If they don't have a frequent-flier ID card, travelers check in online or at kiosks and get a bar code on a printed boarding pass or on a mobile phone, just like at other airlines.

WSJ: Flying Through the Airport

Ellerton, a frequent contributor to the site, hoped to speak with a veteran but wasn't sure where to meet one.

CNN: Interviews give veterans a voice, iReporters a cause

"There are thousands of these firms out there and the SEC's inspection schedule doesn't allow it to get to them on a frequent basis, " says Grundfest.

NPR: Madoff Was Magnet For Some, Not All, Investors

"Pattern recognition" is a frequent A.I. refrain, but computers can't learn to spot patterns they've never seen.

CNN: People and computers need each other

To those watching closely there were frequent tell-tales of the huge talent, but that doesn't cut it in a world where headline perception is all.

BBC: How good is Button?

Frequent flier Ben Schlappig says he doesn't lean back in coach on daytime flights as a courtesy to others, but he doesn't expect anyone to return the favor.

CNN: Air rage: Is reclining your seat a right?

You'll net the best performance in quieter settings, considering that they don't isolate sound like some other options on the market, and if you're a frequent air traveler or often find yourself working in noisy environments, you'll probably want to consider other options.

ENGADGET: Apple EarPods hands-on Mobile