airlines — The Vacation Gals

Travel Tips for the Smart Traveler

April 7, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The best travel tips help everyone travel smarter. Some vacations are perfect from start to finish, but more often than not, at least one thing goes wrong. Because part of the fun of travel is often its unpredictability (for those of us that like serendipity, anyway), cutting down on big deal problems help ensure that the problems that do arise are small, and easily remedied. Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart (April/May) offers expert travel tips; these are The Vacation Gals’ favorites. All opinions herein are our own.

Best Luggage Tip:

There’s been a bit of an uproar; this week, Spirit Airways announced plans to start charging for carry-on luggage. Now, when US Airways charged for water, the resulting outrage quickly saw the airline put an end to this egregious policy — perhaps the same will ensue with Spirit. Nevertheless, it’s still a great idea to avoid checked bags. Carry-on bags can’t get lost or waylaid, and remain safe from unscrupulous baggage handlers. Some best carry-on luggage tips can be found on OneBag.com and travel blog posts such as this one!

Best Air Travel Tips:

Fly nonstop whenever possible. If you can’t, at least try to avoid the airports with the worst delays. A few especially problematic airports are Dallas, Miami, and Newark (NJ). Smart air travelers should use flightstats.com to research reliable airlines, and bts.gov for airport stats. The more we know, the better armed we are for wise flight decisions.

Choose an airline that has multiple flights to your destination each day. This way, should some unpreventable error occur with your particular flight, it will be easier to change flights and get to your vacation destination relatively unscathed. Switching airlines is much harder than switching flights, although neither are desirable!

Try to take the earliest flight of the day. Problems and delays have a domino effect, and a slight delay in takeoff for one plane affects the next, and the delays can get worse and worse throughout the day should new issues arrive on top of the old ones from previous flights. Similarly, do you best to avoid the last flight of the day, as a mechanical issue on that plane could leave you in the airport overnight.

Best Rental Car Tips:

Check the rental car before you leave the lot. Sometimes the company’s employees miss scratches or dents, and it would be a real bummer to get charged for someone else’s driving mistake. Also, check the tire pressure. It’s less safe to drive a car with tires low on air.

It’s probably best to waive the extra coverage. Consumer Reports has been preaching about declining the car rental’s on-site coverage for years. Before you decline that waiver, though, check with your credit card company, or your insurance agent, to see exactly what accident coverage you already have.

Best Hotel Tip:

Don’t fall for that gorgeous full-page ad in that magazine in your dentist’s waiting room. Before you make reservations at a hotel, do some online research. A lot can be learned from reviews written on trustworthy travel blogs, travel aggregators, and major review sites like TripAdvisor. Also, a few minutes of your time could save you a bundle; those rack rates listed by hotel reservations desks can often be beat by even the hotel’s own website.

The best travel tips help all of us have better vacation experiences. This short list of seven suggestions is, obviously, not all-encompassing. We’d love to hear your favorite travel tips as well. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a smart traveler?

Posted in: Budget Travel, Travel Tips | 6 comments

Airplane Carry-on Packing List

February 4, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

One of the best ways to to ruin your travel experience right off the bat is screw up your airplane carry-on luggage packing list. And there are many reasons. For one, lost luggage via air travel does occur. Losing the bag with your flip-flops, toothbrush and sunscreen can be hugely disappointing but also forgiving since you can purchase these items at your destination. But some items are irreplaceable.

Here are the top items you should add to your airplane carry-on list:

ID. Passports, drivers licenses and other official documentation should be with you at all times. For one thing, you can’t board a plane without proving who you are.

All forms of money. Please tell me you’re not one of these people who pack their travelers checks and Visa in their luggage — because these people are out there. Be smart and keep all of your cash, credit cards and travelers checks close to you.

Eye wear. It’s hard to enjoy your vacation if you can’t see. Since contacts do fall down drains, remember to pack in your carry-on your back-up contacts, holders, a 3-oz or less sized solution and any spare glasses.

