Talk About Travel

Tales re: new security measures, Southern California, Southwest boarding procedures, Boston and more.

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of ... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions -- but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.

We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.

You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions.

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Gary Lee: Fellow travelers: In these dog days of summer, we have a lean team on hand to field your questions. Besides myself (Gary Lee, travel staff writer) we've got deputy editor John Deiner, staff writer Carol Sottili, section copy editor and writer Andrea Sachs and section researcher Anne Mcdonough. We've got expertise in lots of areas and parts of the world, but we don't know everything. Feel free to add your two or three cents. If you have specific security questions that you would not mind seeing answered in our question and answer section, please send them to Carol Sottili, at sottilic@washpost.com. In your e-mails to her, please include your full names, town or city of residence and permission to publish your query (and the answer) in the section.

Our question of the day is on the topic of the day, airline security. In particular, I was wondering if any of you have been flying in the past few days, since the new guidelines were introduced and if so what good or negative experiences you had that would help other travelers. Have any of you decided to avoid traveling in the near future or cancelled trips. What's your thinking. The best, most succinct story about security/toiletries/flying wins a free prize: a neck cushion from cheapflights.com to make your flight more comfortable.

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Arlington, Va: For the Germany traveler that posted last week: A great place to stop in between Munich and Berlin is Erfurt in east Germany. I stayed at the Hotel Sorat, which is right next to the old square with tons of shops and cafes. Also nearby is the cutest little town, Eisenach. Eisenach is home to Wartburg, a castle that was home to St. Elizabeth as well as Martin Luther when he translated the Bible from Greek to his new German language. There's also a fancy hotel at Wartburg (Clinton stayed there when he was Pres). Very very beautiful region!

Gary Lee: Hey, besten dank for this answer. I like that part of Germany, too.

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Croatia, from last week: I was the one who just got back from Prague and Croatia, and I missed the question someone had last week:

"London, U.K.: Thanks for taking my question. I'm travelling with a friend to Dubrovnik at the end of this month, and we're planning on spending about four days island-hopping along the coast. How much flexbility can we allow ourselves as far as doing advance planning on transportation between islands and accommodation? Should we book ferry tickets and rooms now or can we wait until we get there and figure out as we go where we want to spend our time?"

With ferries, we found that, unless you need a car ferry reservation, it didn't seem to be a problem getting tickets last minute. For some of the faster boats (like a catamaran between Split and Hvar), in fact, you couldn't buy a ticket until the day of the trip. Be sure to visit Hvar, a truly glorious island with a very international mix of people.

As for rooms, we had 7 of us, so we didn't want to risk not getting a room, so we booked ahead of time with a croatian travel agency. However, everywhere we went, we saw people with signs for "sobe". However, some of those rooms are the typical shared bathrooms, no air conditioning, etc., so if you are fine with that, I think you could do without room reservations.

Final warning-if you are taking a ferry, and it leaves at 11:30, do not show up at 11:31 and expect them to hold the ferry for you. One of the funnier parts of our trip was watching an italian lady, armed with a cell phone, screaming at someone on the boat pulling up the lines, running up and down the dock. Needless to say, they didn't hold the boat for her. It is quite possible that there may be only 2 ferries a week (that's right, a week) connecting the islands you want, so be on time!

One final help: here's the online site for ferry reservations, or, at the very least, schedules. http://www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2

Andrea Sachs: Thanks so much for the live report from Croatia. Much appreciated.

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New York, NY: Hi! Will I be allowed to take a purse on the plane with me if I fly from New York to California? How about a carry-on? If I can't bring a bottle of water on the plane with me, will they stock extra water on the plane? Will I be allowed to take contact lens solution on the plane? Will the airport stores stop selling toothpaste and mouthwash, or will they continue to sell them, and people who are stupid enough to buy them will have them taken away? Can I take my cellphone onto the plane?

Carol Sottili: Yes, you can bring a purse/carry-on on all domestic and international flights. For U.K., you can now bring one carry-on, but must be no larger than 17 inches long, 14 inches and 6.3 inches deep including wheels, handles and side pockets. Airlines will have enough water to drink on board. Yes, you can now bring small bottle of contact lens solution - not large bottle. Yes, you can take your cell phone. Just remember to turn it off. A plane from Heathrow was turned around midflight when a phone went off onboard and no one would fess up.

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Washington, DC: Could you explain how a TSA lock works?

Anne McDonough: Hey DC, basically, they're locks that are TSA-approved and have a combo that you set, plus a place on the lock that can be opened by a secret TSA-issued tool. Theoretically, if security needs to go into your bag they open it with the tool, search, and then close the lock. If it's damaged, and you think it was during the search process, you can file a claim (check the links below for more info). Here are some links that help to explain the process:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm

http://www.travelsentry.org/faq.htm#work

http://www.safeskieslocks.com/

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St. Martin?: Has anyone out there been to St. Martin? We are headed there over Thanksgiving for a wedding and are looking at hotels. None are standing out and wonder if anyone can recommend a place to stay there. French or Dutch side doesn't matter to us. Thanks!

