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Southwest Air: Less Legroom = More Passenger$

Remember those crazy days a half-century ago, when students crammed as many bodies as possible into phone booths or Volksbugs? It seems SW is following the same tack now to make more money.

SW is one of our favorite airlines, and we’ve been flying it for years because of the economical ticket prices, on-time record and friendly crews. However, rising fuel and other costs are forcing SW to join other airlines to dig wherever possible to make money. It was charging extra for boarding first, then added baggage fees and now squeezed seating.

SW seating has never been roomy, but some company beancounters deduced that by moving the rows a mere inch closer, from 33 to 32, they could jam in another six seats per flight. Some computations indicate that the space subtraction could bring an addition of nearly $800 million a year in increased SW revenues.

We long-time SW flyers can manage the short flights while jammed into the smaller spaces, but could have problems with those four- to eight-hour hops. Way to go, SW! Now, if someone could redesign the single-commode toilets into four-seaters...

Buffalo NY: Now A Doggone Friendly Airport

New York State’s Erie County SPCA has started a program of providing a free service to travelers at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Aptly named Paws For Love (PFL), it consists of well-trained dogs that are guided through the airport waiting areas to visit with harried passengers. The canines provide relaxation and friendly companionship while people wait for their flights.

The SPCA PFL airport services is an extension of its traditional programs of sending volunteers and dogs on visits to hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions. The PFL is also operating at other U.S. airports, including San Jose CA, Ft. Lauderdale FL, San Antonio TX, Grand Rapids MI, Los Angeles CA and Miami FL. For more info, go to www.pawsforlove.info

Time Travel: If You Could, What Would You Choose?

In recent news reports, Aussie scientists hinted that some day time travel will actually be possible. In response, we asked several of our very seasoned readers to choose their first return trip to the 1950s:

JJL, Los Angeles CA: I’d go back to Disneyland on opening day, July 17, 1955. I’d be a kid again, and enjoy It’s A Small World, Pirates Of The Caribbean and other rides. I’d also get to meet Walt Disney and the actor who narrated the event on black and white TV, Ronald Reagan.

House Security: Don’t Make Robbery Easy When Away

When making travel plans, request friends, family and/or neighbors to visit your empty home or apartment often while you’re away. Also ask them to pick up telltale signs that you’re absent, such as trash, daily newspapers, flyers, mail and packages. Be sure to notify all services to stop deliveries while you’re away.

Additionally, consider setting up electronics in your home to imitate normal activity. Have lights go on and off periodically at night, as well as recorded music and other sounds of activity. Remember those scenes in the movie, Home Alone?

If you use Facebook or other social media, don’t post anyone-can-read online messages that you’ll be away for a specific period of time. There are numerous cases where clever online thieves scan digital postings to target empty houses and apartments.

Senior Travel Safety: Caught In Street Disturbances

In our travels, we’ve sometimes been where streets are full of noisy people because of a festive holiday or the local sports team had just won a tournament.

Other gatherings were more dangerous, such as angry political, religious or social protests. Unfortunately, stories about dangers of uncontrolled street violence seem to be in the news almost every day.

It Happened In London: At a Piccadilly restaurant one night recently with other senior tourists, we heard shouting. We went outside to see what was happening. Lesson 1: Not a smart idea. A large group of foreign students marched by with signs and banners to protest increased tuition at the nearby British university.

Some demonstrators rushed along the sidewalk handing out printed material to bystanders. In his eagerness, one ran into and knocked me down. Startled, he reached to help the old guy up. Suddenly, two London bobbies appeared and dragged the student away. I yelled it was an accident, but they were gone. Lesson 2: When things may become violent, older tourists should seek safety.