Taking off Travel blog

It’s almost time for the start of the holiday travel season. While we all look forward to the traditional festivities, it’s also a time when there’s a lot of stress related to travel. Long delays, over booked flights and lost luggage cut down on the time available for having fun – and are a real hassle to sort out. But if you want to make the most of the holiday season and cut down on the stress, then the American Society of Travel Agents has prepared some handy tips for making sure your holiday goes smoothly. Here they are:

• Book your ticket ASAP. If you must book last minute, remember, you have options. The key to securing the best deal is flexibility in travel dates – ask your ASTA travel agent to check into holiday fares; the slow week between Christmas and New Year’s; or consider flying into an alternate airport and renting a car.
• Arrive early. Difficult airport parking, long lines at security checkpoints and the possibility of the airline overselling the flight and bumping passengers, should all be considered when deciding what time to arrive at the airport. Give yourself plenty of extra time. Need some incentive? Keep in mind that those who arrive earliest for an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying onboard.
• Avoid getting bumped. 1) Get an advance seat assignment. Passengers with seat assignments are typically only bumped if they arrive late and their seat assignment is released. 2) Check-in online. Most airlines allow you to do so within 24 hours of departure. Seat assignments that were not available at the time of ticketing may be available when checking in online. 3) Don’t be late. If all else fails, get to the airport early. Some airlines reserve a portion of their seat assignment inventory for airport check-in. If you are denied a seat assignment at check-in, put your name on the “standby” seat assignment list.
• Remember 3-1-1. New regulations limit the amount of gels and liquids passengers can take through security in their carry-on luggage to travel-size toiletries of three (3) ounces or less that fit comfortably in one (1) quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag and the one (1) bag per passenger must be placed in the screening bin.
• Know your limits. Pack light and know baggage limits. Some airlines place special restrictions during the holidays and allow only one carry-on. Ship your gifts to your destination ahead of time. If you do not send your gifts ahead, do not wrap them before the flight. With safety a priority for all airlines, security personnel will need access to all items.
• Keep a close eye on all your belongings. Just as airports are extremely crowded during the peak holiday period with travelers, they can also be fraught with thieves working the airports. Be aware of your surroundings and maintain a close watch over tickets, wallets, purses, and other belongings at all times.

We’d like to add two more. Check travel information for your area to make sure you’re aware of any delays that might make you late for your flight and also, book offsite airport parking if you need it so you don’t have to spend time looking for a parking space. Every second counts when you’re flying away for the holidays.

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Tags: holiday, holiday travel, Travel Tips, vacation, vacation travel

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am and is filed under Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.