WILL BAG FEES CURTAIL TRAVEL?

Just asking…

With airline baggage check-in costs spiraling upwards, are you thinking of cutting back your trips?

JetBlue now charges the most to check in luggage: $45 for the first bag, $60 for the second. Hawaiian Airlines has the lowest fees: for inter-island travel, $25 for the first bag, $35 for the second; for mainland trips,  $30 for the first bag, $40 for the second. Delta matches Hawaiian’s $30 and $40 bag fees.

Checking in bags on  American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines also are more expensive now.  So, the immediate dilemma: will you curtail your air travels somewhat, pulling back on recreational travel, and perhaps flying only when it’s a priority?

Fees for checked bags depend on the carrier, how much you pay for your ticket, where you’re flying to, whether you utilize an airline credit card (like Hawaiian’s World Elite charge card), whether you’re a member of an airline loyalty program (like United’s MileagePlus), and other variables. If you check your bags online, not at the airport, there are discounts of $5 or $10.

One blessing: Most carriers allow military fliers to check in bags free.

Some highlights of the new airline policies:

  • American’s check-in fees now are  $40 for the first bag, but $35 if you  prepay online, and $45 for the second bag.  It used to be $30 and $40, but the rates changed Feb. 20.
  • JetBlue fees went up in January, and it costs $45 for first bag and $60 for the second checked bag, $10 more now than previous rates. That’s the most expensive baggage fees now. But JetBlue passengers who confirm they’re flying with checked bags ahead of time will pay $35 for their first bag and $50 for their second.
  • United boasts one of the industry’s most complex plan, detailing hikes depending on how much you pay for your ticket, where you are going, whether you booked via its charge card, and whether you’re a member of its loyalty club. United travelers in North America will pay $5 more for each checked bag now, with the first checked bag fee at $40 or $35 if travelers pay at least 24 hours in advance, and $50 for a second bag, or $45 if travelers pay in advance. United travelers  can check a bag for free if they are flying in a premium cabin,  or have a United Chase credit card,  or are a MileagePlus Premier member, or an active military member. On international flights, the  first bag is free, the second is $100.
  • Hawaiian has quite a detailed bag check-in policy, too, depending on destination: Neighbor Islands, the Mainland or internationally. For Neighbor Island travel, the first bag is $25, the second is $35; to North America, the charge is $30 for the first bag, $40 for the second. Third checked bags are $50 for Neighbor Islands, $100 for North America. For international flights, or first-class ticketing, checked bags are free. Hawaiian Air World Elite card users may check in two bags without charge on domestic flights. Overweight or over-sized baggage fuel more fees if bags are over 50 pounds.
  • Alaska Airlines’ bag rates are up by $5 for the first checked bag ($35) and a second checked bag ($45). Additional checked bags remain unchanged ($150) per-bag fee. 
  • Delta’s first-bag fee is  $30, and for second bag, $40. Delta SkyMiles card users may check in their first bag without charge.

You can’t dodge checked-luggage fees, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it makes sense to possess an airline charge card, which may include discounts on checked bags. For instance, Hawaiian’s charge card will reduce inter-island flight fees, $15 for your first bag, $30 for your second, and $50 for three or more bags.

Frequent fliers usually have charge cards with their favorite carriers; if you can afford and splurge for a business or first-class seat, you’ll get free luggage check-ins.’

On my last New York trip, I used accrued mileage to get two first class seats, flying to JFK on Hawaiian, and returning from Newark via United. Both flights took beaucoup miles, and the out-of-pocket fees were $50 a person both ways. With Hawaiian’s new partnership with Alaska, saving up mileage for a later trip might be prudent but could be a risk. Will the unused miles have lifetime safety?

WILL BAG FEES CURTAIL TRAVEL?

Just asking…

With airline baggage check-in costs spiraling upwards, are you thinking of cutting back your trips?

JetBlue now charges the most to check in luggage: $45 for the first bag, $60 for the second. Hawaiian Airlines has the lowest fees: for inter-island travel, $25 for the first bag, $35 for the second; for mainland trips,  $30 for the first bag, $40 for the second. Delta matches Hawaiian’s $30 and $40 bag fees.

Checking in bags on  American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines also are more expensive now.  So, the immediate dilemma: will you curtail your air travels somewhat, pulling back on recreational travel, and perhaps flying only when it’s a priority?

