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Can I Bring My Canoe Paddle and My Seashells on the Plane?

Traveling soon and wondering what you are allowed to take through security? Do you know what TSA requires you put in your checked bag?

TSA has a database where you can find an item you want to take with you in your carry-on bag. Check out https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all.

If you don’t find the item you’re looking for, you can tweet them at @AskTSA or send a Facebook message to AskTSA.

Here is a list of their permitted items and where you must place them.

Permitted as carry-on or checked

  • Knitting needles–sharp objects in checked bags should be securely wrapped to prevent inspector injury
  • Canes–must undergo X-ray screening, a TSA officer will inspect item if it cannot fit through a machine
  • Tents–check with airline, but tent stakes and poles must be checked in
  • Umbrellas–Allowed in carry-on bags
  • Insulin and insulin supplies–Notify TSA officer of your condition and that you are carrying supplies. Any forms or dispensers must be clearly identified.
  • Liquid medications–Liquids, gels or aerosol medications greater than 3.4 ounces must be declared to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.
  • Sand, rocks, seeds, plants—OK in either
  • Medical marijuana/CBD–Not searched for but if illegal substance is discovered, TSA will refer to law enforcement
  • Yogurt–Must be less than 3.4 ounces
  • Small fishing lures–Large hooks should be wrapped in checked luggage. Expensive reels or fragile tackle may be placed in carry-on
  • Dry batteries—AA, AAA, C and D, but not lithium varieties

Only permitted as checked

  • Golf clubs (balls and tees can be placed in carry-on)
  • Canoe/Kayak paddles
  • Walking sticks

Only permitted as carry-on

  • Vape/E-cigarette
  • Portable chargers or power banks containing a lithium ion battery
  • Disposable and Zippo lighters (no matches allowed in carry-on or checked-in)

And what about those small pets?

They are allowed through the checkpoints but don’t have to go through the scanner. A pet carrying case is required to go through the X-ray machine, but the animal must be walked through the metal detector.

Other advice

  • Don’t forget the 3-1-1 liquid rule and pack your liquids in the front pocket on your carry-on for accessibility. Liquids, gels and aerosols must be stored in 3.4-ounce containers or less, and fit in a quart size clear plastic zip top bag, one per passenger
  • Tape a card with your name and contact info to your electronics
  • Pack items in layers (shoes one layer, clothes one layer, electronics one layer, etc.)
  • Don’t forget your money at the checkpoint. In fiscal year 2018, travelers left behind over $960,000. (The TSA plans to use the unclaimed money toward checkpoint training requirements.)
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Help…My Flight Changed

What happens when your scheduled flight is changed? It’s probably happened to all of us.

Sometimes you receive an email telling you your flight has changed. Sometimes it’s leaving three minutes earlier than before.

Sometimes, you receive a notification your flight time is a little less than the original time.

Okay…not a problem.

I received a notification from American Airlines about my upcoming flight to Europe. This one was a problem for me.

Instead of going from San Diego to JFK and then Paris, we had been rerouted from San Diego to Los Angeles to JFK to Paris. This added an additional stop. That wasn’t the problem, however.

We had less than 30 minutes at LAX to switch from American Eagle to American. Not good. Worse, coming back we had 19 minutes in Los Angeles to get to the plane to San Diego. That’s not going to happen.

What did I do?

I immediately called American Airlines and gave my confirmation number to a wonderful lady. When she looked up my flight, she chuckled. “Honey, you aren’t going to make that. Let me fix it for you.”

Her customer service was amazing, she fixed my problem, and put us on new flights.

Everything seems to be good now. Stay tuned for the actual flights…

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People Watching Vegas Style

People Watching in Vegas…At Night

After dinner we headed to the Wynn to watch the waterfall show and have a drink. People watching there was slightly different than what I found in the afternoon.

For one thing, it was cool inside. For another, I was inside a casino and at a bar.

What did I see?

More multi-generational families. Again, son helped dad and probably grandfather navigate the stairs, escalator, and tables. More males of different ages than females.

Couples walked by. She wore shoes from a designer I recognized. They are expensive. He wore worn out flip-flops.

One woman definitely had her attributes enhanced. On many levels. Others preferred to show off their bodies. Real or not?

Another couple was oblivious to everyone but each other. Hopefully, they made it to their room.

Dad with his teen-age daughters commented on the intricate, mosaic floor designs, the uniquely crafted flower displays, and the hanging glass parasols. They seemed to take in everything around them with enthusiasm.

There were those still in tank tops and flip flops. And, those in evening attire.

What did I learn?

Everyone seemed to be having a good time. People of all ages mingled with the glitz, glimmer, and neon of the casinos and restaurants.

