Travel Tips

Basic Airline Tips and Information:

Non-Stop: No stops. You will fly directly from starting airport to the destination airport.
Direct Flight: You will not be getting off the airplane, but your plane may be making 1-2 stops along the way.
Connecting Flight: You will land and change planes.

Stand-By or Wait List:
This is not a 1st come, 1st served proposition. Ask how many people have priority status. If there are more than 12 priority status fliers and you are on a narrow body plane, you won't be flying home.  One a wide body airplane your chances are better, ask if all classes are sold out and that should be a good indicator on whether you will be boarding.

Alternate Airports using these for departures and arrivals can save you lots of money.

Positioning Flights depart at unusual times and are often deeply discounted. These are generally flights that are returning an airplane to a new location.

Check on Flight Status by calling the airline and telling them your Flight Number, departure and arrival cities and ask them to punch up "FLIFO" (Internal Flight Information) and get the aircraft number assigned to your flight. Then ask the status of your aircraft number. This will tell you where the airplane is and if it has any chance of getting to your location on time.

Rule 240 (aka Rule 120.20) This rule states the airline must deliver you to your destination within two hours of your scheduled flight time. If it can't, it must put you on another carrier at no additional charge, even if it means an upgrade to first class. 240 only works in the event of a mechanical delay or delays that are entirely the fault of the airline like misconnections or cancellations.  Rule 240 does not work with weather delays, labor issues, riots, wars and acts of God. Rule 240 only works in the United States.

Heavy Airport Times: During the peak times use the opposite level for drop offs and pick ups. Departures: 6-9 AM; Arrivals 4-7 PM. Lowest traffic days at the airport are Wednesday and Thursday.

Luggage: Hard sided luggage doesn't hold up as well as soft sided luggage. If your suitcase has wheels, check it for balance and center of gravity. The sturdier, the better, with bolted connections being better than stitched. There are now suitcases that are made from bullet resistant fabric and they hold up really well. For luggage protection Secure Wrap is an alternative to having your belongings all over the airport.

Luggage Tags: Put identification on both the outside and inside of your luggage. Don't write down your home address! Use office address or just a telephone contact.

Airplane Seats:

• Window seats are good for leaning your head on the wall. The down side is that you are virtually trapped for the entire flight.
  
• Aisle seats. Gives you more room. Beware of escaped beverage carts. Also be certain to be the first  to leap up and open the overhead bins so items don't fall out and hit you on the head.
  
• To see what seats are good, bad or average check this site: Seat Guru
  
• Food Service starts at the Front on Even numbered flights and the Back on Odd numbered flights. (FEBO)

Bumped From Your Flight
Airlines typically overbook by about 20%. If you are bumped, know the term DBC (Denied Boarding Compensation). The airline must cover the cost of your flight if you have a confirmed reservation and a paid ticket and you have made the check-in deadline at the departure gate.

Voluntary Bumping
Only take this for a confirmed seat and unrestricted voucher. If the wait is going to be a long one, ask for meals and telephone calls. Make sure the airline protects you on any subsequent flights so you don't lose your seats there too.

Upgrades
First class is great, but can be over rated on a narrow bodied airplane. Try for an open seat next to you in coach, that will give you more room. If you want to try for first class, here are some tips:

1. Dress Well. If you look decent you will have a better chance.
   
2. Ask "What is the load today?" That will tell you how many people are scheduled to ride the airplane.
   
3. If your flight is waiting for connecting flights, you have a better chance at getting the upgrade as some of those folks are likely to miss the connection.
   
4. Don't ask for the upgrade, they know why you are there. Start schmoozing and being friendly. If they ask for your ticket, the upgrade has likely started.
   
5. Don't lurk and don't be demanding. Just get on the airplane. The bottom line is that you are going from one place to another.
   

Drink Water
Do not drink airplane tap water, it can be full of nasty organisms that will most definitely make you sick. Drink bottled water, and use this guideline: 8 ounces for each hour on the airplane. Airplanes are exceptionally dry and caffeine and alcohol will only dry you out more.

Ears
To keep your ears in the best shape possible consider the following tips:

• Chew gum or suck on candy to keep the canals open.
  
• Drink plenty of water.
  
• Take an antihistamine the day before flying to dry out your sinus cavity.
  
• Valsalva Maneuver (Recommended by Peter Greenberg, Travel Expert)
  
• Juice boxes for children to drink and keep their ears open.
  
• Hold you nose and swallow to relieve pressure.
  
• For more information on airplane ear
  

Move Around
Get up and move around the airplane a minimum of once for each 2 hours. Deep Vein Thrombosis or Economy Class Syndrome can occur if you remain cramped in an airplane for too long. For more information on DVT check out NASA's web site.

Bathrooms
Bring a non aerosol disinfectant to spray on the toilet, faucets and door handle. Airplane bathrooms are notoriously dirty, so put this in the better safe than sorry category.

Seat Belts - Wear them while you are on the airplane. Sudden turbulence can severely injure you if you are not belted in.

Transportation Security Administration lists items that are permitted and prohibited, airport security waiting times, and information for disabled or challenged individuals.
Federal Aviation Administration has all types of passenger information, contacts, safety records and complaint information.
Airline Seating Information gives information for 21 airlines that includes leg room, width, pitch and location relative to the bathroom.
Plane Spotter Provides educational fold-out brochures that help identify commercial and military airplanes.