Gary Lee: We have been to both sides but not recently enough to recommend a hotel.

Can any folks out here offer a tip or two on this?

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TSA Regulations: I see that now they are letting lipstick on and some liquid medicines. I'm flying next week and don't want to get caught with something that's not allowed. Is there a website with up to date information on what is being allowed and what isn't? Is this on TSA's website? Has anyone out there experienced different restrictions at different airports? Thanks.

Carol Sottili: Go to www.tsa.gov for updated regs. And yes, there is confusion out there because regs are changing.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm not sure if this is a physics question or maybe human behavior - I was traveling on Southwest airlines this past weekend and got to participate in their A, B, and C boarding system. I don't know why they don't just give people seat assignments - but perhaps some marketing guru told them to stick with the old system. My observation/question is this - why do people stand in line for 1.5 hours for a flight that is only 45 minutes long? I can sort of understand waiting in line to get a good seat for a 4 or 5 hour flight to the west coast. But for a 45 minute flight from Hartford to BWI? They barely have time to serve drinks. I can't get through listening to a whole album on my iPod. Insane.

John Deiner: Ah, DC, next to whether toilet paper should be put on the roller with the first sheet sticking up or underneath, the early queues for Southwest seats is one of life's greatest mysteries.

I don't get it myself, though the airline is currently testing whether it should assign seats. In my experience, if you have an "A" boarding pass it will ensure you an aisle seat with copious amounts of room for carryon luggage, and if you're lucky, you may even get the exit row (why does everyone want to sit in the first eight rows anyway?). And while a trip to Florida only takes two hours or so, there are always at least 20 people camping out at the front of the A line even if the plane hasn't even arrived yet.

If you have a C pass, it makes sense, particularly if the plane is sold out or very full.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

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Minneapolis, Minn: I travel a lot for work and I'm a nursing mother. My baby does not travel with me on my business trips. When I travel, I pump milk and schlep it back with me for my baby to eat. Will the TSA let me on board with breastmilk even if I have no baby? Or will I need to throw away my "white gold"?

Carol Sottili: Here's the latest regs from TSA:

Baby formula and breast milk are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected

Liquids and gels, including baby formula or breast milk may be packed in your luggage and checked with your airline. You are encouraged to travel with only as much formula or breast milk needed to reach your destination.

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Madrid, Spain: I'm here in Madrid flying back the States on Thursday. Is there anything I will need to do differently to get home? Will the security be stiffer here than in the past? I'm flying to Miami and not to DC or NYC. Thanks

Carol Sottili: You should check with your airline, but we haven't heard of any major delays coming out of Spain.

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Washington DC: Hi Flight Crew!

I'm scheduled to fly to Italy via Heathrow in three weeks and had planned on only doing carry-on luggage due to a short layover. Is there any chance that the restrictions will be lifted any time soon? Also, my flight is a multiple carrier flight purchased through Orbitz, what are my options as far as changing to another connection point to avoid London?

Carol Sottili: You can only bring one small carry-on bag (see previous posting re: size). We have no idea whether restrictions will be lifted. Call Orbitz and ask - each airline has different rules about this.

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Del Ray, Va: I am beginning to plan a trip to Argentina next year. One of my questions is whether it is possible to hike in the Bariloche area of Patagonia in September, or is it still too snowy? I've read your recent Argentina stories, but any other suggestions or tips would be great. Also, is it cheaper to do it myself or try to book a package generally?

Gary Lee: Our Argentina pros are out this week. Can any one else out there in travel land offer a tip or two for this lucky South America bound traveler?

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Guatemala question: I am going to Guatemala over Thanksgiving and am planning to spend 4 nights at Lake Atitlan. The plan was to spend all 4 at Casa del Mundo, but unfortunately I could only get 2 nights there. Any suggestions for the other 2 nights. I was thinking of the Posada de Santiago in Santiago Atitlan to have a somewhat less secluded experience or sticking with secluded the Lomas de Tzununa looks interesting. Any advice? I definitely don't want to stay in Pana.

John Deiner: Good question! Unfortunately, our Guatemala expert is in, uh, Guatemala right now. Check out www.atitlan.com, which has a great interactive map with hotels, most of them privately owned, smallish places built on the hillsides surrounding the lake.

Anyone out there know of a good place to stay on the lake?

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Germantown, Md: I have two questions. I'm going on a cruise and I'm booked on a British Airways flight to Barcelona, connecting in London. What security restrictions applies to flights from here to London? I know what rules BA is enforcing right now for my return but I have no idea what to expect for the USA to London flight or the London to Barcelona flight. My second question is if I arrive at Heathrow and the Barcelona flight is cancelled do you have any suggestions on how to catch up with the cruise in Cannes, France.

Carol Sottili: If you're connecting in London, all UK rules apply. Go to www.dft.gov.uk for the latest regs. As for getting to Cannes, I don't there is a simple rail route. Rent a car? Any chatters have an idea?

