What you need to know about air safety:
Here's what you need to know about air safety: making flying less stressful and more enjoyable - from planning your trip to your arrival - things experienced flyers don't even know . . . . beginning with the important Do's.
1. Book your flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the lowest fares. The least expensive days to travel are Thursday and Fridays. Sunday is the worst day to book your flights and the worst day to travel. January and February are the least expensive months to fly. Shoulder season usually takes place from March to May and September to November. Whenever possible, avoid flying on the eve of major holidays.2. For a smoother flight, try to fly in the morning as most turbulence tends to occur in the afternoon. 3. When flying "Multi-Cities" - always price one-way segments, rather than just a combined ticket. Split-tickets on multiple carriers may save you lots of money. https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search is a good website to try. 4. Get the best travel credit card if you travel frequently. These cards offer rewards based on your mileage, and, when you use the cards while traveling, you can really rack up the cash savings. The best cards are: American Express Gold Card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards, Capital One VentureOne Rewards, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. 5. Join frequent flyer rewards programs for discounts on future flights, upgrades for seating and baggage, other amenities. Frequent flyer programs tally up the miles you've traveled and turn them into a points system. Hitting a certain number of points might get you a free upgrade, a discount on flights or baggage services. 6. Scan your passport, (both your photo page and the last "bar code" page), and email a copy of the scan to yourself. Be sure to make a photo copy of both sides of all important cards: credit cards, driver's license, passport, et cetera, and have the telephone number of your internet provider - in case your cell phone is stolen. If you accidentally lose your ID, don't worry - TSA might require you to go through extra screening, but having a photo of the ID goes a long way. 7. If you're flying with someone, leave a gap in the middle - book the aisle and window. The middle seat is always the last seat to be booked, so you may end up with extra space. If someone does book the middle seat, and you want to sit together, the middle seat passenger will be happy to take the aisle or window so you can sit together. 8. You may pre-order a "special meal." In-flight meals adhere to certain restrictions such as kosher, salt-free, vegan, gluten-free, but you have to make the request after booking. "Special Meals" are first meals served 9. You can sign up for VIP airport lounges. Some airport lounges sell all-day passes. If you have a long layover, and don't have lounge privileges; often a day pass can be obtained for flight mileage, or can be purchased for $40-$50. Some airports have sleeping "pods" for approximately $60 - for four hours - which may even give you access to showers and towels. 10. Download Google Maps for offline use - letting you navigate while offline using your iPhone or iPad. WiFi can be spotty on a plane, and you don't want to keep your phone's data on, lest you increase your roaming charges. By downloading Google Maps, you'll be able to download entire areas and navigate while offline. On your iPad or iPhone, open Google Maps. Make sure that you're on the Internet when you're downloading. Search for a location, and, at the bottom, type in the address for the place. There will be an option to "Download" the map for offline use. Click it, and now you can navigate with no Internet. 11. Make sure checked luggage can withstand a six-foot fall. "Extra-Durable Luggage" is worth the extra cost. 12. Put checked liquids inside more than one plastic Ziploc bag in case of leaks due to breakage. Don't forget to have I.D. tags on the INSIDE of your checked bag, as well as the outside. If you're on a cruise, or staying at a hotel put your itinerary on the top, so if the bag is delayed and opened, they will know immediately where to deliver the bag. Also, on the top of your bag should be your liquids and electronic devices in case security wants to search your bag - they will find it quickly without having to dig through all your belongings. 13. Bring your own (noise cancelling) headphones. Yours will be higher quality and more comfortable. Just remember to have an airplane adapter. There are a lot of noises on an airplane - including crying babies. If you don't have noise cancelling headphones, you can bring earplugs. 14. Bring a neck pillow - not just for your neck, but for your lower back as well. In Economy, it will extend the width of your arm rest, and make it more comfortable. 15. Bring a portable charger. At the airport, charge your portable battery pack, NOT your phone! Don't use USB charging stations at public locations such as hotels and airports because these stations could contain dangerous malware. 