Rules of the Air

Tips for Infrequent Travellers

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve set your ADT Security alarm and you paid the dogsitter, now it’s time for vacation! If you’re not a seasoned traveler there are a few air-travel rules you should know before you go to avoid long lines and big hassles at the airport:
Don’t Wear Boots: You’re going to have to take your shoes off when you go through security and just like you wouldn’t wear massive amounts of jewelry to be removed you shouldn’t wear shoes that are hard to removed. Likewise, wear something with socks so you won’t be walking around barefoot in the interim.
Buy a Pass: If you’re planning on being at the airport for more than a couple of hours buy a lounge pass at one of the gates. You’ll have access to wi-fi and comfy chairs and when you reach your destination you’ll be well rested and ready to go.
Dress Nicely: the nicer you dress the more likely you are to be upgraded to first class. It may not be fair but flight attendants and gate agents want you to look the part!

Personal Checklist. Did You Forget Anything?

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Preparing for travel can be stressful for a lot of people. Hopefully this checklist will help you prepare.

- In your carryon, pack your plane tickets and any documentation you need for travel. If you are traveling internationally, you will need a passport. Travel within the United States requires that you have personal identification such as a drivers license.

- Bring confirmation numbers of any hotels or rental cars. If you booked online, print your receipts and contact numbers.

- Travel with at least 20 in small bills so you can tip cab drivers, bell hops or the valet. You should not travel with a lot of cash, instead opt for traveler’s cheques, credit or debit cards.

- Be sure you pack your toiletries in accordance with the TSA rules on liquids.

- Electronics have become a big part of air travel. If you AE bringing a laptop, camera or cellphone, be sure to pack the chargers for all your devices.

- Medication and health insurance cards. It may be hard to find a pharmacy that can accommodate your prescription meds, don’t leave them home.

- Take at least one extra pair of clothes. Accidents happen, be prepared for them.

What To Do If Your Child Is Traveling Alone

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whether it is because a parent that has moved across the country or to visit grandparents, it may be necessary for you to have your child fly alone.

Children between the ages of 5 – 14 who fly alone are referred to as “unaccompanied minors. Most airlines will not let children fly unaccompanied under the age of 5. Requirements vary between the different airlines so make sure you check the requirements of the airline you are using. There will be an extra fee for children flying alone, which is usually 75 -100 per child.Confused? Here ‘s a little help .

It is best to try to get a direct flight if you are sending a child on a plane by themselves. Some airlines will not allow children under the age of 7 to make connections. And some sill now allow ages 5 – 11 to change planes.

If a child is flying unaccompanied, there is a form you need to fill out with the child’s name, age, any medical conditions and other information. Before departure you will also need to provide the name of the adult that will be meeting the child at their final destination. A flight attendant will escort the children off the airplane and ensure they connect with the person picking them up.

How To Choose Your Perfect Airline

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Today, the wallet plays a big role on picking what airline to fly. You need to take other things into consideration besides the price of a ticket. Many airlines today charge baggage fees, so if you plan on taking more then a carry-on, you should add the cost of a checked bag onto the final price. There really is no savings if you buy the ticket at 200 and need to add 25 for each bag checked over a ticket price of 220 with your first beg checked free.

Before choosing an airline do some research. Find out what airlines fly to your destination airport and compare ticket prices along with all other hidden charges. Decide if traveling to a municipal airport could be less expensive then your area international airport. Often times, you can save a lot by traveling just a little further.

If you plan on air travel several times in the near future, consider signing up for flying rewards programs through and compare each airlines policies on these. How many points do you need before it is worth it? Are there blackout dates for when you plan to travel?

Doing some comparisons are well worth the savings.

Safety Tips Every Traveler Must Know

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Traveling allows an individual the opportunity to experience different environments. Whether you’re a male or a female, traveling to and fro can sometimes be very dangerous. If you want to keep safe while traveling, consider implementing the following safety tips into your lifestyle.

Travel in a group.

Criminals commonly target solo travelers. Those who travel in groups, on the other hand, are less likely to be harmed or harassed while traveling. If you’re a solo traveler, consider taking a friend or family member along on your next trip. If you can’t get a friend or family member to go along on your trip, consider finding and joining a reputable travel group beforehand.

Stay alert at all times.

If you want to keep as safe as possible while traveling, you are definitely going to need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. The more aware or alert you are of your surroundings, the less likely you’ll be robbed or harassed as a result.

Don’t give out your personal information.

Avoid talking about your personal information to random strangers, no matter how friendly they seem. Simple personal information, such as your home address, could be beneficial to a professional criminal.

Airport Games For The Whole Family

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Long waits at an airport can be boring to children, but there are many ways to keep them entertained. Many family, friendly games are available to play in small spaces. Card games, word searches, crossword puzzles, video games, board games, even a pen and paper, can turn a boring wait into family fun.

