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Air Travel/Questions Answered by Expert Matthew Smith
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Best airline ticket fares | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: I am planning a trip to Chihuahua,Mexico from Fort Wayne,IN (round trip) from December 13,2011 to ... A: Yes, it's true that Tuesdays are typically cheaper (not Mondays because it's a heavy business travel ... | |
| Accommodation hotel. | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I'm traveling with Czech Airlines turn-return from Berlin to Beirut via Prague for business.The time ... A: No. If the airline had operational problems that cancelled the flight and left you stranded at the ... | |
| airfare | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: Matthew Smith, I was wondering what are the factors that determine the price of an airline ticket. ... A: Pricing basically boils down to supply and demand, but the airline goes through great lengths to ... | |
| airline trip planning thru canada | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: i live in vancouver, canada and all the travel agency details for trip planning with thier airline ... A: Any time you book a flight on a US carrier out of Canada, you will end up getting routed through the ... | |
| Emotional trauma underwent on a canceled flight | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I had this trip planned to go to India during last December and my flights got canceled due to the ... A: No. You should be happy with the refund. Airlines are not liable for flights cancelled due to ... | |
| what can you take on a carry on bag? | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I are flying from NYC to New Mexico.We are NOT taking any checked bags,just 2 carry-on ... A: You should have no problem carrying your prescription medicines, including the needle pen. If the ... | |
| frequent flyer miles | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: can i use miles that I have with united to fly delta? i thought that they shared points? A: No, you cannot use United Miles to fly on Delta. They are in different code share alliances. If you ... | |
| Returning earlier than scheduled date on ticket | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: If i was to purchase a return ticket to Tokyo say for example from 1st November - 25 November, but i ... A: There would be a double effect. First you would have to pay a fee to change your return flight. ... | |
| Interrupting Flight Itinerary | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: TOPIC: Legality and Ramifications of side-stepping ridiculous fare structures by interrupting a ... A: Rick, I cannot offer any legal advice and what I say here MUST not be construed as such. 1) ... | |
| Cheapest site for next day travel? | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: Smith. I am wondering if there is a particular website (or any other means) that can locate last ... A: I'm sorry for the delay in answering. I've recently moved and didn't have time to answer. I am now ... | |
| querry regarding airport planning and develpoment | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: what actually airport planning includes? how can a commerce student spot an opportunity in aviation? A: Airport planning includes several fields of study and work. It depends on what aspect of planning ... | |
| airlines | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I am diabetic, do I need a doctors letter for airport security to carry the insulin, and other ... A: Hank, you shouldn't have any problems with insulin. It's such a common thing thatthe TSA has ... | |
| connecting flight | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I'm flying from Port-of-Spain to Atlanta on delta airline, I have to take a connecting flight from ... A: Honestly, I'm not sure that you're going to need to go through immigration since you're not staying ... | |
| We missed our flight due to bad weather? | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: we missed our flight due to bad weather there was traffic on the way to the airport, when we arrived ... A: I'm afraid that you will not be able to get your money back. I hate to say it, but it's really your ... | |
| change of the return date | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: Matthew, I bought a non-refundable ticket with return date about one and a half months after ... A: Vlad. I'm afraid that I cannot answer the question about travel insurance. Travel insurance is ... | |
| What I can carry in Checked luggage | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I am going to China soon and was asked if I could bring a couple bottles of fish oil pills and ... A: There is no problem with the fish oil pills. I'm afraid that I am a little out of the loop on the ... | |
| international flights | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: We will be taking a transatlantic cruise ending up in Rome. I purchased a RT ticket on US AIRWAYS. ... A: No, there are neither security nor airline problems with what you are doing. The airline isn't ... | |
| Visa requirements | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is travelling to Mexico with a connection at Philadelphia. Outward journey 8 January, ... A: American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Mexico. Your daughter will need her passport. If ... | |
| flying with plaster Paris | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: My brother has just broken his leg and is in a cast from his thigh to his toes and we are due to go ... A: Yes, he can fly with a plaster cast. No problem, security-wise. The TSA will use their swab to ... | |
| better to buy a Marflight before or after Christmas? | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Hope this is in your realm and not a bother! I'm flying to Mexico in March. Do airlines list March ... A: Christmas should not have an effect on the prices of March flights. Having said that, there are a ... | |
| air travel | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: can I fly commercially with unpaid traffic tickets/warrants? A: Yes, you may. However, the TSA has "Behavior Detection Officers" (BDOs) who watch crowds looking ... | |
| Flights | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: What is te best way to travel around the world. Am I best going to Auckland from London via Hong ... A: Your question was rather ambiguous, so I'm not sure how to answer. Are you doing this all one-way? ... | |
