I got a neck pillow for two reasons: to use on the eight-hour flight from Charlotte, North Carolina and to use on the long and overnight train rides through the Continent. Now that my flight has ended, I am able to verify the effectiveness of a neck pillow! I have no idea why, but airplane seats are designed like scoops, but if your back is flush with the back of the chair, your head will end up sticking out from your body and the chair in an award position. If you have your hair in a pony tail like I do, your frustration will be amplified, especially with the darkness (overnight flight) and long period of time that will harken you to sleepiness.
So, although taking up the most space in my bag, the pillow is extremely light-weight, and will undoubtedly come in handy on train rides, and hopefully in hostels as a second pillow. Will include further pillow updates in my hostel reviews!
One of the most exciting places to visit while traveling is usually the first place you leave and the first place you arrive at at both the start and end of the trip. Modern airports, seaports, and train stations are designed to mesmerize and to entertain visitors. They do this not only to keep visitors occupied, but to make sure that they spend their last dime before leaving the host country. The website’s background is currently a photo of one of the terminals of Charlotte Douglas Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the airports I will be visiting on my travels. Its International Air Transport Aviation (IATA) airport identifier is CLT (this shows up on your ticket itinerary or when searching for tickets at booking sites online).
Fast Facts
Seventh nationwide in total operations
11th nationwide in total passengers (38,254,207 passengers)
34th nationwide in cargo (freight, mail)
Number of Flights Daily: 703
Direct/Nonstop Flights: 138 destinations, 36 International
Airlines
Domestic Carriers:
AirTran Airways
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
United Airlines
US Airways
Foreign Flag Carriers:
Air Canada Jazz
Lufthansa German Airlines
Insel Air
Regional Carriers:
American Eagle
United Express
Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines,
ComAir, Compass Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines and Shuttle America
US Airways Express operated by AirWisconsin, Chautauqua Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines and Republic Airlines
So, I bought my tickets on Tuesday! I am so excited!
I was even more excited about the price I paid. I paid about $600 less than I had originally budgeted largely thanks to my credit card points. But the awesomeness of it all is that the same tickets were being sold for about $500 more only hours before on my credit card rewards portal page! By waiting until early Wednesday morning, I was able to capitalize on the credit card company updating its systems (midnights) and the adventitiously late updating of United price schedule.
So, in the end the price I paid to visit a family members graduation before I head over to Europe was the same price of the ticket to Europe from where I live the next day. Lesson learned: timing is crucial, don’t wait too long, but don’t rush things either!
Facts:
United doesn’t charge a fee for your 1st checked bag on a transatlantic flight. (I plan to backpack so I’ll definitely save money there!)
United is partners with the national flag carrier of one of the countries I’m stopping in. Definite savings there!
When airlines say they offer internet access on board, it only counts for that portion of your trip that’s over the continental U.S. (not over the ~5-hour segment above water) on a transatlantic flight.
Exploration Abroad 