Q&A WITH JANICE HECHT, SENIOR EDITOR
In our January 2019 issue and first publication of the new year, Jan Hecht, senior editor, mentioned the importance of optical care in daily life and while traveling. Discussing a personal experience on a trip brought up the questions: Do you take special precautions to protect your eyes when traveling? Have you experienced eye problems while traveling?

I have incredibly sensitive eyes and make sure I always have drops and sunglasses with me. I have a backup pair in my car, purse and several around the house to make it easier for me to just grab and go.
JESSICA REED, via email

Optical health is so important but so easily overlooked. We definitely take our vision for granted when we’re young.
JONATHAN B. MCFARLAND, via email

LETTER TO THE PUBLISHER
In the January 2019 issue, publisher and CEO Francis X Gallagher discussed his month of planned business trips along with the upcoming Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Red & White Ball. The event is hosted in Philadelphia, and Global Traveler’s editor in chief co-chairs the ball’s silent auction, offering a long list of items (many travel-centric) to bid on. This inspired a few readers to write in.

I’ve been a long-standing supporter of LLS and will keep my eye out for the link to bid.
ANGELA NEWMAN, via email

Supporting organizations like the Red Cross and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a great way to give back. Keep up the good work!
WILLIAM T., via email

TSA WORKERS MAINTAIN AIR SECURITY
In our Jan. 9 eFlyer USA newsletter, we discussed the government shutdown and how TSA employees worked to maintain security despite no pay and low morale. A few readers wrote in with thoughts.

TSA workers receiving no pay: Truly deplorable! All this is a political ploy from outrageous politicians. TSA workers are there to ensure national security. They need to be paid. Creating bad morale and causing vital TSA people to leave their jobs to find a way to pay their bills puts our nation in dire security danger. The ones who need to find new jobs are the politicians. Both sides act worse than a 3-year-old in temper tantrums.
PAT LENHART, Los Angeles, California

Knowing TSA agents and staff are losing steam and morale every day they don’t get paid is truly concerning. I didn’t have any trouble myself flying through Newark to Los Angeles during the shutdown — no delays or outrageous lines — but the concern for maintaining security measures was still there.
RICHARD MESKIN, via email

Traveling over the New Year, just after the government shut down, I was able to go through TSA, no problem. I visited some national parks, which I was lucky were still open but quickly closed just after I left. Traveling through TSA again on my way home, I found the staff a bit more impatient than when I left, but who could blame them? Had I planned my trip any later, I might have rescheduled.
REAGAN MARLEY, via email

It’s such a shame so many government workers were completely sidelined by the shutdown. We need to work on supporting vital employees providing us with security and not forget about them during budget talks.
TINA WELLS, via email

CATCHING MORE THAN FLIGHTS
In our Jan. 23 eFlyer USA newsletter, we discussed a recent study detailing the 12 most common diseases caught while traveling and how to prevent catching them. The article inspired a few readers to write in with recent experiences.

I just returned from Thailand with a nasty case of strep throat. No fun. Not sure if I got it in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, and unsure how I got it.
TOM LINHARD, via email

I caught some sort of bug while traveling to London last year. I was sick for the first two days of the trip and, luckily, felt better before a few work meetings. I can only assume I caught something at the airport or on the flight over, but taking Advil Cold and Sinus seemed to help. In hindsight, I should have taken something before the flight to help boost my immune system.
COLIN CHAPMAN, via email

I never get sick while I travel (knock on wood), but I was unfortunate enough to have a bad reaction to some food on vacation over the holidays. I think it had to be a mix of spices I wasn’t used to because my wife tried my dish and was fine. I was better by the next afternoon, but I don’t know how I could have foreseen getting sick, enough to prevent it.
BILL PRESTON, via email

I take vitamin C tablets during my flights and try to stay hydrated while I travel. It seems to work well. While keeping up with sleep can sometimes be tricky, especially on trips with long flights, it’s definitely directly connected to how well I feel the next day.
JENNIFER ROBINSON, via email

Q&A WITH STEPHANIE MAKOWSKI, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
March is our GT Tested Reader Survey awards recap. I’m interested in knowing what our readers value most when voting for a brand. Between customer service, product and convenience, which do you find is most important when choosing your favorite?

Email us: letters@globaltravelerusa.com