Organising Your Trip--Booking Flights and Hotels
Packing and Luggage Essentials, Passports, Visas and Travel Docs
Checking In, Changing Flights and Getting Bumped
• Five Things To Always Do When Checking Luggage
• Get Onto Another Flight Quicker Than Waiting In Line
• Getting Bumped For Fun & Profit
• Write A Letter When You Get Special Service Or Find An Angel
• Use Curbside Check In To Glide To Your Flight
WiFi and Cell Phones and Technology
Transport, Rental Cars, Exploring Your Destination & Food Tips
Five Things To Always Do When Checking Luggage
1. Tape a copy of your itinerary, flights, hotel contacts, mobile phone, email and home contact info on the inside top lid of each suitcase or attached in a ziplock bag to the inside main opening flap in soft cases. That way if the bag goes astray, or the baggage tag and address tag are torn off the bag, it makes it easier to track you in real time.
2. Know your luggage weight limits for your first and subsequent flights (check the airlines' websites) and weigh your bag before you leave for the airport. You'll avoid having to repack at the check in counter and avoid horrendous excess baggage kilo fees, often $40 a kilo. Reuirements vary between international and domestic sectors and even between different countries on the same airline. And they change.
3. With your camera or phone cam, take photos of the exterior of bag and also the contents. Two reasons; if it's lost, you have an easy identifying way to describe your suitcase when filing the incident report; and if it's damaged outside or contents are damaged or missing, you have proof of what you were carrying for insurance purposes or airline compensation.
4. Get a luggage strap for hard side cases that fits around your suitcase to keep it from opening and spilling contents in flight or after inspections. For soft sided bags, you can buy bungee cord at the hardware store and tie it around the case. Both make the bags look distinctive from others of the same type on the carousel and I also have a little yellow bungee ring around the handles for easy ID or use a ribbon.
5. Whether at the counter or the curbside check in, always check the routing tag that goes on your bag. The three letter airport code dictates where it's headed. For example LGA is New York's LaGuardia Airport, LGB is Long Beach Municipal in California, LGK is Langkawi in Malaysia and LGW is London's Gatwick.
Get Onto Another Flight Quicker Than Waiting In Line
If your flight has been cancelled or will have a long delay, rather than wait in a lengthy queue at the customer service desk or gate agent, use your cellphone to reschedule a fight or get waitlisted. If you don't have a cell, use the freecall number for the airline's reservation service from a payphone.
If you want to try to take an earlier flight than the one you booked, calling and rebooking yourself may cop a fee of $50-$100. Instead, call and see if there are seats available on the earlier flight and then go to the airport and try to get on that flight. Know what your options are when you book your original ticket and what flights take off before your intended journey to see if you can change without penalty.
Getting Bumped For Fun & Profit
When flights are overbooked, the gate agent often asks for volunteers to be bumped with the reward of a free flight later, upgrade on a later flight or other inducement. Don't take the first offer and make sure you get the offer in writing if you do accept. Ask if the airline will pay for your meals and beverages while you wait. Can they get you into their lounge to wait out the time in comfort? Will they pay for a hotel room, meals and ground transportation if you have to stay overnight? Beware of free flight vouchers which may have restrictions that prevent you from using them within a time frame or flight times that are useful to you.
Write A Letter When You Get Special Service Or Find An Angel
We are all quick to write letters of complaint when something goes wrong but never remember to let the airline, hotel or other travel supplier know when a staff member makes the extra effort to smooth your trip. Whenever I get a favour or an employee makes sure I get extra service, an upgrade or other fix to a problem, I always get their name and if an airline employee, their home base city. Then I write a letter on company stationery pointing out the date, person and situation noting that it's easy to complain but this sort of employee is exemplary for the reason stated. In the case of airlines, I send it to the Human Resources Department and the Marketing Department as well as to the staffer themselves through the airline.
Not only do they get the praise from their employer and have it noted in their records, they feel special too that someone has taken the time to do more than just say thanks and forget it. You would be amazed at the number of times I've encountered the same person months or years later and they not only remember me, they may be able to upgrade me-which has happened several times due to this-or surprise me with the leftover bottle of French champagne from First Class as I am getting off the plane.
Use Curbside Check In To Glide To Your Flight
Following the security problems at US airports, curbside check in for many airlines is back in force. Even if you're not driving up in your rental vehicle, you can still check in with the valet service and have your bags put onto the conveyor, seat assigned and checked through to your final destination. You have to tip for this service ($3-5 per bag assure great treatment) but it's worth it to avoid the check in lines inside the terminal and go directly to security. It pays to check your baggage claim tickets to make sure they are routed correctly and to be jokingly pleasant to the baggage handlers. You may encounter them again and be remembered for your humour and generosity or your bad attitude and stinginess.