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ESCORTED TOURS TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES!!
ESCORTED TOURS TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES!!
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| What's New in 2011 |
| STC Tours P.O. Box 276 Bronx, NY 10475 Tel: (718) 320-0011 Fax: (520) 303-9958 Email: info@stctours.com |
| Group Leaders Wonted |
years (maybe never?), and you have no clue what's involved to get to your local airport, check in for
your flight, get through security (are they going to strip-search me?), get to your gate, and fly those
friendly skies.
Don't fear, we've put together some helpful tips to get you to and through airports. Keep in mind,
each airport is different, so things like parking garages and their daily rates, the layout of terminals
and gates, and the general number of available airport services, such as restaurants and stores,
will be very different between the various airport facilities.
Preparing for your Trip? Before you Leave. If this is your first time flying, or it has just been a
while, follow these tips to be best prepared before you even leave for the airport.
What to Pack? Restricted Items - things you can take with you. Due to the heightened security
measures after 9/11 and following the exposed plot in the UK during the summer of 2006, the
agency who regulates airport security, the Transportation Safety Administration, or TSA, has revised
its guidelines numerous times. Clearly there are items that were and always will be prohibited, such
as firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, etc. (seems like common sense, right?). But if you
want to know if you can take that sewing needle on-board, of if your 2 gallon jug of hair gel will
make it past airport security, its best to check on the latest advisory directly with the TSA, at
www.tsa.gov.
The Pros and Cons of Checking your Bag. Often a hotly-debated subject amongst flyers, there are
certain advantages and disadvantages to each argument. But first, for those new to the game of
flying or need a refresher, there are certain limits to what you can take, both in your carry-on (what
you can physically take with you on the aircraft), and what you can 'check-in' (what goes in the
cargo hold of your plane - under the floor of the cabin). See How much can I take on-board, and
what do I have to check?
Advantages of taking only carry-on luggage (disadvantages of checking your bags)
The airline won't lose your bags! Always the scorn of travelers, lost luggage can be a real drag. And
if this happens, the air carrier will do little to compensate you, except to deliver your bag to your
home or hotel, often many hours or even days after your luggage was lost.
When you get to your destination, you can just zip right through the airport to your rental car, taxi,
or shuttle, and not have to wait endlessly for your bag to show up on that baggage carousel.
If your flight is delayed (or canceled altogether) and you missed your connecting flight, you have
your bags with you and are much more flexible. Perhaps there is another flight you can be
re-routed to, or a flight going to a nearby airport. Remember, if you check your bags, those bags
will stay on the scheduled flight (in most cases), even if that flight is delayed by hours and you can
be re-booked on a different flight. The airline will simply send your bag on the originally-scheduled
flight, requiring that you stick it out at your destination or return to the airport what that flight
arrives (what a bummer!).
Another advantage is that you keep your bag securely with you, thus eliminating the chance that
your camera fails to zoom anymore after being zoomed into the cargo hold by a guy who used to
work lugging concrete bags at construction sites, or worse, that it 'sprouted legs' and disappeared
en-route to your arrival airport.
Advantages of checking your bags (Disadvantages of carrying your bags onto the cabin)
You can take a lot more stuff. Since airlines restrict what you can carry-on board the airplane, you
have to pack very carefully (read: don't take that kitchen sink). If you're traveling on a trip of a few
days, you can probably get by carrying your bags on-board the flight, but if you plan to fly with lots
of gifts and goodies, you'll be much better off checking your bags. See checked baggage limits.
You won't have to fight 280 people for that elusive overhead bin space (the area above your seat
that always seems to be 1 inch smaller than your bag). Since most business travelers tend to take
shorter trips and hence don't check-in luggage, and they are priveleged to board before the rest of
the masses, chances are the overhead bins might be full by the time you embark your flight, or, the
only space available is all the way in the back over 49E, and your seat is in 12A (meaning you have
to wait until all the passengers disembark at the destination airport to wait to get back and retrieve
your bag at baggage claim.
