Here are the most improved airports for 2010.  These terminals were once known for the hassles that they gave passengers.  Now, they have become standouts known for their user-friendliness.

Toronto Pearson

North America’s most improved airport serves Canada’s largest city.  The airport was recognized by the IATA for having the most constant performance, most improved facilities, and outstanding customer service.

Also, Pearson has been attracting more flights by streamlining its operation and actually charging less for gate usage and airport taxes.  This reduction in price is extremely rare.  Most airports have actually been raising tariffs to keep afloat during the slow economy and the industry-wide slump.  A change in leadership has also led to a change in Pearson’s day to day operations.  It is no longer the delay-prone, chaotic collection of terminals that it once was.

Hyderabad Airport

Many of India’s airports are chaotic and lacking facilities that are found in most modern airports.  Even newer airports are not up to par when compared to other international terminals.  Hyderabad’s Rajeev Gandhi International is an exception.  It is a new airport, built in 2008.  After a year of growing pains, the airport has come into its own.  It has one of the world’s best baggage handling records.  The airy ticketing and terminal areas are pleasant and the airport is usually spotless.   There is even free wi-fi.

Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi’s success is surprisingly.  The airport has experienced a huge increase in traffic over the past few years.  When this type of increase occurs at other airports, the result is usually chaos, or at least a huge increase in delays, longer security checkpoint lines, and lost baggage.  Not so at Etihad Airline’s main hub.  Much of the reason for the improvement is a newly constructed state-of-the-art terminal.  Passengers were so taken with the improvements that they voted Abu Dhabi Int’l into the top 25 airports in the world during a world-wide poll by Skytrax.  The airport also offers high tech extras like free wi-fi, a faster, more efficient and accurate baggage handling system and more convenient shopping options.

Cairo Airport

Cairo is Africa’s most improved airport.  A new, large terminal opened in late 2009, giving the airport a much needed upgrade.  The terminal features 23 state-of-the-art gates, a huge duty-fee shopping area and a luxury hotel.  Improvements have also been made on the landside, where traffic congestion has been eased by a series of bridges and fly-overs.

Vancouver Airport

Canada’s second busiest airport is booming after recent upgrades ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics.  It is now one of the easiest airports in the world to reach via public transportation.  The SkyTrain’s Canada Line serves both the international and domestic sections of the airport.  When the train is not running, Vancouver transits N10 “night bus” provides a similar service.  A newly constructed “link building” allows passengers to travel between national and international gates while remaining indoors.  The airport hopes to continue its improvements.  Unlike most former Olympic hosts, it is not taking a break after the games.

Johannesburg Airport

Johannesburg’s OR Tambo international is another example of an airport that benefited from the fact that its country hosted a major sporting event.  Tambo received major upgrades ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with new gates, shopping and ground transportation optons increasing its user-friendliness.

Dehli Indra Gandhi International Airport

The new stat-of-the-art Terminal 3 will  bring Delhi onto par with some of the Asia’s best airports.  It is one of the largest terminals in the world and will be able to handle over 30 million passengers each year.  That’s more than double the airport’s pre-construction capacity.  More parking and retail space are also part of the project.  Indra’s other terminals are also slated for upgrades.

Least Improved:

Chicago O’Hare – This airport has not been able to shake its poor image.  Yes, it is one of the world’s busiest airports, but it can’t seem to improve at all.  Delays and cancellations are expected, un-professional, surly customs officials greet international travelers and ticketing and security lines seem perpetually long.

Philadelphia – Philadelphia has the poorest image of any airport, arguably, in the world.  There seems to be constant construction, but nothing ever gets any easier for fliers.  Flights are delayed regularly, airport staff is universally unhelpful and getting from door to ticketing to gate can be an exercise in patience, at best.

Losing your luggage is one of the worst things that can happen during a trip.  Of course, terrorist attacks, airplane accidents and natural disasters top the list of possible negatives, but having the airline lose your bag is a much, much more likely than any of these major disasters.  If you have the right combination (or wrong combination) of poor airport baggage facilities and poor baggage handling employees and procedures, the percentage of luggage lost can get as high as 1%.  Of course, a vast majority of these lost suitcases are found quickly, but most baggage mishandling victims have to go a few hours or a day or two without their suitcase.

