Travel Bag for February

More discount airline choices

New discount airline companies used to just copy Southwest with its short, frequent flights. Now, some discounters are upgrading while others go farther down the bare-bones route.

On the high end, Virgin Airlines, flying mostly from California to New York, has fancy seats, a first-class cabin, and meals you can order over a touch screen.

Skybus, on the low end, has no seat-back pouches, seats are closer together, and food is bought from a cart.

Longest over-land tunnel

Officials in Switzerland recently opened a 21-mile rail tunnel. It is the world’s longest over-land tunnel and runs through the Alps. It is meant to ease highway traffic jams in the mountainous country.

The tunnel took eight years to build and cost $3.5 billion. It reduces the time trains need to cross from Germany and Italy by one and a half hours.

Aspirin won’t prevent DVT

During airline flights of five hours or more, there is a risk of dangerous blood clots forming in the legs (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). Aspirin won’t help. It works mainly on arteries, not on veins, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The risk is low, and avoiding DVT isn’t difficult. Stay hydrated and periodically exercise leg muscles by flexing or pumping your legs, or by walking in the aisle. Those at higher risk should request an aisle seat so they can get up and walk frequently or get a seat in business or first class where there is more leg room.

Silverjet’s 30-minute check-in

Some airline’s last-minute business-class fare from New York to London Heathrow is about $8,000 round trip. Silverjet’s similar fare is about $3,000 between Newark and Luton Airport north of London.

Silverjet says its consumers want the whole experience, things like their 30-minute check-in and seats that convert into beds so traveling is less stressful.