16. Pack your most important belongings: daily medications, phone chargers, important documents, underwear, toothbrush and toothpaste, and any valuables - in your carry on, in case your checked bag is delayed, lost or stolen. Always pack extra medication, in case you're delayed getting home. It's a good idea to pack an extra set of underwear in your carry-on so you'll have fresh clothes even if your luggage is delayed. U.S. airlines lost two bags out of every 1,000. (A "lost" bag has to be misplaced for over three weeks). If you have two checked bags, split your clothing (shoes, underwear) evenly between the two bags. 17. Laundry . . . . Most ships, (included some river vessels), have a self-service laundry or laundry service. Pack light and prepare to do laundry on your trip. Keep a plastic pen in every bag/pocket for lots less germs and convenience when you need to fill out customs forms, luggage tags et cetera. 18. Utilize sunglass cases for packing fragile items, and eyeglass cases are important for keeping your glasses from getting crunched/lost when you want to sleep on the plane. 19. Packing. . . . Always keep heavy items, such as bottles at the bottom of your bag. Not only will this prevent crushing of items below, but it will lower the center of gravity of your bag, making it more stable. 20. Freeze your liquids. You may bring totally frozen liquids through security. If you're not sure your (water) will stay frozen, then bring an empty bottle and fill it after passing through security. 21. Compression socks help with jet lag, if you wear them for more than 5 hours. Compression socks help prevent blood from pooling in your feet, and help circulate it back to your heart. 22. Pack your snacks. It's a lot healthier and less expensive that airport snacks. 23. Differentiate your luggage by adding a few dots, (White-Out), or tie a piece of ribbon to the handle. BTW, brightly colored bags are stolen less often than drab/black bags. 24. Always pay for checked luggage when you book your ticket, not at the airport! A last-minute decision to check a bag at the airport can cost up to 60% more than pre-booking online. 25. Carry two wallets: one for cash and one with IDs and credit cards - or divide them. Men should carry their wallets in their front pockets with a handkerchief on top of it. Distribute cash in different hiding places to thwart bag slashers, pickpockets, and unscrupulous bag-handlers. A "decoy" or "dummy" wallet is good to have, and always have a photocopy - (both sides) - of all your important documents, such as passport, driver's license, credit cards, and be sure to write down the telephone number of your cell phone providers. Always have a neck lanyard or wrist strip attached to your cell phone! Not only will this "save" you should you drop your phone, but it will deter pickpockets and possibly save a $1,200 replacement phone. 26. Bring hand sanitizer, or ask flight attendants for wet wipes to wipe down your tray table and arm rests. The most germ-infested areas, (with eight times more bacteria than the flush button on the toilet), are the armrests, headrests, and tray table of the airplane. Wash your hands as often as you can in the airport - before eating, drinking, and after using the restroom. While there is a low risk of infectious disease on the plane itself, airports are not quite as health-friendly. 27. Always check your flight's status before heading to the airport. If your flight is several hours late arriving, you may want to adjust your schedule. 28. It might be cheaper to drive and pay for parking than take a cab. If you live far from the airport, taking a cab could cost you a lot of money. Most airport extended-parking lots have an area where you can park for under $10 a day. 29. Catch a cab home from Departures, not Arrivals ... and always pick up arriving passengers at the Departure level - not the Arrival level. It's much faster! 30. When checking in for your flight, (especially when you have a connecting flight), always take a look at your baggage tag receipt to make sure your final destination airport code is listed. 31. Start emptying your pockets when on the security line . . . . and always take off your belt. 32. When going through the security check, go to the left checkpoint. Because most people are right-handed, they tend to go to the right. Avoid long lines by heading for the line furthest away from you - on left side. 33. If you're traveling with a group and you want to stay (visually) connected wear a bright red scarf, coat or hat. If you want to lower your odds of being randomly selected for "enhanced" or extra security, wear neutral color clothing. 34. The quietest place in the airport is the chapel which will give you a quiet place for reflection and an escape from the hustle and bustle of travel. Anyone of any faith can use the chapels. 35. Don't exchange all your currency. That way, you'll have a cash reserve that you won't have to re-exchange. Avoid airport kiosks and currency exchange shops which have bad rates and high fees. At your destination, bank ATMs, (using your ATM, rather than your credit card) - usually have the lowest rates. 