$20 for first checked bag, or free? Priority seat selection? $5, $20, $109, or free? Oversize bag? Meal charges? Beverage charges? And on and on …

The dizzying array of extra airline fees keeps growing and changing by the hour, it seems! Let me share a handy tool that just showed up in my inbox:

Airfare expert Rick Seany, one of the founders and CEO of FareCompare.com (an essential airfare comparison tool, check it out), recently posted a handy U.S. Domestic Airline Fee chart on his blog, RickSeany.com.

Rick compiles the fees charged by all the domestic carriers and displays them in one easy-to-read chart, updated frequently. Take a look at the chart, and while you’re there, browse thru Rick’s blog, and check out FareCompare, one of my favorite sites for at-a-glance airfare comparison, discount first-class tickets, and valuable insider travel tips.

And sign up for Rick’s newsletter, full of airline travel tips and insider info — it’s one of the few newsletters I actually read!

Filed under: Air Travel, Budget Travel, General, Travel Tips | No Comments »

As another busy holiday air travel season approaches, seems like I can’t open a newspaper or magazine, turn on the TV or radio, or surf the web without running into dire warnings about how dreadful air travel will be, along with helpful tips for easing the stress caused by long lines, delayed and canceled flights, and lost luggage.

We’ve all seen most of these tips before, but I for one can always use reminding. In that spirit, I’ve culled some favorite air travel tips to share with you.

Avoiding and dealing with delayed or canceled flights:

• Try to book an early morning departure. Afternoon and evening flights are more likely to be delayed or canceled.
• If possible, avoid the following airports, which account for 70% of the nation’s delays: Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Houston, Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, and Philadelphia.
• To check on-time records for specific flights:
  • Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Government site, official but confusing. Or instead, try:
  • FlightStats.com. Easier-to-find, easier-to-understand star ratings.
• Check in and get your seat assignment online before you leave home (less likely to get bumped).
• Before you leave for the airport, call the airline or check online to verify that your flight is on time.
• Program the airline reservations phone number into your cell phone (and your travel agent’s number if you used one). If your flight is canceled, you can call the airline right away to rebook — faster than standing in line. (Some airports also have phones for just that purpose.) Also program number of your hotel so you can notify them of the delay.
• Be prepared: have on hand snacks, bottled water (if it gets late, the airport concessions might close), books, diapers, feminine supplies, a toothbrush, etc.
• If problems arise, be nice to the gate agent. For one thing, it’s just right. Plus the nasty, yelling customers will (and should) will the worst service and the worst seats.

Avoiding and dealing with lost luggage

• Almost goes without saying — Pack light, use a carry-on, and don’t check you bags! But assuming you need to check ‘em:
• At least pack your essentials (medicines, valuables) in your carry-on, plus anything you really need the first day or so.
• When traveling with family members, “cross-pack” a little — i.e., don’t have each person have all their stuff in one bag. That way, if one bag gets lost, that person doesn’t lose everything.
• Get to the airport early. Late check-in is a major cause of lost luggage.
• Consider shipping your bags ahead, via services like FedEx, Luggage Concierge, or Sports Express. It can be costly ($50 per bag and up) but sometimes the convenience is well worth it.
• Put your name and address, and include a copy of your itinerary, on the inside of your bag.
  
• Tie a ribbon or something distinctive on your checked bags, to help avoid mix-ups at baggage claim.
• Take a digital-camera or cell-phone photo of the contents of your packed bag before you check it. When you claim your luggage at your destination, open the suitcase and compare what you see with your picture. If anything is missing, file a complaint immediately at the baggage claim office.
• If you do need to file a complaint for lost baggage or theft, get the phone number of that specific claim office (not just an 800 number) and the name of the agent who helped you … then follow up frequently.
• Remember to leave any gifts unwrapped.

Getting through security: Don’t be the clueless idiot who holds up the line for the rest of us! (ahem, my dear good friend who did this, you know who you are!)

• Check with tsa.gov or your airline’s website for the latest regulations. For now, the liquids thing is: 3-oz containers of liquids (yes, toothpaste and lipgloss counts, solid deoderant does not) packed (not crammed) into a 1-quart, zip-top plastic bag, one bag per customer. Liquid medications (inhalers, eye drops, etc.) do not count toward the maximum — put them in a separate 1-quart zip-top bag.
• Before you get in line, have handy all the stuff you need to remove. No last minute fumbling! Take out your zip-top bag of liquids, be ready to get at your laptop.
• Try to dress for quick screening – slip-on shoes, easy layers, no big metal buckles or jewelry, including body jewelry.
  
• Have your freakin’ ID and boarding pass handy (but secure, like in a handy zippered pocket) fer cryin’ out loud! Who doesn’t know this by now?

I’ll bet I missed some great air travel tips — please feel free to share yours! Just type in the comment box below (they go to me, I approve them, then they get posted) or email me, carol@lipstickgetaways.com.

Now … Go (try to) Have Fun!

Carol

Filed under: General, Travel Tips | No Comments »

While killing time at the library with my son — after school and before piano lesson — I came across some interesting travel tips in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. They had sponsored a Dream Trip photo contest, and asked each contestant to submit 3 travel tips along with their photo.

Here are some of my favorites — at least, the ones which apply to Big City Fun for Women Travelers (I left out those trekking-thru-the-desert tips!):

1. Plan your trip like a sumptuous buffet. When planning a trip, build a full list of options—a buffet of exciting things to do, see and experience—instead of a set menu-like itinerary. It will allow you to adjust your program to your mood or that of your companions, and leave time for improvisation. From Claude Carrier, Toronto, Canada.

2. When traveling abroad, always carry a pair of passport-sized photos along with your passport number. If you ever lose or misplace your passport, this will greatly expedite your consulate’s ability to issue new travel documentation! Kim Moline, Venice, Florida

3. Make copies of all your important documents such as your passport, driver’s license and credit cards and keep them in the hotel or another safe location. If you lose these items or are victim to theft, the copies make the subsequent steps less of a hassle. Kim Collins, Nashville, Tennessee

4. Make sure you pack a few good maps of the places you will be visiting and investigate your destination before you go. Locate items of interest on the maps, highlighting them with a bright marker. Becoming familiar with your destination prior to departure is one of the best ways to get the most out of your travel experience. Kim Moline, Venice, Florida

5. When traveling with your spouse, don’t pack his and her suitcases. Instead, pack some of your clothing in each piece of luggage. If one of them gets lost, you’ll both still have something to wear. Ray Grasso, Wethersfield, CT

6. After packing your suitcase at home, take a picture of it with your digital camera before closing it. When you claim your luggage at your destination, open the suitcase and compare what you see with your picture. If you wait until you get to your hotel to discover that something is missing, it might be too late to do anything about it. Ray Grasso, Wethersfield, CT

7. Forget the electronics—no laptop! Take a paper journal and each day record the sights, tastes and experiences that you encountered. The journal is easier to manage and creates a user-friendly tool for when you’re back at home. Chris Fry, Lexington, Kentucky

And I was excited to see the following three tips (and gorgeous photo!) from Paul Krynicki of Kirkland, Washington. Paul and his wife Jean became two of our favorite “ranch friends” years ago, during several stays at Triangle X Ranch in Moose, WY:

8. For countries with challenging writing systems (China, Japan, Thailand, Russia, etc.) carry a small spiral notebook. Copy the name in the local script of the sights and restaurants you wish to see, one item to a page with the English included. Copy the names from guidebooks or have the concierge write it. Show the page to a cabby and you’re on your way. Remember to have your hotel name in your notebook for the return trip.

9. Pack light into a big suitcase or duffel. Fill the extra space with bubble wrap plus an extra duffel to protect and wrap everything you’re going to buy. The extra duffel should be able to fit in the overhead compartment of an airplane, especially for an overseas trip. When the extra duffel is full see (the next tip).

10. If you’re an inveterate shopper, find out the local addresses in overseas countries for FedEx, UPS and DHL before you leave home. These shippers will gladly send your stuff to your home so you now have room to reload your duffel/suitcase for more shopping. With address in hand, your guide can easily get you to the shipping office.

For the full Conde Nast article, including the breathtaking photos, stories, and tips from the contest winners and finalists, click on this link: Conde Nast Traveler 2007 Dream Trip Photo Contest

Filed under: Overseas Travel, Travel Tips | No Comments »