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Survived a Weekend of Travel, DC: Though myself and my travel companions were savvy enough to arrive 2 hours early to the airport on Friday morning for our flight for a long weekend vacation to Miami, we found that the check-in lines were more than an hour long, as people like us who never check bags for a small weekend trip were required to check our carry-on size bags so we'd have sunscreen when we arrived. I can live with this requirement, however much it increases my travel time.

However, the water issue is one that has me truly concerned. My flight was only 2 1/2 hours, but even so, in the dry air of an airplane we all should drink more water than less. Not being allowed to bring on our own water should necessarily require the airlines to provide more. My USAirways flight however only provided one small cup of liquid per person, and I was given grief about requesting a second cup.

Any thoughts on how the airlines can address this problem given that the restrictions aren't likely to be lifted any time soon? I'm sure it will be a big hit to their bottom line to supply more water to all passengers, especially on long trans-Pacific flights.

Thanks.

Gary Lee: Thanks for sharing. Your question is a good one. I think that we can start by writing to the airlines, especially those that we have longtime experience with, saying that they have to step up to the cooler, so to speak, and be more generous with beverages.

Anybody else have thoughts on this

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Transiting Heathrow: We're scheduled to change planes at Heathrow next week. I realize the rules keep changing, but what are the airlines doing about hand baggage carried onto a flight from the U.S. to Heathrow when the passenger wants to transit at Heathrow? Do you have to go through Customs and Immigration to check the carry-on or is there gate-checking allowed? Any word on this? Thanks.

Carol Sottili: Again, if you are connecting in Heathrow, all U.K. security rules apply. See previous posting.

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Churchill, MB: I am thinking of going to Churchill in November to see the polar bears (while they are still around). Do you or the chatters have any suggestions for this trip (I read your March article). Extra trips to take (e.g. dog sledding)? I will also probably spend a couple of days in Winnipeg. Any suggestions for what to see or where to stay? For accomodations, I want clean, safe, and near public transportation--no other requirements. Thanks so much!

John Deiner: Wow, great trip (and good point about doing it while the bruins are still around). None of us has made the trip, but I'm posting the story to jog some memories, and maybe some out there can offer some assistance.

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washingtonpost.com: Polar Bear Express , (March 5, 2006)

John Deiner: And here's the story . ..

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Greenville, SC: I'll be traveling to LaGuardia in a couple of weeks and was thinking of using a car service instead of a cab to get into Midtown. At first glance it appears to be a good alternative.

Has anyone used this type of service? Any trouble meeting the driver, getting stiffed, etc.?

Thanks!

Anne McDonough: I've always taken a cab or the shuttle (http://www.nyairportservice.com, goes to Grand Central, Port Authority and Penn Station for easy subway connections)or relied on lovely family members so we're throwing this out to the crowd to see the good and the bad among the car service experiences out there. Folks?

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re: St. Martin: I've never been, but friends say the French side is far preferable (less crime, not as Disney-fied). Why not consider renting a villa? They can actually be very reasonable, especially if there are other wedding guests who are willing to go in on it.

Gary Lee: We can tell you from first hand experience with both sides that the French side is preferable. Also, we agree that renting a villa is something you should look into, but make sure it's in a secure area.

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Washington, DC: TSA Locks: So do the TSA folks really hate the locks on the suitcases? Our suitcase this week came through with one of those little TSA calling cards on this inside...and no lock. They did not put it back on. Kind of hard to file a claim on that one ("No, really, we had a lock on there!).

Anne McDonough: I'd still file it anyway, if you have something missing other than the lock. If it's just the lock itself, it may not be worth the hassle. Also, they may have put it back on but not re-locked it properly so it fell off (that's the Pollyanna in me coming out).

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Brian, Morehead City, NC: I'm heading to Chicago after Labor Day, and I'll be staying near O'Hare. The Cubs will be in town. What's the best way to get form O'Hare to Wrigley Field? Will I have any problems walking up and buying a ticket?

Andrea Sachs: If I am reading my train map correctly, it seems like the best way to see the Cubs (win? lose? make history?) is to take the train southbound on the Blue Line, from O'Hare to Addison (travel time is 22 minutes). From there, you can walk to Wrigley Field or hop CTA Bus No. 152 Addison Eastbound to the entrance. For times and other travel options, see http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Hello. Just wanted to pass along that I flew from Indy to LaGuardia, and from LaGuardia to DC National and then back to Indy, this weekend without incident. The lines weren't any longer than I had seen on other trips, and people seemed to be adhering to the "no liquids" rule. The Indianapolis airport won points from us for its giant display labeled "No Go!", which featured all sorts of unacceptable items (nailpolish, water bottles, toothpaste), taped to a giant posterboard. Twice, my bags were searched by TSA agents when I went through security, but they were quick and professional and it was not a problem. I didn't see any freakouts or other hiccups along the way, and would encourage people not to worry too much about traveling while these precautions are in place.

Gary Lee: Hey, much thanks. Recen tales from the road are always useful. Yours might just win you that prize!

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Washington, DC: I am traveling to France on September 1st and returning on the 16th. There has been a lot of publicity about what has happened at Heathrow, but have there been similiar disruptions at Charles de Gaulle airport? Are there any special restrictions?

