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Avoid peak travel dates
Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Fridays this year, which means that the same advice for Thanksgiving will apply to both of these holidays -- fly on the holiday itself if possible, and avoid Sunday evening at the end of the long weekend.
Book early
Haven't booked your holiday travel yet? It's time to stop waiting and call your local travel agent today to start booking. For the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times. With the current state of the airline industry, it is never too early to book your holiday travel flights. While many of the best deals are probably already gone, be prepared to be flexible with dates and flight times. When having your travel agent book your flights make sure they have planned enough layover time in case of inclement weather and delays.
Leave early.
During peak travel times, much of the trouble you'll face lies on this side of the security check-in, from traffic jams and full parking lots to absent shuttles and long lines. Rather than striving to "arrive at the airport early," you may want to try to "leave for the airport early" to anticipate all the peripheral delays you may encounter.
Pack wisely.
In the past, you may have been able to fit everything into your carry-on without having to check any baggage -- a strategy we still recommend. However, the TSA rules about liquids and gels make this a trickier proposition. For the record, you may bring liquids and gels in three-ounce or smaller containers, packed within a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. You're also allowed to bring any liquids (such as coffee or water) or gels purchased after you go through a security checkpoint onto your plane with you. If you want to bring more than the three-ounce amounts, you'll have to pack the items in your checked luggage.
When packing, keep in mind that most airlines are now charging travelers a fee all bags that are being checked varying in pricing from $20 and up.
Whenever possible, print your boarding passes at home or use check-in kiosks. These services are no longer restricted to the airport, and can be found in hotels and other places in increasing numbers. Think about doing your holiday shopping online and having your gifts shipped to your destination. This will cut down on luggage and the risk of them getting lost.
Travel early or late in the day.
As a rule, airports are least congested at times when normal human beings would rather be at home or even asleep. Delays are far less likely for morning flights, and airports usually unclog as the afternoon and evening peak passes.
A couple of caveats: Staffing can be spotty for really early flights, so although your flight is highly likely to be ready to leave on time, check-in may take a while, along with other personnel-dependent steps like riding shuttle buses.
Consider package deals.
Listen to the package deals that your travel agent can offer you during peak travel periods can be the best time to buy even for folks who would never buy one, as the bundled pricing offered by packages can be very competitive, even (or especially) at times of high demand.
In the past, you may have been able to fit everything into your carry-on without having to check any baggage -- a strategy we still recommend. However, the TSA rules about liquids and gels make this a trickier proposition. For the record, you may bring liquids and gels in three-ounce or smaller containers, packed within a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. You're also allowed to bring any liquids (such as coffee or water) or gels purchased after you go through a security checkpoint onto your plane with you. If you want to bring more than the three-ounce amounts, you'll have to pack the items in your checked luggage.
When packing, keep in mind that most airlines are now charging travelers a fee all bags that are being checked varying in pricing from $20 and up.
Whenever possible, print your boarding passes at home or use check-in kiosks. These services are no longer restricted to the airport, and can be found in hotels and other places in increasing numbers. Think about doing your holiday shopping online and having your gifts shipped to your destination. This will cut down on luggage and the risk of them getting lost.
Travel early or late in the day.
As a rule, airports are least congested at times when normal human beings would rather be at home or even asleep. Delays are far less likely for morning flights, and airports usually unclog as the afternoon and evening peak passes.
A couple of caveats: Staffing can be spotty for really early flights, so although your flight is highly likely to be ready to leave on time, check-in may take a while, along with other personnel-dependent steps like riding shuttle buses.
Consider package deals.
Listen to the package deals that your travel agent can offer you during peak travel periods can be the best time to buy even for folks who would never buy one, as the bundled pricing offered by packages can be very competitive, even (or especially) at times of high demand.
Some More Tips
Be prepared for more than the usual slowdowns at
security. Even though the TSA's liquid and gel rules have been around for a few
years now, infrequent fliers may still be caught off guard.Gas up the night before you travel; no one leaves enough time for buying gas on the way to the airport.
Bring diversions. Take along work, books, magazines, a
CD player, some healthy snacks -- whatever you need to get through delays. This
goes double when traveling with kids.
Keep your cool. Airline employees have considerable
power over your well-being. Unfortunately many enjoy wielding it against you,
and few respond well to anger.
Have phone numbers for everything: your travel agency, hotel,
car rental, airline, friends at your destination.
Check flight status repeatedly. Know your airline's 800 number as well as your flight numbers and exact times. When traveling on an E-ticket, carry a
printout of your itinerary from your airline or booking site.
With airlines continuing to cut back on service, it's
more important than ever to confirm your flight several days before you leave
-- that way you'll have a little leeway to make alternate plans if necessary.
If you know you'll need long-term airport parking while you're
away, be sure to have your travel agent reserve you a spot ahead of time at an
off-airport lot so you're guaranteed a space.Don't over pack even checked luggage; overstuffed bags that must be opened for a security check are much harder to repack.
Do not wrap gifts, especially if you intend to carry
them on the plane. Even in checked baggage, there is a strong chance they will
be unwrapped for inspection by security personnel. Consider gift bags instead
of wrapping paper this holiday season -- you can easily remove the items from
their bags if required and you don't have to do a last-minute wrapping job at
your destination.
If you're leaving
pets at home and you haven't made kennel reservations, do so right away kennels
fill up quickly around the holidays.
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