Yesterday, Delta Air Lines completed the deal to acquire Northwest Airlines, making the newer, larger Delta the world’s largest carrier. The U.S. Department of Justice approved the deal after deciding that there were no antitrust objections. Federal regulators released a statement that said the “the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest is likely to produce substantial and credible efficiencies that will benefit U.S. consumers and is not likely to substantially lessen competition.”

The Department of Justice also added that consumers should benefit from savings on expenses for airport operations, technology and suppliers, and the companies have added that they plan to save $2 billion each year in expenses after the merger is complete.

How will this affect Delta and Northwest travelers? For now, SkyMiles by Delta and WorldPerks by Northwest, the airlines’ rewards programs, will remain separate, but you can combine miles for travel on either airline. Delta said that no flights will be immediately affected by the merger and it will be a while before flight schedules change.

Will this change the way you fly or what airline you use?

Yeah, you heard me.

I said, breasts on a plane.

If that makes you uncomfortable, apparently you aren't alone. Catherine Connors of Toronto recently breastfed her young son on a WestJet flight from Vancouver to Toronto, when a flight attendant intimated that she should cover herself and her baby while she breastfed.

Connors, author of the popular parenting blog, Her Bad Mother, wrote this about her experience in a post titled “Under The Blanket:”

When she approached me in my seat near the back of the plane, blanket in hand, I ignored her. Jasper was tucked in at my breast, wrapped in his own blanket, his head pressed against the white half-moon of flesh that was barely visible beneath him. His head was damp from the stream of tears that had been running down my cheeks from the moment of our departure, the tears that I'd held back while saying my goodbyes. I bent my head over his, shielding my face, my breast, my baby, my tears from view with the veil of my hair. I didn't even look up when she spoke to me.

Excuse me, perhaps you'd like to cover up with a blanket?

Connors isn't the first mother to express discomfort with the treatment she received during in-flight breastfeeding. In 2007, a Sante Fe, N.M., woman filed suit against Delta Air Lines and Freedom Airlines, after she was allegedly kicked off a flight for breastfeeding her then 22-month-old daughter.

These incidents, while more than two years apart, serve to illustrate the debate raging now about public breastfeeding.

The American Association of Pediatrics says breast is best for your baby. But many feel uncomfortable when women breastfeed in public. Just ask Bill Mahr, who riled up mothers everywhere when he spoke out  against  public breastfeeding.

It's hard to find out whether or not airlines have specific breastfeeding policies, and I'm not even sure if it's legal to prohibit a mom from feeding her babe using her preferred method.

No one wants to be uncomfortable, that's a fact. And when you are trapped on a plane with no where else to go, that discomfort can be amplified, no matter what its cause.

Lots of mothers feed their young children in-flight, to help prevent them from disturbing other passengers with their cries.

What's your take? Should airlines have specific breastfeeding policies, or is it a parent's prerogative to feed her baby in the manner she prefers, no matter where she is?

Tough question, isn't it?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that beginning Aug. 16, passengers will now be let through checkpoints without having to take their laptops out of their bags, if the bags conform to new standards that are “checkpoint friendly.” Does this mean you should get a new laptop bag to save screening time? It depends on what kind of bag you have now.

According to the TSA[ Web site|http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/simplifying_laptop_bag_procedures.shtm], if you have a laptop bag that will provide “a clear and unobstructed image of the laptop when undergoing X-ray screening,” you should be good to go. Approved bag styles are listed (with illustrations) on the site. The intent is to avoid anything getting in the way of a clear scan of your computer.

I used to carry my laptop in one of the approved styles—a simple sleeve that I’d pop in my larger bag with everything else. But when I came to checkpoints, I was still asked to pull the laptop out of the sleeve that I’d placed in the plastic tub. The TSA says that even though you may carry one of these bags, you still may have to haul your laptop out of them for screening. So unless you’re using this opportunity to buy a new bag in order to pack smarter, you should probably save your money. I’d rather have an effective bag that’s easy to carry and store my stuff safely in, than save five seconds at a checkpoint.