How much can I take On-board, and what do I have to Check? As a very general rule, you can
take one size-limited carry-on bag with you when you fly, not including a small laptop bag,
backpack, or handbag. Alternatively, you can check two bags at the airport check-in counter. Bag
size restrictions for carry-ons and weight-limits for checked-luggage are determined by each airline.
See checked baggage restrictions or carry-on restrictions.
What happens if I am over the Checked-Baggage Limit? If you arrive at the airport check-in
counter with 12 bags of gifts for your nephews, be prepared to pay a hefty price. Airlines allow you
to check two bags that meet their size and weight limits (see checked baggage regulations).
Anything over the limit can cost $75 or more per bag, so be aware! The ticket counter agent will be
happy to take your credit card and charge you more than you spent on those gifts.
What happens if I carry my bags on-board, and there is no space? You've made it to the airport,
your flight is set for an on-time departure, and you've started the boarding process - only you're in
the back of a long line of fellow passengers, and by the time you get on board, there is no space
left in any of the overhead bins! Well what happens in that case is the flight attendants take your
bag into the cockpit, where the pilot gets first dibs on your stuff...ok, what really happens is that
they take your bag off the plane and check it in. So now you have to go to baggage claim when you
arrive at your destination to pick it up at the baggage carousel. No big deal, right?
Documents to take. See airport ID section for info on proper ID requirements.
Confirming your Flight. If you fly on any one of the major US carriers or their large alliance
partners, you don't have to worry about calling to confirm your flight. However, if you're flying Air
Zimbabwe or other less-known carrier, its a good idea to call at least 24 hours prior to your
scheduled departure. Use this handy list of airline phone numbers to check with your airline a day
before your departure.
Checking on the Status of your Flight before you Leave? It is definitely a good idea to check the
status of your departure prior to leaving for the airport. Check on iFly's live departures to see the
status of your flight. NOTE: remember, if your flight is listed as 'on-time 3 hours prior to your
boarding time, that does not guarantee that by the time you get to the airport parking lot that the
flight status will not have changed to 'delayed'.
When to Arrive at the airport? After you've familiarized yourself with the directions to the airport,
seen what the average drive time is, and viewed the parking options, you will probably now be
asking: "when should I arrive at the airport"?. The TSA recommends arriving at least 2 hours before
your flight. You might also want to check the average security wait time to see how long the lines
are at the time you'll be arriving.
Airport parking options. Airport parking can be very frustrating, and very expensive, if you're not
prepared. It is very common for passengers to miss flights because they could not find appropriate
parking, or getting stuck with huge bills because time ran short and the only option left was the
high-priced short-term parking garage. Know your options. Check out iFly's section on Parking
Advice and Tips.
Public Transportation Options If you live in an area which has public transportation, often this
can be the cheapest and most reliable way to get into and out of the airport. Trains are not
affected by rush hour (they only run more frequently), and often take you very close to your
departure terminal. Check if the closest airport to you for info on ground transportation options.
Checking In for your Flight?
Checking in with bags: If you've decided to check-in your bags, then you must proceed to the
check-in counter for your airline. There you will wait in-line until its your turn to heave your bag on
the scale, present your airport ID, and get your boarding pass issued, along with a baggage tag
receipt. Make sure your bag is unlocked, or has a TSA-approved lock. Once you have that, you're
set to pass through the security checkpoint and on to your departure gate.
Checking in with only Carry-on Bags. Should you be traveling light and have only a carry-on bag,
your best bet is to look for one of those nifty self check-in ticket kiosks (machine) - most major
airlines have them at most airports. That way you can avoid the lines at the check-in ticket counters.
Self Check-in Ticket Kiosks. These are machines which allow you to insert your ID - usually a valid
credit card for validation - and print a boarding pass without having to wait on line at the check-in
counter. Located near the airlines' ticket counters, these great time savers also allow you to view
your itinerary, select seats, and print boarding passes for all your flight segments.
Note: if you're checking bags, you will still have to go to the ticket counters - but many have ticket
kiosks right in front of the counter, and prompt you "Are you checking bags?". If you select yes, you
will be assisted by an airline ticket counter agent.
Getting thru Airport Security. The next step after getting your boarding pass will be to proceed
through airport security. Follow the signs to your gate, as there may be a security checkpoint at the
entrance to several groups of gates.
