Remember those crazy college students who tried to stuff as many people into a telephone booth as possible? They now work for Boeing and have perfected getting three people seated where only two would fit in the real world. As a result, by the time we reach our destinations, we need a vacation just to recover from our flight.Here are a few easy solutions to the travel problems we encounter:

• Never travel during any holiday or at peak passenger times.
• If possible, fly nonstop to your destination and avoid the large airport hubs, even if such flights cost a little more.
• Check in for all flights at least two hours early.
• Fly business or first class. The extra space and kind treatment are worth the tax-deductible difference. You will pay dearly in discomfort by taking the lowest-cost flight on the lowest-cost airline just to save $25.
• Fly with an airline that still cares about its passengers. Alaska and American seem to be the best in the United States; British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Asiana are the best in world travel, hands down.
• Use an experienced travel agency. They know the secrets of making business travel easier. It's fine to book via the web, but photographers generally have issues that require a human connection to resolve.