Early Labor Day celebrations were parades and festivals that celebrated the solidarity of the labor movement, but these days most people celebrate the weekend as the end of the summer season.  It probably felt a lot more like the end of summer when back-to-school came after the holiday!

Still, many communities have special festivals and celebrations, and it’s a classic weekend for a family road trip, picnic, weekend at the lake, or barbecue.

Whether you’re traveling, involved in community celebrations, or just staying home relaxing and mourning the passage of summer, I wish you all a very happy Labor Day.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Hopefully, you’ve managed to get through airport security and are patiently awaiting the call for your flight’s departure.

With all that you’ve been through so far, whether it’s general holiday travel stress or exacerbated weather-related travel stress, you’re still going to have to get all your stuff on that airplane.  And that’s easier said than done with all the general crankiness going on out there.

Following a few basic guidelines will help the airplane boarding process go smoother for you and for the people around you. 

It may not seem like it, but there is a process for boarding a flight.  While airlines may vary the process a bit, it won’t be by much.  If everyone follows the process, the right thing happens – that is, everyone gets to their seat, has room to stow their bags, and there’s a minimum of delay.  BUT, when people don’t follow the process, it can become a mess.  It’s just not a good time of year to have this type of mess.

With most airlines, there is an order to how passengers are called for the boarding process.  It will generally be in the following three groups:

1. Pre-Boards. Families traveling with infants and small children, passengers sitting in First Class, and passengers needing a little extra time for boarding. This last category generally means elderly passengers, those who have difficulty with walking, special needs, things like that. It does not mean people cranky people who have been stuck at an airport for days.  Pre-boarding is design to allow people who need time to get settled, without holding up a long line of people adding to stress on both sides.
2. Next comes elite pre-boards.  Yes, it sounds snobbish, but this is the passengers at the premium level of the frequent flyer program.  While they may not be sitting in First Class this trip, their loyalty buys them an early boarding and a little extra time to get settled.
3. Then it’s everyone else in groups.  The agent will start at the back, working forward in groups of rows.

This is where you’ll have the first opportunity to slip up and delay the boarding process – boarding out of turn.

Please board when your group is called.  If not, you will likely be asked to step aside and come back when it is your turn.  Just sit and the gate and watch it happen, and you’ll start shaking your head wondering why people can’t follow directions.  Each time it happens, it adds a few precious seconds to the boarding time.  And remember, the goals is to get everyone on and get going as quickly as possible.

There are enough seats for everybody, and even if there isn’t, it’s not a matter of who gets to the seat first.  And no, there’s probably not enough room for all the bags.  But boarding by turn helps the Flight Attendants onboard make sure that passengers who are seated at the back take their bags to the back.

Once you’re in line for your correct boarding category, have your boarding pass out so you can hand it to the agent.  They’ll need to check it off, scan it, or enter it into the computer, so have it out BEFORE you get to them.  You no longer have to present ID to board, so it’s okay to have that put away.

You still have to stow your bags, so keep reading!

Now some recommendations for stowing your bags:

• Once you finally get on the plane, walk down the aisle until you reach your row.   Carry your bags with caution, as all too often I’ve seen passengers get whacked by a backpack when someone turns around.  Those straps, packages, and rollers can really hurt if you bang into someone.
• Some roller bags are too large to roll down the aisle, so be prepared to carry it. 
• Do NOT stow your bags in the first overhead that you come to.  This is one of the reasons that things go so sideways with carry on bags, and it’s very irritating to hear so-called travel experts tell people to do this.  Doing this makes you part of the problem.  Stow your bags above your seat.  Flight Attendants in the cabin are going to be trying to keep passengers from stowing bags up front, making sure that there’s room for everyone.
• When you get to your row, quickly stow your bag overhead and step out of the main aisle to get settled.  If it’s going to take you a couple of minutes, let the people behind you pass so you don’t hold up the entire line.
• Be prepared to put a bag or package beneath the seat in front of you.  This is your personal stowage area and your are probably going to have to use it.  If you aren’t prepared to use the space in front of you, re-think whether you should be carrying it on.  And yes, I know that there isn’t much leg room if there’s a bag under there.
• If the area above your seat is full, don’t yell at the Flight Attendant about it.  The overheads are to be shared with everyone, and are not for your sole personal stowage.  Another reason why there’s not enough room is that people carry too much on.  It’s not our fault that the overheads fill up.
• Scoot the stuff that you place in the overhead close together.  Lots of gaps in the spacing just means wasted space.  Keep everything neatly packed up there, and you’ll get the most use of the space.
• If you’re putting a roller bag in the overhead, try putting it in perpendicularly to the aisle.  This won’t work in all overhead, but give it a try.  If it doesn’t work the first time, try turning the bag around so that wheels face out.  It won’t work on every plane, but when it does it help saves a lot of space.  Don’t put your bag in parallel unless it won’t fit any other way. 
• The aisles are going to be crowded, meaning that you are going to have to be fairly self-sufficient in stowing your items.  If your bag is too heavy to lift overhead, place it beneath the seat.  You may be able to get some help from the Flight Attendants or from other passengers, if they can get to you, but if you don’t want to throw your back out lifting your bag, why would you ask someone else to.

After your bags are stowed, it’s a matter of buckling up, turning off your electronic gear, and getting ready for take off.

I know that not everyone is going to follow these suggestion, although the boarding process would work a lot better if they would, so just remember that good manners, a polite attitude, and a little common sense will get you through. 

Safe travels everyone – and happy holidays!

Photo credit:  SXC; row of seat, interior of plane

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

After you check your bags, take a deep breath, queue up, and get ready to wait.  The lines are likely to be long this time of year, but there are things you can do to put that time to good use.  Sure you can chat on your phone or with your traveling companions, but do that after you have everything everything else prepared and ready to go.

Here are my recommendations for breezing through the security process:

• Have your photo ID out of your pocket or purse, and have it tucked together with your boarding pass.  Keep this handy, because you’ll have to present both to the TSA official when you get to the front of the line, and then again when you go through the metal detector.  I’ve mentioned this before, and I’ll keep mentioning as long as I see people stalling the process by waiting till they’re asked for ID.
• Once you’re at the front of the security line, get off your cell phone.  You need to pay attention to where you’re sent, get your things into bins and bags on the conveyor belt.  In other words, you’re going to need both hands free.
• Once you get in the line to go through the metal detector, start getting ready.  Remove your shoes and jacket, and place them in a bin – again BEFORE you get to the front of the line.  Cell phones and iPods, too.  Ditto for the change in your pockets or any other metal your might have – though why you haven’t packed this away is beyond me!  All this goes is a bin.
• Remove your 3-1-1 liquids and gel bag and put it into a bag as well.  This can go with your jacket and shoes.  If you haven’t removed them, your bags will be inspected and items removed.  If your liquids are too large they will be confiscated or you will be directed to check your bags.  Don’t waste your time, and everyone else’s, by not following the regulations.  (I see this happen EVERY SINGLE DAY and can’t figure out why people won’t comply.)
• Remove your laptop and other large electronic items from your bag and put them into a SEPARATE bin. 

Much of this can be done before you are at the front of the line, but realizing you can’t remove everything, just be ready when it’s your turn.  Know where everything is so you don’t have to fumble around causing delays for everyone behind you.

If there are crew members or airport employees, they will be in a special line and likely directed to the front of the line in a sanctioned “cutting in line.”  Some airports have dedicated lines for employees, but most now just put everyone through the same lines, sending employees to the front.  If you have employees “cut” in front of you, don’t become hostile or aggressive.  TSA is on alert for any aggressive behavior, and when it’s directed to a crew member it’s likely to cause even more concern.  We’ll be fast and get through as quickly as we can so you can have your turn.

• Once you get a little closer to the front of the line for the conveyor belt, place your luggage, carry on, purse, packages, etc. directly onto the belt.  These do not need to be in a bin.  Do not carry anything to the x-ray scan, except your boarding pass and ID.
• If, despite all your planning and efforts, you are having problems getting everything together and on the security belt, motion to the person behind you to go ahead.  It’s just good manners to keep the line moving.
• After all your bags and stuff is on the conveyor belt, step aside and stand inline to walk through the metal detector.  Line up and walk through AFTER you have been motioned to do so.

