Tremendous changes in photography over the past 20 years, advances your travel4seniors.com editor could only imagine back in the days when I lugged around heavy camera equipment. For decades before retirement, as ad manager for a major insurance company, I led a photo crew

We shot stills and videos for ads, news releases, magazine articles, conferences and other field assignments. We used 35mm Nikons and 16mm cameras. They were relatively small and lightweight, but required carrying a bag full of extras, including flash units, extra lenses and many rolls of film.

There are two basic kinds of layovers. The scheduled one that requires a connection in another airport. Because of time differences and other factors, you expect to wait for the second flight for a specific length of time.

No problem if all goes as planned. However, particularly at year-end holiday season, if that second flight is delayed, your wait may stretch to four, five or more hours. That's cause for concern, frustration and if there are more delays, outright anger.

An Aeromexico flight recently scheduled to take off from Mexico City for Seattle, caused passengers to wait six hours in the terminal. Much worse, then after everyone was aboard, it sat another 16 hours on the tarmac. When the flight finally did get into the air, because of thick fog, it landed in Portland, Oregon. Passengers needed buses or another 170 mile flight to get to Seattle.

You don’t have to be in a wheelchair to get to your airline seat before the rest of the passengers. For the latest info, when you buy your ticket from the airline or travel agency, ask about priority boarding .

Earlier, ask your doctor to give you a signed note on office stationery listing your physical conditions and request for special treatment when you travel. Be prepared to present the note at all times at airports and aboard flights on your journey.

Guest Senior Travel Guru Marge P., Atlanta GA: Air travel etiquette doesn't start after boarding your flight. There are also some simple consideration practices you should follow earlier while waiting in the airport. The most annoying offender is the obnoxious character next to you yakking very loud on a not-so-smartphone two inches from your ear.

These days, every traveler needs a handy smartphone to keep up with the latest at home and every- changing schedules. However, for the sake of those nearby in the waiting area, go find  a quiet corner. There you can yell, squawk and scream as loud as you want.