Traveling Tips

[Waldo 0]

I wanted to offer my help for those trying to travel to see there loved ones around the world. I have been an employee for a major domestic airline for 4 years now and I have traveled to China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and Peru. If you have specific questions feel free to ask. I can’t answer for all airlines and I’m not responsible for there decisions or policies so please don’t send me hate mail wink.gif

One of the first things I would like to address is prices. We all want the lowest cost, and there are a few tricks to doing this. If you’re going to Peru please ask me about specific prices as I have found extremely cheap tickets. For those headed elsewhere there is still hope to find a cheap ticket. If you have flexible days to work with the easiest way is to go to a bulk ticket website (BTW) like http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSea...z=9ea9&r=2c. With this Travel tool you can find the cheapest departure and arrival dates for multiple situations. Once you have found the cheapest price that will work for you write that price down. Now got to http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif and bid for a ticket for the ticket prices on the specific days were the lowest. You will immediately know if you have a ticket. It is not standby it’s an actual ticket. When you bid start low I typically do 50% of the price I got on www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSearch?&retrieveParams=true&z=9ea9&r=2c and go up from there. Generally the offer is accepted around 60% of the price and then taxes will be added. For example; If http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSea...z=9ea9&r=2c says a ticket on 12/10-12/17 are $1000 after taxes start the bid around $500 and if it does not accept do $550 if that doesn’t work then $600. Taxes will then be added to the bid which usually run around $50-$75.

There are some problems with BTW’s like they can NOT confirm a seat for an airline. Many people are confused because it says you have a seat. To avoid this call the airlines 1-800# to get seats assigned. If there are none check in online or extra early at the airport. The worst situation you could put yourself in is having a ticket on an oversold flight without a seat.

Now you’ve got your Ticket and your seat. There are some things you need to expect when you are traveling. The latest thing is bag fee’s. No longer do most airlines allow checking bags without a charge. The industry standard is $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second and additional bag charges for additional, oversize, and overweight (50lbs is generally the standard). Carryons are typically free, and you are allowed one and a personal item such as a purse, laptop computer, or briefcase. This is an FAA rule and the fee is around $20,000 for an airline if they are caught letting a passenger on with more. Please ask about these policies when you call the airline or go to there website.

At the airport you will want to check in to your flight early. Airlines have cutoff times for check in and if you don’t check in on time you may loose your ticket. Generally 1-2 hours for international flights is ok. Call your airlines’s 1-800# one more time and ask them about check in times and make sure your flights are on time. When checking your bags remember to NOT check Keys, Paper Documents, or Prescription medication regardless if it’s liquid gel or aerosol.

Security will be your next step. ***I MAY not be able to answer questions about TSA for security reasons***. Be prepared to go through the metal detectors. Less metal you have the better. The best suggestion I could make is wear something light with pockets to carry your ID and boarding pass. Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols must be in containers of 3oz or less and then put into 1, 1qt resalable bag like a ziplock. Go to http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/index.shtm for specifics on how to get yourself through quickly.

****TIPS**** Flying is stressful. Travel light. What do you need? I see many people travel with things they don’t need. A pair of shoes is not needed for every day you travel. Find things that mix and match. Most hotels have laundry wash available if your going to be away from your other home. Consider buying a cheap wardrobe over there instead of checking bags and the stress of moving it around or having it delayed. If you are living with your family leave some cloths.

Remember to look for signs to help you find where you’re going. You are not allowed to bring liquids past security but you can bring a water bottle that is emptied and fill it from a fountain once you are past security. I suggest bringing two things when you travel. Take some sports energy bars. If you’re hungry they make great snacks and most people don’t realize when they are mentally or physically exhausted. If you feel like you’re getting stressed eat one even if you don’t feel hungry and the magnesium and B Vitamins will help. The other is powder sports drink mixes. The small ones in the packets are the best. Airport water tastes bad and that will help. It will also help give you the electrolytes you need to keep functioning.

