AAA Arizona Offers Defensive Flying Tips
Phoenix, Ariz., November 19, 2007 – Last year, 4.8 million leisure travelers flew over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and more than nine million Americans flew during the Christmas-New Year’s time period. With the holiday season fast approaching, odds are you or someone you know will be setting out to visit loved ones for the holidays too.
“With all the security checkpoints, changes in check-in processes and restrictions on carry-on items which can result in possible delays, air travel can be pretty stressful these days,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs manager for AAA Arizona. “Just as we advise motorists to drive defensively, airline travelers should also be alert and ready to deal with unexpected problems at the airport.”
With the busy holiday travel season around the corner, AAA would like to provide the following Defensive Flying tips for Arizonans heading out of town:
- Be Aware of Ticket Limitations. The airline’s contract of carriage does not require it to provide passengers with any additional services when flights are delayed or canceled due to bad weather. This is different from situations where flights are delayed for mechanical or other reasons.
- Go Online. Check the airline website for delays before leaving home and sign up for e-mail alerts from your airline. When planning a trip, travelers can check up-to-date airline performance using the Air Travel Consumer Report Card. Travelers can also check a flight’s delay history at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ website.
- At-Home Time Savers. Printing out your boarding pass at home from the airline’s Web site and using curbside check-in and ticket kiosks can save time when you are in a hurry to get to your flight.
- Take the Early Flight. Flight delays often ripple through the system, so the first flight in the morning is less likely to be delayed. If the first flight is delayed, you will have a better chance of catching a flight scheduled later the same day.
- Security. Check with the Transportation Security Administration, www.tsa.gov/travelers, for the latest airport security rules, a list of prohibited items in carry-on bags and how to package questionable items for review. Remember the TSA’s 3-1-1 carry-on policy: Three-ounce bottles or less; one quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; one bag per passenger. You can view Sky Harbor’s specific security checkpoint information at www.phoenix.gov/skyharborairport.
- Pack Defensively. Come to the airport prepared for a delayed flight. Bring portable entertainment such as books, music or video games. Make sure you have prescriptions, credit cards, travel itinerary with flight numbers, driver’s license and/or passport, glasses, various electronics chargers and toiletries in a carry-on bag.
- Don’t Show Up Hungry. Eat before you go so you are not waiting in line at the limited number of airport eateries. Also, bring food you can carry on and eat on the plane if you are stuck on the tarmac. Visit the airport’s website to find maps of shops and restaurants, as well as parking locations and individual terminal maps.
- Use Your Cell Phone. Program numbers for your airline, hotel, car rental company, or your travel agent into your cell phone. In case you need to change your flight, you can call the airline directly rather than waiting in line at the ticket counter. Make sure you have the phone number for whoever is waiting for you at the airport so you can keep them posted about your situation.
- Passports. If leaving the U.S., you must have a passport when traveling by air. For information on how to get or renew your passport, visit www.travel.state.gov/passport.
- Amenities. During extended flight delays, airline staffs on the ground have the discretion to provide food and hotel vouchers, phone cards and snack boxes, so make sure to ask.
- Passenger Pick-Up. If you will not be flying but will be playing host to others, you no longer have to circle Sky Harbor when picking up passengers. Use one of the free Stage & Go Wait Areas until your party is ready to be picked up on the curb.
- Complaints. Travelers who have a service problem with an airline should contact DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division at 202-366-2220 or airconsumer@dot.gov. You can also send a letter to:
Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
AAA Arizona not only wants your airport experience to be smooth, but we want you to stay healthy while traveling, as well. A 2004 study by scholars at the University of Victoria, Canada published in the Journal of Environmental Health Research found evidence that air travelers catch colds with a higher than normal frequency in the week following their flights.
Gorman said, “Since the rise in popularity of over the counter products, like Airborne, which claim to prevent the common cold, people are very interested in not just fighting infections, but avoiding them altogether.”
So what should you do about the possibility of getting sick from crowded places and re-circulated air?
- Drink lots of water. The dry air in planes dries up your sinus cavities and thus makes your body less able to fight off any germs that enter it. By staying hydrated, your mucus membranes will function at a top-notch level. Stay away from sodas and adult beverages, though, as caffeine and alcohol only dehydrate you more.
- Wash your hands. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, we all end up waiting in long lines, using crammed restrooms and eating on the run. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer (3 oz. or less) in your carry-on just in case you need a quick wash.
- Get plenty of sleep. Without enough zzz’s, your body can get exhausted and have difficulty fighting off germs. Make sure your sleeping environment is dark and at a comfortable temperature. If sleeping on a plane, try to be near the front and by a window where it is quieter and you can control the amount of light let in from outside. Naps can be helpful too; just try not to sleep longer than 90 minutes or you might not wake up enough for your next activity.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 750,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
