TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS 2019 Edition the INSIDER’S GUIDE to TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION
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THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS 2019 Edition THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS 2019 Edition A Tarriss Publication Author: Emma Ghattas Contributers: Katie Anton, Sheri Bodnaruk and Shauna Armitage TARRISS.COM 2 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Copyright & Legal Notices COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY BARKING TURTLE MEDIA INC. THIS PUBLICATION IS THE PROPERTY OF BARKING TURTLE MEDIA INC., UNDER THE DIVISION TARRISS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM OR TRANSMITTED BY ANY MEANS, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF TARRISS. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY. WHILE WE HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT IN THIS GUIDE, DUE TO THE FAST CHANGING INDUSTRY IT IS POSSIBLE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE INACCURATE, INCORRECT, INVALID, INCOMPLETE AND/OR MISLEADING. IN NO EVENT WILL TARRISS, BARKING TURTLE MEDIA INC., ANY OF ITS AUTHORS OR EDITORS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY OTHER PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUD- ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CORRUPTION OR LOSS OF DATA, ANY LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES). READERS SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE. THIS PUBLICATION MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS OR RECOMMEND PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT WE MAY HAVE AN AFFILIATE RELATION- SHIP WITH WHICH MEANS IF YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT OR SEVRVICE IN THIS PUBLICATION WE MAY RECEIVE AN AFFILIATE COMMISSION. TARRISS.COM 3 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Table of Contents Table of Contents 4 Introduction 6 Programs for Saving Time, Money & Stress 8 Frequent Flyer Programs TSA PreCheck NEXUS Global Entry Dealing with Luggage 17 Simple Steps to Save on Baggage Fees Keeping Your Luggage Secure How to Minimize Your Risk for Lost Luggage Dealing with Lost or Damaged Luggage Curbside Bag Check In The Airport 33 Know Your Airport Codes Saving Time in the Airport Starts at Home Getting Through Security How to Survive a Mammoth Layover When is the Best Time to Fly? When You Get Bumped from a Flight Getting Through Customs On the Plane 48 Difference Between Seat Classes TARRISS.COM THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Flying Economy May Pose a Health Risk - Protect Yourself Understanding Time Zones Dealing with Jet Lag Travel Gear Essentials 64 The Essentials The Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale Tarriss TSA Luggage Locks with SearchAlert® RFID-Blocking Neck Wallet/Passport Holder Resources 69 Travel Resources Airline Baggage Weights & Rates 72 Checked Baggage Carry-on Baggage TARRISS.COM 5 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Introduction The partners and the staff of Tarriss Travel Gear are true ‘travel nuts’. Among us, we have traveled extensively; yet, each one has a number of destinations on our bucket list that we still want to experience. In fact, once we’ve crossed one off the list...another one always seems to take its place. We’ve learned a lot in our combined years of travel and want to share this knowl- edge with you, our fellow ‘travel nuts’. Some of what we have learned has been ‘the hard way’ so to speak :-) To help you avoid some of the mistakes we’ve made or mishaps we’ve incurred, we have put together this guide of hints and suggestions to share ways to make your air travel a little cheaper, more efficient, and overall less stressful! Regardless of the reason you are traveling - a relaxing vacation of sun and surf, meeting a prospective client, flying home for a family wedding, or an adventure that you simply must take - air travel still is the fastest, most efficient mode of transport to get you where you need to be ...that is, until the day when Scotty can ‘beam us up’. If you are able to glean just one useful tip or trick from The Insider’s Guide to Traveling through Airports, we will have accomplished what we set out to do - to make your flying experience less stressful - from packing before you depart... to picking up your checked luggage at your destination... and everything in between. If your specific question or concern isn’t covered under a topic in the Table of TARRISS.COM 6 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Contents, check out the Resources section of The Insider’s Guide to Traveling through Airports. Here you’ll find a listing of helpful websites to assist you with every aspect of your trip. From all of us at Tarriss….we wish you safe travels. Now...get out there and make your own incredible memories! TARRISS.COM 7 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Programs for Saving Time, Money & Stress TARRISS.COM 8 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Frequent Flyer Programs You can sign up for the frequent flyer programs offered by