought I’d share a favorite passage from Please Hug Me – I’ve Been Delayed that deals with one of one of the most challenging parts of the holiday season: family. (Excerpt from Chapter 2 – At the Airport) Do the words “my mother is coming to visit” immediately send [...]

Why Charging for Luggage is actually COSTING airlines more money (Open letter to the Airline Industry)

By HugMe • October 13, 2011 • Airline Fees, Baggage • Leave a comment

Dear Airline Industry, My name is Joe Customer. I am a frequent flyer and love traveling. Occasionally, I enjoy bringing some clothes and a toothbrush with me. Why have you created such a mess out of everything that I now prefer to stay at home and watch the Travel Channel instead of step foot in [...]

Can an airplane fly through a hurricane?

By HugMe • September 1, 2011 • Fear of Flying • Leave a comment

In a post- Hurricane / Tropical Letdown Irene followup, I thought I’d answer this common question about airplanes, and just how much wind and rain and turbulence they are built to withstand. The answer? A lot. Even Spirit Airlines, the little airline the could, can operate in a severe storm just fine. Remember, aircraft often [...]

Hurricane Irene: Not the End, Just Yet

By HugMe • August 26, 2011 • Flight delays • Leave a comment

When I was little we had this game called Bermuda Triangle, where you move your little magnetic pieces shaped like tiny ships around the board, then roll the dice. Depending on how you roll, you then move this big magnet over the board in the shape of a hurricane. If you’re lucky, your ship escaped [...]

Smile! It’s contagious?

By HugMe • August 23, 2011 • Flight delays, Random Musings • Leave a comment

I was recently smiled at by a pretty lady in my local coffee shop. Like any writer who doesn’t get out much, I immediately panicked. I assumed she thought I was someone who owed her money, or mistook me for a match.com date. “Oh no, I’m involved, ” I nearly blurted out, never occuring to [...]