The Legal Ramifications Of Drinking And Flying

Or can you deal with them if the tradeoff is cheaper prices? European carrier Ryanair isn't only a pioneer in terms of charging low fares upfront and then nickel-and-diming passengers with fees after they've booked. The airline has also been ahead of the times with its decision to basically turn its airplanes into giant billboards in order to make money via advertising. In 2006, Ryanair announced a partnership with a company called InviseoMedia, which installed ads where they were sure to find the attention of a seriously captive audience: on the seatbacks of the carrier's planes. By 2007, the New York Times reported that ads were popping up pretty much everywhere passengers looked inside certain aircraft. There were ads on the overhead bins and seatbacks inside planes operated by Ryanair and another European low-fare carrier, Germanwings. Ads also showed up on napkins and tray tables aboard the likes of AirTran and US Airways. USA Today recently reported that Spirit Airlines, which has followed Ryanair's lead in terms of piling on fees, is now leading the charge among American carriers in terms of on-board advertising. Advertisers' messages are front and center on Spirit flights, from the aprons worn by flight attendants to (no kidding) the air sickness bags. It's enough to, well, make some passengers nauseous. Airlines aren't the only facet of the travel experience being inundated with new ads. A Budget Rent a Car location in Atlanta made news over the summer by offering customers discounted rates if they agreed to drive vehicles that prominently advertised local companies. At least the renters received a discount in the ad deal. With ads in (and sometimes, on) airlines, the tradeoff isn't so clear. The rise of ad-splatted airplanes has coincided with a period in which airlines have pulled in billions more in passenger fees, while at the same time flight prices have risen steadily, even among the so-called "discount" or "low-fare" carriers. Regardless of whether ads help lower travel costs, and regardless of whether airline passengers like, hate, or ignore in-flight ads, they appear to be here to stay, as unavoidable as TSA checkpoint lines. The reason why this is so is explained in the USA Today story by GuestLogix, a company that helps airlines sell on-board purchases: "Airline passengers are among the greatest consumers in the world," the company says. "They are focused shoppers with a strong appetite to purchase." Based on this assumption, airlines just feel like they have to sell to passengers during every part of the travel experience. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Should Hotels That Charge for Wi-Fi Be Boycotted? Buy Your Holiday Plane Tickets Now to Avoid Fare Hikes Would You Skip Housekeeping for a Cheaper Hotel Bill?

The airfares gently creeping towards the outlandish. The jostling for time off (did you put that request in yet?). The promise of weather delays, overbooked flights and traffic jams. It’s that time of year again, the holiday travel season. So, what does this time of year mean to you? Do you look forward to reuniting with friends and family, despite the travel hassles? Or is it tempting to forgo the family feuds across the turkey and trimmings and just get away? Or maybe, it's all a bit too much for you and you're happy to hunker down at home until after the new year. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('24dd2103-9636-4848-b48a-8c1a39a64340');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)There are several factors in the holiday travel equation. On the one hand, this is the traditional time of year for togetherness, whatever that means to you. And seeing as it comes every year, a lot of people have it down to a science, booking their flights or planning their travel well in advance to make the process as painless as possible. On the other hand, travel companies do throw some tempting deals out there to entice precisely those travelers who may not have the need, desire or opportunity to be with loved ones for the holidays. But, unless you plan on heading south, it's cold in a lot of places this time of year, which is in part why many of the deals exist in the first place. And even if you're traveling farther afield, chances are, you're still heading to the same crowded airports you'd need to go to if you were staying closer to home. So, what about you? What is your travel strategy this holiday season, and why? Are you maybe trying something different? Let us know by voting in our poll or commenting below. More from Budget Travel: Buy Your Holiday Plane Tickets Now to Avoid Fare Hikes 14 Ways to Survive a Holiday Flight Trip Coach: Share Your Upgrade Strategies

If you're reading this travel blog, you probably think of yourself as a "traveler," not a tourist—as someone who travels to see life like a local, rather than only go to places that will impress your in-laws and high school friends. You're probably the kind of person who gets a laugh at a site like TackyTouristPhotos.com, which pokes fun at stereotypical tourist shots, such as pics of tourists misguidedly trying to blend in with French culture. A new site that travelers may like is How Not To Be A Tourist (HNTBAT.com), put together by locals for savvy travelers. It delivers insights into local customs and cheeky street-style photography on clothes you need to blend in. While in New York, for instance, How Not To Be A Tourist suggests you carry a messenger bag instead of a backpack or a fanny pack that screams "Mug Me, I'm From Out of Town." Like anyone trying to be funny, the site can try too hard and hit some wrong notes from time to time. But as a resident of London, I can at least confirm that their tips on the English capital are on the money—though their photos of what locals supposedly look like are very unrepresentative outside of the hipster neighborhoods of Hoxton, Dalston, and Shoreditch. HNTBT.com is still too new to have broad coverage yet of the US or of the globe. Right now, it offers content for cities the size of New York City, with Melbourne and Paris in the works. Copying the AirBnB model, the site also offers lodging alternatives to hotels. Dear reader, now it's your turn: What are your tips for not looking like a "tourist"? SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL New Site Tracks Outrageous Souvenirs Travel Photo Tips for Kids 25 Most Photographed Places on Earth

You may dream about going past the magical Business/First Class curtain on airplanes and into the fancy room-with-a-view in hotels, but how can you get there without paying? There are strategies you can use to improve your chances of snagging an upgrade. Loyalty to a particular airline, hotel company, cruise line or car rental firm certainly helps—especially when you gain "elite" status in their frequent traveler program. Experts say a friendly smile and few kind words for the check-in agent also goes a long way when it comes to upgrades. I've seen "pro" upgrade-seekers in action. One pal even brings chocolate as a gift for airline gate agents and flight attendants and says it frequently works in getting him a better seat — on one overseas flight I observed, chocolates didn't get him out of coach but did get him near constant attention including extra water and a cheese plate from First Class. An interview with a fellow who tracks upgrades revealed you're more likely to get special treatment at hotels and car rental firms if you book directly, even if you pay the same price as at discount travel sites. Another pal says he always books the cheapest rental car because they tend to sell out, leaving the car rental company no choice but to upgrade him. We want to hear your experiences, questions and techniques when it comes to getting upgrades. How did you snag a complimentary First Class seat? Did you trade in that economy car for a mid-size at no extra charge? What was it like getting that lavish suite even though you paid for cheaper accommodations? Has your credit card or membership in an organization helped you get an upgrade? How did you get the ocean-view cruise cabin for the price of an inside? Are upgrade coupons online worth the effort? We'll feature reader comments and answer your questions in the Trip Coach column in an upcoming issue of Budget Travel. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Would You Pay $80 for an Upgrade? Should We Tip Flight Attendants? Would You Say No to an Upgrade?