In high school, I went on a weeklong trip with seven pairs of shoes. Over the years, I’ve gotten much better at packing light and realizing that I don’t need as many entire wardrobe changes for a short trip. And in these days of airlines charging for one checked bag, that’s certainly a good thing.

So even though Continental is not charging for that first bag, yet, I decided to give myself an assignment on my recent six-day trip to New Orleans: Get it all in one carry-on bag (plus purse!).

Bags: Briggs & Riley 21 inch carry-on and Timbuk2 Metro Messenger.

Contents: shoes (2), pants (2), shorts (2), dresses (2), tanks (3), tees (3), long-sleeved wrap (1), scarf (1), underwear (enough), toiletries (liquids in ziplock bag; non-liquids in cosmetics case), umbrella, book, iPod, iPod speakers, camera, cell phone, Vans shoes for friends’ child.

Here’s what it all looked like before (obviously, the camera isn’t in the photo):

And here’s the after:

That was easy. Here are three tips to getting everything you need in one bag:

1)    For clothes, some people swear by the rolling method, and others do a big origami fold-over. My favorite tools are packing cubes, specifically, Flight 001’s Spacepak. Eagle Creek makes some good ones as well.

2)    Don’t do what I did in high school. Every piece of clothing you bring must go with at least two outfits. Be ruthless. If you’re not sure, leave it at home.

3)    To cut down on the liquid toiletries so you can cram them all in that teeny ziplock bag, consider going solid. Lipsticks or tinted balm instead of gloss; deodorant solid instead of gel. If you’re staying at a great hotel, think about leaving your shampoo, conditioner and lotion at home and using what the hotel will provide.

This week I flew Virgin America for the first time: San Francisco to Washington, Dulles and back. The good mojo starts the minute you arrive at the check-in counter. A smiling greeter walked up to me and asked in beautiful Queen’s English, “Sir, will you be flying Virgin America, today?” No, this was not the first class check in line. I think I actually blushed.  Suspicious, I checked in and found that the true joy exhibited by this employee was not an aberration: Everyone clearly loves his job at Virgin America.

Then you walk down the jet way and board what has to be the coolest commercial aircraft in the U.S. sky. You definitely feel like you’re walking into a Vegas night club as you board, with the mauve and blue lighting, the cabin crew (called “hosts”) in slick black outfits and the plush leather seats.

cc Photo courtesy of miss_rogue

VA flies new Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, so the planes are clean, safe and some of the most fuel-efficient in the sky. The designers at Virgin did a spectacular job creating ambience—yes ambience—within the cabin. The lavatories and galleys are separated from the seating area by translucent blue glass and, oh, did I mention the lighting? It’s just so cool.

(Keep in mind that this is a “low-cost carrier” yet the service I experienced far surpassed anything I’ve seen in the major U.S. airlines. Hmmm…)

Then you sit down and are greeted by a personal in-flight entertainment system with new-release movies, live television, games, and a selection of snacks and drinks that you order right from your seat. Here’s where I tip my hat to the business strategists at Virgin. How smart! You’ve got a captive audience for what—6 hours—who are desperate for entertainment. I was like a gambling junkie swiping my credit card every 60 to 90 minutes for a movie, then a snack and a beer on the way home. 

Was the flight on Virgin America perfect? Pretty much, yeah. It’s obvious that the employees at Virgin are well taken care of and really love their jobs. 

My only suggestion would be a “clear my tray” function for the personal entertainment system. While you can order a drink or snack, and it’s brought almost instantly, there’s no way to notify your ‘hosts’ to pick up service items unless they pass through the aisle.

Virgin made a believer out of me, and I will be flying them again. Thank you, Sir Richard.

Do you use a packing list to plan what you’ll take on vacation?

