How to Survive Air Travel - First Installment

These days air travel can be rather stressful. A recent trip overseas compelled me to jot down the following, in the hope that it may save someone a number of difficulties.

Early in early 2009, my husband and I decided to fly to Denmark to visit my family. Both our passports had expired, so we phoned our local member of parliament to find out how long it would take to get them renewed.

We were told that 5-6 weeks would be ample time, and this was where we ran into our first problem. We ended up having to wait an extra two weeks for my husbands passport. The reason for this, was that someone else, who had a criminal record, shared my husbands name, and when that surfaced in the standard security check, we had to wait for the proper authorities to ascertain, that they were dealing with a person with a clean record.
Thus, a couple of weeks was added to the waiting time, because the official, whose desk the passport landed on, was swamped with work.

Another very important issue is medical equipment.
If you travel with medical apparatus, such as equipment for sleep apnea, make sure you contact the airline.There is staff at the airport, whose job it is to get medical equipment approved. Also make sure that you specify whether you are just carrying the equipment with you on board, or you are intending to actually use the equipment while in flight. The protocol varies, depending on equipment, airline and so on. On our flight, we did not need any special documentation for sleep apnea equipment, (cpap machine), as long as it was not being used on the flight.

Of course, you should always contact the airline, regarding the number of bags you are allowed, size and weight of the luggage, and what you are allowed to bring. For instance, at the moment there are strong limitations on amounts of fluid allowed. Make it a point to know the rules. We chose to buy shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries at our destination.

If you have pets that need to be taken care of in your absence, remember to give yourself enough time to make proper provisions for them. Buy enough pet food to last till you return, so as not to put any expenses on the caregiver. He or she may not be able to meet those expenses comfortably. Also, make sure they know your vets number in case of an emergency, along with the phone number where you can be reached, and any instructions.
Even more important, if you use a kennel, make sure your dogs or cats vaccinations are up to date. Many kennels want proof that your pet has been vaccinated at least one month prior to their stay.

My preference is to use a good travel agent, when I plan my trips. It is well worth it.
They can answer any questions you have regarding cost of tickets, parking at the airport, car rentals, health insurance, hotel accommodations, and they can arrange many of those things for you. It greatly reduces the work you have to do before your trip. But ask around, and find an efficient agent.

If you travel to a different climate, keep an eye on the weather conditions several weeks before you go. This will help you choose the right clothing to bring along. The Internet is an excellent source to track the weather any place.

If you are a smoker, be sure to bring something that will help you get through the time in the air. Smoking is no longer permitted on the aircraft. A young fellow sitting across from us, went to the mens room to for a smoke.
Result: He was escorted off the plane by the police when we reached our destination.

Finally, travel as light as possible, and make sure that you tag your luggage well. My husband and I are in the habit of attaching a large label to the inside of each piece of luggage, that goes into the cargo hold.
That way, if the luggage tag gets ripped off during handling, there is still a way of identifying the owner. I also put my home phone number, destination phone number, and email address on the label.

I like to tie a bit of colored ribbon securely to the handle of my suitcases. It is amazing how many people have luggage that looks alike, and when you stand waiting for your luggage in the airport, it is great to be able to identify it quickly.

This concludes the first installment of "How to Survive air travel". It is my hope that I have covered most of the relevant issues. Next installment will deal with issues at the airport and on the flight itself.