Tag: fly

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Where oh Where Are You Going?

Every magazine and travel site have their lists of places to visit in a new year. It’s interesting to see how many places appear on more than one site.

Does that mean everyone will be going to the same sites or take the same trips in 2019? I doubt it.

Are these budget destinations? Some are, but not all can be considered budget.

Here are some listed by Hopper, a company using big data to help consumers predict and analyze their airfare costs. According to them, these destinations have flights where the cost dropped the most from the first part of 2018 to now.

Iceland…the Icelandic krona to the US dollar is better for you by 18% this year.

Buenos Aires…the Argentine peso lost 54% of its value against the US dollar last year.

France…flights are an average of 30% cheaper than this time last year and the Euro is down 4% now. This might be a good time to head to the celebrations surrounding D-Day. June 6 is the 75th anniversary.

Columbia…flights are down in price, so it could be a great time to take in the annual flower festival.

Dominica…after the major hurricane, the government and volunteers have brought back the island’s top attractions.

Finland and Lithuania…apparently Finland has seen a 35% drop in the average price of flights from the US and Lithuania is a cheap 75-minute flight from Helsinki.

Are any of these on your list for 2019?

Or, do you have other places you can’t wait to visit?

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Why Am I Being Screened?

Have you really looked at your boarding pass? All of it? Have you seen a code you weren’t familiar with?

One code you really don’t want to see are the letters SSSS. For one thing, your security process will no doubt take a lot longer. Why?

Those four letters mean Secondary Security Screening Selection. That means you are one who has been selected for a security screening different than everyone else. It most likely means a full pat down, additional portable metal detectors, your carry-on luggage examined fully, and additional scrutiny.

According to a TSA spokesperson, passengers who have the code on their boarding passes are selected through the TSA’s Security Flight System, a prescreening program that identifies both low and high-risk passengers before they get to the airport.

This system matches names against trusted traveler lists and the TSA’s watchlist. They also said it could just be a random selection and nothing you’ve ever done.

Chances are if you have SSSS, you won’t be able to print your boarding pass online at home or at a hotel. If that happens, make sure you get to the airport early and allow enough extra time for the screening process.

What can you do in addition? TSA says you can apply for a Redress Number. If you have had the SSSS show up more than once, this would be a good thing to look into. Basically, it’s a case number specifically for you. This would clear up any confusion if your name matches or is similar to someone who really is on a Homeland Security watch list or has given TSA a reason to perform extra screening.

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What Should I Buy?

Sometimes it’s hard to decide what souvenir to buy for yourself or for a friend, house sitter, or kitty sitter. Sometimes it’s finding the right gift for a birthday gift. Maybe it’s bringing back something from your travels that reminds you of your great trip.

Most of the time I like a souvenir that reminds me of the place I visited. It could be a piece connected to the culture of that place. Or, it may mean I found it at a favorite street market.

Sometimes, the best souvenirs connect to a passion. I bought a hand painted scarf from Paris to give to an art lover and some olive wood spoons at a street market in Provence for a friend who loves to cook.

What about bringing a souvenir you can eat? Giving fleur du sel from a market in Burgundy is the perfect gift or as a great souvenir for me!

You might not think of your pictures as souvenirs, but travel photos are a fantastic reminder of the great times you had. I make small books, with 15 to 20 photos and give to our travel companions.

Typically, I don’t buy heavy or bulky items. Unless, of course, it’s the perfect thing I’ve been looking for. I will pay to have it shipped…but keep in mind there are fees and regulations you might have to deal with.

Whatever you buy, make sure it’s legal to bring home. TSA has regulations. Customs has regulations. And the airlines have regulations. No sense picking up some salami to bring home and watch as it’s dumped into the trash when you go through security. Double check the regulations before you purchase and save yourself the nightmare.

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Can I Bring My Snow Globe?

Flying with Gifts…TSA Rules

Maybe you’re getting ready to fly somewhere this holiday season and have gifts. Or, maybe you’ve been somewhere and want to bring home some souvenirs.

