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Air travel tips

AAA Vacations — Carolinas

Published: December 22, 2008

Carolinians traveling during the holidays this year will face now-familiar issues of increased fees, security lines and unexpected cancellations and delays. Here are some practical tips to make your travel more enjoyable:

• Minimize checked luggage — Avoid checking luggage if you can survive with one carry-on bag. If you must check a bag, weigh it ahead of time to avoid overweight charges.

• Consider shipping luggage — For longer vacations that require checked bags, consider shipping ahead. This approach will reduce your wait time at the airport and offer reassurance your bags arrive safely at your destination before you do.

• Review airline charges ahead of time — If you don't travel regularly you may be surprised by some of the new fees for staples such as coffee, soft drinks and snacks. Eating before you go through security and purchasing a bottled beverage after security to carry aboard can save money and time.

• Plan ahead for entertainment — If you don't want to pay for in-flight entertainment, bring a good book, iPod or your laptop to use once in the air. With delays common, a good book or video game will make the time pass faster.

• Anticipate overbooked and cancelled flights — Overbooked and canceled flights will be common this holiday season as thousands of seats have been eliminated as part of airline cost-cutting. If you are involuntarily bumped, federal regulations require airlines to offer some sort of customer compensation. Often a transferable voucher for one free round-trip coach class ticket or some sort of cash compensation is awarded.

• Remember your passport for overseas travel — It should go without saying to have a passport that will be valid for the entire time of your trip, and then some. Check visa requirements prior to your trip and consider travel insurance, which offers peace of mind for the unexpected.

Source: AAA Vacations — Carolinas