Club TWiT: Jet Set with Johnny Jet #1 - Expert Travel Tips and Worst Flights Ever!

Quick summary

Travel-focused conversation with Johnny Jet covering packing, booking, in‑flight comfort, tech/tools, cruise/train choices, and personal “worst/best” flight stories.

Practical travel tips

• Pack light whenever possible — carry‑on only saves checked‑bag fees and hassle. With family it’s harder, but worth trying.
• Check seat maps repeatedly (days/hours/minutes before boarding) — last‑minute changes can give you an empty middle seat or a better row.
• Compare upgrade/first‑class prices vs checked‑bag fees — sometimes upgrading is cheaper and far more comfortable.
• Ask about paid upgrades at the gate — airlines sometimes sell last‑minute seats cheaply.
• Gain elite status or use airline co‑brand credit cards to avoid bag fees and get priority boarding/bin space.
• Priority/early boarding matters for overhead bin space — arrive earlier if you need carry‑on room.
• Bring a small gift (candy) and be polite to gate/ground staff — can help in goodwill situations.
• Buy travel insurance for big trips; when booking through a cruise/tour operator, buying insurance through them can simplify refunds and voucher handling.
• For privacy/security overseas: consider burner phones or wiping devices if concerned about inspections.
• Consider smaller local airports (Burbank, John Wayne, Long Beach, Santa Rosa) to avoid big‑airport crowds and save time.
• If nervous about small planes, research the operator and pilot experience — some small‑plane and seaplane trips are fantastic, others are stressful.

Health & comfort routine

• Johnny carries a CO2 meter at home and notes airplane cabins often have CO2 in the four digits — high CO2 can make you sleepy. Tip: fresh air or ventilation helps.
• Window seats are recommended for views, star sightings on night flights, and to avoid glare/disturbances from cabin neighbors who close shades.

Tech, apps & services (planning & tracking)

• TripIt / TripIt Pro — itinerary manager (some users report declining reliability after acquisition).
• Flighty and FlightAware — flight tracking and alert apps (Flighty valued for early gate/delay notifications).
• tneo.ai (Tino) — AI‑driven itinerary ingestion tool (emerging/one‑person product; privacy and longevity caveats).
• Big Jet TV / plane‑spotting webcams — live plane watching and play‑by‑play commentary for enthusiasts.
• Blacklane — black car broker (convenient but pricier; drivers may prefer direct booking).
• Empower — alternative rideshare that claims lower fares than Uber/Lyft (regional availability).
• Uber Shuttle — shared van option for airport→city trips at lower cost per person.
• Medjet/MedjetAssist — medical evacuation benefit commonly bundled with premium cards.
• Note: SeatGuru is no longer fully available; many airlines now show seat maps directly when booking.

Booking & money tips

• Check business/first class price vs baggage fees — upgrading may be worthwhile.
• Redeem frequent‑flyer miles for domestic or transcontinental upgrades; watch award availability and cash+mile options.
• Credit cards: airline co‑brand cards are still useful for baggage/priority benefits; Amex Platinum offers Centurion/Centurion lounge access but has high fees.

Transport & trip‑style advice

• Trains are recommended in Europe for convenience and city‑center arrivals. Scenic rail options to consider:
  • Rocky Mountaineer (Canada), Trans‑Canada
  • Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express
  • Eastern & Oriental Express (Thailand → Singapore)
  • The Ghan (Australia)
  • Various Peruvian trains to Machu Picchu
• River cruises vs ocean cruises:
  • River cruises: smaller, calmer, very scenic for certain regions (Europe).
  • Ocean cruises: vary widely; smaller luxury lines (Seabourn, Regent, Silversea, Uniworld) preferred for service and food. Very large ships (Royal Caribbean, etc.) can be crowded with mixed food quality.
• Consider timing (holidays, summer) and choose a cruise line based on the crowd you want (families vs older travelers).
• Domestic driving often carries higher accident risk than flying — weigh risks sensibly.

Travel anecdotes & highlights

• First overseas trips at 23 (Hong Kong, Singapore); business class on long transpacific flights can “spoil” you.
• Worst flight memories: a small‑plane alarm in Fiji (stall warning); a turbulent puddle‑jumper flight during college in lightning.
• Best unexpected flights: calm scenic seaplane flights (Fraser Island) showing whales; spectacular night sky views and July 4 fireworks seen from the air.
• Family travel: Johnny travels with kids young (one child to 26 countries by age 9) — traveling early with children is feasible and rewarding.

Notable speakers, locations, products & brands

• Speaker: Johnny Jet (travel expert); hosts from TWiT (Club Twit).
• Airlines mentioned: United, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Ryanair, Spirit, Frontier, Breeze.
• Apps/services: TripIt/TripIt Pro, Flighty, FlightAware, tneo.ai (Tino), Big Jet TV, Blacklane, Empower, Uber Shuttle.
• Credit cards/services: United co‑brand card, Amex Platinum, MedjetAssist.
• Rail/cruise brands & routes: Rocky Mountaineer, Eastern & Oriental Express, Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express, The Ghan, Uniworld, Viking, Seabourn, Regent, Silversea.
• Notable places discussed: Hong Kong, Singapore, Fiji (Nadi → Taveuni), Fraser Island (Australia), Toronto, Vancouver, Lake Louise, Cusco → Machu Picchu, Darwin → Alice Springs (The Ghan), JFK/LAX/SFO/Burbank/John Wayne/Long Beach/Santa Rosa airports, Mississippi River (Viking river cruise), San Simeon, Big Sur.