Passengers are often placated with vouchers for a free meal or a refreshment when they are legally entitled to more significant reimbursement.

Some have argued that we have entered the Golden Age of Travel, with more of the world open to travelers today than ever before and our ability to go anywhere (relatively cheaply and safely) beyond compare. But a traveler can still dream, right?

After five years of kicking the can down the road, the 112th United States Congress has agreed on the provisions of the FAA Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2012.

The DOT operates at the "will" of the president. If the next president has a pro-airline leaning, the DOT's time frames can change in a heartbeat and we could be looking at 10 hours on the tarmac instead of three for domestic flights and 14 for international flights.

We all know that air travel is never a sure thing. Many flights are delayed or cancelled, for a variety of reasons. But if your flight is cancelled, what do you do? What are your rights?

Children under 13 will not be routinely required to remove their shoes and will not be subjected to intrusive pat downs that touch private areas of their bodies.

Since 9/11, ignorance and misguided paranoia have combined to inspire senseless hate crimes all over America against people who wish only the same peace and safety all Americans desire.

The throng of Spirit charges is astonishing. Take a few minutes to review their Our Optional Fees page. They are actually still charging for carry-on bags.

We aren't actually contributing to more secure air travel--we're just participating in an endless game of Security Theater.

For decades, the commercial airlines have successfully managed to convince the DOT that they should police themselves when it comes to how they treat passengers--essentially preventing any meaningful reforms.