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Getting Ahead Of the Crowd

Traveling today can be extremely stressful, especially at the airport in light of the new security requirements and the long lines created by the new requirements.  There are ways to minimize your wait:

• Arrive at the airline terminal building at least 2 hours prior to departure for domestic flights and 3 hours prior to departure for an international flight.  If you are boarding a domestic flight to connect with an international flight, use the 3 hour rule.

• For peak travel periods, such as the Christmas and New Year periods, Fridays and Sundays, early morning any day, or holiday weekends, consider adding 30-60 minutes to the time.

• Traffic into and out of the airport can be very congested.  Check the traffic reports and consider using public transportation such as a taxi or shuttle service.

• Avoid checking baggage.  This will mean that you can proceed directly to the security check point and the gate without standing in line.

• If you are checking baggage, use the curbside check-in option provided  you have a paper ticket or the proper e-ticket documentation and you are traveling on the flight for which you are ticketed.  The lines are usually shorter than at the ticket counters.  This option is available for domestic flights only.  

• If you have an e-ticket, use the web site check-in and boarding pass option offered by many airlines.  Normally this will allow you to check-in up to 24hours before your flight.  Check your airline's web site for details. You can still use this even if you are checking baggage.

• At the security check point, have your ticket (or boarding pass) and your government issued photo ID out and available.  You will need these to go through screening.

• If you are a gold level or higher member of a mileage program, check with the airline to see if they have special VIP lines at security.  Many airlines now offer this perk for frequent flyers and/or for business/first class passengers.

• Arrive at the gate at least 20 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and 30 minutes for international flights.  If you are not there in time, the airline will release your seat to a standby passenger. 

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Lower Fares Are Possible - The Basics

• Try and book well in advance.  The number of seats available for the very low fares are strictly controlled by the airlines.  They sell out quickly, especially during peak travel times.  It is not unusual for the lowest fare seats to sell out 2 or more months in advance.

• The Saturday Night Stay Rule - many of the lowest fares require a Saturday night stay.  Many times you can save hundreds of dollars if you stay over a Saturday night.  This can more than pay for the extra hotel night(s) and meals.  Another tactic is to leave on an overnight flight that departs prior to midnight, Saturday night.  The fare rule is usually based on the departure time not the arrival time

• Many fares are lower on off peak days and times.  These days and times vary according to the airline and the markets, but Friday and Sunday are almost always peak days.

• If there is more than one airport in the city you are traveling from or to, check the prices to/from all of these airports.  The smaller airports in an area may not only have lower prices on the major airlines, but they may offer service on some of the smaller, more economical airlines.

• Round trip flights will normally produce lower fares than one way tickets.  The exception may be for international full fare Economy Class, Business Class and First Class.  In these cases, check both the round trip and one way fares.  Because of currency differences, this may result in cheaper prices.

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Tips for Parents Using Child Restraints on Aircraft
The FAA web site: http:// www.faa.gov/apa/apahome.htm

Proper use of an approved child restraint system (CRS) on an aircraft enhances child safety in the event of an accident. A CRS also provides protection for a child during turbulence. The FAA strongly recommends that all children who fly, regardless of their age, use the appropriate restraint based on their size and weight.

Before you fly

• Check with the airline to find their busiest days and times. By avoiding these times you are more likely to be on a flight with an empty seat next to a parent. In many cases, airlines will allow you to seat your child under 2 years of age in a child restraint in the empty seat without having to pay the airline fare for the child. Ask your airline for its policy regarding an empty seat.
• Ask the airline if they offer a discounted fare for a child traveling in a CRS. If you buy a ticket (discounted or full fare) for your child, you are guaranteed that they will have a seat, and that you will be able to use the CRS.
• If you purchase a ticket for your child, reserve adjoining seats. A CRS should be placed in a window seat so it will not block the escape path in an emergency. A CRS may not be placed in an exit row.
• Check the width of your CRS. While airline seats vary in width, a CRS no wider than 16" should fit in most coach seats. A CRS wider than 16" is unlikely to fit. Even if the armrests are moved out of the way, a wide CRS will not fit properly into the frame of the aircraft seat.
• If you need to change planes to make a connecting flight, it can be very challenging to carry a CRS, a child, and other items through a busy airport. Most airlines will help parents make the connection. Request that the airline arrange for assistance in your connecting city.

Choosing the correct CRS
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding use of the CRS. Do not place a child in a CRS designed for a smaller child. Be sure that any shoulder straps in the CRS come out of the CRS seat back above the child's shoulders. Tighten the aircraft seat belt around the CRS as tightly as possible.

