|
EARLY PLANNING
With early planning, a flexible schedule and the assistance of knowledgeable travel agent you can have a very pleasant and memorable vacation. Early planning also help you to get the most out of your vacation in terms of budget and time.
The best way to avoid all in inconveniences, is to make your travel plans EARLY. When you make your travel plans well in advance, you can:
Get the best air fare.
You can generally find the lowest air fare by being a little flexible with your dates, times and early bookings. If an airline has discounted seats, they will go to early birds who make their reservations well in advance.
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
Avoid duplicate reservations. Making reservations with different travel agencies show up at the airlines computer system, the airline will cancel all your records when they see that you are holding double or triple space. Be sure to cancel all your unused records.
Try to plan your plan your arrival and departure times and dates for off peak periods to avoid the largest crowds
The flight times and numbers on the tickets are correct at the time of ticketing and they are subject to change. Please be sure to reconfirm all your flight times and numbers at least 72 hours before departure. You must also reconfirm flights after each stop over. Some airlines require this reconfirmation otherwise they do cancel your seat without your knowledge, especially in peak seasons when they are overbooked. You are also required to leave a telephone contact with the airline and with your travel agent so that you can be reached throughout your trip if there is a schedule change.
Before visiting a foreign country or making a stopover be sure to check the visa requirements directly with the consulate of that country.
It is important for you to know the rules and restrictions of the ticket you are going to purchase. Most tickets are very restrictive and some are non-refundable. Be sure to understand the conditions of your ticket in case you want to change itinerary or make cancellations later on.
Tell your travel agent or the airline about any special dietary or medical requirements or if any member of your party needs special assistance.
You may dial 1-900-WEATHER followed by the first three letters of your country or the city to get the latest weather report and other traveler’s information for that country or city.
AT THE AIRPORT
Check in times for domestic flights are one hour prior departure. For international flights you must check in
minimum of two hours prior to your departure. Late arrivers may be denied boarding when flights are overbooked.
Some airlines assign seats only at the airport, so that you may have the seat you want or to be able to seat together with other members of your family try to arrive to the airport two to three hours prior to departure. Request your seat assignment, if possible at the time of your reservation.
If you have a problem at the airport such as a missed flight or a lost luggage or a cancelled reservation do not speak to busy agent. Speak to a supervisor or a customer representative directly.
CHECKING IN YOUR BAGGAGE
All paying passengers accept infants can check in two normal size luggage. Each piece can not exceed 70 pounds. Total dimension for two pieces may not be over 106 inches, each single piece may not exceed 62 inches. You may also carry on board a third bag if it fits under your seat. An extra piece costs about $80. However the rules are subject to change. Check with your travel agent or airline if you think you have excess baggage.
The baggage allowance in Europe is 44 pounds per passenger and if you are making a stopover and rechecking your luggage for the ongoing flight your allowance will be limited to 44 pounds.
It is very important that you keep copies of your passport and ticket along with your credit card numbers in a safe and separate place. In case of any loss you will need these records.
A tag with your telephone number, name and address should be attached to all checked baggage. It is a good practice to put the same information inside each bag, too.
Do not pack valuables or irreplaceable articles, camera equipment, electronic items, cash, securities, jewelry, medicine, important legal documents, eye glasses, etc. in any checked baggage. Airline liabilities for lost luggage are very limited.
Extra baggage insurance as well as a comprehensive insurance is available and strongly recommended. Ask your travel agent for details, if you buy an insurance keep a record of contents of your luggage and copies of your receipt in case of an insurance claim to be made.
FOR HEALTHY TRIP
When taking longer air trips walk up and down the aisle few times during the flight. You can also give your neck, wrists and ankles circular movements to help your circulation.
To minimize the effect of jet-lag, eat light and cut down on caffeine starting 48 hours prior to your trip.
A flu and a flight may mean an ear trouble for you. If you have a cold get the advice of medical professional to avoid an ear problem before taking the flight. This is especially very important for young children.
OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Try not to make too many changes in your itinerary. Too many changes may also confuse the computer system, and in busy seasons the massages may not be transmitted in timely manner to airline’s system. It is a good idea to check with the airline if they see all the changes as you think you made.
- If you miss, or do not take, the first outbound flight, the chances are that the airline will cancel all your remaining flights, thinking that you are not taking the trip. Passengers missing a flight because of cancellations, or weather or any other reason should make sure that the airline will keep the rest of the trip in tack.
- Peak seasons are very much time and energy consuming for your travel agent. She or he is overworked during this time. You can be helpful by arranging your trips early and finalizing them in timely manner.
- It is a very good idea to tell your travel agent your entire travel plans, even though you intend to buy only the portion of it from her. Knowing the whole picture, she may make suggestions that will save you money and time.
- You will always do better by being a regular customer to one travel agency. Like in any service business, a travel agent will treat her or his regular customer with care and attention.
- Student travelers can not make their plans well in advance, because of uncertainties of their schedules, because they are to busy with school work, or because money problems. The fact remains that the seats for the students are very limited, a lot more scares than the regulars, their travel plans have to made in advance. So, we suggest that you, the student, call us as early as possible and let us help you with your uncertain schedules. We also strongly suggest that you work only one travel agency. Working more than one agency will only complicate things for you.
Important note: If you loose your ticket before you start your travel, there will be a charge by the most airlines to reissue the ticket, and then you have to pay for your new ticket, and fill out lost ticket form, and you will be reimbursed within a six months and a year period. If you loose your ticket after you already traveled the outbound, with ticket number and a copy of the ticket, you will be issued a new return ticket. These are the cases with most airlines. So keep a copy of your ticket in separate place.
PRICES ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE; IT IS THEREFORE, ADVISABLE THAT YOU FINALIZE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
|