Carol Sottili: We haven't heard of any mass cancellations/problems out of Paris. If flight connects through London, that's a different story.

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Upstate: I had tiny (2" long) nail clippers in my bag - leftover from a road trip - that I forgot to take out for flying. The security person zoomed right in. Without a word, she dug into the bag, retrieved the clippers, and started bending the nail file back and forth. She was doing this for a full minute. She never gave any verbal cue as to what she saw, what she was doing - I finally asked, uh, what's going on? She said she was trying to remove the nail file (which was 1.5" long) by bending it back and forth. I thought to myself - how long would it have taken her to break metal like that? Why did she have to make me watch her? Why did she not even say anything? I wasn't keen on parting ways w/ the clippers, but I just said, never mind, toss them. Who'd want mangled nail clippers, anyway?

Gary Lee: Upstate: Thanks for the story...

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Vacationland, USA: HELP!!! Southern California Family vacation planned- leaving tomorrow. We'll spend 3 days in San Diego, 3 days in LA, and then have 3 more days, and aren't sure what to do with them.

Any fun suggestions for a small town or diversion? Santa Barbara was suggested, but I'm looking for some other ideas. We'll be traveling with a nine year old.

Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Santa Barbara is very nice. You could do the trip up the coast to Santa Barbara, with Hearst Castle and Solvang thrown in. But with so few days, I'd just split them between L.A. and S.D. - there is plenty to do in both cities to occupy nine days.

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Arlington, Va: I haven't flown in the last few days but will be soon. My experience lately, though, is that the level of security enforcement depends greatly on the whims of the security agents. At Dulles they make you take your shoes off, but 6 hours later at LAX they don't. But at LAX, the TSA agent made me remove my zippered top, claiming it was a jacket, leaving me in a flimsy camisole to go through the metal detector. In the US, you have to take your laptop out of its case, and sometimes turn it on, but not in Asia.

The worst was in Geneva last year, when the security agent found tweezers in my toiletry case and told me that he had to take them because I was flying to the US. I argued that the US allows you to fly with tweezers, since I had left a US airport with them a few days prior, but he just said, "Blame Mr. Bush."

So, I'm going to assume the most restrictive interpretations of the TSA rules and put just about everything in my checked luggage next month. This will mean flying for 18 hours without lotion, toothpaste, or contact lenses. I just hope my luggage arrives with me!

Gary Lee: Thanks for the note, Arlington. We also have found that the rules are unevenly enforced.

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Solid Toiletries: If I were really stuck needing a carry on right now I'd pack:

-Solid shampoos (LUSH cosmetics sell them)

-"Crystal" hard deoderant

-Tooth powder/baking soda, or Oral-B's brush ups

-I've even seen solid hand creams at specialty cosmetics stores

As for hair products, however, I'm at a loss.

Carol Sottili: I'd just put my usual cheap stuff in checked luggage, or buy small new ones at my destination, but these ideas are good.

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Washington DC: The TSA website and FAQ is a joke. It has very little useful, specific information. For example, the Post ran a story today about solid lipstick now being allowed. Well, the according to the TSA site which I've been monitoring each day, it was never banned! A lipstick is not a liquid, gel, cream, paste, or of a remotely similar consistency to any of the aforementioned. I want to know where the information that it was banned was coming from, how it was publicized if not on the TSA site, and who unbanned it. No wonder there is so much confusion out there....

Gary Lee: Perhaps you're right. But be aware that the rules are a moving target, changing faster than tsa can post the changes.

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Dresden, Germany: For the German traveler.....Another great stop over would be Dresden. We would recommend the Hotel Kipping, which lies directly in the center of town making walking to the main attractions very easy. The hotel is 100 meters from the main railroad station, 2.5 km from the motorway exit, and 6 km from the airport. The hotel provides free parking and has a wonderful restaurant. Dresden is a beautiful city and worth the stop on ones way to Berlin.

...from M&C/ Annapolis, MD

Gary Lee: I fully agree. Dresden, with the Zwinger, Opera, and other sites is one of the undiscovered gems of Europe.

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Anonymous: I don't like Southwest's system. If I'm not in the first group, I may have to climb over those in group A, who have grabbed aisle seats, to get to a center seat. No advantage in booking your flight early. I think the earliest you can print your boarding pass, to get in group A, B or C, is midnight the night before your flight (or pay a service that does this).

I think the prohibition on water is typical overreactiion to the most recent terrorist threat. You can bet terrorists have moved on to new techniques by now. I have been on other flights, including an international flight on United before last week's scare, where there was a dearth of liquids.

John Deiner: You can print your boarding pass exactly 24 hours before your scheduled flight time, and it's amazing how many people are ready to pounce on the button to do that (okay, I'm among htem). But you're right about being in late-B or the C group. It can get really crazy, and if a family of four is in the C group and got to the airport late, then there's some crazy seat-swapping going on as they're shutting the door.