But what if the metal detector goes off?  Now what?  Keep reading to find more tips on getting through security.

Hopefully, by following all previous suggestion, you’ll walk through the door frame and keep on walking.  But if the alarm goes off, stop and return to the front side of the door frame. 

• TSA officials will have you check your pockets to see if you’ve forgotten anything.  Step aside from the line to do this, letting people behind you pass through.
• If you’ve forgotten something in your pocket, place it in a bin and send it on through on the conveyor.  People will be irritated with you.  They’ll wonder why you thought you could get through with the bag of quarters from the slot machine jackpot you won.  Deal with it in a way that allows other people to get through and you’ll save a little face.

Sometimes, though, you really have done everything right and the metal detector still goes off.  Don’t get angry, just be prepared for a hand wand screen and a pat down by the TSA.  Try to keep a positive attitude about this.  It sucks.  I know.  Certain pieces of my uniform do this too, so I know how it feels.  You can’t change it at that point in your travels, so just change your attitude about it and you’ll have a more pleasant experience.

It’s still not over yet, and there’s much you have left to do.

• Once through the metal detector, slide your bags down to the end of the conveyor belt.  You can put your shoes on there – out of the way of other people trying to come through behind you – as well as lift up your bags and get everything back together.  Keep aware of your environment, and don’t block people behind you.  If you need extra time, that’s not a problem, just stand to one side so others can pass.
• As you pick up your things, stack up the empty bins.  If you don’t they’ll just start bunching up and nothing else will get through.  This part of the process is about paying it forward since it helps the people behind you.  Do it!

That’s it – you’re finally through and ready to head to your departure gate!  Safe travels!

Photo credit:  wikimedia, conveyor belt; metal detector

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

While you can get away with being fashionably late to your office or party or neighborhood gift exchange, airport counters and security lines are not that forgiving. This will be a busy travel season, despite the recession, and if you’re one of the ones who’ll be flying it’s time now to start planning on how you’ll be getting to the airport.

As you’re making plans, remember to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, and make sure you take into account heavier traffic, less parking places, and longer security lines. 

Here are some options on how you can get to the airport.  Pick one that is economical – both in price and in stress level!

• Drive yourself and park at the terminal. Depending on where you live and the traffic patterns, this could take a fair amount of commute time. Additionally, terminal parking is generally the most expensive parking option, with prices in many airports nearing $30/day.  Sure, you have the convenience of complete control over your schedule, but compute the driving cost, parking cost, and time factor and see if this is really the right choice.
• Drive yourself and park off-site. Again, you have to deal with the traffic and commuting issue, but at least parking off-site saves a bit of money. Allow plenty of time to not only get to the parking lot, but also to get from the parking lot to the airport. The farther away the lot, the cheaper it will be.  Lots close to the airports are running around $15/day, and further away around $10/day.  If your off-site lot of choice accepts them, make a parking reservations to avoid finding the lot full on your travel day.
• Take a cab to the airport. You still have the traffic and commute to deal with, but you don’t have the headache of managing it.  The cab can take advantage of HOV or commuter lanes, and at most airports can drop you curbside at your airline ticket counter.  You can make a pick up reservation a few days in advance, and most accept credit cards.  This can be expensive for a short trip, but do the math and find out what you’ll save on parking.
• Use a car service. Although not available in all cities, I’ve found a car service to be more reliable than a taxi service when it comes to a timely pick up. Cars are clean and comfortable, and comparably priced to a taxi.  This is the option I use when I’ll be gone for any length of time.  During the holidays, I’d recommend making a reservation at least a week in advance.
• Shared van service. There are a variety of companies that provide these services, combining several pick ups in one shuttle. Because these are shared rides, it will take more time to get to the airport as you’ll make a couple stops, but you’ll also save some money.  The pricing is per person, rather than per trip, so if there are two or more of you traveling together, it’s probably more cost efficient to use a taxi or car service rather than to use a shared service.
• Stay at an airport hotel that offers parking in addition to the room.  For the price or a room, you can stay close by and take the hotel shuttle to the airport. If you live a ways away from the airport, this is a great option if you have an early morning flight.  The price of the room may offset the price of parking, and with some planning you can avoid peak traffic times.  There may be limits on how many days you can park free, so check to make sure than any limits meet your travel schedule.
• Public transportation. Depending on where you live this could be a subway, train or a bus. It’s cheap, it’s green, and it is relatively fast.  Unfortunately, this is not a viable option from my home, but it is in many major cities.  If you’re traveling with kids, remember that you’ll have to juggle your luggage and theirs, so think about  the additional stress this may place on you.
• Have a friend or family member drive you. This is probably my least favorite alternative, because you really are pushing your schedule and commute time onto someone else.  There are ways to avoid putting your travel stress on someone else, and that is always my first choice.  In considering this option, remember that you’ll need to bring home a gift or treat your chauffeur in some way, so it may be cheaper to consider another arrangement.

