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- During the winter months and peak travel periods always
request a paper ticket.
- If your flight is canceled, Do Not Wait in Line at
the ticket counter; make sure you have our 800 number (800-687-6632)
and call us. If we are not open, be sure to have
the airline 800 number and call them.
- Have you ever lost a roll of film when on vacation?
Next time, put your name, phone number and address on a 3 X
5 card and take a picture of it.
- You can buy unclaimed/lost baggage at www.unclaimedbaggage.com
at deep discounts (80% below retail).
- Short term airline-club passes are available from
most US carriers. This isn't made public but day passes
to private lounges are available for about $50/day (always ask
for a free pass first) --- well worth the price when facing
a long delay.
- Only drink bottled water on flights originating overseas.
- Have some clothes packed for each family member in
each suitcase. If one bag is lost or delayed, each person
will have at least one change of clothes until the missing luggage
is found.
- Do you travel with your pets? Check out www.dogfriendly.com
- Four ways to avoid hotel phone charges.
- Quickly hit the # key between calls instead of hanging up.
That way you get a new dial tone and avoid being charged an
access fee for a second call.
- If the hotel does not charge access fees for 800-number
calls, call your long-distance carrier toll fee and have its
operator place the call.
- If there is no answer after five rings, hang up to avoid
being charged for an incomplete call.
- Charge long distance calls to a credit card.
- Storing Suitcases? If you are putting them away
after a trip, put an unwrapped bar of soap in them and it will
prevent them from getting a musty smell.
- When asking for an upgrade from an airline, ask the
employee for his/her name and an address you can send a letter
complimenting the great customer service you received.
This letter will go into their personnel file and is very important
for raises and promotions.
- In the spring and fall, cruise lines send their ships
to different parts of the world in order to take advantage of
the seasons. These are called repositioning cruises and
they can be tremendous bargains (cruise lines do not advertise
the discounts).
- If you go on vacation for several days be sure and
disconnect your automatic garage door opener. This will
prevent someone on the same frequency from opening it and preventing
entry by a thief.
- Honeymooners have a great chance of getting upgraded
to first class, so don't be bashful, let the gate agent know.
- Would you like to make some money? If yes, then
board the plane last and if someone is in your seat you have
a good chance of being compensated. Make it clear that
you are not going to be bought off cheaply. No matter
what you negotiate for, make sure the airline throws in a first
class seat on the next flight out.
- You're going to a convention and have received information
that says you will get a "special hotel rate" by calling the
hotel's convention desk. I suggest you call Nichols Travel first
(405-341-0427) and let us verify the rate as we have found that
in 60% of the cases we can secure you a better rate. What's
the reason for this? The hotel costs in all the free rooms they
give to the officers, directors, family members and who knows
who else. Someone has to pay for all that free stuff and guess
who that someone is?
- Missing and/or lost luggage is a particular nightmare
for travelers. The following are some ideas that may prove helpful.
- Use the slide-in window about the size of a business card
to provide a source for secondary identification (make sure
the information is up to date).
- Do not list your home address (you don't want thieves to
know you are on vacation) but rather your business address
or you can list our agency address.
- Put additional identification inside your luggage including
a copy of your itinerary with instructions on how to contact
you (make sure you do not have any credit card numbers on
your travel itinerary).
- It is always a good idea to label everything of value that
you are taking on vacation (ID labels at www.InternetPrintingUSA.com).
- To prevent someone from accidentally picking up your bag
thinking it is theirs, tie a brightly colored ribbon on the
handle.
- It is smart to not only tip, but be very friendly to the
Skycap. This will go a long way in making sure your luggage
is checked properly.
- Don't leave the airport before completing the lost luggage
report with the baggage agent. Be sure and get a phone number
so you can follow up on what progress is being made.
- Do you really need to take your wallet on vacation?
Take one (or 2, max) credit card(s), a little cash and your
ID. The point is, the less you take, the better. Make photocopies
of everything you do take and store the copies separately. If
you normally have joint credit card accounts with a traveling
companion, then each traveler should carry a different card.
That way, canceling one person's card does not eliminate all
credit card transactions.
- Keep your photo ID and your ticket, boarding pass,
or a copy of your itinerary (if you are traveling on an electronic
ticket) easily accessible. You will need to show your photo
ID and travel documents several times.
- Each piece of checked luggage must have a name tag
that matches the name on your ticket. You also need a sticker
inside your luggage with your name and address in case your
tag gets removed.
- Most luggage today is soft sided and black. Do not
risk someone erroneously removing your bag from a luggage carousel.
Make your luggage appear differently. Use large colored tape,
place stickers on all sides, tie brightly colored yarn around
the handles, etc.
- Pack sharp or hazardous objects such as razors, knives,
matches, lighters, remote controls, scissors, or anything that
could be used as a weapon in your checked luggage. Do not carry
these items onboard or they will be taken from you. If security
takes anything from you, ask them to mail it to you in an envelope.
You can get one from the gift shop or airline clubs. Address
it to your destination, stamp it, and mail it. It is wise to
travel with a stamped envelope... just in case. Some airports,
however, have removed all mail boxes for security. If you experience
this, ask a shopkeeper to mail your envelope. Shopkeepers are
usually more cooperative than airline or security personnel.
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Remove any laptop computer, cell phone, or similar
electronic device from your carry-on luggage before passing
through security. They want to individually inspect these
items. Remove these items before approaching security to save
time for you and those behind you. More and more security
check-points are providing plastic baskets to hold these items
while they move through the scanner.
- Travel with shoes that come off easily in case security
requests a show inspection.
- If you use curbside luggage check-in and you-re selected
for a random security check you may be asked to take your luggage
to the ticket counter for inspection. You may also be subject
to a thorough luggage search at security screening and again
before boarding your flight. Some of these checks are random
and some result from changes to your itinerary, paying cash
or check for a ticket, and one-way flights. Just remember that
these security checks are for your safety and they take time.
By arriving at the airport 2 hours before flight time, the worst
thing that can happen is that you'll have extra time with your
favorite magazine. The rule of thumb is that you never know
how long it will take to clear security and board your flight
and extra time is a good insurance policy.
- Do not pack film in your checked luggage unless you
place it in one of the specialty approved pouches available
at most camera stores. Checked luggage is being scanned with
x-ray equipment which can fog your vacation pictures.
- Limit your carry-on to two pieces. Airline personnel
are very strict about this. Due to the enforcement of this rule,
you'll enjoy faster boarding and more room inside the plane.
- If you're carrying wine or alcohol in you carry on
luggage, make sure it is easily accessible, it has an original
label, and that the corks or caps are secured by the original
seals. Security personnel will ask you to remove any container
filled with liquid to check the container's label and seal.
If the seal is broken or the label is questionable, security
will confiscate the container.
- Do not carry ammunition in your checked or carry-on
luggage. While this may sound obvious, it's amazing how many
shot gun shells and bullets are confiscated by airport security
everyday. What's even more amazing, is how upset passengers
get when they're informed that they must leave these items behind.
- Remove and place in your carry-on luggage all large
jewelry, watches, belt buckles, pens, glasses, coins, credit
cards and other items that might trigger a metal detector. This
will speed you through security and keep those behind you in
a much better mood.
- Enjoy your trip and know that these heightened safety
measures are for your protection and peace-of-mind.
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