Itinerary information. I have seen passengers in the baggage claim area confused and disoriented because their bag didn’t make the flight (aka: lost luggage) and they didn’t know what hotel they were staying at because the papers were in the bag. Don’t make this mistake. Pack every detail about your trip in your carry-on: air travel, hotel, rental car, shuttle service, confirmation numbers or any other information that relates to your travels such as neighbor’s phone numbers. Also, be sure to back up your information in you email account so you can access it from the internet in case you lose your PDA, spill tomato juice on your papers or leave your travel folder in the airport bathroom.

Keys. You would not believe how many people have checked their luggage on return trips with their car and house keys inside only to have their luggage get lost or miss the connecting flight. The poor passengers have to stand around and wait for their luggage to arrive or call a friend to pick them up — or even worse — stay at a hotel on their own dime since they live too far from the airport and can’t get in their house anyway. Even if you’re leaving for vacation keep your keys with you.

Prescription medication and information. If you rely on daily medication, this is one of the most important travel tips. Always carry your medication with you — even if you already took your daily dose. This includes keeping a list of medications handy in case you are in a medical emergency. When I was a flight attendant, I was working a flight once where are diabetic passenger forgot to take his medication due to the rush of the morning and his prescription medication was in his checked luggage. (Unfortunately, there is no secret passage way from the cabin into the plane belly — yes, I’ve been asked.) Halfway through the flight the man severely needed his medication. He ended up on my galley floor close to passing out. An on-board doctor asked him what medications he was on — neither the man nor his wife could remember.

Electronics. Let’s face it, luggage falls, get’s smushed and thrown heartlessly, and while electronics aren’t a life or death issue, it’s best if you never pack your electronics in your checked luggage, especially laptop computers and high-quality cameras — you don’t want to lose all of those precious vacation memories do you?

Chargers. I’m assuming you’re already bringing your cellphone on board with you, but don’t forget the charger or any other chargers you may be toting. Airports have increased their number of outlets for passengers which comes in really handy during delayed flights or if you forget to charge your phone the night before.

Common sense is the name of the game when it comes to writing out your airplane carry-on packing list, so think it over and pack well. You’ll end up getting your vacation off to a great start!

Posted in: Travel Tips | 6 comments

Tips for Long-Haul Plane Trips with Young Children

January 21, 2010 | Author: FlyGal

We have extended family in South America and let me tell you, this is one trip I love and loathe at the same time. Since we live in New York state, going to toasty-warm Chile is a treat just after the winter holidays… the flight and travel time, not so much.

The thought of packing up four boys, ages 9 and under, for an 8+ hour flight brings makes me feel like I might break out in hives. The packing, actually, is less daunting than the actual flight itself. Traveling with high-energy boys long distances can bring any parent to a stress-induced sweat.

We have developed a loose strategy that has helped for us. I can’t guarantee travel-with-kids nirvana, but hopefully these tips will at least help make your next flight a little easier and enjoyable.

Book late flights when flying long distances, making sure our kids are well fed and exhausted. This helps to ensure that they sleep. We also withhold naps for that day (at least for the younger ones) so they are extra sleepy. It seems to work.

Review any recently implemented travel rules via your airline’s website (or pick up the phone). You’ll want to confirm any recent rule changes regarding customs, federal regulations, and what you can and cannot bring on a flight, such as child seats and food — you do not want your snacks confiscated. If you’re flying domestically, check out the latest information from the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) website for “What to Know Before You Go” (on the home page).

Bring a stroller for the kids under 4. Airports are big and why add stress to an already stressful situation by making a little kid walk. They will get tired and whine and you’ll either get upset or end up having to carry the child. I have a double stroller that I use for the two youngest. Usually, my 3-year-old tell me he wants to walk, so he strolls his little suitcase (packed with activities such as crayons and books, a tape player, snacks and a disposable camera) but he always gets tired – so he ends up in the stroller.

Book a nonstop flight whenever possible.

Ask for a bulkhead seat. Seems like there’s more space. (This is different from an exit row, where airlines will not allow children to sit.)