36. Never buy souvenirs at the airport, and "Duty Free Stores" aren't necessarily a bargain. While there may be no taxes, the prices are usually much higher than normal. Alcohol and cigarettes are two products duty-free stores tend to have at discounted prices, but other things are the same price if not more expensive than outside the airport, so check before buying duty free items that it's actually a good deal by using Google to find the regular prices of chocolates, perfume, clothing, or children's toys before buying them duty-free. 37. Sit or stand near the First Class Lounge to use their superior WiFi. It works! 38. Turn your phone off or put it into airplane mode after takeoff. Otherwise, it could keep scanning for a network which will quickly drain your battery. 39. Don't charge a battery to 100% 98% is just as good and won't shorten the life of your battery. 40. Airport food options get worse and sparser, the closer you get to your gate. By the time you're there, all that's left are convenience stores and fast food places. If you plan to eat a real meal at the airport, do it before you get to your gate. You might even want to eat before going through security. 41. If you're at the gate - and your flight is cancelled - avoid waiting in line to get your flight re-booked. Call the airline directly as they have the same information as the gate agent. Regarding "Help Desks," don't give up if you don't get the answer or assistance you need . . . . go to another help desk as different people can make different decisions. One person being unhelpful does not mean that the entire airport staff will be apathetic to you 42. Resist the urge to drink before your flight. Alcohol can cause dehydration. Alcohol works as a diuretic, making your body remove fluids from the blood through the renal system, (kidneys and bladder), at a faster rate than other liquids. The onboard water reserve tanks are only cleaned when the aircraft goes in for maintenance, and can harbor bacteria, germs and local airport contamination. The tanks breed E. coli and coliform bacteria, (where fifty-two strains of bacteria could be found), and the majority of these strains contained pathogens, (organisms that produce disease). For the same reasons, it a good idea to avoid ice, as well. Coffee and tea is usually made on board with tanked water. Since the water is not boiled, it can be problematic. You can ask the flight attendant if the water is bottled or from the tank. Avoid carbonated drinks/sodas since intestinal gas is already expanded up to 30% because of a decrease in barometric pressure. 43. Melatonin can be helpful but keep in mind there are many different manufacturers and strengths of Melatonin, and some are better than others. A highly rated brand - that works for me - is NATROL, 10mg, Fast Dissolve available at Target. An increase in melatonin causes a shift in the body's circadian clock, which should help bring it closer to where it should be, as it sends signals to the brain to sleep during different periods. And then, when you arrive at your destination, be sure to take a fast twenty to thirty-minute walk. This is extremely beneficial. 44. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize, (and drink lots of bottled/canned water). At altitude, cabin air is extremely dry. Lack of moisture in the skin can actually lead to acne, as the skin over-produces oil to attempt to combat the dryness. Drink lots of bottled water. Carbonated water can cause excess gas. Carry your lip balm in your pocket, and don't forget to pre-balm your lips as a precautionary defense against the inevitable dryness due to high altitude. 45. Bring a "Lifestraw," ($30) for safe drinking water if the drinking water is questionable. It filters microplastics, bacteria, parasites and is 99.99% effective. The only things it might not be able to filter out are viruses, chemicals, or heavy metals. 46. Keep the air on - it blows germs away, creating an invisible air barrier, keeps airborne microorganisms and viruses at bay. Not only does the fan keep you cool, it can also keep you from getting sick. The air from the "eye-ball" vent creates an invisible barrier around you, blowing away airborne viruses and microorganisms that might otherwise have been lingering in the surrounding air. 47. Set your watch to the local time to avoid jet lag and gets you acclimated to the time change in your new time zone. Even if you can't adjust to it at home, setting your watch to that time zone will at least get you prepared for the change. When you get to the new location, stick to your schedule and avoid sleeping during the daytime when you're there, no matter how hard it is. 48. Bring your own blanket with you when flying in economy. The combination low cabin temperature, less oxygen and pressurization, plus different temperatures throughout the aircraft make a traveling blanket a good thing to have. In lieu of a blanket, bring a comfy coat. 49. Use a luggage shipping service and avoid the hassle and cost of carrying and checking your bag at the airport. If you have more than one bag and you know the airline will charge you extra, consider using a luggage shipping service to send your bags to their destination, especially if you are going to be gone for a few weeks. Be sure there is someone to receive the luggage. Luggage Free, Luggage Forward, LugLess, Luggage to Ship are good choices. 