This time of year, I recommend planning to arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of your scheduled departure for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.  That gives you plenty leeway for a few things to go wrong without disrupting or ruining the entirety of your travel plans.

Frequent travelers most likely know what’s the best way to travel to the airport, but it’s something that the infrequent travel often forgets. Planning ahead will not only make things less stressful, but will also help to make sure that you aren’t rushing around on the day of your flight.

Photo credit:  SXC

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Our theme this month was Holiday Travel & Events, and we have a handful of great posts representing this theme.  From tips for holiday travel, to holiday events, to great holiday sights, these travel bloggers joined into the holiday spirit, sharing travel with you.

Enjoy!

• Byteful Travel presents The 7th Annual Holiday Extravaganza posted at Byteful Blog, saying, "I travel to Dallas Texas in the winter to witness the musical experience of a lifetime: The 7th Annual Holiday Extravaganza, the perfect balance of symphonic pop and holiday music. An album of high resolution photos is included."
• Jon Rochetti presents Christmas at Mount Vernon with Mrs. Washington posted at The DC Traveler – Washington DC travel & tourism information, saying, "Visit George Washington’s Mt Vernon estate just outside of Washington, DC and check out the live Christmas camel, just like the one George Washington had at Mt. Vernon during the Christmas season of 1787."
• Audrey Berger presents NYC Events to Think About This Holiday Season | Cracks In Sidewalks posted at Cracks In Sidewalks.
• Travel Advocate presents Family Travel Lanes Take Off In Time for Holiday Travel posted at The Travel Advocate.
• Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents How to Get the Best Holiday Travel Deals posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "How to get the best deals on holiday travel."
• My post here at Flyaway Cafe, Holiday Dinners on the Road, will give ideas for people working over the holidays as well as preferring not to cook;
• And my post at The Seattle Traveler, Parade of Christmas Ships Light up the Holidays, about a wonderful Seattle holiday tradition.

That’s it for this edition of the Carnival of Travelers.  Thanks to everyone for participating, and I hope you’ll all take the time to visit these blogs and check out the other great stuff they have to say.

The theme of the next edition of the Carnival of Travelers will be New Year’s Resolutions:  What is your new year’s travel resolution?  All posts must be related to the topic to be included. 

You can submit your blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Travelers using the carnival submission form.  Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

And, for those of use who find that we must work and travel over holidays, like many airline personnel, there are options that allow us to celebrate even though we can’t be at home.

Most cities have restaurants that are open for major holiday, offering both their basic menu as well as special holiday fare.

Zagat Buzz, the blog arm of the renowned Zagat Guides, lists a variety of restaurant that will be open on Thanksgiving.  If you’re looking for a nice meal out, you won’t go wrong with any of the finds listed here.

For other ideas, check with local newspapers or city magazines for restaurants that will be open.  Open Table is also a great source for locating a restaurant and securing reservations.  Book early, as tables get snapped up quickly.

Image credit:  SXC

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe