There are some bizarre things that go on at airports - and surely customs officers see a lot of the truly odd occurrences. One of the latest in the truly bizarre file is a story of a passenger who used a cooked chicken to transport cocaine. It goes on to mention some of the other attempts to get drugs into countries.

And what you can legally transport as carry-on or checked in luggage.

We are into December so the busiest holiday air travel season is quickly approaching. At the airport, December 20, 21, 22 and 23 are notoriously busy for travel to just about anywhere. Just thinking about days like that led me to write the Holiday Air Travel Guide.

I wrote and compiled the Holiday / High Season Air Travel Guide to cover some of the important aspects of traveling during this time of year - from finding airfares, to the airport experience, and what happens when flights delay and cancel.

The topics covered are - searching for cheap airline tickets; travel with infants; travel with pets; online check-in; luggage fees and allowances; what kids can do at the airport; TSA Secure Flight; airports during peak travel periods; rule 240 and canceled/ delayed flights; what to do when flights cancel because of weather; travel health tips; and travel comfort tips. Hope it helps make your holiday travels a bit easier.

Wow - lots of good airfare deals, a chance to snag a cheap airline ticket now. Some of the airfare specials on sale this week...

Alaska Airlines sale. Some really good airfares. Book by December 7.
Travel dates are January 5 to March 10. Sample Airfare - one way airfare - Seattle / Orange County $50.

Air Canada coupon for Athens or Barcelona next summer. Book by December 31.
"Save 15% off your flight to Athens or Barcelona for travel between June 3, 2010 and October 17, 2010.  Get your discount by entering this promotion code when booking directly at aircanada.com: 4FPAWNY1 - 15% off Economy Fares."

Allegiant Air intro airfare for Orlando. Book by December 16. Travel by May 31. Service begins in January and February. Sample Airfare - Orlando - Youngstown, Ohio -- $59.99 each way.

AirTran Airways sale. Travel through March 10. Book by December 10. Sample Airfare- one way Jacksonville / Aruba - $169.

LAN South America sale. Book by December 21. Travel dates from January or February to mid-June. Sample Airfare - New York / Quito from $397 + tax roundtrip.

SAS Europe Sale. Book by December 7. Travel dates - January 11 - March 25, 2010.
Sample Airfare - one way airfare (roundtrip purchase is required) - Chicago / Moscow $285.

Southwest Airlines 2010 Vacations. Book by December 11.

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed, as are plenty of opinions!

Airfare Travel Deals this Week - Cheap Airline Tickets

image from the public domain

Thinking of a gift for an air traveler? If you want to purchase something other than the usual gift card, perhaps one for air travel may be an idea.

Another airline related gift idea is the lounge pass - a gift you can give yourself or someone else. You essentially buy a one day pass to an airline's business lounge. Amenities often include business centers with computers / fax, etc., TVs and video games, food and refreshments (some do have complimentary alcoholic beverages or really good espressos and lattes).

Airline Gift Certificates and Lounge Passes - Gifts of Air Travel

In terms of shopping, Black Friday has already come and gone...but the online equivalent is here - Cyber Monday.

In the spirit of that, and also just in terms of having a selection of air travel related gifts that range from under $10 to under $100 that can be purchased online, I created a collection of air travel related gift options.

Air Travel Gift Giving and Shopping Guide - Under $100.

The Daily Beast has done a great roundup on some of the best and worst airports out there for on-time departures, security wait times, safety, amenities and more.  Sort of in the holiday spirit as many will be traveling out of airports today and on Monday. Here are a few of the stats included:

"Best: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) - Houston

Southwest Airlines Vacations are touting it as their Black Friday. So here is the deal - big discounts on their New York, Phoenix and Las Vegas packages.

Book by December 3.

Its Thanksgiving in the United States - hope no one is stranded at the airport or staring down a delayed flight. Some of the airfare specials on sale this week...

American Airlines holiday airfares. One way airfares now start at $50 based on roundtrip purchase.

SAS Europe Sale. Book by December 7. Travel dates - January 11 - March 25, 2010.
Sample Airfare - one way airfare (roundtrip purchase is required) - Chicago / Moscow $285.

Southwest Airlines 2010 Vacations. Book by December 11.

Don't forget to check the Air Travel Forum - lots of airfare specials/airline promotions are listed, as are plenty of opinions!

Airfare Travel Deals this Week - Cheap Airline Tickets

image from the public domain

Oh the airports during holiday periods - it's not only passengers that cringe, but those who work at the airports as well. Flights are full, often delayed, and sometimes those freak weather storms sweep in - especially when every flight is full or overbooked. Thanksgiving travel in the United States may not be as heavily booked as some other years, but with reduced capacity from the airlines, it probably won't feel much different than other years.

It's time to look at a few aspects of travel during this Thanksgiving holiday week if you are traveling within the United States, or to a US destination...

I wrote and compiled the Holiday / High Season Air Travel Guide to cover some of the important aspects of traveling during this time of year. The topics covered are - searching for cheap airline tickets; travel with infants; travel with pets; online check-in; luggage fees and allowances; what kids can do at the airport; TSA Secure Flight; airports during peak travel periods; rule 240 and canceled/ delayed flights; what to do when flights cancel because of weather; travel health tips; and travel comfort tips. Hope it helps make your holiday travels a bit easier.

SeatGuru decided to take a look at which 5 airports in the United States are the best to get stuck in. So if you are stranded at an airport, these are the best for a bad situation.

This one is ending soon - November 23 - but is pretty close to the very last minute for booking a Thanksgiving airfare.

Airfares are traditionally high during this travel period, so some of the prices seem particularly decent with this sale on United Airlines.

Sample airfares - roundtrip airfares include - Buffalo, NY / Richmond, VA $208, and Lansing, MI  /  Washington, D.C. $247.