I usually don’t. I start about a week in advance and lay things out on the bed in the guest bedroom (where my closet is!) when I start thinking about what to take. I can be watching a DVD one night and think, “must bring my blue tank top,” and I’m up to toss it on the stack of clothes. Travel requirements such as necessary visas and immunizations are a different story. For those, I make lists and schedule things well in advance so I’m not freaking out right before I leave on vacation.

Europe travel guru, Rick Steves, has a packing list template on his Web site. It’s more helpful than many Web lists because it even suggests the number of certain clothing items to bring in many cases.

I know people who have multiple packing lists saved on their computers, organized by type of destination: beach, city, outdoorsy, cruise, etc. They just print out the right one, pencil in a few new things, and start packing.

How about you? Are you super organized, or do you start throwing things into a bag 20 minutes before you’re off to the airport? Add a comment and let us know.

Sometimes I have to think long and hard about what attire I should sport when I travel by plane. Usually, I just roll out of bed and put on the first thing that’s clean so I don’t miss my flight, but sometimes I take the time to plan my traveling outfit. Unless I need to dress nice specifically for an occasion I plan to attend after deplaning, I tend to be pretty casual when traveling via aircraft.  However, after reading an article about Southwest’s past of kicking passengers off due to “inappropriate dress” it seems that dress can now also dictate not just your comfort level, but your travel plans as well. As an avid Southwest flyer, I want to share my hassle-free travel style secrets that have yet to get me asked to leave from any flight.

My first and perhaps most important style necessity are my sandals. I can always be found in a pair of Reef sandals whenever I travel. First, they make the security line ordeal a lot easier; they just slip right off. Sometimes they won’t even make you take off your sandals if they are discreet enough. (Shhh! That will be our little secret). Secondly, they are the most comfortable footwear I own. You will not catch me dead flying in heels, even if I were in first-class. I know that some of you may be cringing thinking about walking on that security line floor, but I’m not a big germaphobe, and I figure as long as I don’t use my feet to eat, I’m ok. How do my poor tootsies deal with the cold, you may be asking yourself? Well, I always carry a pair of socks or travel slippers in my carry-on for just such an occasion. In October, I was lucky enough to enjoy a first-class trans-Atlantic trip (yes, wearing my sandals). On top of one of those great little travel bags with the lotion, shampoo and other travel necessities, I was also given a pair of travel slippers on each flight. Now, a pair is always stuffed into my carry-on bag.

I am not what anyone would call a graceful or coordinated person, by any means. So with the added stress of a crowded airport or waiting area or turbulence, I become what my dear friends refer to as “Spilly McSpillerson.” Many a-time I have been in the middle of a seven hour plus traveling day when—BOOM—turbulence puts some of the cranberry juice that I had been drinking onto my white tank top. I can’t count the times I’ve seen hurried passengers accidently bump into each other, spilling their $4 coffee all over the floor. Instead of bringing a stain pen, I have opted to go for blacks, or generally dark colors, whenever I fly. Darks will at least mask any spills that may occur in the course of your travels. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime. What could be worse than having to spend your two-hour layover and three-hour flight, which is a third of your day, with a stain on your light-colored clothes?  Consider bringing a sweater or pull-over in case of a spill. It can also double as an extra layer when the passenger next to you cranks up the air. On top of that, you can never be too sure that your checked bag with your entire trip’s wardrobe will actually show up at baggage claim. Imagine spending your first day in said stained clothes. No thanks!

Ultimately, my chief concern (as with most other people I imagine) is my comfort whenever I travel. That is why I like to wear loose and breathable fabrics. Cotton T-shirts and comfortable jeans are my preferred outfit. If something is too tight, or if it’s not very breathable like nylon, the next few hours of your life in the coach seat is going to be a squirm-fest. Not to mention that airplanes are the most notoriously temperature-manic places your could ever be stuck in. So if you want to look cool and actually feel cool while taking your next aero journey, consider what makes you comfortable, what type of climate changes you may be facing and the hidden dangers that lurk around every corner.