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People Watching…Vegas

People Watching in Vegas

When you visit a place where lots of people go, it makes for interesting people watching. Take Las Vegas, for instance.

It was hot…really hot. It is the desert, after all. People still visit. People still wander around. I was one of those.

I did more than just wander, however. I sat, had a cool drink, and watched people. Tourists, business people, show girls, and families. Yes, families with little kids and strollers.

What did I see?

There were those who took photos of everything they happened to see. Some would stop in the middle of the sidewalk and take a photo of their companion pointing to a hotel or landmark. Many wore tank tops, shorts, and flip-flops.

Multi-generation families moved a little slower. The son helped the father navigate through the rest of the people on the street. Then, he helped him sit at a sidewalk café.

Couples holding hands and looking more at each other than anything else made me think they were there on their honeymoon. Or, maybe they just got married in one of the hotel chapels.

Parents pushing strollers with fussy kids made me wonder why they thought the kids would enjoy this.

Two showgirls, clad in nothing but feathers, approached me and asked if I would be interested in a pole-dancing class. They said it was fun. I declined.

Teenagers gawking at who knows what, acted just like teenagers anywhere. They probably enjoyed the feathers.

Shortly after the feathered girls, a muscular man wearing only a red, white, and blue G-string approached me and asked if would be interested in a free ticket to an all-male review. Even though he was very patriotic in his attire, I declined that as well.

What did I learn?

Tourists come in all shapes, sizes, and nationalities. Everyone seemed to have a good time and they all appeared to be happy.

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Long Flight? No Problem

When on a long flight, is there anything you can do to get ready for your destination? What if that destination is several time zones away?

For me, I adjust my schedule to the time zone where I will be landing. That means setting the time on my phone to the new time zone. I try to adjust my eating and sleeping slightly at first to get close to the new time. After a day, I’m good to go.

On the plane, I have most everything I need in a small carry-on bag. I use small packing cubes or previous amenity pouches to keep things organized. Things like lip balm, sunscreen (yes, you can get a sunburn on board an airplane), lotion, toothbrush, and toothpaste are always in my bag. In addition, I have my phone charger, a power bank, a small notebook, and at least two pens.

The air on the plane is dry…very dry. To stay hydrated, I pack an empty water bottle. Once through security, I fill it up.

What do you do?

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WineSellar Award

WineSellar did it again. They won Best of Award of Excellence 2019

What does this award mean? 
These wine lists display excellent breadth across multiple wine growing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.

Only 1,244 restaurants were awarded this! With over 15 million restaurants world wide that means 1 in every 12,000 restaurants have received this honor! 

It could be why we love this place! Lunch…dinner…or a bottle of wine…it’s all fantastic.

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Where Do You Book?

Do you use any of these vacation rental apps? If so, which are your favorites?

VRBO…Vacation Rentals by Owner

This was acquired by Home Away in 2006, so you really don’t need to check both sites. They are almost identical as far as I can tell. You can add your dates, place, and amenities you are looking for.

HomeAway

This user-friendly site makes it one of the best for vacation rentals. You have access to a map view and a list of all the details of the property. Add your filters to find places that fit your needs. I found it to be transparent with all the fees, what they are for, and if they are refundable.

Airbnb

This site is easy to use, giving you a map of properties available. Add your filters and find the right place. It gives plenty of information about the place, including photos. It’s clear on whether you will have an entire house or a private room.

Booking.com

With this one, you can look for hotels and B&Bs, to vacation rentals, to apartments. They clearly label whether the booking is refundable or not. Do keep in mind to check if there are any extra fees not mentioned in the original price. I didn’t care for the little messages that say “you missed it” when I was looking for a certain place. I don’t need to be urged on to book.

TripAdvisor

This is SmaterTravel’s parent company…just in case you were wondering. They have also acquired FlipKey and HolidayLettings. You will find plenty of listings and options to book. Their listings are generally informative with traveler reviews and owner profiles. There is also an option to send a message directly to the owner.

Tripping

This is another meta-search site for vacation rentals. Sometimes they will overall with their parent company, HometoGo. They have hotels, hostels, apartments, home, etc. One thing they do offer in addition is a flexible date feature. For example, you can put in January to March to see when the best dates to book are for your destination.

Hotels.com

This one offers star ratings so you can see what others thought of a property. The map is not the best, in my opinion. You cannot see taxes and fees until you book…a real problem for me. I want to know what I’m paying before putting in my credit card.

Expedia

You have the option for many different accommodation types, as well as a dedicated vacation rental search page. If you are map oriented when browsing, this isn’t the best. When you click on a listing you will find photos, amenities, reviews, and nearby attractions. Total price is not available until you reserve…again fees and taxes not listed until then.