Fees for checked bags depend on the carrier, how much you pay for your ticket, where you’re flying to, whether you utilize an airline credit card (like Hawaiian’s World Elite charge card), whether you’re a member of an airline loyalty program (like United’s MileagePlus), and other variables. If you check your bags online, not at the airport, there are discounts of $5 or $10.

One blessing: Most carriers allow military fliers to check in bags free.

Some highlights of the new airline policies:

  • American’s check-in fees now are  $40 for the first bag, but $35 if you  prepay online, and $45 for the second bag.  It used to be $30 and $40, but the rates changed Feb. 20.
  • JetBlue fees went up in January, and it costs $45 for first bag and $60 for the second checked bag, $10 more now than previous rates. That’s the most expensive baggage fees now. But JetBlue passengers who confirm they’re flying with checked bags ahead of time will pay $35 for their first bag and $50 for their second.
  • United boasts one of the industry’s most complex plan, detailing hikes depending on how much you pay for your ticket, where you are going, whether you booked via its charge card, and whether you’re a member of its loyalty club. United travelers in North America will pay $5 more for each checked bag now, with the first checked bag fee at $40 or $35 if travelers pay at least 24 hours in advance, and $50 for a second bag, or $45 if travelers pay in advance. United travelers  can check a bag for free if they are flying in a premium cabin,  or have a United Chase credit card,  or are a MileagePlus Premier member, or an active military member. On international flights, the  first bag is free, the second is $100.
  • Hawaiian has quite a detailed bag check-in policy, too, depending on destination: Neighbor Islands, the Mainland or internationally. For Neighbor Island travel, the first bag is $25, the second is $35; to North America, the charge is $30 for the first bag, $40 for the second. Third checked bags are $50 for Neighbor Islands, $100 for North America. For international flights, or first-class ticketing, checked bags are free. Hawaiian Air World Elite card users may check in two bags without charge on domestic flights. Overweight or over-sized baggage fuel more fees if bags are over 50 pounds.
  • Alaska Airlines’ bag rates are up by $5 for the first checked bag ($35) and a second checked bag ($45). Additional checked bags remain unchanged ($150) per-bag fee. 
  • Delta’s first-bag fee is  $30, and for second bag, $40. Delta SkyMiles card users may check in their first bag without charge.

You can’t dodge checked-luggage fees, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it makes sense to possess an airline charge card, which may include discounts on checked bags. For instance, Hawaiian’s charge card will reduce inter-island flight fees, $15 for your first bag, $30 for your second, and $50 for three or more bags.

Frequent fliers usually have charge cards with their favorite carriers; if you can afford and splurge for a business or first-class seat, you’ll get free luggage check-ins.’

On my last New York trip, I used accrued mileage to get two first class seats, flying to JFK on Hawaiian, and returning from Newark via United. Both flights took beaucoup miles, and the out-of-pocket fees were $50 a person both ways. With Hawaiian’s new partnership with Alaska, saving up mileage for a later trip might be prudent but could be a risk. Will the unused miles have lifetime safety?

ARE YOU GOOD AT SPELLING?

Just asking…

Are you a good speller?I think I’m a decent speller; after all, my life as a journalist demanded the ability to spell.

Words are tricky, however, and I admit I often have to spell-check a specific word. If you’re computer-efficient, you know that misspelled words usually are flagged with underscoring, to advise you of errors. No one is perfect. (Spell-check doesn’t work efficiently with Hawaiian words, right?)

I bring up spelling because a friend told me her grade-school child has some difficulty in spelling. It’s understandable because words can be tricky.

Many words sound alike but are spelled differently. Examples: but/butt, knew/new, knight/night, wood/would, dough/doe, plane/plain and kernel/colonel. These are called homophones.

Some words like psychology, pseudonym, phlegm,  phantom, psychic, and physics don’t look like how they are pronounced. The spelling of Wednesday is not logical, nor is the word marble, which means the little glass thing kids play as well as the stone-like glossy matter utilized in countertops. Hmmm, it is what it is.

The  older you become, your vocabulary increases, so you learn the ropes and will know the difference between rain and reign. Hopefully.

Perhaps you can whip up a pair of same-sounding but different words. I’ll add one here — pair/pear — so add yours to the list…

EVER HAD A TOMAHAWK STEAK?

Just asking…

Have you ever had a tomahawk rib-eye steak?

Neither have I.

For meat lovers, this might possibly be the ultimate dream entrée.. You won’t find it at an Outback Steak House, simply because the tomahawk is a premium cut, likely not on a steak emporium’s everyday menu, but truly a special menu item, when available.

