December 2022 Mail Call: Top Picks, Reviews & Highlights

We are pleased to share the winners selected by you, our readers, in the 2022 GT Tested Reader Survey awards. Which of your favorite brands made the list?

If you have thoughts or reactions, please email us at [email protected].

In our November 2022 issue we asked: Do you prefer to stay closer to home for the holidays, or do you use the break to see a new place? A few readers wrote in:

Because my family is spread across the United States, the holidays are a chance to see loved ones rather than to travel somewhere new. We rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas between Minnesota, Florida and Arizona so everyone gets a turn escaping either the cold or the heat. I would love to travel someplace completely different someday, but we’ll likely wait until the kids head off to college to make that happen.

DAISY UNDERWOOD, VIA EMAIL

The holidays are my favorite time of year because my wife and kids enjoy visiting a new place each season. We don’t have the typical holiday meals with extended family since most relatives live outside the United States. Last year we visited Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon; this year we plan to explore the Oregon coast. The only downside is the heavy traffic the day before and after Thanksgiving and around Christmas, which makes traveling by car more stressful.

DANIEL GAMBLE, VIA EMAIL

© Richair | Dreamstime.com

United Airlines Threatens to Drop JFK Service

In the Sept. 14 issue of eFlyer, we reported United Airlines’ announcement that it might pull service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport unless granted additional slots. We asked readers how this could affect their travel and which airport they prefer for international connections: JFK or Newark (EWR)? Two readers responded:

Since that announcement, United officially decided to leave JFK temporarily. As a Manhattan resident who travels frequently for business, this reduces my options. I often used United at JFK, so I’ll either switch to other carriers at JFK or travel to Newark. I prefer JFK for international flights because I typically experience fewer delays there than at Newark, and the loss of United at JFK will affect many travelers who rely on its service.

ANTONY SANTOS, VIA EMAIL

When I first heard United might withdraw from JFK if not granted more slots, I expected either the airline or the FAA to find a compromise. I hope this departure is temporary and that United will return to JFK soon to maintain competition and convenient options for travelers.

KACY WILKINSON, VIA EMAIL

In the Sept. 28 issue of eFlyer, we noted that Japan reopened its borders for the first time in two years. We asked readers whether they planned to visit now that restrictions have eased. One reader shared their plans:

I had scheduled a two-week trip to Japan for 2020 and booked it in early 2019, so the pandemic forced me to postpone those plans alongside many other travelers. As soon as I heard Japan was reopening, I contacted family and friends to restart preparations. I’ve kept my original two-week itinerary and will follow it as closely as possible. I expect some sites may still be adjusting to post-pandemic operations, but I’m excited to travel next summer and hopeful that COVID will remain under control.

EMILY COCHRAN, VIA EMAIL

In the Oct. 19 issue of eFlyer, we covered a controversy over Lufthansa’s statements about using tracking devices on checked baggage. We asked whether readers use trackers like Apple AirTag. One reader described their experience:

I recently completed my first trip using AirTags. They helped us locate bags that were still on the dock shortly before the ship departed. After alerting the ship’s staff and indicating where our luggage was, those bags were brought to us within minutes.

On the way home, the trackers performed well, but two of our bags didn’t have tags — and those were the two left at the terminal. A port agent saw they were the only bags remaining and arranged for them to be shipped to us. Do the trackers work? Absolutely. If those missing bags had tags, we would have been alerted sooner and could have retrieved them before leaving. We’re now home and expect the remaining bags to arrive via UPS shortly.

TERRI CALABRESE, VIA EMAIL