A well-crafted itinerary is the cure for untold travel troubles. The right amount of pre-trip planning can save money, keep you safe, and—this one's crucial—help you have the best time possible whether you're going on a three-week cross-continent sojourn or spending a long weekend at the beach. A solid itinerary is the root of a stress-free trip, to put it simply. Want to be a master planner? Here are 10 itinerary mistakes you probably make—and how to avoid them.

Don't Bother…

In the travel world, few topics incite more contention and indignation than seatback etiquette—as we learned a while back when we published Six Shocking Stories of Travelers Gone Wild, which stirred up a wild debate among our readers.

In the piece, an editor from Family Vacation Critic (our sister site) and I…

Last week, Vilma Soltesz died after she was denied her seat on a flight because of her weight. Soltesz was planning to fly home to receive treatment for diabetes and renal disease, but she passed away in Hungary before she could get home. Her husband has filed a lawsuit, but the two airlines named in the suit (Delta and KLM) are…

This year, United dropped its practice of allowing families to board planes before other travelers. The legacy carrier joined the ranks of American and US Airways, which don't officially offer pre-boarding or early boarding of any kind for families. But a handful of other airlines still do, including Delta (the…

Frontier is making you an offer you can't refuse.

Today, the Denver-based airline announced a series of new "improvements" (to use the airline's language) that are only available to flyers who book directly on the carrier's website, the just-unveiled FlyFrontier.com. These include advanced seating assignments and unrestricted frequent-flyer mile credits. Frontier is…

What Is It: An oblong inflatable travel pillow designed to help you achieve some peace in a cramped coach seat.

Price and Where to Buy: I bought mine on Amazon for $26.95; the product is eligible for…

For a hundred bucks, you can go to dinner at a decent restaurant, purchase a DVD box set, or—if you're flying Spirit—tote a bag onto a plane.

Effective November 6, fee-sucking Spirit will charge $100 for carry-on bags paid for at the gate. It's an increase of 122 percent over the current price of $45. If you reserve your carry-on privileges ahead of time online, it'll cost you $35 bucks as of November 6. (Current price is $30.) And if you pay for your carry-on bag at the airport…

Is there a better way to kick off spring than taking a trek through an ancient petrified forest or going butterfly watching on a mangrove…

Alaska Airlines is one of our picks in 10 Best Airlines You've Never Flown. Now, the carrier is getting even better with the introduction of several new pet-friendly passenger perks.

Today Alaska announced a partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital, a veterinary practice that has more than 800 hospitals across the U.S.…

Has Spirit started a disturbing trend? Beginning April 4, Allegiant will impose a hefty fee for carry-on bags.

The carrier will charge $35 for the "privilege" of carting a suitcase on a plane and stuffing it into an overhead bin. But it's cheaper if you plan ahead. According to an Allegiant spokesperson, "If purchased online at time of reservation purchase, carry-on bags will be $10 to $30, route specific, though the majority of markets will be $15 or less."…

At some point in the future, you may be able to continue skimming your Kindle or playing Words with Friends when jetting off the runway, The New York Times…

For an industry in which everything seems to be getting smaller, at least one thing is bucking the trend: the overhead bin. The AP…

Ever since Southwest acquired AirTran in 2010, the two airlines have been slowly meshing into one mega discount carrier. There have been some adjustments, including…

There's a new discount airline in town. PEOPLExpress recently announced plans to begin service in 2012, making its base of operations at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia. According to a press release on the airline's website, the carrier will serve cities including Pittsburgh, Providence, West Palm Beach, and…