UP FRONT WITH MARTIN DEUTSCH IN 2012 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARTIN B. DEUTSCH Martin B. Deutsch created Frequent Flyer magazine in 1980 and was editor-in-chief and publisher for 15 years. He also wrote a column called Up Front for Frequent Flyer during those years. That column later appeared in Travel Agent magazine and he now writes Up Front for JoeSentMe.com. In a nearly 60-year career, he created, published and edited dozens of other travel publications. Among his other work, Deutsch wrote the Travel Trails column for Argosy magazine and those are also archived at JoeSentMe. Deutsch is based in New York. December 20: 'TWAS THE COLUMN BEFORE CHRISTMAS As usual, and just in time to miss the advance-purchase discount fares, my wife and daughter decided they wanted to head west for a post-Christmas family get-together. So I called several airlines. Space was already mighty tight--and the fares had been manipulated by one of Scrooge's descendants. Yet one telephonic elf made everything right. For the column before Christmas, a happy ending for a less-than-happy year. April 26: ANTIDOTE FOR THE AIRLINES? GOOD BOOKS The legacy carriers released their first-quarter earnings and it's dreary reading when millions in losses are considered victories. But I offer you an alternate choice of reading: Four good novels, one for each of the supposedly full-service carriers we have left. March 22: TOLSTOY, DOSTOYEVSKY AND UNITED AIRLINES Facing long holds to reach United to fix a ticket problem or get your upgrade? Martin can't fix that, but at least he has an idea for passing the time while on hold: Read the gigantic War and Peace or Crime and Punishment. After all, when else will you have the time? February 2: THE MEDITERRANEAN VIA THE UPPER WEST SIDE When business travelers come to New York, they usually lodge in Midtown or Lower Manhattan. But guess what? Some of the best (and the least expensive) dining in town is on the Upper West Side, the mostly residential area far from most hotels. Martin Deutsch offers some choices worth a cab ride. Copyright © 2001-2012 by Martin B. Deutsch. All rights reserved.