50. Using a seat cushion helps improve blood flow, can reduce back pain. Economy seats are supposed to be "one-size-fits-all," and the result is that, instead of fitting everyone well, they fit everyone equally badly. 51. Sneak extra items into a shopping bag and avoid paying the carry-on fee, or you can also use a pillowcase, as the crew will assume that you're going to use it as a sleeping aid. 52. Wear shoes you can easily slip off at security and on the plane. Avoid fumbling with laces. 53. Reclining your seat - gently, please - especially in Economy. The passenger in back of you may be using your seat back's tray table, or watching the television screen, when you decide to pop your seat back in their face and startle them. Please recline your seat slowly. 54. Avoid antihistamines on the plane. You might not be prescribed Ambien, Trazodone, or another sleeping pill, but you might resort to antihistamines to put yourself to sleep on a long flight. Diphenhydramine is a common choice for people who want to pass out and make the time go faster on the plane. Some parents even give their kids Benadryl while in the air, but it's not recommended in the event that it has the opposite effect. Diphenhydramine can sometimes cause hyperactivity, especially in kids. On the reverse side, it can depress your breathing, something that is less-than-ideal in an environment with lower oxygen levels. 55. Travel/vacation constipation may be caused by a change in diet, a new routine, and certain health conditions. If you go more than three days without going to the bathroom, this is officially considered constipation. Drink plenty of water, (a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil), and try to eat as regularly as possible, keep up with your exercise, and don't be afraid to take over-the-counter gentle laxatives. Prunes and prune juice really work. 56. Don't Attempt To Handle Conflict On Your Own. When traveling, you're surrounded by thousands of other people, all of whom are operating at very different stress and tension levels. It is very easy to get into disagreements. If you have a conflict with another passenger, even a minor one, do not attempt to handle it on your own. Ask the flight attendant to help you, as any dispute will result in you both being kicked off the plane or even arrested if you and your opponent get confrontational. Minimize conflict at the airport and on the plane. Everyone gets on edge when there are raised voices on a plane, and airlines are all zero-tolerance. Needless to say, NEVER make jokes about hijacking aircraft, explosives, or weapons. 57. No, You Cannot Fly With Marijuana - because it's not legal under federal law, even though some states permit it. The TSA marijuana rules are a hard NO! Though your city might have said it's a-okay, the TSA does not. Federal law governs plane travel, and federal law does not permit you to fly with weed. While TSA officers are not actively searching for weed, they can't ignore it when they find it. Attempting to bring it on a plane will cause a huge hassle for you that could likely lead to legal consequences. 58. Anti-Anxiety Drugs Aren't What You Think. Some people take Ativan, Xanax, or another anti-anxiety drug to help keep them calm on the plane, particularly if they suffer from claustrophobia, a common condition. But, a study in the Journal of Behavior Research and Therapy questioned the efficacy of these drugs, as well as their safety. People might feel more relaxed, but, physiologically, they have higher heart and breathing rates than those not taking these drugs. Additionally, the study retested people who took anti-anxiety medication on a plane, putting them on a different flight a week later. Researchers found that 71% of those re-medicated subjects that had taken the medication before had increased anxiety, panic, and a desire to get off the plane. Talk to your doctor to determine whether these heavy-hitting behavioral meds are really the best choice. 59. Crime risk is higher in neighborhoods near the airport - four times as dangerous for all types of crimes. Your risk of becoming the victim of a crime is four times higher near an airport than away from it. When picking hotels, restaurants, and other travel plans, keep this harrowing statistic in mind. Also, make sure to keep your wits about you when arriving and departing from an airport, no matter how safe it may seem. 60. Tear up plane tickets after flights, the barcodes contain personal information. This will prevent hackers from accessing personal-important information stored in the QR and barcodes and on airline boarding passes. This information includes frequent flyer account information, personal details, and even future travel plans. After your flight, rip up your tickets and boarding pass to prevent hackers from accessing the codes' information. The boarding pass serves as proof of your flight in case the airline doesn't give you your miles. Keep the pass or shred it, but don't just throw it away. Boarding passes contain your full account number, name, and hackers could access your airline accounts through the pass. They could book flights, and steal mileage points.
