Search Results for: blog avoiding the bummer of getting bumped

Avoiding The Bummer Of Getting Bumped

Have you ever been bumped from a flight? If you have never experienced this extreme inconvenience—brace yourself—travel experts say if you plan to fly somewhere this summer the chances that you may be denied boarding is sky high. As if the headache-inducing delays and thousands of pieces of lost and damaged luggage wasn’t enough to contend with, now we have packed-to-the-max planes to stress us out. Frankly, I’m not surprised that the likelihood of passengers getting bumped is rising. After all, the number of fliers is steadily increasing (a lesson I learned the hard way just a few months ago). … Continue reading →

What to Know Before You Take Off This Summer

Bankrupt airlines, grounded planes, record high-fuel prices, and delayed flights. Those are just some of the issues you can expect to deal with during the busy summer travel season. If you are one of the millions of travelers planning to take flight in the next few months the outlook for a smooth ride looks bleak. Here’s what travel experts say you can expect if you’re departing on a family adventure this summer: DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS The FAA’s maintenance audits will continue through June 30th meaning the possibility that your flight could be delayed or cancelled is quite high. For those … Continue reading →

Travel Warning—-Batteries Not Allowed and Bumping Tragedy

If you tend to travel with loose batteries in your luggage take note—-beginning January 1st the Transportation Department is banning lithium batteries from checked baggage. The new mandate is designed to reduce the risk of fires. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, fire-protection systems in the cargo hold of passenger planes can’t put out fires sparked in lithium batteries. Which means loose lithium batteries can no longer be packed in checked bags. You can still carry lithium batteries in your checked bags if they are installed in electronic devices, such as cameras, cellphones and laptop computers. Also, you can travel … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Travel Tipster

Everyone who travels has accumulated a few horror stories that they recycle among friends and family. You know the ones that start with “You’ll never believe what happened when…” and end with “… and that’s the last time I ever do that again.” Often it’s through our own (and others’) misfortunes that we gain the most valuable travel tips. So where does that leave Peter Greenberg? Most of us know Greenberg as the intrepid travel editor on NBC’s “Today” show, CNBC, and the Travel Channel. The 57-year-old “travel expert” says he logs about 400,000 miles a year and has compiled … Continue reading →

Ready, Set, Fly!

Our family does a lot more driving in the summer than flying (we travel more by plane during the winter months). However, judging by the huge amount of bad press the airline industry has been getting over the past few months you have to wonder how many travelers willingly opt to drive (or just stay home) rather than endure the headaches that come with flying. Given that my family lives in Hawaii, flying is a necessity in order for us to see each other. That said I have compiled a list of some tips that have served us well as … Continue reading →

Last Minute Summer Travel Deals—They Do Exist

If you believe some online travel forums you’d think there wasn’t a deal to be had. And, what’s more, even if there were some available no one would want to take them because the summer travel season has been nothing less than a bust. Admittedly, massive flight delays, and overbooking, along with rude airline employees, record-high hotel rates and sky-high gas prices have all made headlines in the past couple of months, but that shouldn’t put a damper on your last minute travel plans. If you are flexible and alert you may be able to end your summer on a … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: New Rules About Bumping and Reviewing Rules About Tire Pressure

NEW RULES ABOUT BUMPING How many times have you been bumped from a flight? If the answer is one too many (more like once is enough) then I have good news for you. The Transportation Department is considering making airlines pay big bucks when they overbook a flight and bump passengers from prepaid seats. Currently, if an airline forces passengers onto another flight that takes them to their destination less than two hours after their original arrival time, the carrier must pay the value of a passenger’s ticket, plus up to $200. In addition, if the airline does not meet … Continue reading →

Planning Your Vacation Via The Internet

When was the last time you stepped foot into a travel agency? With the dawn of the Internet and the tens of thousands of travel resources available online, travel agents seem to be a dying breed. My aunt retired from the travel industry last year after spending more than 20 years as a travel agent. She was, by all accounts, the only person anyone in my family dealt with when it came to booking a trip. Now she’s spending her days on the golf course and we have all begun turning to the Internet to secure our travel plans. Now … Continue reading →