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RE: Vacationland, USA: Spend an extra day in the San Diego area and head up to Julian in the mountains for a small-town experience. It's best in the Fall for their apple fest, but during the summer it's worth heading up through the Cleveland National Forest and stopping for a picnic at Green Valley Falls park, and then staying over night at one of the cute B&Bs up in Julian. Bring a sweater cause it can get cold up there at night!

Gary Lee: much thanks. good tip.

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Bowie, Md: How to say this...

I've ALWAYS packed my toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, etc into my checked luggage. The only time I didn't was my overnight business trip (briefcase doubled as suitcase for one set of clothes and one day's toiletries.)

Why do people carry on enough equipment for a safari? They're the ones blocking the aisles getting on and off.

Once passengers get used to the new rules, I look forward to easier boarding and debarking.

Gary Lee: Thanks for your thoughts.

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Alexandria, Va.: The security expert who did a chat on washingtonpost.com earlier today said air travellers can't bring food onboard -- is this really true?! The TSA Web site just said no gel foods (except for diabetics) or liquids.

But their Web site also says nothing about contact lens solution -- it's not on the prohibited list at all. Which implies that is -is- allowed in any quantity. What's the story?! Thanks! Not looking forward to flying anytime soon...

Carol Sottili: Food is fine. Haven't read that chat transcript, but will take a look. Contact lens solution is a liquid, and like all liquids, it was not allowed. But now the TSA says that you can bring small amounts of contact lens solution onboard. To be precise up to 4 oz. of non-prescription liquid medications is now allowed.

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Denver, Colo: I traveled this weekend from Denver to Milwaukee, and return.

It helped to take an empty water bottle along -- fill it after security, drink or dump water before boarding, get more water on the plane. Flight had 2 drink services on a 2 hour flight. You may not bring any liquid or food onto the plane that you bought at the airport. (but food brought from home was ok - go figure)

Please encourage TSA to give specific examples on their website: solid deodorant? (confiscated in DEN); mascara? (ok in DEN, not in MKE); chapstik was ok, but not solid-stick sunscreen.

The good news is that the overhead bins are nearly empty because everyone is checking their bags.

Gary Lee: hey, Denver, those are useful tips. You could win the prize!

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Just flew in from SoCal and my arms are killing me!: Sorry about that folks...

Anyway, I DID just fly in from SoCal after a 10 day visit with family and didn't have too bad a time going through security on our return flight. Of course, we also flew out of John Wayne (in Orange County) vs. LAX or San Diego, so maybe that had something to do with us being the only peeps in the security line.

One thing I noticed was that my uncle parked his car at the curb, helped us with our luggage (taking it all the way to the ticketing agent) and didn't get hassled at all. When we arrived here at Dulles, we were in the process of loading our vehicle when the overzealous security peeps told us (over their loudspeaker) to hurry it along as we weren't supposed to be parked there (I was installing our 2 y.o.'s car seat, which can be a bear at times). Gotta love the over the top security attitude that's so prevalant here in DC.

Gary Lee: Thanks for that from the road travel tale...

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ST Martin Hotel: The Alamanda Resort is terrific. Right off Orient Beach with great sea breezes blowing all the time.

Gary Lee: Much thanks for that tip.

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Washington, D.C.: On a recent flight from Denver back to Washington, I noticed a lady was using her 'blackberry-like' device during the take off. Later, she even turned on her cell phone. I know some cell phones had a 'pilot mode' setting, which disables the cell communication and makes the phone to be safe to use on plane, but is it true that during the place take off, all electronic deviced should be off? BTW finally I reported to a flight attendant.

Carol Sottili: You did the right thing.

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Capitol Hill-DC: I have a question for you.

Airline X flies from City A to City B every day of the year at the same time every day. A routine flight. In good weather and in bad.

Why then with all these hours, days, years of experience, does Airline X, (and Y and Z) collapse like a house of cards just because some clouds or rain blow in? For the life of me it seems like a little rain--something that happens all the darn time--makes rational Airline people's brains go to mush. If I told my boss it is raining so I need an hour delay to get to work, I'd find myself out of a job in a heartbeat.

Is it any wonder the airlines are a mess? I'd rather walk than get on a plane, anymore! Customer Service has evaporated in the airline industry--we are just cattle to them.

Sorry for the rant. I am just disgusted.

John Deiner: Hey, Cap. We'll just let you rant here. We've all been in situations where weather has called an hours-long delay, and we feel your pain.

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Bethesda, Md: I'll be travelling to Boston next Sunday for business. Considering the big dig tunnel closure, what are my options for getting to my hotel in the convention center/Prudential center area? Would a regular taxi be just fine, or do I have to take the subway or water taxi?

Andrea Sachs: I was just in Boston for my sister's wedding and I missed the rehearsal because of the Big Dig: We took a wrong turn and ended up driving to New Hampshire. If possible, take the train or walk. The traffic is awful and the closures and detours are insane (even the cop taking us to the hotel--long story--got twisted around). You can also take a water taxi from the airport to points around the city. For train info: www.mbta.com

Oh wait, here's an update from Anne, who was in Boston this weekend. She says the cab to/from the airport to Kenmore Street was a piece of cake. So, there you have it, two sides of the baked bean.