nearly all major air- lines. Many airlines also have their own credit card for which you may apply. The object of these incentive programs is to do whatever it takes to ‘put your seat into one of their seats’ every time you fly. They are in place to increase the bot- tom line for the airline, of course, but they are not without benefit to you as well. Typically, with a frequent flyer program, travelers are rewarded a specific num- ber of points based on the distance traveled which, in turn, can be redeemed for future flights on that airline or any of their partner airlines. If it’s an airline you fly with frequently, then you certainly should sign up to take advantage of whatever they are offering….free checked luggage, cheaper entry to their airport lounge, less expensive seat upgrades, etc. TARRISS.COM 9 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Your collected points don’t need to be used exclusively for flights either. Most fre- quent flyer programs have partnered with other sectors of the hospitality indus- try so you also can qualify for free hotel stays, car rentals, meals and attractions. JetBlue, for instance, offers a ‘family share program’ wherein you can pool the points collected by each member linked to the account. Alaska Airlines is part- ners with a wide range of airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines and Emirates Airline, so you can accumulate points faster — a real benefit for those travelers who feel no particular loyalty to one air- line over any other. Do your research to see which program has the benefits that will work best for your own travel requirements. TSA PreCheck TSA PreCheck is one of several programs developed by the Department of Home- land Security (DHS) to allow low-risk travelers to pass through security, at partici- pating U.S. airports, quicker and more efficiently. Approved travelers can proceed through security screening without removing belts, shoes, and light jackets. It also is not necessary to remove a laptop or compliant liquids/gels from your carry-on. The TSA PreCheck promises shorter lines and wait times for those who participate and is especially beneficial if you fly primarily within the U.S. Among individuals who are fast-tracked for this program are members of the military, those already enrolled in a CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Trusted Traveler Program, certain frequent flyers and others who, by nature of their occupation, have already been vetted by government agencies. If none of these apply to you, you can complete an application for the program online, schedule an in-person visit at a local PreCheck enrollment center, pay an $85 fee (5-year membership), provide your fingerprints and verify your ID. People who are enrolled successfully will receive a Known Traveler Number, which can be used when booking future flights on qualifying airlines. TARRISS.COM 10 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION The best way to determine if this program is worthwhile for you is to consider through which airports you regularly travel. If you often travel to and from LAX, for example, you may want to take advantage of the shorter lines the TSA PreCheck Program will afford you; but, if most of your travel is between smaller airports, where security lines generally will be shorter, it’s hardly worth your time and money. The TSA PreCheck Program is not yet available for all airports, all airlines, or all flights, so you’ll want to check availability in your region before you apply. Privacy of personal information has become a concern for many people and this can be a drawback of the TSA PreCheck Program. Some people are uncom- fortable with having their fingerprints and other detailed personal information stored by the government because of what purpose this data may be used for in the future. Unfortunately, that is part of the price you will have to pay if you wish to utilize any of these programs. Enrollment in the TSA PreCheck Application Program doesn’t guarantee that you always will receive expedited screening at airport security checkpoints. TSA maintains the right to make random security checks at their discretion. Steps to follow at the airport for members of TSA PreCheck Program: • Present your boarding pass and government-issued ID to the agent • Your Boarding Pass barcode will be scanned • Proceed to the TSA PreCheck Program lane - your children (aged 12 and under) may accompany you through this lane • Keep on your shoes and belt, your laptop in its case • Though it may not be required, place your 3-1-1 compliant bag of liquids/gels on the security tray for easier viewing by the agents TARRISS.COM 11 THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORTS - 2018 EDITION Participating Airlines: Alaska Airlines Southwest Airlines American Airlines United Airlines Delta Airlines US Airways Hawaiian Airlines Virgin America JetBlue Airways Air Canada (the first international airline to join) For more information visit: www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck NEXUS Day-tripping across the U.S./Canada border using only your Driver’s License for identification is, unfortunately, ancient history.