I get the pleasure of traveling all around the world and meeting some spectacular people in my journey.  And, these days I’ve even taken to twitter my flying experiences.  You can follow me here:  http://twitter.com/adamginsberg

However, there’s more to world travel and jet setting than meets the eye.  First, there’s the long lines at the airport.  Yes, most of these are avoided when you check in at first class - but even then, getting to the airport 2 hours early and standing in line - for anything - simply isn’t fun.

Then it’s “check in baggage” time.  This is a pain in the ass.  Every airline has different rules and every airline has restrictions different than one another - and some of these rules simply make no sense.  On some airlines a bag carry on is allowed to be a carry on.  On other airlines, a carry on (in size is fine) unless it weighs less than 14 pounds.  Then, it must be checked in.

Some airlines allow two pieces of check luggage while others allow three.  Some allow up to 50 pounds, while others allow up to 70 pounds.  Some airlines charge for each extra bag and others charge for the weight of each extra bag.

There’s so much to air travel that’s inconvenient - like going through security. Yes, I understand it’s for my protection…but some of the rules simply make no sense.  For example, if I fly on Virgin America I am not allowed to bring my 3 ounces of liquid through security, but I can have full 100% access to my wireless internet from 34,000 feet in the air.

Singapore Air and Air New Zealand are by far my favorite airlines for long 12+ hour flights.  United has updated their planes for most routes, but their flight attendees really could use an attitude adjustment.

Aer Lingus - I don’t like them very much…I think they probably like me less than I like them.  They’re rules and customer staff were so rude, we ended up getting into a shouting match.  Heck, I was almost escorted out of the airport…but that’s okay, there’s other ways to get to Dublin like on BMI - a much better airline anyway.

In Singapore you don’t have to take your laptop out of your bag for security.  Air New Zealand has fresh squeezed Orange Juice.  On United’s new plane you can sit backwards facing.  Virgin America is by far the best domestic US airline.

This post could be a book of observations, insights and stories on how and when to fly…but here’s something to think about.

Recently I was on a United flight from Melbourne to Sydney to Los Angeles.  My Melbourne to Sydney flight was delayed so I took Virgin Blue to Sydney (from Melbourne).  There were two of us flying with 3 bags each.  On United, each of the 6 bags are free to travel with but on Virgin Blue you have to pay $8 PER KILO.  Our six bags weighed 120 Kilos.  What the #$^@$%^.  The tickets cost $49 each per person.  Our cost to bring the bags…$960.

I went to the supervisor to inquire why there is no passenger weight restriction.  In other words, if Person A buys a ticket for $49 and Person B buys a ticket for $49 - doesn’t the airline ask how much the passenger weighs?  Of course not, that would be discrimination.  Do fat people pay for their plane tickets than skinny people?  Do 50 year olds pay more or less than 15 year olds?  No, No, No.

So if a person isn’t charged by their weight, why should they be charged by the weight of their bags?  3 bags - and a set bag fee - is fine.  But $8 per Kilo? Absurd, Stupid, Ridiculous, and no choice.  The saving grace is the customer team was nice…much nicer than the people at Aer Lingus.  Virgin Blue may have their rules - but that’s one airline I won’t be flying on any time soon…

More airline experiences to come…