When you are traveling give yourself time. Remember that airlines only guarantee they will get you to and from the destination. There is no guarantee of when. Most airlines will work with you to get you to where you are going but if weather or something out of the airlines control happens odds are they will only be willing to rebook you for the next available flight they have. That can mean 1 day or 1 week from when you were scheduled. Know your rights. At anytime you can have your tickets printed. Most airlines have a charge for printing tickets but once they are printed you have the right to take them to another airline and ask them to take them for “FACE VALUE.” If you get stuck and the agents can’t do anything for you do some research and ask other airlines if they will take your ticket for “FACE VALUE” you will need to tell them the value of your ticket but they might be able to get you out ealier.

I was informed by a pilot some tricks for dealing with jet lag. Get your body prepared before you travel to the new time zones. Stay awake the day before and only let yourself go to sleep when it is night at your destination. Bring some Dramamine or other motion sickness, especially if you haven’t traveled before. It will also help you sleep.

Most people fear of flying stems from lack of knowledge and control of what is happening. http://www.ntsb.gov/aviation/Paxfatal.htm. Based on these statistics you are 16,666.6 Times more likely to die from the common flu.

Killed in car accidents 42,116*

Killed by the common flu 20,000*

Killed by murders 15,517*

Killed in airline crashes

(of 477m passenger trips) 120 (1)

Killed by lightning strikes 90*

Killed by Anthrax 5

(1) Annual average over 19 year period.

*Average annual totals in United States.

Happy Travels!!!

[FCH 1]

I wanted to offer my help for those trying to travel to see there loved ones around the world. I have been an employee for a major domestic airline for 4 years now and I have traveled to China, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and Peru. If you have specific questions feel free to ask. I can’t answer for all airlines and I’m not responsible for there decisions or policies so please don’t send me hate mail wink.gif

One of the first things I would like to address is prices. We all want the lowest cost, and there are a few tricks to doing this. If you’re going to Peru please ask me about specific prices as I have found extremely cheap tickets. For those headed elsewhere there is still hope to find a cheap ticket. If you have flexible days to work with the easiest way is to go to a bulk ticket website (BTW) like http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSea...z=9ea9&r=2c. With this Travel tool you can find the cheapest departure and arrival dates for multiple situations. Once you have found the cheapest price that will work for you write that price down. Now got to http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif and bid for a ticket for the ticket prices on the specific days were the lowest. You will immediately know if you have a ticket. It is not standby it’s an actual ticket. When you bid start low I typically do 50% of the price I got on www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSearch?&retrieveParams=true&z=9ea9&r=2c and go up from there. Generally the offer is accepted around 60% of the price and then taxes will be added. For example; If http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewRoundTripSea...z=9ea9&r=2c says a ticket on 12/10-12/17 are $1000 after taxes start the bid around $500 and if it does not accept do $550 if that doesn’t work then $600. Taxes will then be added to the bid which usually run around $50-$75.

There are some problems with BTW’s like they can NOT confirm a seat for an airline. Many people are confused because it says you have a seat. To avoid this call the airlines 1-800# to get seats assigned. If there are none check in online or extra early at the airport. The worst situation you could put yourself in is having a ticket on an oversold flight without a seat.

Now you’ve got your Ticket and your seat. There are some things you need to expect when you are traveling. The latest thing is bag fee’s. No longer do most airlines allow checking bags without a charge. The industry standard is $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second and additional bag charges for additional, oversize, and overweight (50lbs is generally the standard). Carryons are typically free, and you are allowed one and a personal item such as a purse, laptop computer, or briefcase. This is an FAA rule and the fee is around $20,000 for an airline if they are caught letting a passenger on with more. Please ask about these policies when you call the airline or go to there website.

At the airport you will want to check in to your flight early. Airlines have cutoff times for check in and if you don’t check in on time you may loose your ticket. Generally 1-2 hours for international flights is ok. Call your airlines’s 1-800# one more time and ask them about check in times and make sure your flights are on time. When checking your bags remember to NOT check Keys, Paper Documents, or Prescription medication regardless if it’s liquid gel or aerosol.

Security will be your next step. ***I MAY not be able to answer questions about TSA for security reasons***. Be prepared to go through the metal detectors. Less metal you have the better. The best suggestion I could make is wear something light with pockets to carry your ID and boarding pass. Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols must be in containers of 3oz or less and then put into 1, 1qt resalable bag like a ziplock. Go to http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/index.shtm for specifics on how to get yourself through quickly.