To avoid any delays, here is what you should be prepared for when entering the airport security
checkpoint:
Make sure any sharp objects, files, scissors or other items are in your checked bags. See the TSA's
site for the latest on what is allowed through security (www.tsa.gov).
Be prepared to remove your shoes, belt, watch, and anything that has a substantial metal content.
Bins are provided to keep lose items together.
Remove your laptop from its case or bag, and place that in a separate bin.
Keep your airport ID and boarding pass available to show any of the TSDA security screeners.
Before you board. Should you get something to eat before you catch your flight? Its no secret that
after 9/11, most airlines began cutting back on many in-flight services, such as food service. Many
offer what is now referred to as 'buy on board' - where meals and snack boxes are sold, depending
on time of day and duration of flight. You might want to know in advance what the on-board
options will be, otherwise you might have to make-do with what is offered, and shell out the $5 or
$10 for your mile-high box.
The Boarding Process. Once past the airport's security checkpoint, proceed to your gate's boarding
area. Look for departure monitors as you proceed, checking on the latest status and gate (yes,
they can change) of your flight. Boarding typically begins about 30 mins prior to the scheduled
departure time, so be sure to arrive there in time. You may risk losing your assigned seat (or even
your flight) if you show up too late.
Check your boarding pass. Most airlines board by zones or rows. Listen to the announcements
regarding boarding, and proceed when your row section or zone is called. You will pass an airline
gate agent, who will take your boarding pass and may ask for ID. If you printed out a boarding
pass at home, you will surrender it there for a bar-code scan. Embark the plane, find your seat, and
make sure you do not put anything too large under the seat in front of you, as the flight attendant
may ask you to put it in the overhead bin. Then fasten your seatbelt... the flight attendant will show
a video (its done manually on some aircraft types) explaining the safety features of the aircraft prior
to takeoff.
Dealing with Delays, Cancellations and other "Joys of Travel". Missed or cancelled connections. If
you arrive to your connecting city late, or your connecting flight was canceled outright, here is what
you can or should do. First, its a good idea to have your travel agent or airline's 800 number with
you. If you have that, you can call them and find out what your options are, usually they can rebook
you on another flight that day. This might save you a long line at the boarding gate counter, waiting
in the queue to have your ticket re-booked on another flight. Otherwise, as soon as you learned
that your connecting flight was missed or cancelled, you should seek out the airline's customer
service counter, or the gate agent at the gate where your departure was scheduled for. Get more
canceled flight tips.
Connecting Flights. Once you land at your connecting city airport, you will disembark, taking all of
your belongings with you. Just because you are traveling on a direct flight, you may still need to
change planes, gates and possibly terminals even though your connecting flight may show the
same flight number as your flight from your origin had. Check the departure monitors when you
de-plane to check on the status of your connecting flight.
Arriving at your Destination. Finding your bags. Once you have disembarked from your plane,
follow the signs to Baggage Claim. Once you arrive there, check the monitors to find the carousel
that corresponds to your flight number. Be prepared to surrender your luggage tags to any security
personnel (to check that you haven't walked off with somebody's Luis Vuitton bag). In most cases,
nobody checks anyway.
Lost luggage? You've made it through all of this, only to be left as the last person standing at the
baggage claim carousel. Horrible! Well, as you've probably figured out, you've been a victim of lost
luggage. Don't panic. Look for the airline baggage office, usually located right there at baggage
claim, and be prepared to fill out the paperwork. Usually they will tell you when you can expect your
bag to arrive, and will provide transportation for your bag to your home or hotel.
Who operates the airports? (in case you really wanted to know)? Why are all these airports so
different? Well the answer lies in the fact that in most cases each airport is operated by a different
government city, state, or municipality. Hence the difference in all their attributes. Their funding
sources are not centralized (meaning the federal government does not run the airports). So if you
live in an area serviced by a few airports (lucky you), chances are good that each is vying for your
business, and there is a fair degree of competition between them, as all of their revenues from
concessions, parking, and fees goes into the local coffers.
First-time Flyer Tips