Do you know the TSA rules and guidelines?

Avoid anything that appears to be a weapon. Even a toy weapon. This might be common sense…but TSA says those toys look like the real thing in a scanner.

Instead of putting them in your carry-on…place them in checked baggage.

Also, avoid strong liquors over 140 proof. This means absinthe, rum, or anything with more than 70% alcohol. It doesn’t matter if it’s in your carry-on. TSA will take it.

Speaking of three ounce liquids in your carry-on, this applies to ALL liquids, even bottles of liquor or wine.

I know it seems odd, but don’t gift wrap your gifts. They probably will be unwrapped. Instead, use gift bags, or wait until you arrive to wrap them.

Keep in mind if you are traveling from overseas…international food souvenirs like meats and cheeses will probably be tossed. This isn’t a TSA rule, but a customs and agriculture regulation.

Last…don’t bring home or take as a gift a snow globe. Yep…a snow globe. Especially if it is bigger than a tennis ball. Why? The liquid in them is most likely more than three ounces. Who would have thought?

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My Shampoo Exploded…Again

Plastic Wrap for Packing

Who knew plastic wrap would come in handy when traveling?

If you’ve opened your toiletries bag, only to find one of your nice little bottles of shampoo or conditioner has leaked all over everything…you’ll appreciate this tip. Maybe it’s because of a change in altitude or because you have a faulty seal of the bottle. What to do?

Add a layer of plastic wrap under the cap of the bottle. This should help the leakage problem.

Traveling with jewelry and don’t have a jewelry wrap to keep your chains untangled? Place your jewelry on a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll it over and over until you have a fairly flat piece. Pack it in your carry on and off you go.

I’ve not tried this, but other travelers tell me it works. If you’re taking a banana for a snack, wrap a piece of plastic wrap around the stem. It keeps the banana from getting messy and apparently keep it fresher longer. Plus, you have something to wrap up the peel in when you’re finished eating it.

 

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What…I Can’t Take That Through Security?

TSA’s 5 Holiday Travel Tips to Get Through Security

These are always good tips, but especially important during this time of year.

  1. Get to the airport early

The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, recommends you arrive at least two hours early if you’re flying domestic and three hours for international travel. So, plan even further ahead. There will be more people on the road, more people parking, more looking for Uber, longer rental car return lines, and people who only travel once a year.

  1. Use your time in the checkpoint line wisely

Again, always a good idea. While waiting in what may be a long line, empty your pockets and put loose items into your carry-on bag. This will save you time because you won’t have to put small stuff into a TSA bin and then have to empty it on the other side. Get your boarding pass and identification out. Make electronics larger than a cellphone easily accessible. New TSA regs this year require you to put them in a bin with nothing else around them.

  1. If you are traveling with gifts, don’t wrap them with wrapping paper and tape

Sounds crazy. Right. Though it’s not illegal to bring wrapped gifts through security, they could cause delays. If your bag is flagged during the X-ray screening, officers will need to thoroughly check all items in your bag. That means unwrapping any presents you have. If you need to wrap presents ahead of time, the TSA suggests you use a gift bag or box.

Oh…those snow globes. Guess what? They have liquid. If you’re carrying one as a gift, make sure it contains less than 3.4 liquid ounces.

  1. Traveling with food items during the holiday is OK

Many people wonder whether they can bring food, and the answer is yes. The TSA has specific guidelines that address this rule. If the food item is a solid, like cookies, pie, or a ham, you can pack it in your carry-on bag. But if the food is spreadable or pourable, then it must contain no more than 3.4 liquid ounces. The agency says if you’re unsure, consider this: If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, pack it in your checked bag.

  1. Don’t bring along prohibited items

It seems like common sense, but every day the TSA finds banned items that passengers say they mistakenly left in their carry on. It happened to me. I had a corkscrew that had traveled with me for years. It never created a problem…until one time. Something about it TSA didn’t like, or maybe it’s new regs. In any case…don’t put it in your carry on.

