ASK THE CAPTAIN Advice for aspiring pilots and training paths
A 15 year old in Im mad Calif asks how to plan college courses for a pilot career and whether military service is worth it. The captain urges strong math physics geography and technical writing, choosing a good college, and notes military life is long and competitive with alternative routes. He cites Purdue Western Michigan North Dakota Middle Tennessee State Embry Riddle Florida Tech as examples of pilot programs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Immad
Calif
Krista A
Purdue
Western Michigan
University of North Dakota
Middle Tennessee State
Embry Riddle
Florida Tech
Agustin Reyes
Mexico
Val
Brazil
Smaller carry on bags reshape flight cabin space
Airlines face shrinking overhead bins as travelers push for smaller bags. Industry rumors about bigger Space Bin 737s spark skepticism given past Cabin OK standards and a wave of baggage-fee incentives. Experts note the pack light trend grows due to check bag prices, urging tighter, lighter luggage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
International Air Transport Association
Avianca
Azul
Caribbean
Cathay Pacific
China Eastern
China Southern
Emirates
Lufthansa
Qatar Airways
Trade Organization
Susan Foster
Holiday travel tips from USA TODAY Road Warriors
USA TODAY Road Warriors offer holiday travel advice including booking early flights to avoid delays and ensuring at least two hours for layovers. Tips cover using airline apps for gate times and seat assignments, packing carry on smartly, and weighing checked bags to avoid fees. They advise against packing medicines or valuables in checked bags and note you can bring food onboard but not alcohol.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
USA Today
Road Warriors
Amy Sewell
Manhattan
Jim Sill
Global Development
Costa Mesa
Calif
Tim Beyrau
Mandeville
Beyrau
What You Can Do What You Can Do
Practical travel tips from frequent flyers cover early flights packing light and smart, and weather aware planning. Advice includes carrying medicines in carry-on, photographing parking spots, using booking apps, and staying flexible if flights are disrupted. It also notes modern luggage options from Briggs & Riley Eagle Creek and Victorinox with space saving features.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ashok Raiji
Yonkers
Sheri Spero
New York City
Spero
Sewell
Space Saving Travel Tips for Downsizing Bags
Consumer advocate Elliott outlines practical packing strategies including using luggage cubes from Eagle Creek and Travelwise, vacuum packing with Pack Mate bags, and rolling clothes to maximize space. He notes smaller bags fit in car trunks and hints at downsizing driven by car travel trends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eagle Creek
Travelwise
Also Mentioned on This Page
Cox
Safety Operating Systems
Christopher Elliott
Nicy
Eururenmini
O'Hare International
Chicago
TSA
Sill
Trish Bigler
Phoenix
Lisa Finstein
Manchester
N.H
Detroit
Philly
Tory
Isha Edwards
Atlanta
Briggs & Riley
Edwards
Briggs
Victorinox
Swiss Army
Skyroll
America
Elliott
National Geographic Traveler
Chris
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!