****TIPS**** Flying is stressful. Travel light. What do you need? I see many people travel with things they don’t need. A pair of shoes is not needed for every day you travel. Find things that mix and match. Most hotels have laundry wash available if your going to be away from your other home. Consider buying a cheap wardrobe over there instead of checking bags and the stress of moving it around or having it delayed. If you are living with your family leave some cloths.

Remember to look for signs to help you find where you’re going. You are not allowed to bring liquids past security but you can bring a water bottle that is emptied and fill it from a fountain once you are past security. I suggest bringing two things when you travel. Take some sports energy bars. If you’re hungry they make great snacks and most people don’t realize when they are mentally or physically exhausted. If you feel like you’re getting stressed eat one even if you don’t feel hungry and the magnesium and B Vitamins will help. The other is powder sports drink mixes. The small ones in the packets are the best. Airport water tastes bad and that will help. It will also help give you the electrolytes you need to keep functioning.

When you are traveling give yourself time. Remember that airlines only guarantee they will get you to and from the destination. There is no guarantee of when. Most airlines will work with you to get you to where you are going but if weather or something out of the airlines control happens odds are they will only be willing to rebook you for the next available flight they have. That can mean 1 day or 1 week from when you were scheduled. Know your rights. At anytime you can have your tickets printed. Most airlines have a charge for printing tickets but once they are printed you have the right to take them to another airline and ask them to take them for “FACE VALUE.” If you get stuck and the agents can’t do anything for you do some research and ask other airlines if they will take your ticket for “FACE VALUE” you will need to tell them the value of your ticket but they might be able to get you out ealier.

I was informed by a pilot some tricks for dealing with jet lag. Get your body prepared before you travel to the new time zones. Stay awake the day before and only let yourself go to sleep when it is night at your destination. Bring some Dramamine or other motion sickness, especially if you haven’t traveled before. It will also help you sleep.

Most people fear of flying stems from lack of knowledge and control of what is happening. http://www.ntsb.gov/aviation/Paxfatal.htm. Based on these statistics you are 16,666.6 Times more likely to die from the common flu.

Killed in car accidents 42,116*

Killed by the common flu 20,000*

Killed by murders 15,517*

Killed in airline crashes

(of 477m passenger trips) 120 (1)

Killed by lightning strikes 90*

Killed by Anthrax 5

(1) Annual average over 19 year period.

*Average annual totals in United States.

Happy Travels!!!

very helpful! happy 09!

[Waldo 0]

Yes. But I thought it would be more helpful if I corrected the paragraph problems. Thank you for making it much less organized... maybe you could have deleted the old topic and left this one??? Sorry to bother you I know your time is more important then mine.

[sasha414 0]

thanks Waldo !

[Dr. Obvious 49]

When traveling with a child, do not book any long haul flight with an airline that does not let you pick your own seats. Lesson learned.

[NickD 203]

Going nuts on orbitz or expedia is not new to me, even directly to the airlines for the best rates.

http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif is new to me, I can bid on those ticket prices? Wife would like to visit her family in Bogota, so I also play games between St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago for the best rates, Milwaukee is best for us as my kid lives there and get free parking and a free ride from his house to the airport. St. Paul and O'Hare are mad houses but have used those when I could save a thousand bucks, St. Paul does have nice park and stay motels that is cheaper than parking your car for a couple of weeks at the airport. Central Wisconsin airport would be the most ideal for us, only charge a buck a day for parking, but the connecting flights are terrible with a ten hour delay either at Detroit or Chicago plus want an extra 400 bucks for a ticket.

[shaggy_mutt 0]

Why not just skip all the Orbitz/Hotwire silliness? Go to www.itasoftware.com - they don't sell tickets, but they compare about 20 different airlines quickly and easily to help you find a good route. Or if you find it on Orbitz, just buy it directly through the airline website to skip paying Orbitz's commission.

