How can I improve plane travel?

Most people don't have any problems when they fly, but it's possible to make airplane travel safer and more comfortable. Here are some tips:

Carry enough of all of your medicines in your carry-on luggage. Ask your doctor whether you should change your dosages if your eating and sleeping times will change at your destination. Bring enough medicine to last your whole trip. Take extra medicine with you in case your return trip is delayed.
If you have diabetes or epilepsy, carry a notification and identification card (such as the "Diabetes Alert Card" from the American Diabetes Association). Have the name and phone number of your doctor with you in case of an emergency. Remember to bring along the names and dosages of all of your medicines.
The air in airplanes is dry, so drink nonalcoholic, decaffeinated beverages and water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

What can I do about jet lag?
Get plenty of sleep before you leave.
Don't drink a lot of alcohol.
Eat well-balanced meals.
Avoid overeating.
Exercise as much as you can on your trip.
Use sleep medicines for only a few days.
Get used to a new time zone by going along with the local meal and bedtime schedules.
Melatonin may help with jet lag, but no one knows how long it can be used safely. Tell your doctor if you plan to take melatonin or any other herbal or alternative medicines.

Travel Tips 2

At the Airport

Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.

Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

Mobile phones
Keys
Loose change
Money clips
PDA's (personal data assistants)
Large amounts of jewelry
Metal hair decorations
Large belt buckles

Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.

Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

Travel Tips

Before the Airport

Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Read the Permitted and Prohibited Items list.

Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.

Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.

Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.

Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.

If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.

Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.

Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

Tips to Save Money on Airfare

1. If you're quoted a fare that's too expensive and the flight connects through an intermediate city, price two separate itineraries, to the connecting city and to your final destination.

2. Traveling with someone old enough for a senior discount? The discount may apply to you as well.

3. If you or a family member is in the military, you may be able to get a Space-A flight through the armed services, at a tiny fraction of the usual ticket cost (an international flight for $25!). Also, if you fly in uniform, some commercial airlines will give you a discount.

4. Buy a first class upgrade for as little as $25 on some small regional airlines.

5. On international flights, it may be substantially cheaper to book your connecting domestic flight on the same airline and as part of the same itinerary; they will put you on their domestic partner airline. McCool gives the example of flying from Chicago to Cairo for just $50 more than New York to Cairo.

6. Since most discounted round trip tickets require that you complete travel in 30 days, check out a pair of one-way tickets if you want to stay longer.

7. It can sometimes be cheaper to fly through the city you really want to visit to a farther destination, spend a short time there, and then fly back to your actual destination. Unlike the so-called "hidden city discount," where you never board the second leg, this is legal and works even if you're checking bags.

8. Get faster service (and often, better compensation) by calling the airline's toll-free number if there are problems at the airport, rather than rushing the service agent along with 200 other stranded passengers.

Travel Tips for Seniors

Senior Fares
Because we care, Southwest Airlines offers special Senior Fares to those people with time and the yearn to travel. Travelers 65 years of age or over may get details on fares, limitations, and any restrictions from a Southwest Airlines Reservations Sales Agent or a travel agent. Fares are subject to change until tickets are purchased, but Senior Fare tickets are fully refundable.

Federal law prohibits Southwest from offering for sale or providing transportation between Dallas Love Field and any point beyond Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alabama, and Mississippi

Packing and Travel Tips
Always put your name and address on both the inside and outside of all suitcases and travel bags. If you already have this information on your luggage, make sure the address is current.
Leave all jewelry, furs, medicine, eyeglasses, airplane tickets, money, passports, camera equipment, and other valuables out of checked luggage. Carry these items with you. Southwest and most other carriers will not reimburse you for these kinds of losses.
Take a statement from your physician detailing any particular problems, allergies, and the like, and a copy of medication and eyeglass prescriptions. Anticipate any medication you may need and carry it with you (don't pack it).
Put cosmetics, shoe polish, nail enamel, liquor, perfume, shoes, and anything else that might spill or break and stain or soil clothing into resealable plastic bags or unbreakable containers.
Convert cash into traveler's checks that can be reissued if lost. Carry the serial numbers separately from the traveler's checks. Please note Southwest Airlines accepts only American Express Travelers Cheques for the purchase of tickets.
Make a list of the items in your luggage and carry that list with you (don't pack it).
Remove hooks and pullstraps before checking luggage to insure that they do not come off during handling.
Do not lock your checked luggage. The TSA is suggesting that you do not lock your luggage in the event that they need to open it for additional inspection. If you choose to lock your luggage and the TSA must forcibly open your bag via cutting your lock, you assume liability for any damage to your luggage as a result. The TSA is suggesting that to help prevent damage, if you want to fasten the zipper on your luggage in some manner, you might want to use plastic zip ties or cable ties.
Southwest's and most other airlines' liability for loss or damage of checked luggage is limited to a maximum of $2,500.00. On most airlines, you can purchase excess valuation insurance for a nominal fee.
When leaving the aircraft (deplaning), be sure to look around to make sure you have all personal items (coats, keys, glasses, cameras, etc.) with you. Airlines will not be responsible for items left onboard.

All Inclusive Vacations

By: Sandy Baker

Most of the time, when an individual is planning a vacation, they have to consider all aspects of the time they will spend away from home. The lodging, the transportation, the meals and so on are all things that have to be thought of. One way to limit the expense that all of this creates, is to book an all inclusive vacation. While this will not alleviate all of the things an individual has to think about, it will help to reduce the amount of planning that is needed.

All inclusive vacations usually include accommodations, meals, tips, and taxes are included in the package. Sometimes, they can also include attractions, airfare, and transportation as well. To find an all inclusive vacation that fits the needs of an individual, several things should be taken into consideration. All inclusive vacations wrap the cost of all these expenses into one. That is not to say that an individual can not find great deals on these items individually. But, often an all inclusive vacation includes all of this at a discounted rate.

If considering an all inclusive vacation, one should check out the deals that are available. Individuals who are really looking for the best deal should take the time to find out if all inclusive vacations they have found are a better deal. But, in the end, they can find all this information and do so from their home. The Internet is a great tool in planning a vacation, including an all inclusive vacation. Most big attractions have all inclusive vacations planned for them. To find the options available to anyone, it is as simple as finding the right Internet sites. An all inclusive vacation may be just the thing to help make planning a vacation less of a struggle and more of an enjoyment. And, it may just save some money!

So before you make your next travel reservations, visit www.e-travelpromos.com and check out the all inclusive vacation deals from our partners.

New Blog

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