• I FLY OUT OF ATLANTA DO I NEED TO CHECK IN A DAY BEFORE MY FLIGHT?
  

  Our Managing Editor, Richard Turen, helps direct traffic inside London Heathrow

  Q – I am planning two, possibly, three trips to Europe later this year. In setting up flights, I am wondering what the real travel pros are recommending in terms of airport and connection times. It was always an hour and a half for anything out of  Atlanta and that has worked for my wife and I for years. But I just put down an article in USA Today that makes me think I should follow the strategy of getting to the airport around midnight and just camping out in front of my gate. It might be helpful to many of us to have the latest recommendations. I simply do not believe what I am reading online or on the airline aps. We will likely fly Delta.

  Thank you for this obvious labor of love. Quite frankly, I don’t quite understand how you are monetizing this site but we would gladly pay an annual subscription fee. 

  A – So, you live in the Atlanta area and you’ll be flying Delta internationally – what a shock! You are correct, things are changing before our eyes – as our eyes become part of our biometric profile. It is taking longer to get a Biometric reading at Hartsfield than it takes to get a double latte from Starbucks. And that’s a very long time.

  Although airlines may legally sell connections as short as 45–90 minutes, most experienced travel professionals prefer considerably more time. For Europe-bound travel, we generally recommend 2½–3 hours when connecting in the United States and 2–3 hours when connecting through major European gateways. Airports such as Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Charles de Gaulle often warrant a minimum of 3 hours. Missing a connection can easily cost half a day of vacation time, so we prefer building itineraries with comfortable rather than merely legal connection times.

  Look at it this way: The value of an extra hour in the airport is usually far greater than the value of saving an hour on paper if a missed connection could jeopardize hotel reservations, private transfers, cruise embarkation, or touring arrangements. And, at Hartsfield-Jackson you have the sandwiches at Proof of the Pudding over in Terminal A to help pass the time. 

  Finally, our entire Traveltruth Media Group is operated on a not-for-profit basis. We hope in some small way we can make your travel experiences just a little bit easier and more fact-based. 

  What Experienced Travel Advisors Are Now Recommending:

  Connection Type	Minimum
  Domestic U.S. → Europe flight	2½–3 hours
  Europe arrival → Europe connection	2–3 hours
  Heathrow, Frankfurt, CDG connections	3+ hours
  Europe → U.S. connection	3 hours
  Elderly travelers, families, infrequent flyers	Add another 30–60 minutes

• MT. EVEREST – AND YES I’M BEING SERIOUS

  Q – Believe me, I am not going to ask a travel adviser whether or not I should climb Mt. Everest. But I am a serious 26 yea-old climber, the nephew of a client, and I am in serious training to do Everest as soon as I can. My Uncle, Steve “K.” has told me that the cost is going to be all on me. I know it is expensive and I know there are climbs I need to do before anyone would ever imagine I would be ready for Everest. I know my Uncle trusts you with his life so I thought I would ask you how you would advise a client with Everest as a life’s goal how to prepare and, quite frankly, how to sell my Uncle.  If I have to wait until I am thirty to meet this goal, I am prepared to do it.  

  A –  You will have to wait hours in a line, chest to chest with strangers, on an icy ridge with a minimum 20-foot drop, all with the goal of reaching the summit, where you will get to stand with about 20 other people on a tiny piece of relatively flat land the size of two ping-pong tables. But you know all of this. The climb is now a primary example of humans creating a serious tourist trap at 29,000 feet for an average cost, we are told, of $70,000 per person.

  We won’t give advice because we are totally unqualified to do so. You may be a super athlete looking to score the ultimate “goal” or, more likely, you are just another twenty-something with a stylish kind of death wish. 

  The experts we have consulted tell us that there are absolutely three things you must do before considering standing in line in sub-freezing temperatures:

  

  # 1 – Complete at least one, preferably two, 6,000 m peaks like Island Peak, Lobuche East, or the Mera Peak.

  # 2 – You must complete one of the challenging 7,000 m peaks like Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, or Ojos del Salado

  # 3 – The top Everest expedition experts say that after you have experienced these climbs, you need to do one 8,000 m peak climb on either Cho Oyu, Manaslu, or Gasherbrum.

  If you can complete these “warm-up” challenges, some of the best guides at the very best expedition companies, tell you they might consider your application. And be prepared for the possibility that when you have finally met the recommended criteria, the weather gods are friendly, and you join the slow, crawling line to the top, be prepared for the possibility that you may see a Gold sign reading “Trump Mountain”.

• GIVEN THE CHAOTIC NATURE OF PLANNING FLIGHTS THESE DAYS, WE ARE THINKING OF USING ONE OF THE BETTER CONCIERGE AIR TICKETING SERVICES YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED. WHAT DO THEY NORMALLY CHARGE?
  Q – (6.13.26) – Just reviewing some of the questions and responses on Traveltruth we are strongly considering using one of the better Concierge/Air Ticketing Services given the somewhat chaotic nature of flying these days . We would only use one of the firms that includes Flight Monitoring. Can you tell us your current advice and what these firms typically charge for our planned travel to Germany and Austria and Dubai along with the Maldives planned for 2028. Appreciate your “No Ads” positioning. 