• Under 20 pounds - use a rear facing child restraint.
• From 20 to 40 pounds - use a forward facing child restraint. Although the safety technology of forward facing carriers in aircraft is still developing, current devices offer dramatic improvements in protection compared to lap held and/or unrestrained children.
• Over 40 pounds - A child over 40 pounds may safely use an aircraft seat belt and does not require a CRS.

Reminder
Use an approved CRS when traveling to and from the airport by automobile. Booster seats and harness vests do not provide adequate protection and are banned for use on aircraft, but they do enhance safety in automobiles. These devices may be checked as baggage. In the United States, supplemental lap restraints, "belly belts," are banned from use in automobiles and aircraft.

Online access is available through:
The FAA web site: http:// www.faa.gov/apa/apahome.htm, look in the publications area. Members of CompuServe may download from Library 13 (Airlines) of the TRAVEL FORUM (GO TRAVEL) or Library 15 (FAA) of the AVSIG FORUM (GO AVSIG). The filename is CHILD.TXT in both locations.

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Weighing Paper Against an E-Ticket Plane Ride

E-tickets have become very popular, with airlines reporting usage rates of up to 60 percent. However, travelers should understand the pluses and minuses of e-tickets versus the paper variety.

When all goes well, e-tickets speed check-in at the airport. However, in the unlikely event of a computer crash or a reservation that has vanished, paper ticket holders may be at an advantage. Similarly, when flights are canceled and ticket holders need to switch airlines, paper tickets may save them some time and certainly have no disadvantages versus e-tickets, which are not yet "portable" between all carriers.

Bad news: Your flight has been delayed or canceled, like the thousands of flights this summer that have been scrubbed amid labor strife at United Airlines or delayed by Midwestern storms or held up by some undisclosed vagary of our nation's air traffic control system. But you hold no ticket in your hand.

You have booked an electronic ticket. And now, facing the prospect of finding another flight, you wonder: Am I better off than those travelers with old-fashioned tickets? Or worse? The airlines say there's no meaningful difference for the typical leisure traveler. But some people think differently.

 "You're never going to be worse off with a paper ticket," said Terry Trippler, a longtime travel agent and air fare expert for the Web site 1travel.com. "Sometimes it may be even [between those with e-tickets and those with paper tickets]. But you're going to be better off, at times, with a paper ticket."
Ed Perkins, an ombudsman for the American Society of Travel Agents, chooses paper tickets over e-tickets whenever his route might mean changing airlines.
Trying to understand the advantages and disadvantages of electronically issued tickets is a demanding task. But now is a fine time for it because the practice is still growing and because different kinds of tickets give you different options in case of flight delays and cancellations--in a year that has been rife with them.         

Electronic ticketing began conquering the airline industry in the early 1990s. It saves airlines the cost of printing and delivering tickets, and it's convenient for travelers, who don't have to wait for the tickets to arrive or worry about losing them. Though customers can request paper tickets at no extra charge, most have followed the carriers' e-ticket encouragement. United Airlines, which sold its first e-tickets in 1994, reports that e-tickets make up about 60% of its sales. Other major carriers have made similar transitions.

Because your reservation is stored in the airline's computerized records, you need only appear at the airport on your day of travel and show photo identification (and perhaps, if asked, the credit card you used to secure the reservation). You can't lose your ticket, you don't need to wait for somebody to deliver it and, if you need to make changes before your travel date, you can do so by phone. Once you're at the airport with your ID, the gate agent can issue you a boarding pass.
But there are catches. If the computers crash while you're in the check-in line, holders of paper tickets may get boarding passes while e-ticket travelers are delayed. If a reservation agent finds that your booking has unaccountably vanished, an e-ticket traveler may have only a confirmation number, while a paper-ticket holder has a document that airlines are bound to honor.
These are relatively rare occurrences. The biggest question about e-tickets is this: If your flight is delayed or canceled, the best way out may be to book a flight with a different carrier, so what kind of ticket works best?
It's usually a tie, said United spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch. But as Trippler points out, paper tickets never lose out, unless you lose them.
Nine of the 10 major airlines (Southwest is the exception) will accept each other's paper tickets when circumstances force re-bookings. (If you change to a Southwest flight but are already ticketed on another carrier, you must request a refund from the first carrier and buy a new ticket from Southwest.)
If you have an unrestricted paper ticket, agents said, it is easily transferred to another carrier. But if you have an unrestricted e-ticket, you'll need to get a paper ticket, then take it to your second choice--which could cost you time.
Most leisure travelers, however, buy less costly restricted tickets. To change carriers after a delay or cancellation, travelers on restricted fares typically must get a paper ticket, get the first airline's endorsement on it, then present it to the second airline.

