Monday, November 19, 2012

Holiday travel advice

As we approach Thanksgiving (in the US) and Christmas (even if you celebrate different holidays I assume you understand the chronological point to which I refer) I want to offer some air-travel advice.  I again assert that I am in no way the foremost expert on travel but there are a few things you should know when traveling during the holidays.  Generally airlines allow you to take one personal item (purse, brief case, etc) and one carry-on (small roll along luggage).  You also must follow the TSA rules, too.

Here are some courtesy rules to remember:

  1. The airports are going to be crowded!  Give yourself extra time when arriving for your flights
    1. Expect long lines
    2. Don't take your frustrations out on the nice people trying to help you, namely the gate attendants; if you need them you want them on your side
  2. When going through security know the rules and be ready when you get to the conveyor belt
    1. Remove everything from your pockets, take off your belt, and put them all into one of your carry-on items while in the security line. Do this before getting to the guy that will check your ticket and ID
    2. Have your liquids and gels in a plastic bag near the top of your stuff or in a separate pocket so when you hit the conveyor belt you can quickly pull it out and put it into the bin
    3. You don't need a plastic bin for everything, your bags, purses, and shoes can go directly on the belt
    4. Once through the check-point gather your stuff off the belts and take it to the seats provided immediately inside the terminal to get everything back in order, don't do this at the conveyor belts
    5. Take a quick inventory of your stuff.  You don't want to leave anything you need at security
  3. Boarding is a slow process and is done in waves, be patient you will get on board
    1.  There is no need to crowd the gate 
    2. Check your boarding pass for your loading zone, or whatever your airline calls your group for boarding
    3. Little helpful tip for Delta passengers, "Zone 1" is not the same as "First Class"
  4. Generally you are allowed one carry-on and one personal item
    1. Full flights do not have enough room for everyone to have a roller bag as a carry-on, you can check your roller bag for free at the terminal gate.  You will be able to pick it up either on the jet bridge as you leave the plane or it will come out with the checked luggage at your destination.  Be sure to ask which it is.
    2. If you have 2 items it is poor etiquette to put both in the over head bins.  One should go under the seat in front of your feet.  If you only have one, feel free to use the overhead so you have a little extra leg room (temper your expectations, there isn't a lot of leg room to start with
  5. Deplaning is also a slow frustrating process
    1. Etiquette allows those in the front to get out first, it is very annoying when people budge in front of the rows ahead without permission
    2. If you are close for a connection ask people if you can please get ahead
 This is a lot longer than I wanted but there are a lot of little things that will make your travel experiences more enjoyable.  You may also accidentally make another person's travel experience better. 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Between trips

With Thanksgiving approaching I have a rare 2 week reprieve from travel.  I get to sit back and get everything around the house done I can't always get to normally.  But I am sure you don't care about me organizing the garage and basement for the winter.

I am getting travel plans finalized for the end of the year.  Two milestones I reached on my last trip will make upcoming travel a little better for me.  I received Gold Status in both my Marriott hotel and Delta airline programs.  Earning this status sounds trivial but I appreciate the advantages.  With my airline status I get, in order of importance:
  • Occasional free upgrades to First Class (Read: free drinks!)
  • I get better seating choices in economy class
  • I board earlier, which means I get to put my bag in the overhead compartment before they fill up completely
  • I can fly stand-by or get confirmed on earlier flights the same day for free (this can cost $50 or more)
  • I get a mileage bonus so I earn free flights faster
  • I use special lines for check in and sometimes for security
  • My checked luggage comes out earlier
My hotel status offers me:
  • Bonus points to earn free stuff faster
  • Free room upgrades (not as exciting as the airline upgrades)
  • There are others but they are kind of blase
I know there are those that will say that the status won't earn me more time with my family.  You are correct.  Although, I will enjoy the travel I have to do a little more now.  I won't get my time back with my family but the fact is I travel for my job.  Making that aspect better has a positive impact on my attitude when I return home and I can enjoy more quality time with my loved ones.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Delayed luggage

You would think that not having luggage would make me cranky but I wasn't in the least.  I knew it was going to be late before I took off.  There was an announcement that my booked flight was delayed by about 5 hours.  There was a rush to the counters to rebook flights and I was in the end of the line.  (I thought I could get my friend the Delta App to help me, apparently we aren't as good of friends as I thought we were.)  When I got to the gate attendant she sent me directly to the next departing flight, I got right on the plane, then the door closed, and we took-off.  There was no time for my bags to get on the plane.  On my layover in Detroit I talked with the nice people at the Help Center and had them start the process of getting my luggage, which was left behind.

I was without my luggage for an entire day.  I was able to go to a local store and buy slacks and a dress shirt for work.  And guess what?!  Delta said they would pay for my new outfit.  Now I just need to figure out how to get reimbursed for my $51 new duds.  I was traveling again (I do that a lot) and stopped in at the luggage office and the nice attendant (OK, she wasn't really that nice, kind of surly) submitted my reimbursement claim and promised I will get my check in 10 days. 

She was very specific about the 10 days for the check to arrive.  Is that odd to you?  That seemed odd to me.