[NickD 203]

Why not just skip all the Orbitz/Hotwire silliness? Go to www.itasoftware.com - they don't sell tickets, but they compare about 20 different airlines quickly and easily to help you find a good route. Or if you find it on Orbitz, just buy it directly through the airline website to skip paying Orbitz's commission.

First, going to http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif yields this:

Ha, bid where? And how?

Last time I did find the best rates at expedia.com from Milwaukee to Caracas via Air Canada, but the exact same flight at AC was 300 bucks more per ticket, so got the tickets through expedia, it worked.

But confused about airport tax at Caracas, everyone there on our flight had to walk all over that terminal to pay for it after we checked in, good I still had a couple of hundred bucks in my pocket or would be living with Chavez. Wife showed her Venezuelan ID and passport, had to pay it, I knew I had to as a USC and that's all. Confused about whether this tax is included in the ticket price, but we did hear about it first and called AC, they said no, we have to pay it. Prepared with that bit of knowledge, sold some our US bucks for Bolivars for a nice 60% discount, they will only give the fair exchange rate for US bucks at the tax ripoff place. But still confused as to whether some airline tickets include that tax. Oh, and what taxes they do charge are practically as much as the ticket, tons of places on the net that show ticket prices before taxes, doesn't take long to figure that out when they advertise very low prices, must think we are all idiots.

Shouldn't the price of tickets be going down again with cheaper gas?

[Waldo 0]

Going nuts on orbitz or expedia is not new to me, even directly to the airlines for the best rates.

http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif is new to me, I can bid on those ticket prices? Wife would like to visit her family in Bogota, so I also play games between St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago for the best rates, Milwaukee is best for us as my kid lives there and get free parking and a free ride from his house to the airport. St. Paul and O'Hare are mad houses but have used those when I could save a thousand bucks, St. Paul does have nice park and stay motels that is cheaper than parking your car for a couple of weeks at the airport. Central Wisconsin airport would be the most ideal for us, only charge a buck a day for parking, but the connecting flights are terrible with a ten hour delay either at Detroit or Chicago plus want an extra 400 bucks for a ticket.

You got it. If the cheapest ticket you can find it $400 then I would start the bid around $200 and then go up from there. I bet they would accept if you did around $240 it will probably be around $300 after tax but still cheaper then what you would have normally paid!

[William33 110]

Waldo,

If you want the old topic deleted, you must request it. Moderation does not indescriminately delete threads.

I can split the topic again and delete the first version. Just say the word.

Yes. But I thought it would be more helpful if I corrected the paragraph problems. Thank you for making it much less organized... maybe you could have deleted the old topic and left this one??? Sorry to bother you I know your time is more important then mine.

[Waldo 0]

Why not just skip all the Orbitz/Hotwire silliness? Go to www.itasoftware.com - they don't sell tickets, but they compare about 20 different airlines quickly and easily to help you find a good route. Or if you find it on Orbitz, just buy it directly through the airline website to skip paying Orbitz's commission.

First, going to http://www.priceline.com/images/hp/b_bid.gif yields this:

Ha, bid where? And how?

Last time I did find the best rates at expedia.com from Milwaukee to Caracas via Air Canada, but the exact same flight at AC was 300 bucks more per ticket, so got the tickets through expedia, it worked.

But confused about airport tax at Caracas, everyone there on our flight had to walk all over that terminal to pay for it after we checked in, good I still had a couple of hundred bucks in my pocket or would be living with Chavez. Wife showed her Venezuelan ID and passport, had to pay it, I knew I had to as a USC and that's all. Confused about whether this tax is included in the ticket price, but we did hear about it first and called AC, they said no, we have to pay it. Prepared with that bit of knowledge, sold some our US bucks for Bolivars for a nice 60% discount, they will only give the fair exchange rate for US bucks at the tax ripoff place. But still confused as to whether some airline tickets include that tax. Oh, and what taxes they do charge are practically as much as the ticket, tons of places on the net that show ticket prices before taxes, doesn't take long to figure that out when they advertise very low prices, must think we are all idiots.

Shouldn't the price of tickets be going down again with cheaper gas?