Consumers who arrive at the airport with paper tickets sometimes can head directly to the second carrier's desk, and the second carrier's gate agent will get endorsements by telephone from the first carrier, Trippler said.
     Delays and cancellations have been epidemic at United this summer, partly because of a labor dispute with pilots that has forced the airline to cancel in advance 3% of its scheduled departures in September and October. Many other flights have been canceled on shorter notice.
     Spokesman Ebenhoch said that because United is still flying more than 90% of its flights, it can accommodate most of its rescheduled customers on United flights. Changing carriers after a United cancellation or delay, you'll probably need an endorsement from a United gate agent, with any restricted ticket. In most cases, Ebenhoch said, e-ticket holders are on even footing with paper-ticket holders.
     To avoid cancellations and delays, Perkins and Trippler offer these tips:
     * Book flights with early departures; delays tend to increase as the day wears on. If you have connecting flights, don't settle for the "legal minimum" connecting time (usually about an hour for domestic flights). Give yourself an extra half-hour or hour.
     * Before leaving for the airport, find out your flight's status.
     * Arrive at the airport knowing your options if something does go wrong--the next two flights to your destination, for instance.
     * It also helps to know what the airline is required to do for you. If you find that staffing or weather problems have forced a delay or cancellation, the airline's legal responsibility is fairly limited. For instance, under the language in United "contract of carriage," the carrier's only responsibility is to refund any unused part of your ticket if you decide to cancel your trip. Though they often seek to find seats for frustrated travelers, airlines are not required to do so.

By CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, Times Travel Writer-(Adapted from L.A Times)

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Flight Tactics

Getting the seat you prefer on an airplane has become increasingly difficult. Reaching the airport at a reasonable time before takeoff used to ensure a decent seat. But this is no longer the case, since airlines pre-assign seats when reservations are made.

If you're assigned to a seat you don't like, go back to the desk when all the pre-reserved seats are released (usually 15 minutes before flight time). All the prime seats for passengers who didn't show up are available then.

If on the plane you discover that you don't like your seat, don't wait until the plane takes off to find a better one. Look around the plane, and the second before they close the door, head for the empty seat of your choice. Don't wait until the seat-belt sign goes on.

By pre-reserving a single seat on a non-jumbo where the seats are three across, you'll increase the odds of getting an empty seat next to you. Ask for a window or aisle seat in a row where the window or aisle is already reserved by a single. The middle seat between two singles is least likely to fill up. Desperation measure.- Say you're very overweight and need an empty seat next to you so you won't crowd the other passengers.

 There are other facts that every shrewd traveler should know.

• If you carry a hanging bag on the plane and put it in one of those little front closets, someone else can easily take it by mistake. Those bags all look alike. Be aware.- Luggage you carry onto the plane is not insured against such mishaps. Ready.- Tie a bright-colored ribbon or string around the handle. A name tag isn't enough. If someone else picks up your bag, the ribbon should alert him/her to the mistake.
• If you change your reservation to a different flight and your ticket must be changed, don't wait in the long line at the airline's front desk. As long as your destination remains the same, you can take your ticket directly to the gate and change it there - even if you've switched airlines or fares. The desk at the gate has a charge card imprinter to deal with any changes. Added advantage.- You're less likely to miss your flight by waiting in line if you're already at the gate.
• If you've rented a car and don't want to drag your bags on and off the rental agency's airport bus, drop your bags off first at the curbside check-in and then return the car. Tip the curbside checker You don't want your luggage to be "accidentally" misrouted. Advise the attending porter of your destination.

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Car Rental Checklist

You can prevent nasty surprises (and save a little money) if you take the time to follow a few simple steps before you rent a car and before you drive out of the rental lot:

• Check your existing auto insurance policy to see what coverage you have under that policy when you rent a car.  This may permit you to decline some of the insurance coverage that car rental companies offer and for which they charge extra.
• If you have a gold or platinum credit card, check with the credit card company.  Most gold and platinum credit cards have free or discounted rates for the Loss/Damage Waiver coverage(LDW) when you use the card for payment.
• Make sure your driver's license if valid for the location where you are renting the car.  This is particularly important if you are traveling to a foreign country.
• When you are renting a car, request one that has a trunk rather than a hatchback.  You do not want to tempt potential thieves by leaving your valuables where they can see them.
• Before getting into a rental car, check it carefully for scratches and dents.  Point out any damage to the car to someone at the rental location before you pull out of the space.  Once you pull out of the space, you may be liable for any damage, even if it was pre-existing unless you let someone know it is there.
• Make sure you are familiar with the operation of the car.  Locate the gas tank, make sure the cap is on, and that you know how to open it.  Test the windshield wipers and the lights.  Know how to turn them on and that they are in good working condition.  Also, check the horn and directional signals to make sure they are in good working order.  Check the gear shift.  Know how it operates.  Locate the ignition.  Make sure you know how to turn it on and how to remove the key.  Find the parking brake.  Know how to engage and disengage it.  Adjust the seat and the mirrors for your body.  Make sure the car manual is in the car.
• If you are traveling to a new city, make sure you have a good map and detailed directions to your first stop.  There are many good mapping web sites such as Mapquest on the internet.  Or, ask the agent at the rental counter.  Pay particular attention to the directions for getting out of the airport and leaving the airport area.
• Familiarize yourself with local traffic laws.  These vary from state to state and country to country.
• The names for gasoline types and grades will vary from country to country.  As the rental agent to write down the proper terms for you to avoid a serious and costly mistake.  For instance, in France, "Gasoil" is diesel fuel and "Essence" is gasoline.

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Finding A Cheaper Car

Finding a cheaper car rental can require some "legwork".  This is because there are no industry standards for rules, policies, and procedures.  Additionally, some locations are owned by the car rental company while others may be franchised locally.  This can result in different pricing structures.  So...the first rule in car rentals is always - COMPARISON SHOP

• Check with the national reservations center first to get a feel for the prices and car types.  Determine the car type you want. 
• Ask if the location where you will pick up the car is owned or franchised.   Call the location directly, especially if it is a  franchise location, to see if they have any unadvertised specials
• Look at various web sites.  Check both the sites for the car companies as well as general travel sites.  Many on-line sites have car specials.
• The most popular car size is the Economy Car.  These usually sell out first.  There may be an advantage to this because the cars are not always returned at the time anticipated by the car rental location.  This means that it is possible that the car you have reserved is not available. Rather than lose you as a customer, the rental location will usually offer to up-grade the car type to the next available car size AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.  However, if the Economy Car is available and your still want or need the larger size, you can still do so by paying the additional amount.
• Compare the total cost of your rental with various other pricing plans.  for instance, if you will have the car for 5 days, compare the daily rate with the weekly rate.  In many cases, the weekly rate is cheaper.  BUT, make sure you can use the weekly rate even if you return the car earlier.  Some contracts specify a minimum number of days that you must keep the car to qualify for the cheaper rate.  In these cases, try to negotiate a lower daily rate with the rental agent at the counter.
• In a few, rare cases, it may be cheaper to accept the prepaid option for gasoline.  Try to check out the local gas prices so that you can compare them with the prices offered by the rental agency.  This is especially true when you are coming from a high gas price area to one that has lower overall prices.  what seems like a good deal, may in fact be more costly than is necessary.  However, in a few places like New York City, it is cheaper to take a taxi to the airport to rent the car there rather than at a downtown location.
• Normally, it is best to decline the prepaid gas option and fill the car before you return it.  
• Check if there is a tax or surcharge if you pick up the car at the airport.  In this case, try to pick up the car at a downtown office.  Many car companies have rental counters in or near the major hotels.  The surcharge or tax may be as high as 20% so even with the cost of transportation to a downtown location, there may be significant savings.  There should be no surcharge to return the car to the airport location.
• One way rentals can often be extremely costly.  Try to organize your trip to avoid one way rentals.  It is often more cost effective to fly into one city, rent a car, return the car and fly to the next point rather than drive.
• If you will be driving through multiple state, provinces, or countries, compare the tax rates.  The sales tax or Value Added Tax is based on the pick-up location.  By using a little advanced planning, you can save as much as 15% by picking up the car in a low tax location.

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Handling Hotels

• When you arrive at the hotel, check your bags. Then go to the pay telephone in the lobby and call the hotel. Ask to have your reservation confirmed, give them your charge-card number, and go on your way. Reason: You'll sidestep convention check-in lines.
• To avoid the long line after the convention, go down to the desk very early in the morning, before official checkout time, and check out. You won't have to turn in your room key, and you can still use your room until official checkout time (usually around 1 PM).
• Don't stay in your hotel room if you're waiting for a call. If notified, the hotel operator will transfer your calls to another room, interrupt the call you're on for a more important one, or hold calls while you run out for a soda.
• Save money by not paying for things you didn't order. Don't charge anything to your hotel room. It's too confusing to verify the list of room charges when you're checking out. And it's only too easy for the hotel to make a mistake. Most travelers just sign and pay without looking at the list. If you don't charge anything at all, you'll know that extra item on your bill can't be yours, How to do it.- Pay cash for room service, laundry, etc. Use your credit card for food.
• And don't depend on the hotel only for information. If you need a service in a strange city (typing,. film developing, etc.), call the local convention bureau. It's specifically set up to help out-of-town business people, and there is a convention bureau in every city.

