'Be Early', 'Be Informed', 'Be Prepared'
Source: ATA, Air Travelers Association
Nov 19, 2007 - 12:42:33 PM
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POTOMAC, Md., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, advised airline passengers over the holiday season to "Follow the 3 'Be's' for smooth holiday airline travel - Be Early, Be Informed, Be Prepared. If you follow this advice, you will be in a better position to defend yourself against the 'slings and arrows' that you may confront in dealing with today's congested aviation environment, especially in this upcoming holiday season." Stempler continued, "The 3 'Be's' for smooth holiday airline travel are as follows."
Be Early
- Be Early Rule #1 - you can never be too early for your flight.
- Be Early Rule #2 - Allowing extra time is often the only thing that
gives you the ability to solve many airline delay problems.
- Be Early Rule #3 - For holiday travel, provide at least twice the time
you normally would allow for each segment of the travel process.
- Be Early Rule #4 - Arrive early at the departure gate and board the
aircraft as early as possible to help to avoid being bumped from your
flight.
Be Informed
- Be Informed About Your Flight and Use Advance, Online Check-in to Obtain
Your Boarding Pass
- Confirm all of your flights well before departure day either online or
through the airline's toll-free telephone numbers.
- Check-in and print boarding passes online at least 24 hours before
departure.
- Confirm the actual departure time of all of your flights: before
leaving for the airport; when you get to the airport; and when you are
waiting at the airport. Things change.
- Be Informed About Your Airline's Rules
- Check the airline's rules for check-in times and for boarding times at
the gate. When flights are full, such as during the holidays,
airlines will start boarding even earlier.
- Check the airline's rules for the number, size, and weight of carry-on
and checked bags.
- Be Informed About the TSA Rules
- Know the Transportation Security Administration rules at
http://www.tsa.gov/ for what you can and cannot bring through security
checkpoints.
- Know the TSA 3-3-1 Rule for liquids and gels in carry-on bags
- 3-ounce containers in 1 quart-sized zip-top bag with only 1 zip-top
bag per passenger.
Be Prepared
- Be Prepared to Use Self-Service, Check-in Kiosks
- Use check-in kiosks to obtain boarding passes, obtain or change seats,
and at some airports to check bags.
- Go directly to the security checkpoint if you have a boarding pass and
no bags to check.
- Be Prepared to Check Any Bags
- Confirm that all checked bags have bag tags on the outside and inside
that contain your name, address, e-mail address, home phone number,
cell phone number, destination phone number, and flight information.
- Important Note: Never pack anything in checked bags that are
breakable, valuable, irreplaceable, necessary for your health,
required for your identification, or absolutely essential for your
trip.
- Be Prepared for the Security Check Point
- Be prepared to show your photo identification and boarding pass.
- Be prepared to offload all of your metal objects into your carry-on
bag before entering into the security line.
- Be Prepared for Long Lines and Delays from the Time you Arrive at the
Airport Until You Get on the Plane.
- Be prepared for: lines on the roads into the airport; lines to get
into the parking lots; lines at the check-in counter; lines at the
security checkpoint; lines to get food and drinks; lines at the
Starbucks; and lines at the gate.
- Be prepared to be self sufficient during flight delays on the
aircraft, by bringing food and snacks with you from home and buying
drinks after passing through the security checkpoint.
- Be Prepared for Long Lines and Delays from the Time you Arrive at the
Airport Until You Get on the Plane.
- Be prepared to call the toll-free number of your airline if your
flight is cancelled or delayed, to re-accommodate yourself on an
earlier or later flight. Do this in addition to standing in line with
passengers waiting to be accommodated, until you are re-accommodated
on the phone or at the desk.
- Be prepared to call your car rental company, local ground service
provider, or those waiting for you at the destination airport to keep
them advised of your delayed or cancelled flight.
Be Ready to Have a Good Flight and a Happy Holiday!
The Air Travelers Association (http://airtravelersassociation.com/) advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.
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