99% (99.8% for most major carriers) of bags are handled successfully.  Those are pretty good odds if you are a gambler.  But not if you are expecting your necessities to drop onto the baggage claim carousel.  You will sorely miss that suit that you brought for your business presentation or your allergy medicine that you put in your checked luggage to avoid having confiscated at security (not to mention your underwear and your socks).  It will all come back into your possession eventually (only a small portion of the over two million bags mishandled by domestic airlines in the US are actually lost completely), but in the mean time, what are you supposed to do?  Complaining to the lost baggage desk employee might feel good. But it probably won’t help.  These people are pretty much paid to stand their and take abuse while reciting their employer’s lost baggage policy and promising a swift return of the luggage.

Here is how to proceed if you bag has been lost and how to lessen the chances that it will be lost in the first place.

First of all, you can truly prepare by making sure that any real valuables are not placed in your checked baggage.  Necessary medications, valuables and travel documents are good candidates for your carry-on bag.  Any collectors items or non-replaceable items should either be insured or carried with you on the plane.  Also, make sure that your bag is properly labeled with your name and address.  Make sure that the label is secured to the bag.  You can even consider putting your information on the inside of your bag as well in case the tag falls off the outside.

It is good to check and make sure that you have all the information when you check your bag.  Confirm that you have one baggage claim stub for each bag that you have checked.  These small slips of paper are very important, especially if you have to report your bag lost.

What if you arrive at the baggage claim area and are not able to locate your bag?

First of all, don’t panic.  A vast majority of baggage that is delayed is returned to the passenger within a day or two.  Sometimes the wait is only a few hours.

If your bag is lost, proceed to the baggage claim counter for the airline that you flew.  Tell them you situation and ask them to make a report.  Despite the obvious frustration that everyone who has to report lost baggage feels, it is much better to be calm when dealing with the airline employee who will make the report and try to locate your bag.  The process will go smoother and faster if you are non-confrontational.  Make sure that you get a copy of the report that the employee makes and that all necessary contact information has been given.

Airlines will usually reimburse you for any necessities that you have to purchase before your bag can be returned.  Of course, their definition of necessities might not be the same as yours.  Still, most airlines will at least give you enough to purchase emergency toiletries and clothes.  You may be able to negotiate for a higher payout, depending on your circumstances.  If there is something that you absolutely need (your suit for your business presentation, for example), let the employee know.  If they are not willing to negotiate, ask for a supervisor or use your cell phone to call the airline (you didn’t pack your cell phone in your checked bag, did you?).  If you really have a necessity that is not being addressed, keep trying until you are able to get a hold of someone who is sympathetic to your plight.

Long flights can be extremely uncomfortable.  Being in a plane for more than a couple of hours is not something that anyone enjoys.  It is more about enduring the trip than about finding enjoyment.  Luckily there are thousands of products to choose from when it comes to making your air travels more comfortable.  Unfortunately, many of them rely on gimmicks to sell and do not offer any real relief from the monotony and discomfort of sitting upright in a crowded, confined space for a long period of time.

The Cabin Cuddler is a micro-fleece blanket that is shaped to fit perfectly around a seated passenger.  It zips up like a sleeping bag and offers full body warmth.  With most airline blankets being of inadequate size or costing extra to rent, the Cuddler can be a good investment.  The fact that you can completely zip and unzip it easily from a seated position is a major plus.  On the downside, it restricts movement (it may be awkward to get up to let the passenger in the middle seat get to the lavatory).

The Travelon 1^st Class Sleeper is a  simple cushion that is placed on the seat back of an airplane seat to give greater back support.  The  cushion is inflatable so it is easy to pack it in a carry-on bag or even in a briefcase or purse.  This cushion offers a little more support than one of those inflatable neck-brace-like pillows that were once popular amongst fliers.  The 1^st Class Sleeper might not actually provide the same feel as a fully-reclining first class seat, but it can help long haul fliers who suffer from back soreness or those who simply want a higher level of comfort than their economy class seat can offer.

The Power Executive Bundle is an answer to one of the great problems of air travel.  Trans-Ocean flights often last longer than the battery in your iPod or laptop.  This device plugs into the audio jack of any airline seat and provides electricity through a USB cord.  At $45, it is expensive, but probably not as expensive as a second battery for your laptop or some sort of high tech solar power charger or hand-crank charger (good luck getting either of those through security without some serious questioning).