Source: Dr. Barbara A. Pletcher, executive director of the National Association for Professional Saleswomen, Box 255708, Sacramento, CA 95865. She's the author of Travel Sense, ACE Books, 51 Madison Ave., New York 10010.

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What the Airlines Don't Tell You

• Never accept the first fare quoted. Half the time, some other airline's flight within hours of the one you booked has a special, less expensive deal.
• Take advantage of "illegal" connections. These are connecting fights usually less than 45 minutes apart-too close for airlines to feel safe in making them connect. Result.- These flights usually do not even show up on the computer when your trip is being routed. Way out Have your agent write up your flight on two separate tickets. The second is for the illegal connection that originates at your transfer point.

  Example.- You arrive at O'Hare in Chicago on the way to San Francisco. Instead of waiting three hours for the safe connecting flight, you already have a separate ticket from O'Hare to San Francisco on an illegal connection. If you miss the connection, you turn that ticket in for the next available flight. Cost for two separate tickets.- No more than one through ticket. Baggage.- Waiting for it to be unloaded can cost you valuable time on this tight schedule. Best.- Travel with carry-on luggage.

• Some supersaver fares are so low that even if you can't stay as long as their requirements (some ally seven days), you will save by buying two round-trip tickets-one from your home to your destination for the day you want to leave and one from your destination to your home for the day you want to return. The total may be less than the regular round-trip fare.
• If you miss your flight and there's just time to catch another, go right to the other airline's departure gate instead of to its ticket counter. If it has an empty seat, the second airline will usually honor the ticket for the flight you missed.
• Best seat in the plane. After first class, the choices center on your priorities. For comfort and a smooth ride, pick a seat over the wings. For silence, sit as far forward as possible, but avoid the galley and rest rooms. For leg room, try the first row or seats beside the emergency exits.
• Best way to get a standby seat. Reserve a coach seat for your flight. Arrive at the airport the day you are to leave and see if you can get a standby ticket (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are the best standby days). If you do get a standby seat, become a no-show on your reservation (it's built into the price of your ticket) for a full refund. You may win. You can't lose.

Source: Your Money and Your Life by Robert Z. Aliber, Basic Books, IO E. 53 St., New York 10022.

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If You Want to Be Bumped from a flight To Save the Airfare

Expert bumpees, who have more time than money for traveling, Suggest that when you make a reservation on a regularly scheduled airline, you ask if the flight is almost sold out. (Bumping compensation rules don't apply to commuter airlines or charter flights.) Make a reservation only if a flight is almost full. (Pick popular routes at popular times.) Check in 15 minutes prior to boarding, but stay at the end of the line. If the airline asks for volunteers for bumping, speak up. Remember, however, that you don't get a free flight if the airline can get you on another flight for the same destination within the hour.

Source: You Can Travel Free by Robert William Kirk, Pelican Publishing Company, I IO 1 Monroe St., Gretna, LA 70053.

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The Most Dangerous Airports in the- US

Security at major US airports is very poor. Terrorists who are bent on breaching US airport security have ample opportunity to do so in many US cities. Examples.-

• Los Angeles International Airport. It is possible to walk through several areas marked "Authorized Personnel Only" without being questioned.
• Washington Dulles International Airport. Civilians without ID badges have been able to breach secured zones and walk onto the tarmac close to berthed airplanes.
• San Francisco International Airport. A determined civilian can easily walk through unmarked doors in the terminal, past airline gates, and onto the tarmac among airplanes of numerous different airlines. In one incident, a magazine reporter deliberately failed to show up for a flight to Seoul, South Korea, but airline security didn't notice, and his baggage remained aboard the aircraft.
• New York's JFK International Airport. A civilian can walk onto the tarmac at several locations at this huge airport. In one experiment, an unauthorized person wandered among large aircraft for 10 minutes.

Source: Conde Nast Traveler, 360 Madison Ave., New York 10017.