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Washington, D.C.: You asked about our experiences flying under the new regulations.

I flew out of Dulles at noon on Thursday, hours after the new restrictions went into effect. Pleasantly surprised to encounter -no- unusual delays at security; there were many, many TSA employees on duty, which likely helped. No delays at the Indianapolis airport on my return trip Sunday afternoon, either.

But: Along with hundreds of people from many flights, I had to wait over thirty minutes at Dulles on Sunday to pick up my checked baggage. United Express seemed to be overwhelmed by the extra volume of checked luggage.

Gary Lee: This is a good point. I met a passenger who flew in from Miami last night and we had the same experience: an usually long wait for the bags. I don't think there is anything we can do except be more patient.

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Washington, DC: Hey Darling Flight Crew and Crew! I just got back from a trip to Chicago. Flew Southwest from BWI Friday afternoon (3:45pm departure) and got back around 10:30 this morning. Because I need eye drops and nebulously labeled prescription ointments, I put everything that could possibly raise suspicion in my roller bag and checked it (I usu. carry it on). I think everybody had the same idea as me. I was at the airport 2hrs before flight time on Fri and I was in and out of baggage claim and security in 20 min, maybe 25 tops. But this morning it took me a full 45 min to get through baggage claim but I sailed right thru security in no time. Honestly, that hold up is no longer than any other I've had for early Monday morning flights at busy airports ... it was just at baggage claim instead of security. But no real complaints here. And the weather in Chi-city was fantabulous.

Gary Lee: hey, much thanks. glad all went well.

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San Francisco, Calif: to the wrigley fan- get your tickets now. for the most part, all cubs games are "sell outs." the cubs run their own scapling agency where you can get tickets day of, at waaaaaaay more than face value.

otherwise, to get to wrigley from o'hare you can either take the blue into the loop and catch the redline to the addison stop or. . take the blue and there is a shuttle that runs from the blue line addison stop. i would not recommend walking since it's about a 30-45 minute walk to wrigley from the blue line addison stop.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the great info on the Cubs, and for clarifying my train data (can't tell distances via a train schedule).

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Ashburn, Va: As a frequent business traveler I had little choice but to fly during the recent security situation at Heathrow airport. I knew from the news that I was going to have to check all carry-on luggage at the check-in desk and was concerned that I would have to give up my laptop, cell phone and other expensive and fragile electronics to the baggage handlers. I even queried the attendants at the Virgin Atlantic desk about their responsibility for my equipment and was told the airline accepts no liability whatsoever. Reluctantly I turned over my briefcase. I was disturbed to discover upon arrival at Dulles that my briefcase had been surgically cleaned out of all electronics at some point. I am still amazed at how people can take advantage of a terror situation to pick up a little extra swag from helpless travelers. From my perspective as an International traveler on Friday, although the intelligence agencies appeared to foil the plot, the terrorists who fashioned this scheme were actually extremely successful.

Chris W

Carol Sottili: File a claim with Virgin Atlantic - http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/passengerinformation/baggage/claims.jsp

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Patience, please: To everyone traveling by air in the not so distant future: please pack extra rations of patience and good humor while packing your luggage. It'll help everyone.

On one of my last trips my carry-on luggage was run through the xray machine multiple times, drew the attention of multiple agents, was unpacked for me, and lo, the cause of concern turned out to be the metal logo disc on the front of the bag. Yep, really.

So, be prepared. It's amusing now, but it wasn't when there were 5 agents surrounding my shoulder bag and beginning to corral me for questioning while looking for the "hidden device."

Safe travels to everyone.

Carol Sottili: Patience is key.

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Washington. D.C.: Carol just said "Yes, you can now bring small bottle of contact lens solution - not large bottle"

This is new information. The TSA site doesn't appear to list this. Where can I get confirmation?

Carol Sottili: TSA is not listing individual medications - just says up to four ounces of non-prescription liquid medications (ie cough syrup, eye drops, contact lens solution and nasal spray).

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Washington, D.C.: Enjoyed the article this weekend on the trials of claiming mileage on partner airlines. This summer I accummulated more than 40,000 Star Alliance miles but to date only those flown on United have posted to my Mileage Plus account. My flights on Asiana and South African never made it despite my giving my number at check in. I recently mailed a copy of the itinerary and my receipt along with original boarding passes for 5 of the 6 flights (one was lost to a overzealous hotel room cleaner). United tells me the miles should be credited within 2 months. I fear that the trans-Pacific flight for which I lost the pass will never be credited to me (even though I'm sure Asiana can confirm I was on the flight!) I can't help but get the feeling that United isn't really all that concerned about me getting my miles and the rewards that accompany them...

John Deiner: Hey, DC. As we said in the piece, sometimes you really have to work hard to get those miles. I'm a natural nag, so I'd give 'em six weeks and call back and nag anew. I'm assuming you kept copies of everything -- that's an awful lot of miles in the balance!

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Prague: One comment on our trip to Prague - both my husband and I agreed that in a few years, we might not be able to afford to travel there. The amount of reconstruction (facade painting, etc.) was significant, and once they go to the Euro, those meals and delicious pivos might not be so affordable anymore.

