Here's something that the big airlines really wish we wouldn’t discuss right now, with planes flying full, fares rising, fuel prices stabilizing and customers generally resigned to the air travel system:

Some domestic airlines are weighing the idea of discouraging passengers from lugging oversize carry-on bags onto planes by imposing a $25 charge, at the gate, on bags that exceed the posted size limits. Alaska Airlines , the No. 7 carrier in domestic market share, is already quietly doing just that, in fact.

Spirit Airlines initiated a major new approach to carry-on bags almost two years ago when it began charging passengers $45 to stash carry-ons in overhead bins. Spirit plans to raise that fee at the gate this fall to $100 per bag. But Spirit’s success in discouraging carry-ons has evidently resonated with the bigger airlines, at least on the subject of passengers who now gate-check oversize bags free.

Attending a wine tasting event while traveling just got a little bit easier.

Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, part of Starwood , launched a new "Sheraton Social Hour" program offering a curated menu of premium wines and weekly tasting events at its hotels around the world.

"We wanted to truly elevate the wine tasting experience for our guests," says Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, in a press release . "We worked with some of the most renowned names in the wine industry for more than a year so our guests can easily savor some of the most highly rated wines in the world during their stay."

San Francisco International Airport is my favorite airport in the United States. In this second installment of "Delayed," I'll take you through some of my favorite ways to kill time at SFO when delays or cancellations find you with extra time.

The airport celebrated its 85th anniversary in May and unlike some airports of the same age, SFO is a modern, clean and, if I dare say, an enjoyable place to traverse as a road warrior . It's a city within itself and offers just about every convenience to keep you occupied, avoiding the need to sit for hours at the gate.

The airport's website offers an interactive terminal map that allows you to easily locate specific services, eateries, amenities and activities. And it can be accessed on your device via free Wi-Fi available in each terminal.

Here are my suggestions on how to avoid staring at your flight's "Delayed" notification on the flight departure monitors.

Beginning today, passengers flying in premium cabins on international flights with United Airlines will experience upgraded dining options.

United's new high quality, restaurant-style meals will be available in their first class cabins, dubbed "United Global First" and in business class, "United BusinessFirst."

"The changes come after many months of input from customers and our Congress of Chefs, as well as taste-testing sessions," says Sandra Pineau-Boddison, vice president of food services for United in a press release . "Our goal is to deliver a better and more consistent experience for our customers, while offering greater variety and choice."

The new meals include selections of beef, chicken, fish, vegetarian-style pastas and regional selections on select flights.

United Airlines will cut 1,300 jobs and reduce flying in Houston after losing a fight to block Southwest Airlines from adding international flights there.

United uses Bush Intercontinental Airport to funnel passengers between U.S. destinations and to Latin America. On Wednesday, the city council ignored United's protests and voted to let Southwest offer international flights from Hobby Airport if it will pay the $100 million cost of adding new gates and a customs facility.

Southwest says its first flights to Latin America and the Caribbean won't leave Hobby until 2015, but United's reaction to the city council decision was much quicker.

Don't be surprised if the housekeepers look like characters out of CSI the next time you stay at a Best Western hotel.

In response to what it says is travelers' insistence on cleanliness, Best Western is equipping its housekeeping crews with equipment you'd most likely see on the forensic investigation TV series: black lights to detect biological matter otherwise unseen by the human eye, and ultraviolet light wands to zap it.

For possibly the dirtiest object in your room — the TV remote control — there will be disposable wraps.

Best Western says it's taking the steps partly because research from Booz & Company shows that travelers desire a hotel's cleanliness over customer service, style and design.

Beginning June 7, all Delta Air Lines flights with a first class and economy cabin will feature the airline's enhanced legroom "Economy Comfort" seating area.

Delta introduced Economy Comfort in 2011 on long-haul international flights. Now passengers can experience the seats on all flights — domestic or international.

Passengers seated in Economy Comfort enjoy three to four inches of additional legroom, as well as priority boarding. The seats are found in the first three to five rows of the economy class cabin.

"Our expansion of Economy Comfort gives customers more premium seats to choose from no matter where they fly on Delta," says Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president of network planning, revenue management and marketing in a press release .

Delta now joins American and United in offering a section of economy class with enhanced legroom.

If you like the comfort of booking your stay on a hotel-owned website and dealing directly with the property when something goes awry, then a new collaborative venture, RoomKey.com , should be on your radar.

Founded in January by Choice Hotels , Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt , InterContinental Hotels Group, Wyndham and Marriott , Room Key is designed to give the benefits of booking your room directly with the hotel and enough choice from these hotel chains and their partners that you won't be tempted to plunk your money down on an online travel agency site instead.

Terry Buchen gets to board his Delta flights early because he has elite status. In theory, he's assured a spot in an overhead bin for his carry-on bag.

In practice, even he has to compete for the coveted space.

Since airlines began charging passengers in 2008 to check their luggage, carry-on bags have multiplied in size and number. That's turned the boarding process into a free-for-all even for business travelers who've traditionally had high enough status to avoid such hassles.

"When a passenger moves my luggage with wheels or handle facing out, if the bin is too small, the bin door will not close," says the golf course agronomist from Williamsburg, Va. "I am very vocal to a passenger when they try and move my bag so theirs will fit because if I allowed it to occur the flight attendant could take my bag and check it."

It seems like every week there's a news story about an airliner being diverted. Or someone being booted off a flight, due to questionable passenger behavior.

This week's examples include a US Airways jet that was diverted to Bangor, Maine because a passenger claimed she had a surgically implanted device. She handed a flight attendant a note, written in French, seeking help and stated that she had an object in her body that was out of her control, according to reports.

The other example was a woman being told she couldn't fly due to her "offensive attire." The T-shirt she was wearing read, "If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d f--- a senator." The expletive was fully spelled out and pro-choice, political sentiment aside, American Airlines denied her boarding. American's contract of carriage allowed them to refuse transport of the passenger since she was, “clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers.”

A little common sense goes a long way. But it seems many people need a reminder of how NOT to act on a plane. Here are a few tips.