The iTrans Motion-Relief Wristbands are somewhat controversial because they are an unproven natural remedy.  But many chronic air-sickness sufferers swear by them.  The band works by putting gentle pressure on acupressure points that are used to relieve motion sickness in traditional Chinese medicine.  At $60-$90, a wristband is more expensive than a bottle of Dramamine, but offers no side effects and can be reused over and over again.

The Cheniile Footsies are ultra-plush slipper/socks that are perfect for keeping your feet warm on long flights.  Their flexible construction makes them easy to pack in a purse or briefcase (or even in your pocket).  Most people don’t think about it, but footwear can go a long way towards providing shoe-less comfort.  Since it is too cold to go barefoot, these socks are the next best thing.

The Lights Out Sleep Mask claims to allow rapid-eye-movement during sleep.  Traditional eye-covers are usually made of soft material, but can press against the eyes of the wearer.  The Lights Out has a rigid shape while maintaining a soft feel.  This keeps the eyes covered, but also lifts the mask off of the eyes.  Even if you are not concerned about natural rapid-eye-movement during your nap, it is nice not to have a mask pressing on your eyes while you try to drift off.

Earplanes Ear Plugs offer much more protection than the standard ear plugs.  Some people have given up on commercially produced ear-plugs altogether and rely on home-made remedies like stuffing cotton balls in their ears.  Earplanes use a unique filter to help regulate pressure as well as softening harsh noises.  These ear-plugs are approved by flight attendants.  They are made of high-end material (latex-free silicon) but cost under $10.  That’s a small price to pay for those who want relief from the pressure of air travel but have not yet found an effective ear plug.

Air travel can be scary.  Yes, if you look at the statistics of airplane incidents and accidents compared to the statistics for car accidents, you will see that air travel is a much, much safer proposition than getting behind the wheel.  But, for novice fliers, non-frequent fliers and anyone who is nervous about flying though the air in what amounts to a metal tube, unfamiliar sounds and sensations can be unnerving.  Sometimes, even frequent fliers get a jolt or hear a noise and have to look around to see how others are reacting to gauge if they should be worried or not.  It is not only inexperienced fliers who have worried in-flight moments.

A little education can go a long way towards easing nerves for novice fliers and those who are experienced with in-the-air phenomenon but still unnerved by hurling through the air in what is basically a large, metal tube.

Turbulence

This natural phenomenon is the single most freight-inducing feature of flying.  It is also one of the most common.  Anyone who has been on an airplane has probably experienced turbulence.  Most of the time, the result of going over turbulence (which is caused by an “uneven” flow of air) is akin to traveling over a bumpy road in a car.  Often the pilot or someone on the flight crew will announce when turbulence is going to occur.  On rare occasions, turbulence can be more severe, with the plane dropping down or moving upwards quickly.  This can create a sensation that is not unlike being on a roller coaster.  It usually only lasts for a second or two.  Turbulence can cause noises because it can cause baggage to shift and the plane’s body to shake.  These noises can be loud, but do no damage to the aircraft.  Pilots are trained to handle turbulence and will fly around storms, where turbulence can be severe and dangerous.

Flaps

Flaps are hinges that are visible on the back of an airplane’s wings.  On smaller airplanes (and even mid-sized commercial jets) people who sit near the wing can hear these flaps, which help control the plane’s altitude and speed.  The flaps are moved after take-off and before landing.  The sounds have a mechanical quality that some people describe as similar to the sound made by a robotic arm in a factory.  Another “mechanical” sound that is heard on every flight is the retraction and deployment of the landing gears.  Fliers who are sitting near the landing gear may hear this noise as the gears are retracted (right after take-off).  There may even be a small bump as the gear doors close.  A similar sound and bump can occur just prior to landing, when the gears are set for landing.

Take-off and landing are the noisiest, bumpiest moments of most flights (except for those that are unlucky enough to experience excessive turbulence).  Engines are working at full speed at take-off to thrust the plane into the air, so, of course, there are going to be some pretty loud whooshing sounds.  Some people are unnerved when the engine sounds seem to cut out (usually during a decent towards the airport).  The pilots control the engine’s thrust and will lessen the output in order to descend to the proper altitude to prepare for landing.