So, if you are thinking about going to Prague, do it now!

Gary Lee: Amen.

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Rockville, Md: The new TSA rules and resulting delays have made me feel like giving up airline travel completely--the hassles seem to outweigh the rewards. But I still want to get away occasionally. Can you do a piece on a variety of destinations (relaxing, scenic, cultural, etc.) that are within 4-5 hours drive or train ride, beyond the obvious ones like the DE/MD/VA beaches?

Anne McDonough: Hey Rockville, we hear ya! Some recent stories that may fit the bill include Andrea's piece on diving in NJ, John on the wonders of Hoboken (we seem to be on a Jersey kick) and our Memorial Day special, Trips on a Tank (links coming up). Plus, there's always the Escapes section, which runs in Style on page 2 on Wednesdays and features close-in destinations beyond the local beaches.

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Fairfax County, Va: My mother is distraught about a missing bag. She was flying AirTran from NY to Charlotte, NC about three weeks ago. They made her get off the plane in Atlanta (where there was a scheduled stop; the same plane continued to Charlotte), but said she could leave her carry-on bag on the plane. (She had the same seat on the Atlanta - Charlotte leg.) The bag wasn't there when she got back on. The most valuable of the contents were her hearing aids. She is very upset at having had no response to various phone calls and letters about the bag. Any suggestions? Would she stand a chance of prevailing in small claims court? I think ordinarily she wouldn't since the bag wasn't checked, but perhaps it affects the situation that siarline personnel told her she could leave the bag on the plane. Thanks for your help!

Andrea Sachs: Did your mother talk to anyone immediately after she realized the bag went missing? Does she have the name of a flight attendant or agent? Have you tried calling customer service and asking for a supervisor? Your mother really needs to report the theft and talk to someone high up at the airline--but she will also need proof of her carryon. Keep calling the airline. Also, try the airport and the TSA. Missing bags is tough on the owner, and is extremely dangerous in this era of high security. If all fails, you might have to go the lawyerly route, but again, you'll need proof of ownership--so save the prescription for hearing aids, as well as all tickets and boarding pass stubs.

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Washington, DC: I think (but am not certain) that I recently read that the TSA is conducting a pilot test of limited El Al - type security. In particular, they have been taking people at a particular airport out of line and asking them to submit to detailed interviews about their travel plans. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Carol Sottili: I know that El Al conducts its own secondary screening at airports in the United States that it flies out of, but I'm not familiar with TSA adopting these methods.

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Washington, D.C.: Using miles, I booked a trip to London-Gatwick in September. Fly out of Reagan, then fly to Raleigh, North Carolina, and then London. Problem is there is only about an hour between the time that my flight lands in Raleigh and my flight for London takes off. This is too little time right, espeically given the new restrictions? Should I suck it up and pay full price for a non-miles ticket out of D.C.?

Carol Sottili: I don't think you're going to have a major problem in Raleigh. Familiarize yourself with gates/terminals before you go and get ready to move quickly. If your flight is late, that's a problem, but it would have been an issue even before all of this. But call the airline and ask if they consider this a long enough layover.

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washingtonpost.com: Jersey Subway Cars? What a Dive! , (Aug. 6, 2006)

Anne McDonough: For the local trip-seeker. Thanks, Kim!

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Re: TSA Regs: For the poster that was asking about the changing regs, I would recommend not taking anything you don't want to throw away. If the rules are changing as rapidly as they have been, all of the individual screeners may not be up to speed on the latest "official" allowances. Case in point, I recently returned from a family vacation where my mother's knitting needles were confiscated, despite TSA official rules saying that they've been allowed for a few years (they were banned post 9/11). We probably could've asked for the higher-ups, but that would've taken time which, when trying to make a flight is kind of a premium. So be careful, and go in either being ok with them taking it away or with enough time to get the supervisors on the case.

Carol Sottili: I totally agree. Now we have to take our shoes off again, but I never stopped taking my shoes off. Even though the TSA had backed off on the shoe removal requirement, many air screeners still told you to take 'em off.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: It's Indy again. Just to let you know (in regards to your post that nasal spray is OK) -- I was told to toss mine at LaGuardia. So people should just be prepared to bid their products farewell, just in case...

Carol Sottili: Let's face it - these regs are changing so quickly that there will be mistakes.

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Re: Bariloche hiking: Hi -- September will most likely be too early for snow-free hiking around Bariloche. I don't know how much snow they had this winter, but I hiked a circuit near Cerro Catedral in December (in 2004) and had to cross two snow fields. Check with Club Andino in Bariloche -- they also have an office up at Cerro Catedral (in the ski area parking lot, I think) about trail conditions -- they should be able to point you to the best snow-free hikes.

Gary Lee: Hey, thanks much for the suggestion.

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washingtonpost.com: Trips on a Tank

Anne McDonough: And many more options for the traveler looking for non-flight ideas. Thanks, Kim!