Video games are available in pocket-sized versions. Many popular family board games are available in mini-sized versions, which are perfect for traveling and won’t cost extra airline fees. An e-reader or cellphone can offer free games such as blackjack and word searches. If you forgot to pack one of your games, it is easy to find a game to occupy the youngsters, all you need is a pen and paper. Hangman is a popular and fun, family game to enjoy with a pen and paper. At last resort, you can rely on your imagination to entertain the kids with a game of I Spy, or make up your own game For example, count how many people have a certain colored shirt or shoes on, and the winner gets the window seat.

Remember, use your imagination and have a fun, filled family vacation while waiting at the airport.

How To Pick Your Perfect Cruise

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Yea a cruise. Cruises can be so much fun as long as you get one that fits your needs, personality and budget. There are so many options for a cruise. You can take a romantic cruise, a sightseeing cruise or a family fun cruise and the options don’t stop there. You still have to choose your destination, budget, how many are going, when you are going, what activities you want and that’s before you are even on the cruise. Once you’re on the ship you have to decide what activities you want to do each day, what you want to eat and drink, how much shopping you want to do and more.
Destinations include but are not limited to Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii and more. There are
also so many things to do on the ship. You can see a play, go swimming, gamble or go rock climbing it’s up to you. A really great website that is helpful in finding a cruise destination is, www.frommers.com/destinations/ . If you’re not comfortable booking it yourself online make sure you find a good travel agent. Almost everything on the ship is included in the price, but always check first to make sure.

Break Up and Make Up

www.rulesoftheair.com — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It seems that 2011 rolled in with American Airlines and Expedia announcing they were breaking up over one of the oldest topics that plagues couples money. Apparently the two were quibbling over commissions and fees for services, and couldn’t come to a resolution (kind of like a working budget in a marital household, one could say).American claimed they could “do better” outside of the relationship (as a lot of estranged partners profess) by offering more personalized packages (I’m not sure we should continue the “estranged partner seeking outside diversions” analogy on this one).Experts cautioned that while American may be saving money on commission fees, its sales would most like suffer if flights were not as easily accessible or the price of its fares not be easily compared to others on sites such as Expedia or Orbitz. Again, kind of like the tempted partner not seeing the full picture before leaping outside the boundaries of the relationship.Then, a few days later, it was reported that American Airlines was “talking to Orbitz and Expedia about resuming” their relationship; so it seems the “expert counseling” may have done some good.While the jury is still out on the ultimate fate of the relationship (as of this writing), the takeaway is simple: when searching for full disclosure (as in “all carriers operating to a particular destination”) you should probably not rely on only one side of the story (that would be Expedia or Orbitz) since resentment against perceived offenders might still be percolating.In short, go directly to the source (American Airlines) when planning your future trip until this matter is resolved.

Tips for flying fears

www.rulesoftheair.com — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:49:43 +0000

Scared of flying? You’re definitely not the only one. When it comes to flying long distances, that fear can be paralyzing. In order to make your flight more bareable, we’ve comprised a few tips to help you push your fears aside. . . for the flight at least.

Distraction is the key

Whether you are a reader or a gamer, take something with you to keep you distracted. Purchase a new book and get engrossed in the story. You could also take your iPod and listen to your favorite songs. On a long flight, pick an in-flight movie. Whatever the distraction is, keeping your mind occupied will keep you from thinking about the flight.

Take a sleeping pill

This solution is only useful for long flights. However, by the time you wake up, the flight is over (or close to it). Another recommendation is taking a pill that will calm your nerves; such as valium.

There’s such a thing as too cautious

It’s important to know the emergency procedures. Meanwhile, over-reading the brochures will only cause you to panic more. Watch the stewardess simulate the safety routines, afterwards, keep all thoughts of disaster aside.

Tips for Flying with Pets

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:13:21 +0000

Sure, parrots, canaries and cockatiels may be able to flap their own wings through the air, but when it comes to the most common of domestic pets, they will need some assistance when taking to air travel. That’s not to say there’s no way to bring your beloved dog or cat on cross-country vacations without having to endure a long car trip. Most airlines allow animals on board many flights, a plot twist that could’ve shortened Homeward Bound to a drama-free half hour short film, still leaving time to further explore Sassy’s doggie-trust issues. Of course, there are a few rules and guidelines that must be followed before your pet can become an authorized travel companion, not to mention some tips to help make the pet air travel process as pain-free as possible.

Plan Ahead You can’t decide there might be some great dog parks in California the night before you fly out of New York and still expect Sparky to tag along. Book your pet’s reservation when you book your own reservation, and book both earlier than you normally would for solo trip. Also, be knowledgeable of your selected airlines individual pet policy as to avoid last minute surprises.
Prepare Paperwork Just like you need a driver license or passport, your pet will need a health certificate and rabies vaccination certificate at the very least to board a plane. In most cases, these documents will need to be issued no more than ten days prior to departure.
Exercise Before Travel Depending on length of your flight, not to mention time going through airport security, which is tough enough when traveling alone, your pet might be cooped up longer than accustomed to. A long walk or any form of exerting activity will help to tire your furry friend out, making it a far less daunting task to stay put or perhaps nap for a few hours.