Fares to NYC likely to rise

In answer to our weekly questions, you've shared your knowledge on travel destinations near and far—from the Caribbean to New Orleans. Now tell us: What's your travel resolution for 2008? Is it a new adventure, a return to a favorite place, an urban exploration, or a journey to a remote destination? Share your thoughts by posting a comment.

This week, The New York Times prompted hundreds of people to write in comments when it published an article called "Aboard Planes, Class Conflict." The Times also launched a very promising blog, Jet Lagged, which will focus on "flying the unfriendly skies" during the month of December. A typical post is by longtime Practical Traveler columnist Betsy Wade, who writes, "To be blunt, I now hate those people in first class." Hate is a strong word, but you can feel intense anger pulsing in online forums. When this blog recently invited readers to tell off the airlines, we received 140 responses. For some people, the problem has been the record flight delays, such as a 7-day flight delay this summer at J.F.K. airport. For other travelers, the frustration has been the long tarmac delays, such as the 7-hour delay whose absurdity was captured in a seven-minute YouTube video by a passenger. (Tarmac delays got so bad this fall, for example, that editor Erik Torkells went so far as to say, "The federal government MUST declare a maximum time that passengers can be held on the tarmac.") For still other travelers, the aggravation comes from increased security delays. Complaints about airport checkpoints skyrocketed this year. If you want to see what the Times readers are saying, visit the new blog Jet Lagged.

In this story I wrote about flying over the holidays, two pieces of advice ticked some people off. The first was this: "Wait until the group before yours is almost done boarding, then enter the line. By the time you reach the front, your group will probably be called. And if not, what's the worst that can happen? They'll make you wait right near the gate." And the second was this: "I wish we lived in a world where you were guaranteed overhead space near your seat. Until we do, I refuse to store my bag behind me, because I'll never get off the plane. Look ahead while you board: If the space above your seat is full, put your stuff as close to it as possible, and don't be afraid to take someone else's space. After all, someone took yours." The text of one reader's letter follows the jump--along with my defense...and a request for your opinion. Here's the reader's letter (somewhat abridged). It's from Marge Stock of Murphys, Calif. "Dear Editor, Granted that airline travel is now an ordeal and seems to get worse, I feel that what all of us need to do is be more considerate of our fellow travelers, not less. Most U.S. airlines board from the rear. How do you think it feels to get to your seat more to the front and see the overhead bin filled with suitcases that perhaps are from people seated behind you? Why should I have to check my bag because of someone else's inconsiderateness? Second, the suggestion about standing up by the gate even if it isn't your turn to board--again, so inconsiderate. The airlines ask you to keep your seat until your row is called; it eases congestion at the boarding gate. What's the hurry? It all boils down to the size of our check-in luggage. The airlines are quite precise about it but don't enforce it. They should and then people will pack more reasonably and not take up so much room in the overhead bins. How many times have we seen people trying in vain to cram an oversized bag in the bin, sometimes having to remove items from it just to get it in? Once we start that crazy mentality of taking what's mine and then some, not following the guidelines, we start that cycle of animosity that creates a lot of stress in flying. We should be more considerate not less, be helpful with fellow travelers, be considerate of their space when we put our seat back, get our right-sized bag in the overhead bin quickly, have the things we need for the flight in the bag that goes under the seat, take our seats quickly so as to not impede the loading procedure, and then try to have the best flight we can given the confined space we are given. It's a start and a good one." I wholeheartedly agree with everything Ms. Stock says--to a point. (And to be clear, I only suggest putting your stuff in someone else's space if your space has been taken.) I guess I'm tired of being considerate only so that inconsiderate people can get their way. I wish airports had seating space for everybody. I wish airlines would enforce their carry-on limitations. But they don't, and they don't. The fact that the system is flawed, allowing selfish people to abuse it, justifies a little selfish behavior on other people's part.... When I wrote the story, I felt like it's time the rest of us fought back. But perhaps that's wrong. Where do you draw the line? If you're boarding a plane and you see up ahead that the overhead space above your seat is full, what do you do? For me, the choice is clear. (Sorry, but I'm too tall to put anything big under the seat in front of me.) I have a choice to put my bag behind my row or ahead of it--and either way, it's going in somebody else's space. Why not put it in the spot that benefits me?

Starting on one plane on Dec. 11, JetBlue Airways will begin offering free inflight e-mail and Yahoo instant messaging services via a broadband Wi-Fi network. It will be the first U.S. airline to offer in-flight Wi-Fi. But USA Today reports that the quality of the service is spotty. One of its reporters tested the service on-board the Airbus A320, which was parked Wednesday at a hangar at J.F.K. airport in N.Y.C. One reporter had difficulty composing and sending e-mail from his Yahoo account, even though he was able to reply to incoming e-mails. E-mails he sent from a BlackBerry provided by JetBlue never reached his intended recipients even though the device confirmed that they were sent. Another reporter had difficulty receiving and replying to e-mails in her Yahoo account. At the start of the program, passengers can send and receive e-mail from any type of e-mail account on BlackBerry 8820 and 8320 models. Laptop users are only able to use Yahoo e-mail and Yahoo's instant messaging application, at least from the start. [USA Today has more details.]