| layover | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: Can I leave the airport during a layover? I have three hours in SLC, UT and have family there I ... A: Yes, you may leave the airport. However, you may want to be sure you have time to leave and return ... | |
| canceling flights | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: My family(husband and 3 boys), would like to cancel our xmass vacation to Jamaica on Air Jamaica. ... A: You'd probably have to work up an Excel spread sheet to see the cost/benefit of postponing the trip. ... | |
| Rules | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: What is the sunday rule in Tariff A: Ana, Each airline has different rules and tariffs that are associated with each "fare basis code." ... | |
| ARE WE THERE YET 2 | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering would you please explain to me: why do we get blocked ears when we travel by ... A: When the air presure changes, it takes a little time for the air pressure in your ears to equalize ... | |
| Medicine Travel | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: How do I transport my diabetic insulin and needles on the plane in a carry on? I will need it with ... A: Use a little collapsable cooler (made from fabric with an insulated liner) and keep your insulin and ... | |
| Air travel after hip replacement | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: My husband is on now on a waiting list for a hip replacement operation. We have been booked since ... A: KLM was your best source of information. I don't keep track of individual airline's policies. ... | |
| Prolonged Holding Of Passengers | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Why do airlines not allow the passengers to disembark and wait in the relative comfort of the ... A: Airlines don't want to let passengers disembark for a few reasons: 1. They may not have gate space ... | |
| Airline policy | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: Not sure if this is your area of specialty. Emirates changed my flight details without my approval. ... A: The airline does have the right to change itineraries like that, but they are supposed to give you a ... | |
| 4 hours stay in athens airport (requied tranist visa) | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I have flight from Riyadh saudi arabai to Athens(Grece) and 4 hours stay then flight to Tunis. in ... A: I am not an immigration expert (especially of other Greece's visa rules) BUT you should not need a ... | |
| Layover in LAX | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: We have a layover of 6 hours in LAX. Flying on Delta, then catching Hawaiian to HNL. My question ... A: You should NOT need to claim your baggage in LAX. Nearly all airlines have what we call an ... | |
| legal advice | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: After boarding , the air craft stayed at the runway for about two hours , I asked the crew member ... A: I am not a lawyer, so this is really outside of my expertise, but I will try to answer your question ... | |
| direct flight BWI to GOT? | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in Sweden and want to find a direct flight from BWI which is closest to her home in Bowie, MD ... A: I'm sorry, but there are no non-stop flights between BWI and anywhere in Sweden. Neither BWI nor ... | |
| Travel | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: If I do not have a valid Drivers License or state ID how can I still check into my flight? A: Yes, but you will have to go through "further screening." This amounts to the TSA officer pulling ... | |
| air travel | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: I have already paid for my trip. On the itinerary it says that I am a adult but I am really only 17. ... A: Do not worry about your itinerary saying that you are an adult. For ticketing purposes, you are an ... | |
| Air travel without ticket for 3 year old | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible for a 3 year old (looks less than 3) to travel in the plane sitting on my lap and ... A: I am not an expert on particular rules such as this, but I can say that I hope your trip is short, ... | |
| role of international travel organisations.......... | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: Role of International Travel Organizations in the Growth and Evolution of Air Travel Industry. A: "Role of International Travel Organizations in the Growth and Evolution of Air Travel Industry" ... | |
| Playstation 2 | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: Would it be ok to bring a playsation 2 packed with the cords & games on a flight, with a RF ... A: Playstation 2, cords and games are fine. In fact, you don't need to take them out of your carry-on ... | |
| Embarkation and Disembarkation procedure at airport | 3/11/2007 |
| Q: Explain how the embarkarion and disembarkating procedure of passengers at airport expedite the ... A: Your question is not clear, but I will try to answer. Basically, it's a matter of keeping the flow ... | |
| Transit visa | 2/20/2007 |
| Q: I am to have 2hrs stop-over in Amsterdam(KLM Airlines),do i need a transit visa. A: You should not need a Transit visa because you will only be there 2 hours, and will likely not even ... | |
| TSA security question | 8/22/2006 |
| Q: I've recently been gifted with a piece of chain-mail jewelry - it's a bracelet, made from titanium ... A: Mark, Your bracelet will set of the walk-through metal detector. Show the TSA agent your wrist, ... | |
Matthew Smith
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
CAN: Airport Security (NOT immigration).
Airport planning and design. Airport development.
Airline pricing/yield/revenue management (NOT prices for individual tickets)
grant process
PLEASE STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO FLY FROM A TO B!!!
PLEASE STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH PARTICULAR AIRLINES WILL CHARGE FOR YOUR BAGS!
That's why your airline has a website!
Experience
Formerly Director of Operations at a small commercial airport.
Formerly worked for a state government issuing and managing airport development grants.
Formerly worked for TSA. (Not as bad as it appears to the average passenger.)
Formerly worked at an airport in planning and operations.
Also formerly worked as a Price Analyst for a wildly unpopular airline.
Currently teaching overseas until the job market improves.
Organizations
AAAE, AOPA, AzAA
Publications
Collegiate Aviation Review (2008)
Education/Credentials
B.A. English and Religious Studies, Hobart College
M.S. Aviation Management Technology, Arizona State University
--specialty is airport planning and design
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