The Big DON'Ts!
Don't Ever Walk Barefoot, (or even in socks), in an airplane!Don't ever eat any food that has fallen on your tray table, because your tray tables are sometimes used for changing diapers - and are wiped down (on average) - once a day when the plane goes into an overnight station. Your try table harbors an average of 2,155 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch . . . . compared to 265 united on the lavatory flush button! Don't touch the toilet flush button. Use a paper towel to press the flush button, turn off the water, and open the door. Don't use used pillows and blankets, unless they're fresh and/or wrapped in plastic. Don't turn the air vent over your seat off - as you want the airstream to blow away any airborne germs before they enter your personal space. This creates an air curtain. Don't fall asleep against the window. Passengers before you have breathed, sneezed, coughed against the window. That's why Lysol wipes are excellent to have with you. Don't touch your face; put your hands in your mouth or near your face. Don't sit for long, as you are at a higher risk to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - a type of blood clot that usually forms in your legs. Walking around a few minutes or stretching every hour will help prevent it, and lift alternate knees up to your chest, and twist in your chair from side to side. Compression socks will also help. Don't wear contact lenses on airplanes. Don't forget to drink, drink, drink - water! Airplane cabins have very low humidity because the air is optimized, (for economic reasons), to the highest altitude humans can breathe - 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level! Don't drink coffee or tea made with tap water from the plane, which often contains E. coli and coliform bacteria. Also caffeine dehydrates you, as does alcohol. BTW - one drink in the air is equivalent to two drinks on the ground! Only drink bottled /canned water! Due to the altitude, intestinal gas from soda can expand up to 30% Don't forget your sunblock - in the airplane! Flying for one hour results in the same amount of radiation as 20-minutes in a tanning bed. Flying coast-to-coast is the equivalent of receiving a chest X-ray.
A few additional tips:
www.AirHelp.com to get compensated for flight delays or cancelled flights. This is a claims management company which enforces passenger rights when airlines disrupt flights by delaying or canceling them and are not forthcoming with proper compensation. Airlines have an incentive to cooperate with AirHelp, as they publish annual rankings of airlines and airports. These rankings carry a lot of weight with passengers, and airlines want to stay in AirHelp's good graces.www.FlightAware.com is free, and is an aviation-related company to track your flights and find the best service for your journey by providing real-time, predictive, and historical flight data and flight tracking. FlightAware is the largest flight-tracker in the world, and it has a network of more than 32,000 ADS-B ground stations in two-hundred countries. The service has been around since 2005, and it is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to keep updated on your flight. "Seat Guru" (www.SeatGuru.com) the savvy flyer's website, helps you select the very best seat on every plane; featuring; aircraft seat maps, seat reviews, and a color-coded system to identify superior and substandard airline seats? Because all seats are not equal, "Seat Guru" indicates which seats don't recline, or have extra legroom - an exit row or bulkhead seat, even the orientation of the seat, (facing forward, backward, angled or parallel to the window), or the proximity to the lavatories and galley. ALWAYS . . . . use a travel agent/travel advisor when booking your cruise! A travel advisor, (such as myself, www.TomsGroupCruises.com), costs you nothing and saves you time and stress, and might get you better deals and special offers as well as shipboard credit! Travel advisors can use their connections to get you good deals and special offers, and will take care of the details, saving you time and stress.
