If you’re anxious or simply a little uncertain about flying for the first time, you can do a lot in the weeks leading up to your flight to ease any apprehension.
This begins with your very first step: making sure you have the needed travel documents to get on the plane, step off at your destination and fly back home. If you’re flying domestically, a valid Driver’s License, military ID, permanent resident card or border-crossing card will work. Kids 15 to 17 years may need some form of ID; a school ID card will usually get the job done (check with the airline first). Kids 14 and under are usually fine to fly without any official paperwork, but again, check with the airline to see if a birth certificate is needed. When you’re leaving the country, things get a bit more complicated. You’ll need a valid U.S. Passport — begin the application process at least six weeks or longer before your departure to be safe — and depending on your destination, you may require a travel visa as well. Don’t worry, we have helpful guides to walk you through the passport and visa application process. Next up? Buying the airline ticket(s). Pulling the trigger on airfare can be as easy as calling up or visiting an airline’s website. But the options for buying a ticket are as you might imagine: plentiful. Get the assistance of a travel agent, decide between two one-way tickets or a single roundtrip fare, book through a discount airline such as Spirit Airlines, or take a shot at flying standby. But if you want to keep things easy, simply visit an airline site. And to make it even easier, look for direct flights as opposed to chunking your trip up with connecting flights and layovers. Now if you are doing a complete package Always talk to a travel planner for some GREAT paclages(air, transfers and resort) Frequent fliers may tell you that one of the most critical steps to having a comfortable flight is finding the right seat. Whether you’re booking First Class, faking First Class, looking for a little extra legroom or just looking to avoid a middle seat between two strangers, there is a way to make the best of your situation. Before you decide if you want to pay a premium for a seat, take a peek at SeatGuru’s seating maps to glean extra information and even passenger reviews. Here you can find if a potential seat is too close to the lav for comfort or if a window seat lacks a clear view out a window. (Trust us, you don’t want to promise a window seat to your kid and then have just an inch of daylight peering back at you.) So take a look at available seats before booking, reserve the seats where you’re most comfortable, and there is one last surprise to worry about as you make your maiden voyage.3 OK, you’ve got your travel documents, your ticket, and your seat. Now you just need to take care of your stuff. Here is a quick plan of attack for packing. First, look at the length of your trip, the needed wardrobe and whether or not you’ll have access to a washer, dryer, and even dry cleaner. Then eyeball your airline’s policy and pricing around both carry-on bags and checked luggage You can often bring one carry-on and a personal item — purse, laptop bags, etc. — onto the plane at no cost. Checked bags usually carry a fee, ranging from the standard $25 fee for the first bag on most domestic carriers, including Delta and American Airlines, to more than $200 for oversize bags.4 (Yes, packing your bags and weighing them in advance is a good idea.) Determining what to bring, especially if you’re trying to squeeze a week’s worth of clothes into a single carry-on bag, can be challenging. Good news. We have packing guides to light the way; lots and lots of packing guides, whether you’re heading out on summer vacation, travelling with small kids, or taking a last-minute business trip. Perhaps the packing wrinkle that gives those flying for the first time the most anxiety is the TSA liquid rules. Here is what you need to know: If you put your shampoo, deodorant and other liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in a checked bag, you’re good to go. But if you want to stow them in your carry-on bag, then you need to follow TSA protocol. Start with a quart-sized plastic bag; then fill it with travel-sized containers (3.4 oz. or less) until you’ve checked off your personal items or the bag is full, whatever comes first. So if you’re a big hair product person, you might have to make some hard choices, or simply buy a few items at the store after you land.5 Troubleshooting 101: What can go wrong before you even leave the ground? Plenty on your end. What if you come down with a bad virus before jetting, and your doctor advises you to stay at home. Or totally out of left field, your company lays you off? Or you get caught up in 10-car fender bender on your way to the airport? You just may need to cancel your trip. And it could be more than inconvenient; it could cost you money. The good news is that if you have travel insurance through Allianz Global Assistance, and your reason for needing to cancel is covered by your policy, you may get reimbursed for your nonrefundable, pre-paid expenses. With travel insurance, you pack peace of mind, and there are no TSA restrictions on that. Shared from Allianz Travel insurance Share the knowledge
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Nancy H.
From your travel advisor... Archives
February 2020
Categories |