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New AirTrain makes it easier to get into N.Y.C.

(Atlanta, May 24, 2002) Are you one of the 405,000 New York City-bound passengers expected to use Newark Airport over the Memorial Day weekend, or one of the millions to use it over the next year?

If so, save yourself or your company about $80, and consider taking the "AirTrain," Newark Airport's new all-rail link to Manhattan's Penn Station.

I recently flew to New York for the weekend, opting for Newark over my usual knee-jerk decision to fly into LaGuardia. That's because my round-trip fare from Atlanta was only $175. But it was also because, after so many bumpy and expensive cab rides, I wanted to try the new AirTrain. Here's my dispatch from the rails:

Cost: $11.55 each way. (Versus a $50 cab ride or an $11 bus fare). In addition, you'll pay a cab fare from Penn Station to your hotel or office, unless of course, you can walk there.

Time: The train definitely is the speediest alternative. It took me a little more than one hour to get from the airline gate at Newark to the streets of Manhattan.

Convenience: It's still not a completely seamless journey. You actually have to take two trains. First, you take the free airport monorail to the airport rail station (about a 10-minute ride). From the station (where you buy your ticket), you transfer to an Amtrak or N.J. Transit train that brings you into Manhattan/Penn Station.

Luggage: Due to long distances between trains, a lack of escalators, and little or no stowage room on the train, this option is best for those traveling light. If you've got large and/or heavy bags without wheels, use a cab.

Bidding for Travel

When online auctioneer eBay.com launched its travel category earlier this year, it was an immediate hit. Bargain-hungry travelers flock to the site to buy or sell everything from unused airline bump coupons or frequent-flier miles to resort rentals, last-minute vacations, luggage or even airline memorabilia.

Most of the travel offerings on the eBay travel home page are simply partnership links to well-known discount travel sites like Priceline.com, Site59.com or Vacationoutlet.com. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find the truly interesting items -- some of which just seem too good to be true.

To prevent the type of fraud that seems to run rampant in the travel industry, eBay soon will require all sellers of travel products on its site to go through a very strict screening process, and obtain a "seal of approval" before they are allowed to sell on the site.

Under the guidelines, anyone selling lodging or airline tickets must be an owner or employee of a company that sells lodging or airline tickets. They have to prove this to eBay with personal contact information and ownership rights. This screening is much stricter than what eBay requires of nontravel sellers.

Pack Light or Pay Up

The practice of "packing light" is taking on a whole new meaning as airlines add new fees for extra bags. If you are flying this summer, you'll have to pack everything in just two checked bags, or you'll have to pay more on many U.S. carriers.

Continental and Northwest Airlines announced recently that passengers now have to pay $80 for each checked bag over their current free limit of two. United charges $75, and Alaska Airlines charges $50 to check a third bag. American, AirTran and Delta still allow passengers to check a third bag for no extra charge.

More advice:

Buy larger bags so you don't go over the new limit of two.

Pack a smaller third bag that you can carry on instead of check.
Ship your luggage ahead of time via Federal Express or UPS.
Be realistic when packing: Take only half of what you think you'll need and shop at your destination.

This article also appeared in The Atlanta Business Chronicle

McGinnis manages The Ticket Portal, a free e-mail newsletter and Internet site for Atlanta-based frequent travelers at www.travelskills.com.

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