More Things You Should Never Do On An AirplaneTraveling is stressful as it is, so let's not add the burden of getting sick from the flight to your itinerary. Experts reveal where the germs are hiding and how to stay healthy and comfortable while airborne. By Juliana LaBianca and Tyler Kendall 1- Don't walk around barefoot
Flight attendants have seen everything from vomit to blood to spilled food hit that carpet. "We see people walking from their seats into the bathrooms all the time barefoot and we cringe because those floors are full of germs," said Linda Ferguson, a flight attendant for 24 years. "Never walk barefoot into the bathroom or the galley area because sometimes we drop glasses and there could be sharp glass there, too." Here are more secrets flight attendants won't tell you. 2- Skip the ice in your drink
An EPA study in 2004 found that out of 327 aircraft's water supplies, only 15 percent passed health standards. Since the 2009 creation of the EPA's Aircraft Drinking Rule Act, standards have risen and most airplanes don't serve drinking water from the tap, but their ice cubes, however, are often still made from the same water. "Water tanks on an airplane are old and they've tested them and bacteria is in those tanks," said Ferguson. "I would definitely drink bottled water ~ that's why they board tons of bottles on an airplane." This is why airline food tastes so bad. 3- Don't sit in your seat the entire flight
On an airplane, you are at a higher risk to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which is a type of blood clot that usually forms in your legs. DVT has been coined as "economy-class syndrome" and walking around for a few minutes or standing up to stretch are good bets to help prevent it. (Just remember to put your shoes on!) Also, try to avoid tight clothing that could cut off circulation while in flight. "The most important thing is to try to move around and move your legs at least once every hour," said Catherine Sonquist Forest, MD, a primary care doctor at Stanford University Health Care. "If you can't get up, you can do exercises in your seat by lifting alternate knees up to your chest and twisting in your chair from side to side." Try these other simple ways to prevent DVT. 4- Ditch your contact lenses
If you can, opt to wear glasses in flight. The air in the cabin is very dry and can cause irritation to your eyes. Also, if you're a known sky snoozer, falling asleep in contacts not made for overnight wear can be especially irritating. Check out these steps to boost vision and keep eyes healthy. 5- Don't turn off the air vent over your seat
If the air blowing makes you chilly, it might be smarter to throw on a sweatshirt rather than turn off the vent. Doctors recommend that the adjustable air over your seat should be set to medium or high in flight so that any airborne germs can be blown away before they enter your personal zone. These tips can help protect your skin on a plane so it doesn't dry out. 6- Don't eat food after it's fallen on the tray table
Yuck! That tray table doesn't get sterilized between flights, so unless you've brought your own disinfectant or place mat, let that cookie crumb go if it hits the tray and not your plate. "The tray table is notorious," said Stephen Morse, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Ferguson adds that tray tables are usually only wiped down once a day, when the plane goes into an overnight station. "Those tray tables are used for all kinds of things," said Ferguson. "During flights, I've seen parents changing babies on top of tray tables. I've seen people put their bare feet on top of tray tables." One study found that trays harbor an average of 2,155 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch. Compare that with the 265 units on the lavatory flush button. And while all samples tested negative for potentially infectious bacteria such as E. coli, you'll still want to steer clear of that tray. Don't be that person: Follow this airplane etiquette next time you fly. 7- Don't use the blankets
Another airplane item that doesn't get a thorough cleaning between flights? Yup, those blankets and pillows offered in the seatback are recycled flight to flight and usually don't get properly washed until the day is over. Items like pillows and blankets are ideal places for germs and lice to camp out and spread from person to person. "I see people wrap their feet in the blankets, I see people sneeze in the blankets," Ferguson adds. 8- Don't forget to stay hydrated
Parched throat mid-flight? Don't just blame the salty snacks. Airplane cabins are known for their low humidity because the manufactured air in the cabin is made to mimic the highest altitude humans can breathe at, usually between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, according to the World Health Organization. "For every leg of flight, each flight attendant will try to drink a full 16 oz. of water," said Ferguson. "That's the most important. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate." Here are clever ways to drink enough water. 9- Opt out of coffee or tea You don't want to drink anything that could possibly be made with the tap water from the plane. Even though the water for tea and coffee is usually boiled, if you can opt for bottled water or another beverage from a sealed container you should. Another reason to avoid coffee and tea: Caffeinated beverages aren't your best bet while flying. "Caffeine slightly dehydrates you," Dr. Forest says. "It's not a huge problem to drink caffeine but include water also." These are signs you're drinking too much caffeine.
"STUDY FINDS MOST AIRLINE WATER UNFIT FOR DRINKING, EVEN WASHING!" |
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