Arrive at the airport early so you don’t feel rushed.

Dress everyone comfortably. I usually change the kids into pajamas before we board an overnight flight. On a daytime flight – pj’s are not necessary, but comfort is a must. Bring a sweater or grab a blanket and a pillow on your way in (they’ll be scooped up if you don’t and you’ll wish you had one) in case your child gets cold. It always seems cooler on a plane to me.

Get your older children involved with planning, as they can be more helpful when they’re excited because they want to get there too.

Explain the plan for the entire trip. Communicate what the kids should do if they get lost in the airport, and for new, young flyers, explain about in-flight bumps and noises so they know what to expect.

There’s a lot you can’t control when it come to long plane trips, but if you take charge of what you can, you’re sure to have a better flight. My boys always complain that they don’t like long flights, but when we talk about going on trips, the flight is the part of the adventure they talk about: getting up early to leave, watching all the planes in the airport, and chilling out with a movie on the plane. Plus, some of our best conversations occur when we’re en route to our vacation. These are part of the memories they will remember when they’re older – so try to enjoy them, even if they start whining a lot.

FlyGal Renee Martinez blogs at Raising Boys World, an online community for parents raising boys.

Posted in: Family Travel, Travel Tips | 2 comments

Fear of Flying – Tips for Easier Air Travel

October 1, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Around a week ago, I boarded a big plane headed east to Atlanta, en route to Asheville. After I sat down in Tips to help Overcome Fear of Flying my window seat, a young woman – 19 years old perhaps – sat down next to me. It didn’t take long to notice that she was crying. She was trying to be discreet, but obviously, she was terrified. She explained that she had a serious fear of flying. Her father was sitting in the row behind us, and the man next to him kindly suggested he switch seats. Almost all the people in the rows around this poor, sad, panicking girl were very empathic, as we all murmured words of comfort and offered support. It warmed my heart to see so many people figuratively wrap themselves around a stranger with a serious case of fear of flying.

Now, even people with severe fear of flying know that air travel is statistically safer than traveling by car – but fear of flying is an emotional, rather than intellectual, response. Knowing statistics won’t help. There are some tips, though, to help people stay calmer on an airplane when they fear flying. The Independent Traveler offers a lot of tips for dealing with anxiety regarding airplane travel, all of which are very good. I’ve taken these, and from them created The Vacation Gals’ top 5 tips for helping reduce anxiety related to fear of flying.

5 Tips for Dealing with Fear of Flying

Before your trip, know what to expect and, if possible, choose an aisle seat. Seat Guru is a useful site for selecting airplane seats before your travel date. Other booking sites do so as well, including each airline’s website. The aisle seat will help if part of your flying fear is the feeling of being closed in physically.
Think positive. It sounds corny, but it’s true; trying to focus on the great vacation activities, or reuniting with your family, will put you in a better place emotionally than obsessing about the flight. Visualizing your relaxing vacation is a great technique for easing the tension in your mind and body, as well.
Leave plenty of time to get to the airport and past security. Sure, there’s a chance your flight will be delayed anyway – this is the airline industry we’re talking about – but the heart-pounding anxiety of rushing to the airport at the last minute will do you no favors. Once you have a lot of time to spare after getting to the airport, you can escape the maddening crowds by paying a little extra to hang out in your airline’s lounge, day passes are typically around $50. This is a hefty fee, yes, but may be worth it in term of the reduced stress level.
Pack an MP3 player and a great book. The distraction of music and a novel that’s a real page-turner can do wonders. Of course, there’s always an in-flight movie on long flights, but there’s no guarantee you’ll like it. If you have one, consider packing your portable DVD player and a set of headphones.
If your fear of flying is completely overwhelming, normal distraction and visualization techniques may not suffice. Consider talking to a professional, and/or getting a prescription for anti-anxiety medication.