Lastly, an extra tip. Though you can’t bring bottled water through security, you can drink it while in line and then refill the bottle on the other side. This will save you a few dollars before you take off.

 

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Your Luggage Isn’t There

According to the Department of Transportation, the vast majority of bags are reunited with their owners within hours. If your luggage isn’t on the carousel when you arrive, here are some steps to get you started.

Before you leave the airport, report your missing luggage to your airline’s customer service. If you took a connecting flight with multiple carriers, file a report with the airline that brought you to your final destination.

According to the Department of Transportation, you should insist on creating a report no matter what, even if the airline says your bag will be on the next flight. Before you leave the airport, ask for a copy of the report with a file reference number, and a follow-up phone number. Ask about delivery options.

Some carriers allow their employees to give you a cash advance at the airport for purchasing necessities, such as toiletries and a change of clothes. Others will reimburse you for these purchases later. When you report your lost luggage at the airport, ask the agent how your airline handles reimbursement for necessities. You are entitled to this compensation even if your bags are later returned.

International note: For bags that don’t show up after international flights, make a report with your airline as described above. After you receive a delayed bag, international regulations give you 21 days in which to submit a claim for reimbursement for necessities purchased in the interim.

After you’ve made a report, the airline will start tracing your bag. Most airlines will be able to deliver your bag within a day or two. If you receive no notice within a reasonable time after making your initial report at the airport, follow up with the airline by calling the phone number you received. Most carriers will also allow you to track the progress of your report online.

At a certain point, if an airline can’t locate your bag, its status will change from delayed to lost. For domestic flights, the amount of time varies by airline, though it shouldn’t be more than a few weeks. For international flights, luggage must be declared missing if it doesn’t show up within 21 days.

Once the bag is officially declared lost, you may begin the claims process for a lost bag. The exact claims process varies by airline. Regulations cap reimbursement at $3,500 per traveler for domestic flights and around $1,600 for most international flights.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, for example, allow customers to initiate a claim if their luggage isn’t located within five days. United Airlines allows customers to do so after three days.

As part of the claims process, you’ll fill out paperwork detailing the contents of the lost bags and their value. The airline will likely ask for sales receipts or other documentation to back up your estimates. The Department of Transportation cautions that if you don’t have these records, you can expect to negotiate with your airline.

Once your claim has been submitted, it can take an airline anywhere from four weeks to three months to reimburse you.

If you’re traveling with valuables, declare them before you fly. There are caps on reimbursement, and travelers with high-value luggage may want to declare and purchase excess valuation when checking their bags.

I know people who have never recovered their lost luggage…but it is rare. Bottom line…if you know what to do ahead of time, it may make your life easier when the baggage carousel stops, and you have no luggage. Maybe…

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Have You Used These Apps?

Airport Apps

Sometimes having the right app makes your trip go easier. Have you ever used any of these?

Mobile Passport: I have not used this, but here is what the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have to say.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection and San Diego International Airport today announced the expansion of Mobile Passport Control to SAN. Mobile Passport is the first authorized app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States. Eligible travelers may voluntarily submit their passport information and answers to inspection-related questions to CBP via a smartphone or tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

“We continually strive to identify and implement new, more efficient ways of meeting the challenges posed by an increasingly complex mission and growing volumes in travel and trade,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. “We now have Automated Passport Control kiosks, Global Entry kiosks for our trusted travelers, and the use of smart-phone and mobile technologies to enhance the traveler experience.”

“We’re excited to launch this new program in San Diego just in time for the busy summer travel season,” said Kimberly Becker, President/CEO of San Diego International Airport. “Getting through the Customs process has never been so convenient, which allows more time to enjoy everything San Diego has to offer.”

MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler upon arrival in the United States. Much like Automated Passport Control, the app does not require pre-approval and is free to use. Travelers who successfully use the app will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an APC kiosk. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.

