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Smart Tips for Smooth Holiday Air Travel
Changes That Will Affect Your Travel:1. Fees Now Charged for Curbside Check-in: If you like using convenient curbside check-in, be aware that several airlines are now charging a service fee of $2 per bag to check luggage at the curb. Plan to tip the skycap in addition to this airline-imposed $2 charge. If you plan to use this service, call your airline or airport or check their websites to determine if this fee is charged now at your airport, or if they plan to implement this in the future. Then you can decide if the convenience is worth the fee plus the skycap tip. 2. Most Flights Are Full As cost-cutting measures continue to be a focus,
airlines are cutting flights, which means that almost every flight is full.
This is sure to be the case during holiday travel. Places to stow carry-on
baggage are at a minimum, and the ability to easily access items placed in the
overhead bins is limited, make sure anything needed during the flight is in a
carry-on that will easily fit under the seat in front of you. In addition to
something to read and a sweater if the blowers make you chilly, you might want
to add to your carry-on: Smart Travel Coping Skills:1. A Proven Timesaver Print boarding passes before leaving for the airport to avoid standing in at least one line. Most airlines allow printing 24 hours in advance, including Southwest Airlines who recently changed from allowing printing of boarding passes at 12:01AM on the day of flight to 24 hours in advance. Now Southwest passengers can get a decent sleep before departing. 2. Don’t Over-do it Call your airline or check their website to learn specific checked baggage rules for how many bags each person is allowed, and the size and weight limits for each bag (most allow 2 bags per person, 50 pounds maximum per bag). Then pack at least one day before departure so there is ample time to weigh each bag on a bathroom scale and pare down before leaving home. Otherwise, items may have to be shifted between bags or to a carry-on at the airport to avoid a hefty fee. 3. Protect Your Belongings Once you’ve reached your ideal suitcase weight, keep sticky fingers out of your bags by using the new Travel Sentry™ Certified Locks (available in travel and luggage stores and catalogs). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved this innovative combination lock that is set by the owner but can be opened only by the TSA with a universal key when manual inspection of the bag contents is needed. 4. Don’t Wrap Gifts If you are taking along gifts, wait to do the wrapping at your destination. Packages may be unwrapped and inspected, so travelers are encouraged to either ship wrapped packages in advance or travel with unwrapped gifts. Better yet, consider shopping at your destination or buying gift cards to travel light and avoid the hassles. 5. Dress Smart Save time and avoid “stripping” in the security line by wearing clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories for travel that are airport security friendly. Avoid items that contain metal that may set off the metal detectors, and that must be removed and put on again. This is just some of the advice Foster offers both in her book, “Smart Packing for Today's Traveler,” and on her web site, www.smartpacking.com. She wishes everyone a hassle-free trip so there will be more to be thankful for when you reach your destination and again when you arrive home. Edited Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady More hints for a happy holidayChrismukkah Over 55 heavenly hybrid-holiday recipes. Even if you are not in the mood to cook, you will enjoy browsing through this cleverly written book. With this book, you do not have to choose. You can have it all and celebrate diversity Everyday Traditions: Simple Family Rituals for
Connection and Comfort Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us This hilarious book, which includes a forward by Jerry Stiller (also known as “Seinfeld’s” Frank Costanza), recounts the history of Festivus - from advent of the ceremonial aluminum pole to the newly created |
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Anyone who hasn’t flown for a while, but will be during the
upcoming holidays, may be in for some surprises. While most travelers are now
accustomed to security inspections, there are always new twists. Susan Foster,
packing expert and author of “Smart Packing for Today's Traveler” (