More than being a pricey item —  I’ve seen some online mentions of $100 to $400-plus – this hefty steak, commonly 40-oz. of joy, has a wow factor. Have you seen a platter boasting a tomahawk that passes your table? Everyone looks and you’ll hear the the reactionary oohs and ahhs.

So, what, exactly, is a tomahawk steak? According to Ruth’s Chris Steak House, the tomahawk is essentially a special cut of a ribeye beef steak with at least five inches of the rib bone intact. The longish French-trimmed bone creates what resembles a handle; “Frenching” is a culinary technique also utilized to shape a rack of lamb.

And obviously, the “tomahawk” element refers to a Native American axe, and the steak size makes it look like weapon one could yield.

I wouldn’t order one anytime soon, since I’m still in recovery mode of the removal of my gall bladder, and my current diet does not include meat. Then again, if I someday order a steak, a ribeye, with bone in, would be better suited to my appetite and budget. A tomahawk could easily feed four. But joy of joys; to have that massive bone to-go, to gnaw and nibble at home, would be blissful.

If you’re tomahawk inclined, you might inquire at such steak houses as Hy’s Steak House, Wolfgang’s, Signature, Ruth’s Chris and possibly Roy’s.

Share your reaction if you make the plunge and go for it.

MISSING YOUR SUNDAY NY TIMES?


Just asking…

Are you a subscriber to the Sunday New York Times, via the Sunday Star-Advertiser?

If you do, you know that you didn’t receive the Sunday Times — distributed by the Star-Advertiser, this morning –the second week this happened this month, since the NYT also was missing last Sunday. Transportation issues are the reason; the NYT delivery missed a flight to Honolulu, so delivery was  not possible.

So, you go through the drill of dialing the circulation department here, and wait, wait, and wait some more, till an agent answers your call.  My wait time today was 35 minutes, and 20 minutes last Sunday.

There is no other way to find out why the NYT was not delivered, along with the Sunday Star-Advertiser. You can’t call your delivery person, since you don’t have his/her number; by now, you must know there is a problem in Houston, er, Honolulu, but making the call is necessary since you don’t know if your carrier missed you making the rounds. Happened before…

When an agent finally answered my call, she knew little about why the NYT was AWOL, but muttered something about in-house computer glitches with the circulation crew, and said the missing paper was probably going to arrive with the Monday S-A, or maybe Tuesday, since Monday was the Martin Luther King holiday.

This missing-delivery angst happens several times a year. After talking to the agent here, I noticed I received an email from the Times that a transportation problem was the issue…like the papers missed a flight. The note included an apology for the delay and a thank-you for being patient. Oh, and a declaration that the paper would be delivered Monday.

If the Times can do that, why not the Star-Advertiser? Or if that’s too much of a burden for the circulation folks here, why not the carrier? Why can’t he/she send a text message or even an old-fashioned hand-scribbled note tucked in with the Sunday paper, so subscribes don’t have to call and wait and endure frustration? I mention this possible tactic today and last Sunday, and I was told to email the publisher. Like, he would care?

Newspapers are in the communications biz, but there’s simply no plan locally to inform subscribers that a problem exists. 

Have you had any circulation problem? Seriously. Share your thoughts…

COLLECTIBLES OR PLAIN JUNK?

Jus asking…

If you have some of these items, are they collectibles or plain junk?

Stuff accumulates after time, and tossing is tough, since you’ve had a long history together.

But keep or save? Lots of memories here…

Cigarette ashtrays?

Old-fashioned washboard for hand-scrubbing clothes?

Rotary telephone?

Cassette player?

Beta or VHS tapes and player?

Old-fashioned hand-mixer with rotary blades you had to crank?

A Maneki Neko for good luck?

Crochet doilies?

Crochet toilet paper holder?

Old-fashioned water jugs for picnicking?

Japanese-style folding fans to cool yourself?

A 78 rpm disc and a player to hear it?

Rotary telephone?

A $2 bill?

A Kennedy silver dollar?

A Don Ho Suck ‘em Up mai tai glass from Duke Kahanamoku’s?

A Primo Beer cap made from the aluminum tin cans?

A Waterpik to cleanse your teeth?

A toaster oven?

Golden Wheat pattern dinner ware?

Bubble lights for your Christmas tree?

How many of these do you still own? Or list stuff you still have…