  A – There are surprising few firms that are really dedicated to airline ticketing and flight monitoring that we would feel comfortable recommending. One form you might want to try is Cranky Concierge. The consumer travel press is quite fond of them and they win numerous awards. If they are planning your air arrangements and offering included flight monitoring services, expect to pay about $200 per person. That seems expensive but they often have access to contract fares that could save you money on the base cost of your tickets in First or Business Class.  If you want them to plan your air using miles the cost is in the range of $400 per person. The question every traveler needs to ask is :“Who has my back if something goes wrong.”? 

  Our opinion is that overseas travelers should strongly consider using Flight Ticketing with 24-7 Flight Monitoring Services. Some travel editors are advising that consumers flying in the front of the plane on non-stop routes do not really need flight monitoring services. If your scheduling is going to require connecting flights we would strongly urge you to consider a Monitoring service. The peace of mind does have a certain value as we flit about from place to place. By the way, combining the Maldives and Dubai is a brilliant vacation strategy. 

• FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SHORTAGES, HUGE FARE RAISES ON INTERNATIONAL ROUTES, AND CROWDED AIRPORTS IN EUROPE RTEQUIRING NEW FORMS OF ID: AS WE PREPARE TO MAKE OUR AIR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TWO WEEKS IN BRUGES, ANTWERP, AND AMSTERDAM, SOME AIR ADVICE WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. ALL I SEE ONLINE IS ‘BOOK EARLY”

  Q – My girlfriend and I keep received airline warnings and airport updates that make us wonder if we should contemplate traveling to Europe at all this fall. Our friends who will be traveling to Spain (we are headed to Belgium and the Netherlands) keep telling us we should book with one of the larger online agencies like Expedia. We want to do this right – and price isn’t everything. As a Traveltruth fan, I am sure there are many folks like us who would really appreciate a concise list of recommendations and strategies for flying this Fall. I take it you don’t mess with airfare but wondering if you might share some thoughts about the current projections of massive international travel issues. Thanking you in advance.

  A – Thank you for this question(s) – we have received many like it. We are currently working on an article to be published soon that ranks the media levels of exaggeration when issues like shortages of air traffic controllers, shortages of pilots, airport crowds and chaos due to insufficient staffing, along with new European biometric requirements, and the cancellation of major international routes. Finally let’s add significant price increases across the board throughout the summer and fall.

  You need to heavily discount all but one of these anxiety-producing concerns. The one concern that is based in reality has to do witht he new system adopted in much of Europe that now requires biometric identification and registration. This can easily add two or three hours to your arrival or departure customs procedures. That is the one that is real and not media exaggerated.

  The online agencies are sort of neat places to do online research but you would be a silly traveler to actually book anything with an online agency. In some cases their tickets can’t be transferred, in many cases their service levels are awful, and in far too many cases you would be giving your credit card number to an unknown entity pretending to be an online booking engine. Plus – they don’t know you nor do they really care to. They have no connections to utilize when things break down. When it comes to travel, always avoid fraud and avoid anonymous 1-800 Booking entities no matter how many positive online reviews they have purchased over the years.

  Here are the strategies you have requested. We sincerely hope this information saves you some stress with your air arrangements:

  Our Recommended Strategies to Book the Lowest-Priced Business-Class Tickets This Fall and The Summer of 2027

  

  # 1 – Try to be flexible with dates and airports – balance number of trip pre-nights with current fare pricing.

  # 2 – Remain flexible on dates and airports. Try to fly on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday to avoid weekend peak fares

  # 3 – Use competitive major airport hubs like LON/CDG/AMS/FRA

  # 4 – Engage a fare watch service such as price monitoring and look for airline sales 8-12 weeks prior to Fall Travel this year and 6-11 months prior to peak summer travel next year.

  # 5 – Remember: Seats generally become available at 3:00 am. on the date exactly 11 months from the date of your return flight.

  # 6 – If you are not adept at Fare Search tactics and matrix-style multi-search tools, engage a professional booking and monitoring service such as Cranky Concierge to handle your arrangements.

  # 7 – At times, two one-way fares can be less expensive than a round-trip fare.

  # 8 – Explore booking Premium-Economy on an upgradeable ticket and use miles for the upgrade to Business.

  # 9 –  Explore the use of accumulated miles, points, and partner awards. Transferable points from American Express, Chase, and Capital One to a specific airline or air alliance can sometimes provide outsized value for your awards.

  10 – Fully explore partner award availability, such as United Star Alliance points on ANA, Avianca, Turkish, and Air Canada. Note that award seats usually become available 11 months or 360 days prior to your flights.

  11 – Use credit card portals to explore discounted Business Class Offers.

  12 – Consider long-haul on one carrier with a short connection with a low-cost or partner carrier

  13 – Book refundable/changeable fares that allow you to rebook shortly after you buy if a sale appears.

