On Course: Travel Q&A

TRAVEL Q&A Cheap flights in Europe Q. I'm trying to book a flight from Paris to Rome; do you have any suggestions on how to find the cheapest fare?

A. Travel agents who specialize in flights to and from Europe are always a good place to start. You can also go online to websites that specialize in European travel, such as Momondo.com, which searches fares and schedules of high-speed trains as well as planes. Fly.com and kayak.com are popular international booking sites, as well. You can also book your tickets directly through the airlines that fly those routes, including Air France and Alitalia.

Answers to travelers' questions appear in Travel weekly and every Monday at startribune.com/escapeartists; send your question by e-mail to travel@startribune.com.

JIM BUCHTA

Sun Country flies to London Sun Country Airlines has a cheeky new stop planned: London. Last week, the airline announced new service between the Twin Cities and that European hub beginning June 11. The seasonal flights (ending Aug. 15) on Boeing 737-800s will depart Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Fridays, returning from London's Stansted Airport on Sundays, with stops in Newfoundland for fuel. Both first-class and coach seating will be available. The flights went on sale Monday with introductory prices as low as $399 one way, excluding fees.

A comparison of flights departing Friday, June 11, returning Sunday, June 20, found Sun Country offered the best fare, at $936. Sun Country's baggage fees apply: Travelers flying coach will be charged $25 each way for the first bag, or $20 if they pay online at least 24 hours ahead. A Delta flight with one stop rang up at $1,067; a nonstop on Delta was $1,430. Icelandair offered a $1,221 flight with one stop. Those airlines do not charge for the first bag on overseas flights.

Stansted Airport offers flights to more than 160 destinations in 34 countries, including many by European low-fare carriers Ryanair and EasyJet. A 46-minute ride on the Stansted Express train brings travelers from the airport, about 30 miles outside central London, to London's Liverpool Street Station. From there, they can access four lines of the London Underground. For booking and more information, go to www.suncountry.com or call 1-800-359-6786.

On the minds of fliers What are travelers' biggest gripes these days? Limited legroom on planes and fees for checked baggage and other services, according to TripAdvisor's second annual air travel survey. The survey of 3,200 U.S. respondents revealed some other interesting traveler sentiments. Sorry, Kevin Smith, but 74 percent said they think that travelers of size should pay for two seats on their flights. (Actor/director Smith waged a Twitter campaign against Southwest Airlines after he was forced off a flight for being too big to fit in a single seat. Southwest later apologized.) Thirty percent said that they would be more likely to book a ticket on a flight offering WiFi. Some travelers -- 45 percent -- said they want Internet access so bad that they would put up with a seatmate accessing inappropriate content. Another 27 percent, however, said that they would alert a flight attendant and 22 percent would ask their seatmate to shut down any lewd sites. And what of those controversial full body scanners? Seventy-nine percent had no problem with them.

WASHINGTON POST

Just in time for bike season Here's another reason to bike: You can now get bicycling directions on Google Maps. Google has partnered with Washington-based nonprofit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to offer the feature, which allows users to type in their destination and get directions for the best bicycling route. Google already has been offering this service to drivers, walkers and transit riders. Now Google users in all 50 states will have access to RTC's database of more than 1,600 rail-trails and connecting corridors for free.

WASHINGTON POST

Independents in Iowa The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival on April 9-10 will feature dozens of animated, short, documentaries and full-length films at the Collins Road Theatres in Marion, Iowa. Local and regional filmmakers will show their films, including "Paper-Maché," a film about five former film students who commit crimes in Minneapolis in hopes of getting enough money to finance their first film, by Elliot Diviney of Plymouth, and "A Young Heart," about a teenage girl's broken heart, by Brooke Lemke of Minneapolis. Tickets are $8 to $25 in advance and $10 to $35 at the door (1-319-377-4555; www.crifm.org).