UC,
The best travel shoe for me is Weston golf in brown suede (rubber sole). The last is roomy so swelling feet are not a problem. The suede is tough and does not scuff from inevitable abuse in airports and small spaces on the plane. Handles rain better than most leathers if you spray it periodically. The insole leather is thicker than what you will find on almost any other RTW shoe and in combination with rubber sole makes for a good all day walker. Works easily with jeans, flannels, sport coats etc.
Another alternative is RM Williams Comfort Craftsman in Chestnut. Comfort model is on a rubber sole and the insole is made of some sort of cushioned material. I am generally very skeptical of insole material other than vegetable tanned leather, but whatever RM Williams puts in there works (except hot weather). The obvious advantage of boots is that you can go up one width which helps with swelling.
Greg