Relax on a Plane for Air Travel I’m not sure what the frightened young lady did to cope with her fear of flying, outside of listening to her iPod for most of the trip. The man who switched and sat next to me was in for a treat, however: He got to watch my embarrassing attempts at making a video for Starbucks VIA. I figured that a good laugh at my expense was the least he deserved for his kind act.

Posted in: Travel News, Travel Tips | 14 comments

How to Get a Great Cup of Coffee on an Airplane

September 25, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

This is fun news (for us, anyway). Starbucks VIA has asked me to be part of the company’s insider program, which is called “Beta Tasters.” This means, they sent me a Flip Mino digital video camcorder, a bunch of Starbucks VIA samples, and a request to make a video of ways to use this great travel coffee in action. Done! Starbucks VIA is, in my mind, THE way to get a great cup of coffee on an airplane. Or anywhere I vacation where the in-house coffee is less than decent.

Now, I prefer the Colombia blend of these instant coffee packets, as the Italian Roast is too strong a brew for me. And frankly there’s no mistaking either Italian Roast or Colombia VIA for a freshly brewed pot of the same at home. The amount of coffee put into hot water can be adjusted for one’s personal tastes, of course: VIA is my go-to coffee in a pinch. When I’m on vacation or traveling for work, Starbucks VIA is now packed along with other “necessities” of the road.

Posted in: Travel Gear, Travel News, Travel Tips | 6 comments

Unaccompanied Minors – Keep Children Safe on Planes

July 20, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Tips to Make Children Feel Safe Traveling Alone on Planes (Mary Lesh, via flickr.com)

I used to fly with my younger brother to my grandparents’ home in Florida when I was a kid, and I have pretty powerful memories of being treated like royalty by the airline staff. We were unaccompanied minors, and the flights always went off without a hitch…except the time my brother got steak instead of a burger as his in-flight meal. Yes, he cried pitiably. An unwanted meal pales in comparison to a few recent incidences involving unaccompanied minors, though. Continental Airlines has put children on the wrong planes, to the wrong destinations. Worse, a 13-yr old unaccompanied minor was actually molested by a pastor on a flight from Philadelphia to Oakland. This absolutely sickens me, and the fact that the US Attorney’s office declined to bring charges against the alleged molester – despite that the girl’s testimony was deemed much more credible than his – is revolting.

As a parent of a elementary school-age children myself, I would do some planning prior to them flying as unaccompanied minors. Besides teaching daughters to be assertive if strangers are touching them (which is a good idea in general), this is what I recommend:

Talk with your child, even if she’s flown solo before, to ensure that she understands the process from beginning to end.
Get a prepaid calling card for your kid, just in case (unless said kid has her own cell phone).
Print out an e-ticket the night before, and make certain that all the information on it is correct.
Make sure that the airport personnel know that you are supposed to take your child right up to the gate, not just the security line.
Introduce her, and yourself, to the flight crew if you can (this isn’t always feasible or convenient).
While waiting to board, talk with your child about how she can request a seat change if she feels uncomfortable with her row mate. Flight attendants will always honor these requests.
The airline staff will probably give your kid some sort of wearable identification that indicates she’s an unaccompanied minor – make sure it’s securely on, and remind your child not to tell any strangers personal information.
In case the flight is delayed horribly, don’t leave the gate area until the plane has taken off.
Last, make sure that whoever is meeting your kid (grandparent, etc) knows to call you as soon as your child has arrived.

Children have been flying alone for decades, of course, but it’s probably never the first choice for parents who would rather Grandmother Traveling with Granddaughter in Hawaii keep close eyes on their kids. These days, with divorced parents often living far from each other, it’s just not economically feasible for parents to fly with their children to drop them off at their exes’ homes. Visiting grandparents while parents must be at work also means older children flying as unaccompanied minors. These recommendations aren’t only a good idea for the security of your child, they should also go a long way towards easing your own understandable anxiety.

Editor’s note: This post won an “Award of Merit” in the “Consumer Tips & Advice” category for the 2009 North American Travel Journalists Association annual awards.