There are five easy steps to MPC:

  • Download the Mobile Passport App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store prior to arriving
  • Create a profile with your passport information
  • Complete the “New Trip” section upon arrival in the United States
  • Submit responses to inspection-related questions to CBP through the app to receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code
  • Bring your passport and smartphone or tablet with your digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer

Eligible travelers arriving at San Diego International Airport can begin using the app on June 1 for CBP processing. The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and has since expanded to 23 airports. For more information on what airports have MPC available please visit, CBP.gov/MPC.

Hotel Tonight: This app provides a shortcut to hotels near your airport. It shows available rooms, in case your flight is delayed or you need a last minute hotel.

My TSA: The MyTSA app provides airline passengers with 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information on any mobile device. Save time and money with our helpful tips for preparing for security, including a searchable database of items that can and can’t go in checked or carry-on bags. With this app you can:

  • Check how busy the airport will be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data.
  • Check the delay information and current weather conditions at your favorite airports nationwide.
  • Quickly search which items you can bring with you through the checkpoint onto the airplane.
  • Consult the TSA Guide on how to prepare for and get through the security checkpoint quickly.
  • Discover which airports and airlines support TSA Pre✓®, and learn how to sign-up.
  • Request live assistance from TSA through the AskTSA social media integration.

Google Translate: I use this for more than just at the airport. But, it’s handy to have if you need to find the right gate and you can’t remember your Italian.

TripIt and TripCase: These are travel itinerary apps that contain almost all details of a trip, including flight, car rental, lodging, and other details. The air travel information includes flight times, flight and booking numbers, seat assignments, terminal and gate information, and more.

I like to have all my information in one place, so this works well for me. You can set up notifications on your phone. Then 24 hours before your flight, the app will prompt you to check in online.

Gate Guru: This app helps when you need to get through the terminal efficiently. I feel it’s fairly up-to-date and useful in most airports. I’ve also noticed the security wait times tend to be a little off…sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.

Your Airline App: It’s always a good idea to have your airline app. It’s a quick way to see what’s going on with flight information, seat assignments, etc.

To my knowledge, these are available for both Android and IOS systems.

 

 

 

 

 

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Is Your Airport Listed?

I just read an article relating to the 50 busiest airports in the US. These are based on numbers related to on-time arrival data from the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2008 to 2017.

Most of the delays occurred in summer, with last summer having some of the highest increases.

Here are the findings:

Newark Liberty International (New Jersey) was worst for summer delays with an on-time arrival rate of just 67 percent, according to the report. The others in the bottom 10, with an on-time arrival rate ranging from 68 to about 75 percent, are LaGuardia (New York), San Francisco International, John F. Kennedy International (New York), Logan International (Boston), O’Hare International (Chicago), Miami International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Raleigh-Durham (North Carolina) and Philadelphia International.

The airports with the best on-time arrivals, ranging from 80 to 88 percent, were Honolulu International (Hawaii), Salt Lake City International (Utah), John Wayne Airport (Orange County, Calif.), Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Portland International (Oregon), Minneapolis-St. Paul International, San Jose International (California) and McCarran International (Las Vegas).

Do you regularly use any of those airports? Or, will you be flying into them this summer?

What can you do? These may help…especially if you have choices on flying.

Check the weather. Is severe weather forecast? How about fog or anything else that may delay the arrival?

Try for an early morning flight before delays start to affect the entire day.

Don’t forget to check security regulations if you have questions.

 

 

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Do You Use Packing Cubes?

Do you use packing cubes?

I learned about these from a travel professional. They seem to be handy and I figured they would just keep my suitcase organized.

But, they do so much more than that. The ones I have from Eagle Creek are lightweight, breathable, AND are also compression bags. This means I roll up my clothes, place similar items in one bag, zip it shut, and then zip the compression zipper. Voila. The bag just became smaller. Amazingly smaller.

That’s a good thing. I travel for two weeks in just a carry-on.

On a recent two-week trip to France I used four of these in my luggage. I was amazed at how much room they saved. Since I take carry-on luggage anyway, I’m always looking for ways to get more room out of my bag.

Or, fit more things in it.

These work beautifully. I’ll never travel again without these cubes from Eagle Creek.

And, Eagle Creek did not pay me to say this. I just love them that much.