Cross-winds can make the plane pitch slightly from side to side during landing.  Pilots are able to take these movements into account and it is generally not a problem, though it can be unnerving to feel the plane cabin pitch from one side to another as the ground approaches or even after the wheels first touch the tarmac.

It is not uncommon to hear wheels squealing as they first hit the tarmac upon landing.  Landing is the most violent part of the flight.  Brakes are applied and flaps extended, creating what can best be described as a small roar.  This noise seems heightened because the “ear-popping” that occurs in most fliers ears during the landing makes otherwise familiar sounds seem unnatural.

It is also not uncommon for things to shift during landing.  The cabin may shake slightly and baggage in the overhead bins shift, creating noise that can be loud enough to make it seem that something is going to break off the plane.  These sounds die down quickly as it only takes most commercial planes a few seconds to decelerate after touching down.

Sites like Travelocity and Orbitz have made it easier to search for airline and hotel deals without having to spend the day on the phone with various travel agents and airfare consolidators. There are even search engines that can help you compare the prices on various travel booking sites.

But there are still deals out there that cannot be found on Travelocity and its peers. Even Kayak.com and Lowfares.com, sites that have search engines that scan all major booking web sites, cannot search every individual airline’s web site looking for deals. Sure, travelers can continuously visit airlines’ web sites waiting for new deals or promotions to be announced. But luckily, that time consuming approach is not the only way to stay on top of the latest deals. Many airlines (but not all) have embraced social media and use it as a tool to reach their customers. Many deals are announced via Twitter and, to a lesser extent, Facebook. Most of the lowest fares are announced by the airlines themselves, though a handful of sites that specialize in information about fares also bring good deals to consumers’ attention. These new social media developments make it possible for fliers to get insider information without having to go to great lengths to get it.

JetBlue is the most savvy airline when it comes to social media. The airline regularly posts deals on its web site and then notifies its Twitter followers. There is very little in the way of non-relevant tweets if would-be fliers know which account to follow (see below). Southwest also posts deals, but spends a lot of their time tweeting about other non-relevant news, contests and information. Sure, Southwest’s followers will get the occasional deal announcement, but they have sift through tweets that remind them, for the hundredth time, that Southwest does not charge to check baggage. @JetBlueCheeps is a twitter account that solely focuses on last-minute deals offered by JetBlue. There are usually multiple deals daily in the under-$100 range for one-way tickets (and it isn’t rare to see sub-$50 one-way fares).

Other airlines are not blind to the Twitter phenomenon. They simply don’t tweet about fares as often. When they do, their accounts’ followers (Southwest, United and American have lots of followers) will be sure to get the info. JetBlue’s no bull approach ahs one them fans, but it is still worthwhile to sift though the spammy tweets of other airlines in order to find amazing Twitter-only deals.

United Airlines is one of the few legacy carriers to actually offer solid deals on Twitter. Some of their deals are “Twitter only,” meaning they are not advertised anywhere else. For serious deal-seekers, these can be great finds. There are occasional international fares. However, these tweeted tickets sell quickly, meaning that followers have to act almost immediately if they want to take advantage of them.

Virgin America regularly posts last minute deals, but they, unfortunately fall into the “superfluous noise” category: tweeting about contests and airline news more often than supplying information about deals. However, followers who appreciate the airline’s hip image might find it fun reading some of this non-deal-related chatter.

Twitter is not only utilized by domestic carriers. Air Asia, the most successful of its continent’s budget airlines, regularly tweets about its low fares. There are even occasional deals on international flights (mostly from Europe and Australia). Air Asia also does a good job of replying to relevant question left by followers.

FareCompare, an airfare site founded by air travel guru Rick Seaney, is a great resource for finding low fares. Its map feature can make it simple to see what’s out there and its Tweets regularly focus on airfare deals without too much fluff. Fare Compare has earned praise from fliers and disdain from airlines because it uncovers hidden costs and notifies would-be fliers about them, including any extra fees and taxes in the quoted price. The site also does analysis about ticket prices and tells readers (and @farecompare twitter followers) when and how to book to gain the lowest prices.

These relatively new tools can help fliers get better prices on flights and feel more involved in the process of shopping for airline tickets.