Tag: Travel

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Is Your Plane Delayed?

Excerpts are from an article which appeared in The Points Guy.

The table below provides a proxy for total weather delays, measured in minutes, for the period between October 2017 and October 2018. It includes delays to the National Aviation System that are not strictly weather-related, such as traffic pileups at the major hubs and late-arriving aircraft that may not be due to weather, but it excludes maintenance issues or airline-controlled delays. What we know is that between 50-60% of NAS delays are due to weather — but not extreme weather — and that airline-controlled delays represent less than 5% of the total.

Worst US Airports for Weather Measured in Delay Minutes

AIRPORT NATIONAL AVIATION SYSTEM DELAYS  EXTREME WEATHER DELAYS LATE-ARRIVING AIRCRAFT DELAYS    
Chicago O’Hare  (ORD)  1,707,353  270,189  1,867,386    
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)  986,176  263,847  1,514,276    
Newark Liberty (EWR)  1,888,390  114,335  732,926    
Dallas/Fort Worth  (DFW)  815,032  234,693  1,456,957    
San Francisco  (SFO)  1,435,733  101,105  936,938    
LaGuardia (LGA)  1,207,991  169,228  807,517    
Denver  (DEN)  527,483  108,565  1,159,518    
Boston Logan (BOS)  756,415  92,246  923,118    
New York JFK  825,634  98,234  705,328    

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Weather Delays by Airport for the period from October 2017 to October 2018

So…what does this tell you?

You probably already know Chicago O’Hare is to be avoided in the winter. Atlanta is affected by weather as well. In fact, it’s 32% worse for delays due to system delays and thunderstorms.

Dallas/Fort Worth, American’s major hub, is also affected by thunderstorms.

San Francisco has fog. And, they have two parallel runways separated by only 750 feet. In good visibility…not a problem. In poor weather conditions FAA regulations do not permit aircraft to land side by side unless the runways are separated by 4,300 feet. According to SFO, this reduces operations by half during poor weather.

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Sunnylands…a Gem in the Desert

A gem in Rancho Mirage has to be Sunnylands. If you’ve never heard of it or been there, it’s worth finding out more about it.

First…a little background.

Walter and Leonore Annenberg were extraordinary philanthropists, designating more than $3 billion in grants and gifts to major research universities, hospitals, medical centers, public schools, and cultural and civic organizations.

In addition, Mr. Annenberg served as Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, Great Britain. They continued to play important roles in public service.

For more than 40 years they welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders to Sunnylands, their 200-acre winter home in Rancho Mirage.

They established The Annenberg Foundation Trust in 2001 to address serious issues facing the nation and the world. This is a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings can take place. Presidents, premiers, experts, scientists, generals, CEOs, leaders can meet here in a neutral location surrounded by beauty.

It’s so much more than just a great venue for leaders to meet. It’s truly a peaceful place, as only the magic of the desert environment can provide.

Over 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean are displayed in the nine acres of gardens.

Plan a visit. Just wander around the grounds, watch the short video of the history, or schedule a visit to their historic estate. If birding is your thing, book a tour with a local birder. Activities change with the seasons.

If You Go: Sunnylands Center and Garden is open with free admission and parking Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Sunnylands is at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

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Do I Lock It?

Should You Lock Your Suitcase?

According to TSA, airline passengers filed almost 8,000 yearly claims against them for losing items like clothing, jewelry, electronics, and gifts.

Would it have helped to have your bag locked? Maybe not. Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe.

Locks can be cut. Someone could slice through your soft-sided bag. Locks only discourage casual thieves, causing them to move on to easier targets. In reality, locks are only flimsy protection if someone is determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables with you in your carry-on bag.

What if your bag is locked and TSA needs to get into it?

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks, if they determine your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll cut it off your bag.

If you are traveling internationally, keep in mind that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys. Your lock may have to be cut in that case.

You could just use zip ties to lock your bag. They’re cheap. If the TSA needs to cut the zip tie, it’s not a big deal to replace it next time. If the TSA doesn’t access your bag, you will need to have a small scissors or some other way to cut it off once you get to your destination.