  14 – Always try to avoid third-party 1-800 airline sites. Use a trusted credit card for all air purchases. (Note that Elite American Express cards provide stronger consumer support than Mastercard or Visa)

  15 – Given the uncertainty in pricing resulting from events in the Middle East, we strongly advise our guests to engage an air ticketing firm that provides the best available pricing and Concierge-level flight monitoring. Only use those companies that enjoy the highest consumer ratings in the field. Both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler rate Cranky Concierge # 1. (Note: Churchill & Turen Ltd. is not affiliated with Cranky Concierge, and they are not Preferred Suppliers in our Virtuoso Group)

   
• JUST HOW MUCH CAN WE EXPECT IN TERMS OF PRIVATE ROOM SERVICE DINING ON A LINE LIKE SILVERSEA, SCENIC, OR CRYSTAL?

  Q – We have never sailed with any one of the cruise line son the 2026 List of The World’s Top Ten Cruise Lines. We have sailed with so-called “Premium” Lines four times. I travel frequently for work and never feel I spend enough time with my wife. We want to book several of, what you call, “TrueLux” lines but we have one specific question. Our ideal day on a cruise in someplace like Malaga or Positano, spending a full day ashore and then retiring to our Suite for an evening oif private dining on the terrace.

  I would love to know if this is realistic on these lines or would we have to settle for inferior offerings from a rather standard room service menu – which is my understanding. Really appreciate your approach and lack of advertising.

  A – There is no reason to order from the standard room service menu if you are sailing on one of the very top-ranked TrueLux lines. You can inform your butler, or suite attendant with advance notice, that you would like to receive a copy of the evening menu in the main dining room. You should then be able to enjoy a leisurely, course-by-course dining experience in the privacy of your suite. That is five-star service but it is not widely advertised as this really requires some extra effort on the part of the staff. There is never going to be an upcharge for this service but, sadly, many upscale cruisers are unaware that this service is available.  You can also custom-design your dining. Order all appetizers one night or several different desserts to cap off a meal. If you can’t decide between the lobster or the grilled Wagu steak – order both. No one will blink. We do suggest that you have tuck-down service for your suite before dinner so you won’t be interrupted or rushed. If the weather is right and the sea gods are calm, dining along on your private terrace with your butler in charge is, we agree, a nearly perfect end to a long day. By the way, do inquire if you can order dinner on your terrace from any of the specialty restaurants aboard your ship. Don’t assume you must order from the larger, main restaurant menu. Nice to know at least one of our readers is a “cruise romantic”.   

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HERE ARE JUST A FEW FACTS ABOUT CHURCHILL AND TUREN LTD. THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST

No one on our staff is a “salesperson”. We have earned our worldwide reputation by always trying to be “Travel Truthtellers”. We don’t churn out trips to Vegas or airline tickets. Instead, we devote 100% of our energies to the planning of the vacations in the lives of our guests that truly matter.

Our on-site offices in 91 countries enable us to provide the very best locally organized travel arrangements for some of our country’s most passionate travelers. Everything we do, from escorted tours to cruises, from safaris, to riverboats, is done on a truly personalized basis.

• We’ve been named one of the nation’s Top Ten “Bespoke” Travel firms by Travel + Leisure
• Celebrating our 36th year. We have Operations offices in Illinois and Texas. Angela and Richard Turen are based at our Corporate Headquarters in Naples, Florida.
• We do not employ travel agents or any outside sales agents. We do not believe that travel should ever be “sold”. Our gimmick is exposing the truth about every top-tier travel product we represent. For instance, we rate the world’s top ten cruise lines, publish those rankings, and those are the only cruise lines we will represent.
• No one on our staff “sells” Our Concierge Team is fully salaried and we do not hire Travel Agents or Outside sales people. This allows us to draw from a deep pool of talent. When you work with us you work with a “Team” dedicated to the success of every aspect of your overseas vacation. No one on your team is commission-based.
• Our Managing Director was Vice President of one of the world’s largest and best-known cruise lines.
• Our President was instrumental in planning the travel for the television series “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.
• Our media group consists of six web sites, three of which are the largest consumer, ad-free sites in the nation in their special area. One of them deals exclusively with Riverboats. One with cruises and one is totally devoted to non-cruise Q&A. Our consumer sites have no ads, no booking mechanism, and no silly, unfounded comments.
• Conde Nast has named us both the World’s Best Luxury Cruise and Riverboat Specialists for the past decade. We are the only firm to share this honor. We have won more “World’s Best Travel Specialist Awards” from the Editors of Conde Nast Traveler than any other travel firm in the United States.
• One of our owners is currently the Senior Contributing Editor at the nation’s most respected travel industry publication.
• Prior to Covid, we had the distinct honor of being named the “Top Revenue Producing Consultants” in the $23 Billion worldwide Virtuoso Network. We have earned this recognition for four of the past five years
• We operate the Elite Traveler Concierge Club whose members receive benefits, our monthly Travel Intel Report, and the waiving of all travel planning fees.
  
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