Reader’s Digest is one of those ubiquitous magazines found at every supermarket checkout line across America. So, who among us hasn’t flipped through it while waiting to buy our groceries? I do; it’s either that or some soap opera magazine, the choice is clear. No offense to the soaps! The July issue has listed some tips forgetting through the horror of airport summer travel.
This issue really caught my eye. For frequent flyers, and frequently unhappy flyers (the two are pretty much mutually inclusive these days), mentally surviving the plane trip is often the big hurdle before a family trip can really begin. I picked my Top 5 favorite air travel tips, out of the 18 Reader’s Digest tips.
Top 5 Air Travel Tips, for Surviving Airport Nightmares
Fly early in the day: There’s a domino effect, so one late takeoff impacts the next, etc.
Leave a day early if you can: This air travel tip is most pertinent to special event trips like weddings.
Sign up for the registered traveler program: Travelers that pass a voluntary background check (nothing too invasive here!) can use a special lane to get through the airport security line at around 20 airports, including big hubs like San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, and Oakland.Make a call: If you get to the gate and the airline employee tells you you’ve lost your seat, call the Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights at (877)359-3776. Unless the plane is truly about to take off, often a seat will “magically” become available (tell the airline employee that you made the call).
You’re a passenger, not a prisoner: Understand your options. If you’re stuck on the tarmac for hours – and this has happened to me, talk about a nightmare – you can circulate a petition demanding to be let off the plane. An airline cannot hold you against your will unless there’s a safety reason. If nothing happens, call the Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights (same number as above) and they can help you get in touch with the media.
Thank you, Reader’s Digest, for reminding us about the Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights. It only takes one horrible flight experience to almost ruin a family vacation, and to gain converts to the cause.