Flight Delay Information:

Google Flight Tracking Links
FAA Flight Delays Air Traffic Control Command System
Aviation Delays and Consumer Information
Civil Aviation Authority

Flight Status
Flight Tracking See where a specific or random plane is flying.
Flight Status within two hour window
Flight Delays at U.S. Airports

Frequent Fliers
Hotel and Airline Programs. Shows converters from one program to another.
Frequent Flier Articles and Tips
Mile Point
Flyer Talk Frequent Flyer Community


Airline Fares and Auctions
Check your airfares in the various sites listed and then go directly to the airline web site to book your flight. You will usually save $5-$15 per seat. The best time to buy your airline ticket is 1AM on Wednesday morning on whatever time zone the airline is located in. For example, Northwest is located in Central Time Zone. Not seeing a fare you like? Keep checking, airlines update their fares over 250,000 times per day.

Yahoo Travel
Site 59 Last Minute Travel Deals
Side Step Search and Compare Airfare, Hotels and more.
Travelocity Good way to see what is available on major airlines.
Orbitz Another warehouser for fares.
Priceline Warehouser for fares and travel
Cheap Tickets Warehouser of Air Fares.
Hotwire Warehouser
Kayak Warehouser
Quick Aid Airports, Airlines, Airport Codes, Hotels, Limos, Parking, Flights
Booking Buddy Cheap flights and more.
EuropeByAir European Air Travel
Airtreks For Round the World (RTW) trip planning.
Boots N All Another Round the World RTW trip planning site.
InfoHub Specialty Travel Site

Seat Guru Airplane Seating Guide

Basic Terms and Plans:

Security: Always hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door and turn on the television. This makes it look like someone is in the room whether you are there or not. For additional security, you can ask the hotel to lock your deadbolt from outside the room when you leave. No one can enter the room (including you) without assistance from the hotel security officer. For more information on travel safety visit Safe Place.

Housekeeping:

Remove the Bedspread to keep other people's activities off your body. Remember that hotels rarely launder the bedspread, and that i just plain gross. Ask housekeeping not to replace it when they make up your room.

Televisions, Remotes and Telephones should be wiped off with a cleaning wipe. Two main areas that do not get cleaned by housekeeping staff are the remote control and telephone handsets, be sure to wipe off both the ear and mouth pieces.

Pillows should be requested from housekeeping as soon as you check in. There is usually an extra pillow in the closet which will be infinitely cleaner than the one on your bed. Take the pillows off your bed and place them in the closet, again keep other people's germs off of your body.

Ice Buckets should only be used with the plastic bag as the liner. Never use the ice directly from the bucket as these are another item that is never cleaned.

Coffeepots are usually rinsed out and not washed. Use your own judgment with these and feel free to clean them before brewing a pot in the room.

Towels are often too small to be useable. Talk nicely to the maid about getting better towels and tip her for bringing them to you.

Carpets are another disgusting area in hotels. Think about the heavy patterns that are used in rooms to hide stains and mask dirt. Do not walk around barefooted, but rather wear slippers, your own or see if the hotel will provide them.

Drinking Glasses are probably not washed or exchanged between guests. You are likely drinking from a glass that many previous guests have also used to rinse their mouths out. The plastic cups that are hermetically sealed are a much safer bet for you.

Bathtubs may or may not be washed and cleaned. Often, the maid will only run a wet towel around it and call it good. To make it more appealing, you may want to wash it down yourself before showering.

Shower Curtains are rarely cleaned. If you are lucky, the hotel will have installed an arc shower curtain rod that will keep the offending vinyl liner away from your body.

Cell Phone Chargers are the most common item left behind in hotel rooms. If you have forgotten yours, ask the front desk if they have one to match your phone.

Room Service: Before adding a tip and signing the bill, check to be sure there isn't a gratuity all ready included.

Hotel Telephones: Don't use them. Cell phones have helped with this immensely. If you must use a hotel phone, you may want to check into a service like Kallback to save money.

Run of House or Run of Hotel: Stay away from these deals! The hotel will give you the room it wants you to get, not the room you want.  Most likely, you will not get a large room with a king size bed and a good view.

Hotel Meal Plans: (Check if pricing is per person)

• European Plan (EP): No meals included.
• American Plan (AP): All meals are included.
• Modified American Plan (MAP): 2 meals are included. Usually breakfast and dinner.
  
• Continental Plan:  Bed and Breakfast.
• Bermuda Plan: Full Breakfast.
  

Hotel and City Links:
IUPUI Links Hotel Chains, Brokers, Booking Agents, Web sites, Toll Free Numbers
Zagat Restaurants, Nightlife, Hotels and Attractions
Fly In The Soup Great travel and other resources
Virtual Bellhop Luggage Free Travel Solutions
Practical Nomad Accommodations
Boulevards Hotel, Dining and Real Estate Information
Youth Hostels Not just for Youths.
Hotels.com Warehouser, a good place to start
All-Hotels.com Worldwide, a good place to start looking
Luxres Upscale hotels and vacations
Quik Book Hotels in Major Cities
Bidding for Travel teaches you how to make travel affordable
Better Bidding Tips on how to have more success on bidding travel web sites
Venere Multiple selections and lots of reviews. Worldwide.

Vacation Rentals By Owner Properties Located Worldwide (Lists Pet Friendly too.)
Holiday Rentals  Properties around the globe that offer luxury rentals
The Best Hotels in Town  Pet Friendly Hotel Searches
RSVP Rentals Lake Michigan

Currency Converters
Quick Conversion of 15 major currencies
Cash versus Interbank Rates
Currency Cheat Sheets