Posted in: Family Travel, Travel News, Travel Tips | no comments

Children and Flying – Unaccompanied Minors

June 17, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

By now most of us with an interest in air travel have heard the news about that 10-year-old unaccompanied minor who was put on the wrong plane at Logan Airport. This was due to errors and miscommunication of Continental Airlines staff at the gate, and you don’t have to be a parent to imagine the heart-stopping fear that the child’s parents must have felt before she turned up in Newark. After the sympathetic anxiety resides, though, parents should consider that this sort of complete mess-up is incredibly rare. After all, unaccompanied minors fly every day. How do we decide when our children are ready to fly without us?

Kids have varying degrees of independence, needless to say. One 10-yr old could happily skip aboard a plane, while another may cower and cling.Â The major guideline is simple: No child under 5 years old can fly as an unaccompanied minor. Airlines wisely have age restrictions with types of flights allowed broken down by age group. For example, United Airlines clearly states that 5- to 7-year-olds (the youngest age group allowed to be unaccompanied minors) may only fly on nonstop flights. Southwest doesn’t delineate age groups in such detail as United, but has a policy for children age 5-11, with kids 12 and up having aged into their Youth Fare. Most airlines have additional fees for unaccompanied minors.

Now, I can’t imagine having a 5-year-old child of mine fly unaccompanied, but that may speak more to the relative dependence – and whine factor – of my kids when they were that age. Other young children may be capable of much more! …And other parents too; a big element of “being ready” to fly as unaccompanied minors has to do with parent readiness. My 10-yr-old may feel ready to fly solo, but me? Not so much. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping that someday in the distant future, her husband will agree with me that living in her childhood bedroom as a married couple is a TOTALLY awesome idea.

In the meantime, Continental Airlines made a huge mistake, no doubt about it. It’ll be interesting to see the fallout, if any. After all, the policies regarding unaccompanied minors are already pretty straightforward. We can’t ever eliminate the chance of human error, either…so, what do you think? Are people going to change the way they let their children travel?

(Bob Richards, via Flickr)

UPDATE – Maybe it’s just Continental Airlines: The Associated Press is reporting that the same day that the 10-yr-old girl got on the wrong flight, another unaccompanied minor was also misdirected by staff at Continental. In this case, an 8-yr-old girl intending to fly to Charlotte, NC, ended up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The AP quotes her mother as saying, “I’ve never seen so much incompetence in all my life.”

Posted in: Family Travel, Travel News, Travel Tips | no comments

Why I Love The Window Seat: Aerial Photos

March 10, 2009 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

I love sitting by the window when I fly and not only because I sleep better, but because I love the views of take-off, landing, and all that’s in-between like lakes, sunsets, crop circles and of course seeing other aircraft whiz by. You can bet I always have my camera in hand and while the lighting isn’t always ideal for the perfect aerial shot, I do my best. Below are a few of my “window seat shots” from the last year including Lexington, Kentucky and Turks and Caicos. While the last photo is the poorest quality of the batch, it’s also the only one with my (old) Tucson home in it. See my kids playing in the backyard?

Posted in: Travel Tips | no comments

US Airways Stops Charging for Water, Coffee and Soda

March 8, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

We’ve all seen prices of produce and other goods go up when the price of oil goes up, and we can make sense of this: It costs more to get products to us, and the sellers pass the increase on to the buyers. It’s America, it’s capitalism, we pretty much roll with it. Airlines operate on a somewhat different model, however, with prices fluctuating day to day, even hour to hour. The airline industry has to try to balance its need for profit (or at least try to avoid filing for Chapter 11) and the presumed desire to give passengers as nice a flight as possible. New fees for checked baggage have cropped up, as has US Airways’ quietly announced plan to charge for previously free drinks.

When US Airways started charging for water, coffee and soda, passengers were understandably very angry. What I believe is that US Airways decided on this budget-cutting measure with the hope that other airlines would follow suit. After all, we see different airline companies raising and lowering ticket prices practically in sync anyway; they keep an eye on each other. But other airlines must have realized that this was crossing a line (nice to know there is one) and did not institute a similar new charge. What a relief! If even a couple of other major airlines had decided also to charge for water, it probably would have eventually become a new standard fee.