HometoGo

This is a meta-search site, allowing you to search most of the sites I already mentioned. Each list offers the type of rental and exactly where you can book it. Be sure you check the price once you leave this site and go to the booking site. It can be different. This is almost a one-stop shop.

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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

The first episode of Animal Planet’s THE ZOO: San Diego at the San Diego Zoo features our own San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. 

 
This heartwarming television series will take you behind the scenes to share the incredible stories of the animals that call the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park home. THE ZOO: San Diego also shares the world-class, highly specialized care each animal receives from veterinarians, keepers, trainers, and researchers, many of whom have deep and meaningful relationships with the animals they have dedicated their lives to caring for. The show also reveals the often-surprising steps we take in our journey to end extinction.

THE ZOO: SAN DIEGO will introduce a wide range of animals to Animal Planet audiences this season, including pandas, giraffes, Galápagos tortoises, koalas, elephants, mountain lions, two baby cheetahs that are learning how to be ambassadors for their species and a flock of ostriches known as the “Spice Girls.” Viewers will watch as California condors are brought back from the brink of extinction and get an up-close look as Joanne the gorilla celebrates her fifth birthday along with her troop. Animal Planet audiences will also follow the animal care teams—keepers and veterinarians at both the Zoo and the Safari Park—many of whom have dedicated their lives to caring for animals, and the numerous projects and initiatives that place this nonprofit organization at the forefront of wildlife conservation.

About San Diego Zoo Global:

As an international nonprofit organization, San Diego Zoo Global works to fight extinction through conservation efforts for plants and animals worldwide. With a history of leadership in species recovery and animal care, San Diego Zoo Global works with partners in science-based field programs on six continents, and maintains sanctuaries and public education facilities in many places. Inspiring a passion for nature is critical to saving species, and San Diego Zoo Global’s outreach efforts share the wonder of wildlife with millions of people every year. Current major conservation initiatives include fighting wildlife trafficking and the impacts of climate change on wildlife species; broad-spectrum species and habitat protection efforts in Kenya, in Peru and on islands worldwide; preventing extinction in our own backyard; and expanding efforts to bank critical genetic resources and apply them to the conservation of critically endangered species. 

Way to go… Check it out for yourself.

There will be a special two-hour season premier on August 10 at 8 pm ET/PT. The following week this will return to its regular schedule of 9 ET/PT.
 

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Top Airlines for 2019

According to airline industry experts, these five airlines met the 2019 list for safety, comfort, and overall experience.

Singapore Airlines took the number one spot. Things like passenger reviews, operational safety, fleet age, and flight availability helped the airline reach this distinction. It doesn’t hurt that it also has a first-class suite.

Air New Zealand came in at number two. They added new aircraft like the A321 neo airbus. It also has the Best Premium Economy and Best Airline Pacific awards.

Qantas is number three. They plan on adding non-stop flights from London to Sydney next year or so. Since they received the Best Airline Lounge award, you have a great place to wait for your flight.

Qatar Airways is new to this list and is number four. Their business class and catering service helped move them up the list.

Virgin Australia brought home number five. They also received the award for the best cabin crew.

Have you flown any of these? Do you agree with these awards?

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Facial Recognition…What Do You Think?

From The Points Guy

Minneapolis and Salt Lake City will soon offer optional boarding by facial recognition on nonstop international flights flown with Delta and its partners. Atlanta’s Terminal E will be equipped with scanners to facilitate even more ticketless boarding in Delta’s hometown.

Delta confirmed with TPG that Atlanta’s Terminal E, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City will all be live at various points in July. It won’t be a hard switch; rather, Delta will install facial recognition equipment at one gate, and once tested and proven, more gates will be brought online until each gate is equipped.

Delta worked with US Customs and Border Protection, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Transportation Security Administration to bring optional biometric boarding to international flights in Atlanta’s Terminal F in December of 2018. Now that the airline has had a few months to test and learn, the system is spreading to new locales.

The launch of biometric boarding is a first-of-its-kind experience for MSP and SLC. If you’re traveling out of either airport (as well as Terminals E and F in Atlanta), you’ll need to be ticketed on a nonstop international flight to take advantage. Delta flights are supported, as are those on SkyTeam partners Aeromexico, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic.

Since launching in Atlanta’s Terminal F, Delta has commissioned third-party customer insight research to gather feedback from those experiencing the process for the first time. According to Delta, that research found that 72% prefer facial recognition to standard boarding. Moreover, just 2% of customers opted out of the process, though Delta makes clear that anyone uncomfortable with the notion of having their face scanned to board can use a traditional ticket instead.

What do you think?