The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity, and Wallet Intact (Paperback)

~ Scott Mccartney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Imagine a world without late planes, missed connections, lost luggage, bumped passengers, cramped seating, high fees and higher fares, surly employees, and security lines. . . .

Ordinary travel is an extraordinary ordeal. Yet despite the high prices and huge hassles, travel is essential—along with the need for tips, tricks, and techniques to improve the journey. The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel is an entertaining road trip and a helpful guide, drawn from Scott McCartney's popular Middle Seat column, which explains why bad things happen to good travelers and what you can do to improve your lot. Expert advice and tips include:

• How to get cheap fares, first-class upgrades, and better seats.
• How to minimize chances of lost luggage and what to do when baggage doesn't show up.
• How to avoid delays, get around TSA bottlenecks, and minimize the chances you'll get stuck at some distant airport—and what to do if you do get stuck.
• How to complain to an airline and get some attention, right down to what to ask for in compensation and how to get the government's attention.

About the Author

Scott McCartney is the author of three books. A veteran journalist and licensed private pilot, he has been explaining airlines and travel to readers of The Wall Street Journal for more than a decade. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (April 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061688711
• ISBN-13: 978-0061688713
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,271 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Change your attitude and travel powerful, May 16, 2009

By	Rocco Stats (Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

The author is clearly knowledgeable and is succinct & engaging. This small book has two major stories to tell about traveling well. The first is how and why bad things happen, despite your best planning. We are all traveling in an uncertain environment, orchestrated by overworked people and often frustrating fellow travelers. The author explains why many of these difficulties occur and how to handle them; this is expected and welcome. We all become smarter travelers.
The second and perhaps the more important message is how to change your attitude to enjoy travel more, and effectively cope with bad surprises and even find opportunity for extra, fun, pleasure and pampering when available. We can't control the many disasters big & small, but we can switch to clever mode and put ourselves into the best position to get whatever redress is possible; sort of switching to ninja recovery mode. Highly recommended, especially if you tend to blow your top when inevitable messes occur and "service" personnel drop the ball. Mini handbook to become calibrated travelers: smart and in control.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Power Airline Travel, August 12, 2009

By	TDM (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews

I was very very impressed with the Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel. I am a frequent traveler both because of business and leisure, and this book gave me a few more tips that I can use to make my trips more enjoyable. The primary focus of this book is Air Travel. I would say if there is one down side to this, some of the best tips cost additional money. This is not additional money from the author but additional money and subscriptions to helpful sites that might make travel easier. I really believe that people who do not know much about Airline travel and how to plan a successful trip will greatly enjoy this book. Those people that travel frequently will get a couple good ideas that may help out with upgrades and seat selection info. Overall, this is a good read that most people will enjoy while learning useful tips.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sorry I only bought 3 of these books, June 7, 2009

By	L. Patterson "grammy reader" (Evansville, IN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My daughter-in-law graduated from college and I gave her and our son this book along with other gifts. I also bought the book for our other two sons and their families. I read the book myself and was very pleased with all the good info about air travel and how well the book was written. I've already recommended the book to several people.