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Lost Baggage - Airlines

• The best way to make sure an airline does not lose your - Carry it on the airplane with you. (Alternative.- Take along less baggage.)
• When you must check your bags:
  • Place name-and-address tags on the inside and outside of each bag. Airlines supply them at ticket counters. (Use a business, not a personal, address) Remove all old baggage-check tags.
  • Place a note inside each bag that tells where you are heading on your trip and the dates you will be there.
  • Lock your bags. It won't prevent theft (Luggage keys are often interchangeable), but it will keep a bag from opening accidentally.
• Carry on the plane such items as medicine, jewelry, your contact-lens equipment, and any other small, irreplaceable items.
• When you check in at the airport, make sure correct baggage checks (for destination and flight number) are attached to your luggage.
• Avoid flights during which you change planes and airlines. Reason: Transfers account for 40% of lost baggage. If this proves impossible, don't check your baggage through (make arrangements to recheck it between flights).
• To minimize the risk of having your baggage stolen, get to the baggage claim area as soon as possible after landing. Put some form of instant identification on your bags to set them apart (a red stripe down the center, or a plaid ribbon).
• If your luggage fails to appear, notify the baggage-service personnel immediately. Then fill in the proper tracing form. IF you don't file the claim promptly, the airline may deny the loss, particularly if damage is involved.
• If your baggage doesn't arrive on the flight you were on, it's likely to show up on the next one. (Ninety-five percent of those that do show up arrive within 24 hours.)
• Insurance: The federal government increased the amount per bag for which airlines can be held liable (from $500 to $750). But if your bag and its contents are worth more, consider additional insurance. Buy extra-valuation insurance at the check-in counter. Or get an all-risk policy from your own insurance broker. It covers loss or damage to baggage, along with coverage in the event of illness or accident. Check your homeowner policy for baggage insurance. Recommended.- Make an inventory describing each bag and its contents. Keep this with you, separate from the baggage.

 

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Airline Traveler Beware

• Don't fly within 12 hours after dental work" The change in atmospheric pressure can cause severe pain.
• First-class air travel Not worth the 30% premium unless the flight lasts more than four hours.
• You shouldn't pay the 8% federal tax on airfare if you're flying from one US city to another US city in order to catch a flight to another country. You may have to show the agent the foreign ticket.
• Carry your medical history. Fold a one-page summary of health data into your passport. What it should include.- Blood @, allergies, eyeglass prescription, medications currently being taken, any preexisting health condition.
• Don't buy travel insurance at airport's. Coverage is much more expensive and rates vary from city to city. Better Buy directly from an insurance company.
• Confirm airline reservations when the small box in the center of the airline ticket is marked 'RQ." It indicates that the travel agent has only requested a seat, and wait-listing status is a possibility. A confirmed reservation is indicated by an "OK' on your ticket.
• Avoid consuming the food and drink offered on airplanes. Alcohol, nuts, soft drinks, and other foods that have empty calories can cause a swing from high to low blood sugar. You go from feeling great to feeling tired, cramped, and headachy.
• Alcohol has more punch during an airplane flight than on the ground. Reason: Body fluids evaporate quickly in the pressurized dry cabin. And under pressure, the alcohol absorbs more fluids in the intestinal tract, thus malting itself felt more quickly. Alternative: To reduce the dehydration caused by a long flight (six hours or more), drink three or four pints of water during the flight.

 

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Retirement Discount Travel Deals

Reaching 50 or 55 or 60 years of age has its privileges in the marketplace. Businesses want your business, and many are willing to give you a price break to get it if you carry credentials that prove your birth date. Policies do change over time, so always ask about discounts for senior citizens wherever you shop. Attractive current deals.-

• Free cruises for single men. Because unattached males of a certain age are very scarce, two cruise lines offer free travel to single men over 50 who will act as paid hosts to the many single women on board the ship. Duties include dancing, serving as dining partners, and mingling with female passengers. No favoritism, no romantic entanglements.

  Royal Cruise Lines, Host Program, I Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco 94111.
  The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Robin Street Wharf, New Orleans 70130.

• Great Britain blanket admission. Great British Heritage Pass is good for admission to more than 600 castles, palaces, homes, and gardens. Included The Tower of London and Windsor Castle. British Tourist Authority, 40 W. 57 St., New York 10019.
• Great Britain by Rail Most European railroads offer senior citizens' discounts. But few can match those in Britain. Passes offer reduced rates on limited first-class travel throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Note.- Passes must be purchased through a travel agent in the US BritRail, 1500 Broadway, Suite I 000, New York 10036.
• National parks passport. Golden Age Passport provides @ lifetime admission to all of the federal government's parks, monuments, and recreation areas for people over 62. Users also get half off on all fees-camping, boat launching, parking, tours, etc. The pass covers the holder and any passengers in a single family vehicle.
  Not available by mail. Passports can be obtained at any national park where an entrance fee is charged. Proof of age required. More information: National Park Service, Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013.
• The big discount Most airlines, car-rental companies, and hotels offer discounts of 10% or more to travelers over 50. When you make reservations, always ask if a senior citizens' discount is available. Required.- Some form of identification-a driver's license is usually sufficient.Warning.- Sometimes rates even lower than the senior citizens' discount are offered. Ask if the rate you're getting is the lowest one.
• Automobile insurance. State Farm Insurance Company, Nationwide Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Allstate Insurance Company, and AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) all offer special "senior rates" for good drivers.
• Cruises. IF you are willing to go on short notice, you can get discounts as high as 50%. Check with agencies such as Encore Short Notice (800) 6388976, Moment's Notice (213) 486-0505, Vacations to Go (800) 624-7338, or Last Minute Travel Club (617)267-9800.
• Lodging. You can stay in homes all over the world for very little or if you are also willing to take in some senior travelers. INNter Lodging Co-op, Tacoma, WA 98407, (206)756-0343 serves the United States and Canada, and Servas, II John St., New York 10038, (212) 267-0252, has an international network of hosts.
• Retail. Many stores offer 10% discounts or have special sale days for senior citizens. Check local newspapers for local deals for seniors or simply ask before shopping.