Sorry I must have added the wrong link there. Try this one. priceline.com the link says "flights bid now"

About taxes and gas prices. No they don't think as everyone as idiots. Plane tickets are one of the HIGHEST taxed things you can buy. Lets divide it out so you can see what I mean. The price of the ticket is $100.

Your going to pay the US Taxes which I believe is around 9.9%.

Then airport taxes. Not airline taxes,... airport taxes. Every time a plane goes to an airport coming and going it's another $4.5-$7.5. You have a one way ticket with 1 stop your going to be paying 3 airport taxes. If you are coming back, your going to pay them 3 more times!

The other is segment traveled charge. This is another government charge and It really depends on how many segments and how far your going. It's for... well really I think the money just get tangled in a paper trail but it's supposed to be used for saving the environment and noise pollution.

Your $100 just increased $10 for the US Tax, $18 for the airport taxes, and to make things even lets say $7 for the segment taxes. You are now paying $135 where the government and facilities get $35 just because and the airlines get $100.

Fuel Surcharge is very confusing to many people. Let me explain it to you like this. ALL domestic airlines are releasing net losses so there are a few things to keep in mind when arguing that the price of oil has gone down so should the tickets. Southwest being an airline that hasn't reported a loss did so in last quarters release for around $400,000,000 even after cutting flights. Why is that a big deal? You see Southwest hedges fuel. They prepay for it. So when Price was going up they didn't care because they bought it low last year. Most of the airlines did that when they saw fuel go up so quick, and so much. The airlines who have all now reported a net loss have hurt themselves. Bought high and now are using lower. The other thing to remember is the cost per barrel going down takes a lot longer to effect the prices of fuels that are used less then it does the ones that are used more.... like gas! I hope this makes sense. Airplanes don't run on gas. They run on a type of diesel. When you see Fuel Surcharge that's because they aren't hiding it from you... It's right on the ticket! That cost is only a percentage of what it costs to pay for fuel!

[Waldo 0]

Waldo,

If you want the old topic deleted, you must request it. Moderation does not indescriminately delete threads.

I can split the topic again and delete the first version. Just say the word.

Yes. But I thought it would be more helpful if I corrected the paragraph problems. Thank you for making it much less organized... maybe you could have deleted the old topic and left this one??? Sorry to bother you I know your time is more important then mine.

I gotcha. That would probably be easier for the reader if you don't mind. I appreciate you doing that.

*** Just a side note because I had someone ask me if I work for the priceline website. No I don't get any money from them. I actually think people if they don't know what they are doing can find themselves in some trouble if they do use them. I've had parents with 6 year olds going from Spokane to JFK on the last flight of the night, come up with those tickets and argue that the Bulk Ticket Websites didn't tell them. We can't take them for obvious reasons but who can argue with a parent that tries to put there six year old on a plane with segments during the busiest time of year to a HUGE airport. . Anyways read everything I said make sure you talk with the airlines and you'll be fine. If you have any questions I'm just a click away. Cheers!

[William33 110]

Waldo,

If you want the old topic deleted, you must request it. Moderation does not indiscriminately delete threads.

I can split the topic again and delete the first version. Just say the word.

Yes. But I thought it would be more helpful if I corrected the paragraph problems. Thank you for making it much less organized... maybe you could have deleted the old topic and left this one??? Sorry to bother you I know your time is more important then mine.

I gotcha. That would probably be easier for the reader if you don't mind. I appreciate you doing that.

*** Just a side note because I had someone ask me if I work for the priceline website. No I don't get any money from them. I actually think people if they don't know what they are doing can find themselves in some trouble if they do use them. I've had parents with 6 year olds going from Spokane to JFK on the last flight of the night, come up with those tickets and argue that the Bulk Ticket Websites didn't tell them. We can't take them for obvious reasons but who can argue with a parent that tries to put there six year old on a plane with segments during the busiest time of year to a HUGE airport. . Anyways read everything I said make sure you talk with the airlines and you'll be fine. If you have any questions I'm just a click away. Cheers!

OK. I think I have everything straightened out. Let me know if something is missing. Happy New Year!

[Waldo 0]

Yeah that looks WAY better. Thanks for your help. Happy new year to you too!

[MandR 0]

Waldo.. Sent you a private message on here