Air Travel
Air Travel Tips & Useful Information
Air travel has opened up the world to us with an amazing array of travel options and opportunities. Once you are on the plane and on your way the worst part is over and you can relax and anticipate the adventures that lie ahead. However, all that peace of mind comes at a cost – and good preparation always pays off!
Top Tips & Advice
- Check weather sites for a long-range forecast for your destination and again before leaving home so you can make last-minute packing adjustments
- Flying on weekends or close to major holidays can be very expensive. Save money by flying midweek, or an actual public holiday, if possible
- At least six weeks in advance check that your passport will be valid well beyond the return date of your trip and has sufficient blank pages. Also check if a visa will be needed
- Check with your GP or health professional well in advance regarding any vaccinations needed for your destination and to arrange for a supply of medicines to take with you, if required.
- Call your airline or check their website before leaving home to see if your flight is on time. This may seem obvious, but how many times have you forgotten to do this, or left it to chance? It’s smart to check road reports at the same time to ensure you leave plenty of time to reach the airport
- Long layovers can be tiring, so if you don’t belong to an airline or airport executive club, find out if you can use their facilities for a one-time fee.
- Avoid consuming alcohol on long flights as the dehydrating effect can make jet-leg much worse. Also, don’t forget that airlines can deny boarding or even prosecute passengers displaying obvious signs of intoxication
- Write down the consulate or embassy address and emergency phone numbers of your destination country. If your passport should be lost or stolen contact them immediately. Carry a photocopy of the information page of your passport separately, as well as copies of all other important documents
- Be aware that solo parents travelling with children are more often than not required to produce a letter of parental consent when crossing borders
- Never leave on a trip without purchasing adequate Travel Insurance
It’s always a good idea to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website well before your trip to check their travel advice for your destination country and their ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. Their website contains a wealth of information, including current advisories and warnings (weather, volcanoes, earthquakes, major sporting events in the area, etc) as well as excellent advice on local laws and customs, etc.
Lastly, what should you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled or you are downgraded or denied boarding for any reason? If the airline denies a refund or compensation a company called EUclaim maybe able to help, and even pursue a claim for you if it is genuine. They track airline movements and know when delays or cancellations are really due to ‘technical problems.’ Another useful website to keep in your ‘favourites’ is the Air Transport Users Council (AUC), which acts as consumer watchdog for the Aviation Industry in the UK.
Air Transport Users Council link: http://www.auc.org.uk/