American Airlines at SEA. Sue Frause photo.

I remember when Air Canada started charging two bucks for a pillow back in 2005. It was in fact an inflatable pillow, and along with it you received a polyester blanket.

Beginning May 1, 2010 American Airlines is charging $8 for a blue fleece blanket and an inflatable pillow.

But apparently this is sort of old news. In February 2009, US Airways was selling a reusable blanket and pillow kit for $7. And JetBlue also started charging passengers $7 for a blanket and pillow in 2008.

Years ago, I used to laugh at the occasional trave;er who would board the plane with his/her personal bed pillow as part of the cargo. What next, passengers in Snuggies?

Canada-US Peace Arch crossing. Sue Frause photo.

Although I’m not an anti-Olympic activist, I am a journalist. And several times while traveling from my home state of Washington to British Columbia, I’ve been questioned about my reasons for visiting O Canada!

But nothing like the radio journalist who was recently denied entry to Canada when he flew into Vancouver from Chicago. The reason? His involvement with the Olympic Resistance Network.

The few times I’ve been questioned have seemed a bit silly. Once, when arriving in Sidney on Vancouver Island via Washington State Ferries, I was asked why I was on the island. “I’m a travel writer,” I replied. The person then asked me, “What’s a travel writer?” Granted, she was young (I think a seasonal summer worker), but who doesn’t know what a travel writer is/does?

On another occasion, while traveling aboard Amtrak between Seattle and Vancouver, I was questioned as to why I had so few icons on my MacBook. Huh?

American journalist Amy Goodman went through some intense grilling by the Canadian Border Services Agency while traveling to Vancouver to promote her book, Breaking the Sound Barrier.

I’ll let you know what happens when I head up to Vancouver this week.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Sue Frause photo.

I’m taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver this week for some pre-Olympics fever.

With a quarter of a million people headed to the 2010 Winter Games that begin on Feb. 12, the city has got to be hoppin’.

Tourism Vancouver has a dandy website with plenty of Olympic links, including this one: Top Ten Olympic Experiences Around the City.

Games on!

Mexico City grocery store. Sue Frause photo.

If you’ve been flying off to exotic places thanks to the items you toss in your grocery cart, it’s not going to be so easy as of March 1, 2010.

Here’s the latest from WebFlyer (The Frequent Flyer Authority):

Effective Feb. 28, 2010, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, Continental Airlines OnePass and United Airlines Mileage Plus members will no longer earn miles for grocery shopping at Safeway, Vons, Dominicks, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb or Genuardi.

The rest of the details can be found at the WebFlyer link above.

Miami, Florida. Photo by Sue Frause

I’m not sure what the determining factors are when it comes to hosting the Super Bowl, but Super Bowl XLIV is keeping the tradition alive.

For the tenth year, Miami is the scene of the biggest and brightest football game of the year. The venue is Sun Life Stadium, where the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will square off. Over the years, Sun Life has also been known as Dolphin Stadium, Pro Player Stadium and Joe Robbie Stadium. The Super Bowl was also staged at the Orange Bowl.

Coming in second place since that First World Championship Game on Jan. 15, 1967 at L.A.’s Memorial Stadium (the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10) is New Orleans with nine Super Bowls. Then it’s Pasadena (5), Tampa (4) and San Diego (3). For a complete list, click here.

Super Bowl XLV will be played at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas.