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

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