Or, you could go to a service that wraps your bags in plastic, which makes them harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from getting dirty. Still, the TSA might determine they need to cut open the plastic and inspect your bag.

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Why Are the Trains Full?

Research holidays before you travel. Why? It may make a difference in your train schedule, museum pass, or highway closures.

Check for local and national holidays, parades, religious events, and major conferences. Sometimes banks are closed. Other times, train schedules changes. Some museums change their hours. In smaller towns, shops may be closed on a particular day or holiday.

Or…everyone is on holiday and the trains are full of locals headed to the beach.

If you are concerned about a major holiday, check before you purchase your tickets.

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Read ID…Confusion and Clarification

Real ID Questions and Confusion

In just 19 months air travelers will need the driver’s license/ID card known as a Real ID if they want to board domestic flights, but as states roll out the new cards there has been both confusion and anxiety.

Oct. 1, 2020, is the day the Real ID law will finally be enforced. Conceived as part of 2005 legislation in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it requires people to show security-enhanced IDs to pass through airport security checkpoints or to enter certain federal facilities, such as military bases.

You can, however, use your passport in lieu of a driver’s license with the Real ID logo.

Many states are marking their drivers’ licenses with a gold or black star in the top right-hand corner. They must also include an encoded machine-readable zone, similar to a passport. Many states already had this feature in use.

So, why the confusion?

If your driver’s license needs to be renewed, you will need to go to the DMV with your passport, birth certificate, Social Security card, or tax form AND two proofs of address.

A “regular” driver’s license won’t work when flying. You won’t be able to go through security. You can use your passport. Likewise, for all international travel…you need your passport.

If you’re like me, my license doesn’t expire for four years. The mandatory date for having my license as a Real ID is prior to that. Guess I will be taking my passport with me on domestic flights.

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How Do You Travel?

When traveling, do you pay attention to what you do and how you act?

Check out these simple suggestions. Maybe you have more you’d like to share…

Don’t leave a mess. This is true whether you’re staying in a hotel, camping on the beach, tenting in a national park, or hanging out in a vacation rental. It is a good idea to clean up after yourself and make sure everything is back where it belongs before you check out.

Be respectful of the local culture. That means you may need to research local customs wherever you are going. Clothing, language, shaking hands, when to speak, and more. Learn some key phrases. Please and thank you go a long ways. If you say it incorrectly, at least you tried. You could always ask how to pronounce a word.

Have you engaged with the locals? Ask questions. Find out the best place to go for coffee or an afternoon spritz. Ask where the best place is to buy a few groceries.

Take photos…but enjoy the scenery. I’ve been in places where someone is trying to get the perfect shot. Guess what? There are dozens of people in their way also looking at the same thing. Don’t worry about your perfect photo. Enjoy what you’re looking at and get a few shots at the same time. Also check if you can use a flash when you’re in a museum or palace. Pay attention.

Shop local. Need a souvenir? Check out the neighborhood markets, street fairs, and local shops. I look for interesting spices and cooking gadgets to bring to my friends. Last time in Saint Remy, I brought knobs for a dresser. Make your shopping unique.

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What Do You Do On Long Flights?

If you’ve ever been on a long flight, you’ve probably encountered some of these issues.

You’re sitting for a nine-hour flight to Paris. When you arrive, you notice your ankles are three sizes larger than when you left. What’s up with that?

Because you sit for so long, your ankles and lower legs will probably expand. The blood is beginning to pool in your legs and ankles. Since this is not something you want, try wearing compression socks on the flight. I swear by them every time my flight is over three hours.

Have you also noticed you are thirstier, your lips are more chapped, and your hands feel dryer, especially on long flights? It’s the low humidity in the cabin.

Bring your own water bottle. Empty it before you go through security, then fill it up before you get on the plane.

Bring lip balm and hand cream. You might need eye drops to help with your eyes drying out.

I’ve read our sense of smell is weakened on planes. Have you ever noticed that?

