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Brett Snyder

Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.

Name: Brett Snyder (aka Cranky)

Occupation: President and Chief Airline Dork at Cranky Flier LLC

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Website: CrankyFlier.com

Twitter: @CrankyFlier

Bio: Brett Snyder is the author of the award-winning consumer air travel blog, “The Cranky Flier,” and president and chief airline dork of Cranky Concierge air travel assistance, for which he was named one of the Top Travel Specialists in 2011 by Conde Nast Traveler. He also writes about air travel for CNN.com and CNTraveler.com. Snyder previously worked in pricing, marketing and strategy roles with several airlines, including America West and United. In 2005, Brett created the travel search site for leading comparison shopping company PriceGrabber.com. Snyder graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s in business in 1999 and Master of Business Administration from Stanford University in 2004. He lives in Long Beach with his wife, son, and two dogs.

How often do you fly?   Not as often as you might think. Usually once a month or so.

How many countries have you been to? 31 (give or take)

How many continents have you been to?    Well, do you count NZ as being with Australia? If so, then it’s 5. (Believe it or not, I’ve never been to Asia)

Favorite American city?  Hmm, I’ll exclude my hometown here in SoCal. Probably San Francisco but DC and Chicago are close behind.

Favorite international city?   I love London, always have

Least favorite country?  It’s hard to single out a country like that – even if I have a bad experience in a country, I still love it for the stories it provides afterwards

Favorite airline?   I’ve never been able to answer that question – some are great for short haul, others for long haul. Some are great in biz while others are good in coach. Too tough for me.

Favorite aircraft type?  Now that it’s almost impossible to get on a 727 (or at least one you’d be willing to fly on), I’d have to say the true queen of the skies, the 747. It’s a shame that we’re seeing fewer and fewer these days.

Aisle or window?  Window, every time. I am glued to watching what’s below.

Favorite U.S. airport?   As a local, I have to say Long Beach because it’s so convenient. But without that bias, I might have to go with National in DC. The (relatively) new terminals are great, but the history in the old main (now A) terminal is so thick that you can just feel it. I can sit there for hours.

Favorite international airport? Tahiti Faa’a – I know you’re looking for something fancy and new with crazy amenities, but I’ll take stairs from the airplane in the warm humid night air any day of the week

Favorite island?  Maui. I grew up going there as a kid and it still feels like home.

Favorite travel movie(s):   Airplane!

Favorite travel show(s):   Hot Spots 2012 starring Johnny Jet, of course (I also love The Amazing Race)

Favorite travel book(s):   any Bill Bryson book, Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

Five things you bring on a plane?   my phone (in airplane mode), headphones, magazines, my flight log, a computer

What do you always seem to forget?   phone charger

Best travel tip: be patient – things will go wrong, but if you’re patient, then it’ll be all good. (I realize this isn’t always easy.)

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