by Beata L. Santora

If there ever was a perfect time to release Jason Reitman's Up in the Air, that time is now. Not because it stars box office golden boy George Clooney and his purr-cat voice, but because it hinges on two things weighing heavily on all our minds: air travel and jobs.

Based on Walter Kirn's 2001 novel of the same name, Up in the Air follows the life of Ryan Bingham whose goal (besides slaying every stewardess withing a 50 yard radius) is to rack up one million frequent-flyer miles. Luckily, his job is conducive to both quests. He's a "career transition counselor," which is corporate speak for "the guy who travels around the country firing people." Now, if that doesn't sound familiar, you've been blissfully oblivious to the cuts and layoffs that are tormenting nearly every industry in America (except alcohol vendors and strip clubs--we don't have data on the latter, it's just an educated guess).

Though we're not fans of Bingham's career choice, we can relate to his obsession with frequent-flyer miles. In fact, we're obsessed with all things air travel. Just check out On the Fly, a rundown of breaking news from the air, and Clive Alive's insights. Both can be found on our new portal truth.travel.

And don't even think about leaving for your next trip without reading our guide to the world's airport lounges. It'll tell you which to skip and which are worth a splurge. Oh, and while there, if you see George in one of those massage chairs, tell him we'd like a private concert.

Further reading:
* More frequent flyers -- Will & Jada Smith Host Nobel Peace Concert in Oslo
* Boldface: Celebrity travels