All AskEd & AnswerEd Columns

• You Can Find Deals for Rail Tickets, Too
  June 28, 2011 8:41 am
  With the worldwide obsession over airfares, and a secondary fixation on hotel deals, it may come as a surprise that railroads offer great discounts and promotions. read more
• How Technology Changes the Way We Travel
  June 20, 2011 11:12 am
  From Wi-Fi to smartphones to credit card chips to payment methods, technology already touches our travel experiences. read more
• Can 'Hidden City' Fares Cut the Cost of Flying?
  June 13, 2011 2:55 pm
  Ed's short answer is, "Yes, but only in a small number of cases. And there are some risks." read more
• Study Tests Availability of Frequent Flyer Reward Seats
  June 5, 2011 12:00 am
  Results show low-cost airlines generally did better than the large legacy carriers. read more
• Phone Home Cheaply With "Smart" Technology
  May 29, 2011 12:00 am
  Ed shows you how to make and receive some calls free and most others for a mere fraction of those typically hefty roaming charges. read more
• Make Sure You Get the Right Travel Insurance
  May 22, 2011 12:00 am
  Buying any-reason cancelation and primary medical insurance, and buying it early in the game, could help avoid hassles if you need to make a claim. read more
• Is Shopping Overseas a Good Deal or Waste of Money?
  May 15, 2011 12:00 am
  The good opportunities may be dwindling, but don't give up. Ed will tell you what factors to consider when sizing up the great deals that are still out there. read more
• Planning That Special Trip to Las Vegas
  February 29, 2012 1:11 pm
  A reader asks about putting together a surprise getaway for her husband's 70th birthday and Ed offers up several savings options, as well as a few splurge ideas. read more
• How Useful Are the DOT's New "Passenger Protections"?
  May 1, 2011 12:00 am
  Viewed individually, the new rules are almost all improvements. But they fail to address some of the worst airline abuses that continue to plague travelers. read more
• Citi, American Express Pile on Perks for Premium Cardholders
  April 25, 2011 9:38 am
  Look for companion tickets, no-fee foreign transactions, and airport lounge access for the best customers. read more
• Big Banks Finally Break Chip-and-Pin Credit Card Logjam
  April 17, 2011 12:00 am
  Two big names are first out of the gate in the wait for the alternative to the swipe-and-sign credit cards. read more
• Watch Out for the Incredible Shrinking VAT Refund
  April 12, 2011 3:14 pm
  Handling fees, currency conversion rates, and paperwork make getting your money back a hassle. read more
• Worried About Card Fees? Check Alternative Payment Options
  April 3, 2011 12:00 am
  New payment services give consumers more choices beyond the familiar "plastic" money offerings. read more
• Buy Now or Wait for Olympics Bargains?
  March 27, 2011 12:00 am
  Right now, there's no easy answer for folks planning trips to the 2012 Games in London. read more
• Get Used to the Idea of More Airline Fees
  March 22, 2011 10:47 am
  Watch for more gimmicks as airlines get creative in developing new sources of fee revenue. read more
• Are Big Discounts on Business Class Seats Legit?
  March 22, 2011 10:43 am
  Ed Perkins explains the difference behind the discounts: Consolidator, OK. Coupon broker, not so much. read more
• New Airlines Vying for Their Place in the Sky
  March 4, 2011 10:44 am
  Ed Perkins takes a look at the plans and prospects for some interesting new startups. read more
• What's the Latest on Travel Credit Cards?
  February 27, 2011 12:00 am
  Banks have added important benefits to some of their cards. But there's no news yet on the chip-and-pin front. read more
• What's Up With Fuel Surcharges on Award Flights?
  February 20, 2011 12:00 am
  Ed Perkins answers a worried traveler's question about charges added to 'free' frequent flyer tickets. read more
• Does Travel Insurance Help in Egypt?
  February 15, 2011 9:28 am
  If you're reconsidering your booked trip, read this. Ed Perkins explains your insurance options. read more
• The Big Seat Squeeze Debate Continues
  February 6, 2011 12:00 am
  Passengers are getting bigger while airline seats are getting smaller. Ed Perkins sizes up the situation. read more
• Do European Flyers Have More Rights Than U.S. Ones?
  January 30, 2011 12:00 am
  U.S. travelers noticed airlines apparently took better care of delayed and stranded passengers on European flights recently. Ed Perkins investigates. read more
• Dealing With the Big Seat Squeeze
  January 24, 2011 10:13 am
  Ed Perkins says airline rules about seat encroachment are often vague and poorly enforced. read more
• Passenger 'Rights' More Circumstance Than Law
  January 17, 2011 7:57 am
  Ed Perkins explains all you can claim is what's in each airline's contract of carriage. read more
• Do Consumers Lose When Airlines and OTAs Fight?
  January 11, 2011 8:24 am
  Internal squabbles in the airline industry don't generally bode well for consumers. Ed Perkins breaks it down for you. read more
• 'Future of Aviation' Report: Road Map or Wish List?
  January 3, 2011 9:22 am
  Ed Perkins assesses whether the blue-ribbon committee's findings will lead to action or wind up gathering dust. read more
• Extra Fees on Car Rentals Can Add Up Quickly
  December 26, 2010 12:00 am
  Extra fees can double the quoted base rate when you're renting a car. Ed Perkins breaks down the charges for you. read more
• Freighter Cruising an Option for Adventurous Travelers
  December 23, 2010 10:25 am
  Ed Perkins says it's not your standard cruise, but freighter travel might be the right choice for a few folks. read more
• What Are My Rights in a Really Long Delay?
  December 13, 2010 9:27 am
  Readers want to know, but Ed Perkins says, "Essentially none, beyond what the airline wants to give you." read more
• Does Travel Insurance Cover a Missed Connection?
  December 5, 2010 12:00 am
  Ed Perkins look at your options when your trip requires two separate tickets on two different airlines. read more

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