Source: Joan Rattner Heilman, author of Unbelievably Good Deals & Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50, Contemporary Books, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60601.
   

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Second Passports: The State Department's Best-Kept Secret

Some countries won't permit entry to travelers whose passports show that they've previously visited certain other countries. Most Arab countries, for example, won't allow entry to people whose passports have a stamp showing that they've visited Israel. A similar situation confronts people traveling among some African countries. Traveling freely among these countries is a matter of carrying two passports and knowing when to use them.

You can get a second passport, a restricted passport It looks just like a regular US passport, with one exception ... it clearly states that it is limited to use for travel to specific countries. The restricted passport can't be substituted for a regular passport. ft can't be used to enter every country, only the ones that are specified on the application. And it isn't issued for countries with which the United States has no diplomatic relations.

Apply for one at your regional passport office, but be prepared to document your legitimate need ... itinerary, assignment from your employer specifying that you need to do business in a particular country, etc. Take two signed passport-sized photos.

To find out if you'll need a restricted passport, check the Visa Information Sheet available from any passport office. That document will help you to determine if there are visa or passport conflicts among the countries on your itinerary. Extra protection: Check with the consulate or embassy of each country you plan to visit.

Reason: Customs regulations of foreign governments change so quickly that even the State Department is unable to keep its information on these regulations absolutely up-to-date.

Avoid relying on information from travel agencies. They use the "Travel Information Manual" put out by an airline organization. Because the compiling, distribution, etc., can take a long time, the manual can be out-of-date as soon as its issued.

While traveling, be sure to stay on top of possible entry rule, changes at borders you plan to cross. If entrance to a country depends on the restricted passport, show only that document. Put away your regular passport. Using two passports is officially frowned upon by most governments, so there could be repercussions.

If you use the wrong passport on arrival, you'll probably be refused entry. H you're caught with the wrong document when leaving, on the other hand, chances are the border guards will let you depart.

Very, very important The restricted passport may not be honored by some countries. If it isn't, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate for emergency assistance.

Source: Privileged information from our insiders at the US State Department.

 

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Preventing Montezuma's Revenge

University of Texas Medical School researchers have discovered that the primary ingredient in Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsahcylate) can help to prevent the most common traveler's ailment. A group of new students in Mexico received four tablespoons of the medication four times a day (for 21 days). Others were given a placebo. Diarrhea developed in only 14 of 62 students on medication versus 40 of 66 students on the placebo.  

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Getting the Best for Less at Hotels

Experienced travelers who are flexible can usually get a on deal on hotel rooms by waiting until the last minute to make their reservations. This doesn't work when a major event has every hotel room in a city booked weeks in advance, but during slow economic times or seasonal slumps, it's worth a try. What you do.- The day you want the room, call the specific hotel you want (not the chain 800 number). Ask for the assistant manager and explain that you want to stay at the hotel but would like to know what kind of a deal can be made. IF a suite is the only thing available, you'll get it for room rates or you may get discounts of up to 50%, which is much better for the hotel than an empty, non-paying room.

Source: Money, Rockefeller Center, New York 10020.
 

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Outwitting Hotel Thieves

• Don't use a "pickproof" lock in hotel-room drawers. This tells the burglar precisely where your valuables are.
  Good place to hide things in a hotel room.- Under the rug, under the bed. If it's difficult for you to get to, it will also be difficult for a burglar.
• Don't drop off your key at the desk while you're away-until you check out.
• request duplicate room key.
• When you go out, leave a light and the TV on in the room.
• Whenever you leave your car, lock it and take your valuables with you. If you're parking in a garage that has an attendant, don't leave the key for the trunk
• Don't put all your cash or traveler's checks in one place or one pocket. Having traveler's checks replaced involves inconvenience.