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Washington, DC: Thank you for the yesterday's article about frequent flier miles. When do airlines not grant miles at all? I flew from DC to Vietnam last year on Korean Air, and Korean Air refused to give me Delta or Korean miles because the ticket was, I think, a 'class S' ticket. I never figured out what that meant.

Carol Sottili: That means that the ticket was so cheap that they weren't giving out miles. Happens fairly frequently.

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Arlington, Va: I have an early (6:20 AM) flight Sunday from BWI to Dallas. the AA web site still suggests arriving just 90 minutes early to check bags. News reports and others are saying 2-3 hours early? Will the ticket agents and TSA be open at 3:30 or 4:30 AM on Sunday? What do you experts suggest?

Carol Sottili: Follow American's instructions. Ninety minutes is long enough in this case.

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Caribbean: Hi there,

My sister and her family (husband and two sons) were bumped from their orginal flight because the airline overbooked the flight. They had paid the full fare for their tickets and are now on standby for a later flight. The airline gave them four $250 vouchers for future travel. What is your opinion? Is there any order to how passengers are bumped? I thought you would start with those who paid special fares. And do you think this was a fair response?

Andrea Sachs: I believe they bump according to time of check-in. So the later you check in, the more vulnerable you are to being bumped. However, if they received vouchers, it sounds like they volunteered to be bumped.

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Additional Security: Piece of advice - if you're in a full leg cast and recently had reconstructive surgery on your ankle with metal plates inserted, bring a copy of your X-rays to the airport. I saw a poor guy stuck in security lockup as the TSA folks tried to get him to PROVE the metal plates were IN his ankle and not some nefarious scheme to put them inside a full leg cast...

I just felt so sorry for that guy!

Carol Sottili: X-rays can take up lots of room. Maybe a letter from your doctor written on his prescription pad?

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Washington, D.C.: I just found in Safeway these packs of 4 mini toothbrushes that have toothpaste already in the bristles. There were only two packs so I grabbed both. How perfect for a long flight where you can't bring toothpaste?

Gary Lee: I have used those, too. They're neat. I hope they're allowed on flights.

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Washington, D.C.: We just flew home this weekend and sailed through check-in - because we were late getting to the airport (because of a traffic pileup). We got there one hour early for a domestic flight while everyone else had gotten there 2 hours early. The biggest hang up was the security line at Hartford - wasn't long but it had this funky new GE machine. You stand in the machine (looks kind of like a metal detector with doors) and it blows air on you - would have been bad for the woman in the flimsy camisole! That took time - I really hope we don't see those at Dulles.

Gary Lee: Much thanks for the report.

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To Argentina: In response to the previous question on Argentina. I'm from Argentina and was in the Bariloche area in January, when it's the best time to hike around. There are TONS of places to go around hiking. End of September might be a bit cold still... but not to worry about. It's a wonderful area. Check the local weather. I think it was snowing until very recently in the West. Any one of the national parks in the area is wonderful! I miss it!

Gary Lee: Hey, thanks for that report!

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Changes for people needing assistance?: Two questions, related:

(1) Given recent security changes, have there been any adjustments to how airlines treat people who are assisted by SkyCaps?

(2) Do airlines now make bottled water available inflight in addition to the sodas, etc.?

My 76-year-old mother will be coming to Milwaukee in October. While she is fairly mobile, two spinal fusion surgeries have make it difficult for her to walk long distances. She hails a SkyCap at the airport, and uses the wheelchair service. Doing so has VASTLY improved her ability to travel in reasonable comfort and to feel good when she arrives. We are very grateful for that-- and concerned about what changes may occur because of the security issues.

Just curious about the water part.

Thanks for hosting the chat and helping people out.

Carol Sottili: You should have no trouble getting someone to help you with wheelchair service. There have been no changes to this. Wheelchairs in U.K. that are going onboard are being subject to increased scrutiny. As for water, most airlines are still pouring it into glasses. AS for a couple when they come around.

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Ellicott City, Md: I flew from Seattle to BWI this past Friday morning with little difficulty. I allowed 3 hours, and made it through security in probably 15 minutes (I'm sure the early morning departure was helpful). It seemed like everyone had quickly adapted to the new procedures. The only annoyance was because I had put all my toiletries in my checked luggage, I went over the maximum weight allowed by a few pounds and was charged a fee. I was surprised that there were no secondary or random checks of carry-ons going on before boarding at Seattle, since you can buy drinks in the eateries past security. It was definitely weird to see signs up at the stores advising travelers that toiletries and souvenir foods could not be purchased, not to mention the entire Body Shop closed. People seemed to be in good spirits though.

Gary Lee: Thanks for that note. It seems to be typical of what folks out there are experiencing.

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Gary Lee: Fellow travelers: much thanks for your questions and comments. We hope you all hang in there with patience during these tense times. If you have specific security related questions, please send them to our staff writer Carol Sottili at sottilic@washpost.com. Include your town of residence and permission for her to publish the question.

As for tips, we greatly appeciated all of your suggestions. We especially liked the suggestion of the participant from Denver. If you e-mail me at leeg@washpost.com and send a home address I'll make sure you get the prize.

Tune in next week!

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