The bad press apparently outweighed whatever profit US Airways was pulling in by charging for drinks. This month, US Airways abandoned this ill-conceived plan, and now, soda, water, coffee and tea are once again free. I wonder if the powers that be expect us to be grateful. Air travel can be stressful, and most everyone knows somebody who has a fear of flying. At least we don’t have to fear shelling out a couple of bucks for a cup of in-flight water anymore.

Posted in: Travel News | 1 comment

Interview with Travel Specialist Anya Clowers

November 4, 2008 | Author: SoCalGal

It’s not often that we get a medical specialist to sit and talk with us about travel, but we do today. Anya Clowers is a registered nurse who is a liaison between the medical field and the travel industry. The two seemingly disparate area meet when patients and terminally ill people need to take planes, or travel in other ways, for both needed vacations and medical appointments. Anya is a consultant and gives seminars through her company, JetSevenTravel. Past consulting clients include Babies “R” Us, AAA, Sutter Wellness Clinic, Rick Steves’ European Travel Center, and many more. As a travel expert, she’s also spoken about child safety with Peter Greenberg and MSNBC. Anya is, clearly, a busy woman. We’re glad she took some time for this interview!

You didn’t start out as a niche travel specialist. How did you get started?

It all began when I was pregnant and refused to give up our passion and lifestyle – travel! So I guess it started as research for what precautions to take when pregnant and flying and the best tips for flying with a newborn and young child. I interviewed 21 child and travel experts (pediatricians, flight attendants, etc), and included this information in my book Jet With Kids.

As a nurse, I know that many people do not know the name or dosage of medication they are taking. Some don’t even know why they are taking meds. This is alarming when in an in-flight medical emergency. I have assisted in 2 medical emergencies in flight and found that due to anxiety, even traveling companions will stutter and not be able to provide adequate information regarding their loved one’s medical history. It is worse when it happens away from home, medical records, and medical facilities. As caregivers, we have limited resources at 37,000 feet and need patients to travel prepared with medical information and medicine.

My focus is to address the medical and practical side of travel. The best planned itinerary can quickly turn disastrous if not prepared to deal with life away from home. Whether dealing with a lost child (not wearing identification), flying with the cold or flu, or realizing the fine print of the insurance policy doesn’t cover medical transport home – traveling with peace of mind should be the foundation of every trip.

Tell us about some places you’ve traveled with your son, and where you’d most like to travel with your family.

My son loves to visit my parents and his cousins in the Midwest (Minnesota and Missouri). We visit his grandpa in Seattle, and his great grandma in Carmel CA. As for international travel, by the time he enters kindergarten he will have visited 15 countries. Next month he will visit Italy, Germany, and Austria for the third time. We will also travel to France, Belgium, Spain, Morocco and Portugal. I would most love to take my son to Thailand and Singapore. We will also travel to New Zealand to visit friends.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share with people thinking of flying overseas with their babies and children? Do you think your past experiences as a nurse gives you special insight here?

There will be diapers in stores, of course. However, the stores may be closed when you need them; pack for at least the first 24 hours. I also caution parents that when it comes to medication, it is best to bring along infant/child dosage medication from home. Translation can be dangerous and children can easily be overdosed. Also, it’s good to know your child’s weight in kilograms. Don’t try to figure this out when in panic mode. (Pounds divided by 2.2 = kilograms)

As a nurse, I can tell you that the most important thing to pack when traveling is peace of mind that you can get home if something happens. Last year I found a medical evacuation membership, MedJet Assist (like AAA but for people), that will bring families home at no cost if hospitalized more than 150 miles from home. It would be frightening to be lying in a hospital in a foreign country, not understanding the language or the medical system. There is no place like home, with familiar physicians, medical facilities, and family support when hospitalized. When traveling abroad with your family, don’t leave home without peace of mind.

Posted in: Interviews | no comments

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