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Duty-Free Shops at Airports and Docks

Check the prices at duty-free shops against prices in local stores. Airport and dockside shops generally charge higher, rather than prevailing, prices for their products. In addition, top-of-the-line products are sold, meaning that the prices are high to begin with.

So buy only otherwise heavily taxed items in these stores. Liquor, cigarettes, perfume, and some wines may still be bargains.

Source: Travel Smart, 40 Beechdale Rd., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.
 
 

 

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Choosing a Vacation Cruise

Focus on a cruise with a compatible group. People over 60 generally take longer cruises. People on summer cruises are usually- 15 to 20 years younger than those on winter cruises.

Compare the capacity of the ship's main lounge with the number of passengers. IF the lounge is relatively small, there will be comfortable fast meals and guests will scramble for seats at entertainment performances.

Seasick avoidance.- Get a cabin as close to the center of the ship as possible, on the middle deck off the main corridor.
 
 

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Luxury-Cruise Bargains

Luxury cruises at 50% to 60% off are often available if you can be flexible about when you go. Find several cruises that look good to you, then wait until the last minute. Get your travel agent to call and see if there are any last-minute vacancies; if there are, you can usually have them for just over cost.

Source: Robert William Kirk, You Can Travel Free, Pelican Publishing Company, 1101 Morn St., Gretna, LA 70053.
 
 

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Cruise Ship Rapes: Uncensored Facts

Three out of every four crimes on cruise ships reported to the US Attorney's Office in Miami-d are sexual offenses.
Most involve young women-under 21.  But crimes at sea are hard to prosecute. They may go unreported, the evidence may be old, and potential witnesses scatter as soon as the ship docks. Most complaints from passengers involve crew members. A cruise company official admits that although they do try to make background checks, it is very difficult.

Bottom line: Although the great majority of cruises are well managed and safe, passengers need to be cautious. Women in particular should not walk the decks and inner corridors of a cruise ship alone, nor should parents allow their children to roam non-escorted.

Source: US Attorney's Office in Miami.
 
 

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Pros and Cons of Group Travel Tours

Best reason to choose a package tour.- Economy Savings can amount to several hundred dollars per couple. The food and drink on chartered jets tends to be better than on commercial flights, but space is more cramped. Chartered air-conditioned buses between airports and train stations are a big convenience and eliminate the need for constant tipping in foreign currency Warning.- Chartered deluxe European express trains are pleasant but by no means express. They are frequently sidetracked for the real express trains.

Tours also save time on planning and organizing and are especially helpful to those who have not traveled to a country before or do not speak the language.

Minuses for package tours Rushed sightseeing schedule. Be wary of promises of full American breakfasts. They're usually of poor quality. It's probably better to stick with a traditional roll and coffee in Europe.

Tip.- Save coupon books for gourmet dinners at restaurants on special nights. Pay cash for light suppers when you're tired or have had a late lunch.

Best tour to pick?.- One sponsored by a local professional, cultural, or educational group. It usually assures you of finding compatible companions.
 

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Tipping Guide

Restaurant tipping guidelines from restaurateurs Vincent Sardi (of Sardi) and Tom Margiffai (co-owner of the Four Seasons).-

• Waiter Fifteen percent of the bill (not including tax).
• Captain: Five percent. Note: If diner writes tip on the check, the waiter gets it all, unless the diner specifies how it is to be split. (Example: Waiter, $5; captain, $2.)
• Headwaiter who seats diners: Five dollars or $10 or more at intervals for regular patrons. He should be tipped in cash.
• Sommelier Ten percent of the wine selection or 5% if the wine is expensive. Two dollars or $3 is a good tip.
• Bartender: One dollar minimum or 15% of check
• Hatcheck- Fifty cents to $1 per couple.
• Rest-room attendant Fifty cents.
• Doorman (to get taxi: Fifty cents normally. One dollar in bad weather or rush hour.
• Other staff at a restaurant that is used regularly should be tipped once or twice a year.- Hosts, switchboard operators (where the restaurant provides telephone service).
• Nightclubs.- Headwaiter should get $2 to $ 1 0 per person, depending on the impression the party host wishes to make on his guests. (Higher tip usually ensures better service)
• Other tipping.-
• Limousine service: Fifteen percent to the driver. If service charge is included in bill, tip an additional $5.
• Hotels.- Valet, room service, bartender, should get about 50 cents, depending on the amount and quality of service. Bellman: Fifty cents per bag. Chambermaid: One dollar per day.
• Sports arenas and racetracks.- A $5 tip to an usher will often give you and your guests access to unused reserved seats.

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