Holiday Travel Tips

photo by Ziggit

It‘s that time of the year again, are you traveling for the up coming Christmas-New Year week-long holiday? If yes, here are some useful tips from the experts:

1. be flexible with your travel dates, it helps to avoid the holiday surcharges on peak dates.
2. identify smaller airports near the major ones.
3. know which airlines are most and least likely to bump you. Good review for JetBlue and Hawaiian, bad for American Eagle, US Airways and Continental. It's better if you could snag a seat assignment early, check in online and enroll in the airline's frequent flier program.
4. know which airlines commonly offer refunds when your airfare drops before the holidays. Good review for Virgin America, Alaska, JetBlue and Frontier.
5. don't get jacked by your credit card company if you're flying overseas, some charge a 3% international transaction fee.
6. know which airlines are offering free Wi-Fi during holidays.
7. get a few workouts in before taking off for the holidays, even walking briskly for 30 minutes a day.
8. arrive at the airport in time for the flight that leaves before the one you're booked on.
9. know ahead of time how early your airline is checking passengers in.
10. know how to safeguard your bags at the airport.
11. when going through airport x-ray belt, shoes and belt go first, next is your carry-on bag, then the laptop bag followed by the 3-1-1 toiletry bag. Put a label with first initial, last name and phone number on the bottom of your laptop.
12. stow snow globes in your checked bag.
13. feel free to bring pies and cakes through airport security this holiday season.
14. if you have kids,prepare them for the possibility that they may be patted down, assuring them that they will not be separated from you.
15. help yourself avoid a pat-down by not wearing jewelry, belts or anything with metal.
16. remove any body piercings before heading through security.
17. if you're picked for a pat-down or body scan, don't leave your valuables on the x-ray belt, the agent should allow you to either retrieve your belongings or retrieve them for you.
18. thwart carry-on thieves on board the plane by shoving your luggage in the compartment over the person's head across from you.
19. download white noise or sleep-stream apps onto your iPhone.
20. pamper yourself in flight by placing a small pillow or its equivalent behind your lower back for support.
21. don't succumb to wrap rage when opening gifts.
22. if you're not going home for the holidays, seek out deals.
23. save money on a holiday getaway by considering the type of trip you want rather than thinking about a specific destination or property. 
24. ski the week before Christmas and save.
25. adjust your attitude for holiday travel and keep things in perspective.

full story