I’ve also read you can actually get a sunburn if you sit next to the window. I guess it makes sense, as we are closer to the sun. What are your thoughts?

Do your ears plug up and then pop? The pressure increases as the plane ascends. Yawning or blowing my nose helps me to clear my ears. What do you do?

Some people experience motion sickness every time they fly. Not just in turbulent weather. Why? Because your eyes don’t detect any upcoming movement, but your inner ear knows you’re flying. It’s the imbalance between your eyes and ears which causes the motion sickness. If you need, ask your doctor about medication.

Any issues you encounter when flying long distances?

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State Department Alerts

Because I subscribe to the State Department’s Smart Travel Program, I receive alerts and warnings like the following one.

What does this mean? It means if we’re traveling to this area, we need to be more aware than normal. Keep you eyes open when traveling.

Exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in France. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Demonstrations in Paris and other major cities continue in France and are expected to continue in the coming weeks. Property damage, including looting and arson, in populated tourist areas has occurred with reckless disregard for public safety. Police have responded with water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas. The U.S. Embassy is advising official U.S. government travelers to avoid travel to Paris and other major cities in France on the weekends.

Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.

If you decide to travel to France:

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and large crowded public venues.
  • Avoid demonstrations.
  • Review travel plans if you will be in France on weekends.
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions related to any ongoing police action.
  • Find a safe location, and shelter in place if in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program(STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Crime and Safety Report for France.
  • U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to the Risk Indicators.

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Look at Those Planes

Sure. Let’s visit the Palm Springs Air Museum. We’ve been to other air museums and enjoy seeing the planes and reading about their history.

This one is different.

The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft and from Korea and Vietnam. Flyable, being the key word. Also, unlike many other museums, the air-conditioned hangars have no ropes to keep people from interacting with the exhibits and the more than 60 planes.

We wandered in and out of hangers, asked questions of many volunteers who actually flew some of the planes, and toured the interior of a flyable B-17. This one has been used in several Hollywood films. Impressive.

Hangers are organized by theme. The Pacific (Navy) Hangar includes exhibits and aircraft used by the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Highlights include the Pearl Harbor diorama narrated by NBC journalist and author Tom Brokaw, the Grumman “cats”; the Avenger, Corsair, Dauntless and Invader.

The European (Army) Hangar features exhibits and aircraft used by the Army in the European Theater during World War II, plus a T-33 training jet used in Korea and Vietnam.  Some planes in this hangar include the B-25 Mitchell Bomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, the renovated flying Red Tail P-51 Mustang, the P-63 King Cobra, the Spitfire and the C-47. There is also a Tuskegee Airmen mural and a wall showing the European battles of WWII.

The smallest hangar is where we found the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Since opening in 1996, they have maintained their status as a museum that flies its aircraft. Definitely worth a visit to be able to see and get near planes that shaped our history. It was even more impressive to hear the engines and see the planes as they readied for takeoff.

They are open every day from 10 to 5, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with free parking. Check their website for more info, https://palmspringsairmuseum.org. Then, plan a trip. You’ll be glad you did.

If You Go: The Palm Springs Air Museum is located at 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA.

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La Quinta Arts Festival

You really do need to see it to believe it.

La Quinta Arts Festival has been ranked the #1 Fine Art and the #1 Fine Craft festival in the nation.

Strolling the grounds, the setting couldn’t be more beautiful. Green grass, a lake in the middle with its own Island Bar, and plenty of food and beverages…this is no ordinary festival. It’s truly an outdoor gallery.

Presenting 220 of the foremost cotemporary artists, this is a four-day event. Wander through a delightful mix of culture, whimsy, serious glass and paintings, diamonds, sculptures, and so much more. You’ll wonder how to fit that copper fountain into your patio design, which piece of glass would catch all the sunlight in your living room, and if the hummingbird piece or the woodpeckers on a tree would look better in family room.

With music and performing artists, there are a plenty of places to sit and appreciate both while also enjoying trendy food, beer, and wine. 

This year’s festival runs from March 7 to 10. Keep it in mind for next year.