Good job, United Airlines. You got us out of EWR last Friday early and got us home Tuesday at least thirty minutes ahead of schedule. Not for nothing, but I didn't think there was an ice cube's chance in hell of that happening. And I even got an extra chocolate cookie snack. The flight attendant asked if I wanted two, so I obliged. When Doris and I travel, we very rarely do trips that require luggage for only a couple of days. Carry-on luggage. Nope, when we go away, our suitcases are loaded, and when I throw that sucker on the scale, I'm always a little concerned about staying under that 50 lb. limit. But, in reality, the most I ever got to was 48. Doris never tips the scale past 37 or 38. Little people, little clothes. Me, if I'm lugging that thing to the airport, I'm getting everything I can inside of that suitcase, without breaking the zipper, of course. It's the shoes! Sorry luggage handlers and chauffeurs. Now, about carry-on luggage and overhead bins. According to AI or Google, the standard size for carry-on luggage is 22 x 14 x 9, and that includes the wheels and handles. This is what you are allowed to take on the major airlines, United, Delta, American, etc. I know my ugly green regulated bag falls under those parameters, but when we are sitting in the waiting area before boarding, I begin to wonder if I got this whole size thing wrong. The gatekeeper who monitors you as you are boarding the plane usually makes continued announcements about your carry-on and how it has to meet the requirements to fit in the overhead bins. I'm thinking to myself that there finally will be justice, and that the guy with the 30 x 30 x 14 suitcase will be told this is not happening. Not on my plane. Am I so wrong? On the plane, it goes, and the monster suitcase, which should be down below in stowage, for $70, is taking up a whole section of the bin because it goes in sideways and not straight in. What is causing this issue is now one can pay an extra $29, which gives them priority boarding, not seating. Just the ability to get on before others in the number two lane. So, these slick travelers and their two carry-ons, oops, one carry-on and one personal item!, wink, wink, get on with no questions asked. Why upset someone who just paid an extra $29? Problem is, when that priority line is called up, it is now at least two-thirds of the passengers. Me? I just give up, and when the gatekeeper asks if there are volunteers to check the bag at the gate, yep, that's me. Take my bag because I do not want to be in the film, which is now out, as of this morning, from the Department of Transportation, on civility. I'm sharing the link, but if you don't want to open it, it is easy enough to find. DOT Civility Campaign This is not made up. It appears to be social media film directors capturing travelers in their finest hours. Think People's Express tenfold. Be safe. John A Sutich Just Another Story Blog

Airline Connections Friday, today, the FAA is mandating a 10% reduction in flights across 40 different airports this coming week. Hope you're not heading anywhere for a destination wedding? I'm sorry for whining, but next week we are planning on a quick trip to Florida for a big weekend party. Yeah, we can do this stuff now. Well, only if our flight isn't canceled! Apparently, long-haul flights should not be affected as much as domestic flights. What I think we need to do to get to Florida is book a flight from EWR to Paris, then a flight from Paris to Florida. Simple! Years ago, just like every other story I tell, (years ago) travel agents were a big part of the travel business. We relied a lot on them with their connections to the business traveler to provide us with their ground transportation needs. Yes, once in a while, they travelled themselves. Like the time we had a good guy, a great business source, travelling on a lousy, snowy day. Seasoned traveler as we thought he was, he couldn't pull the wool over our eyes at Perfect Limo. Turns out, when we went to pick him up at the scheduled time, we got to the door and he said he needed to cancel the limo because he just found out his flight was cancelled due to the current blizzard. Now, a few hours before, we did suggest he confirm that his flight was still leaving. Remember, this was way before any software programs giving us the ability to track flights. This was between you and the airline. You remember, !-800-da,da,da-da,da,da,da. When we told him he was going to be billed for the ride, because he cancelled, which he did after making the chauffeur sit in front of his house for over an hour waiting for him to decide what to do. He responded in amazement that he thought limousine companies and airlines were connected with each other, and we should have been made aware of the cancellation from our partners in the airlines, and they were responsible for paying us, not him. This was before the phrase LOL. Are you kidding me? Now, if I were getting a piece of an airline, I'd be giving out nuts, like in the good old days, and not those half-empty bags of pretzels, which, by the way, incredible enough, we enjoy receiving like we just got a five-star meal! Did you see the latest report about the two planes that contacted each other at LGA in October? Although they say November. AI report: A recent Delta pilot was involved in a ground collision at LaGuardia in November 2025 after not recalling instructions to yield to another aircraft. He stated he was focused on calculating landing performance numbers and looking down at the cockpit checklist when he looked up to see the other plane, according to an NTSB preliminary report. Is this similar to texting and driving? So, as soon as you blinked your eyes, we were already halfway through the professional football season. The NFL is in week ten. How's your team doing? I'm curious, did Major League Baseball have the World Series yet? Only kidding. The Toronto Blue Jays apparently lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yeah, I agree, who cares? Be safe. John A Sutich Just Another Story Blog