How to breeze through airport security checks

originally published in GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc The Philippine Star, July 24, 200

Airport security checks can be a hassle, but not if you know what to do. Dan Tardecilla of the Office of Transportation Security says they want passengers to cross the checkpoints easily, onto safe flights. Officers in the country’s 84 airports are trained to screen efficiently. But travelers too must help simplify the process by familiarizing themselves with it. Dan’s tips:

Pre-departure

• Know your terminal. NAIA has four. Terminal-1, the old MIA, serves all international airlines, except PAL and Cebu Pacific. Terminal-2, or Centennial, has only PAL, in separate wings for domestic and international flights. Cebu Pacific domestic and international fly out of Terminal-3, the newest, along with PAL Express and Air Philippines. Zest Air and Sea Air operate from the Domestic Terminal.

• Allow enough time before departure for security screening and check-in. For international, two to three hours before departure is best. All airports have two security checkpoints, at the terminal entrance and before the boarding gates. Airline check-in personnel also follow international standards in screening passengers and baggage.

• Have the airline ticket and acceptable ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.) ready before entering the terminal.

Baggage

• Before using, look inside all pockets and remove items prohibited in air travel (firearms, bladed weapons, etc.). Pack carryon and checked luggage yourself, so you know what’s inside in case of questions.

• Organizing a bag’s contents by layer facilitates visual checks. Screeners take more time checking and clearing cluttered bags. Pack smart; innocuous items can appear as threats in an X-ray image. Load your bags one foot apart on the X-ray conveyor belt.

• Do not wrap gifts; screeners may unwrap them for inspection. If flying to international destinations, follow the rules on duty-free items, like liquor and wine. Shop personnel will assist you on destinations that have restrictions on certain items.

• Security officers are on the lookout for liquid explosives. To avoid delays, pack all liquids in your checked luggage. If you must carry liquids, aerosols, creams or gels, the containers must not exceed 10 ml, packed inside a 20 x 20 cm transparent re-sealable plastic bag. Only one bag per passenger, this must be separately placed in the service tray for X-ray. Declare any exempted liquids (medicines, breast milk, etc.) to the screener.

• Screeners may request you to switch on laptops, digital cameras, and other electronic devices.

• Ask your airline customer service about items disallowed on board aircraft. When in doubt, leave it out. Bringing banned items not only may delay you and other passengers, but also require a police investigation.

Clothing

• Dress plainly. Screeners need to identify metals detected at checkpoints. If the metal detector alarms as you pass through, you will be required to undergo further screening, by hand wand or frisking.

• Before entering screening area, put loose change, keys, mobile phones, jewelry, and other metal objects inside the pocket of your jacket or carryon (that will pass through X-ray).

• At final checkpoint, travelers are required to remove shoes (aside from metal objects) and place these on the tray for X-ray. Slip-ons are easier to take off and put back on without having to sit down.

• Wearing bullets, dud or live, as amulet or lucky charm is barred.

• Avoid wearing bulky clothes, boots with laces, and other apparel that will make it difficult for the security officer to screen you properly.

• Think before you speak. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate bomb jokes, and threats will not be tolerated. You might miss your flight if taken in for questioning.

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E-mail: jariusbondoc@workmail.com

Travel writing — a hidden gem

A friend once asked me if travel writers can get to travel for free.  I wasn’t sure of the answer, so I asked a few friends in media, and searched for some sources on the net.  And I realized how lucrative a business the travel industry could be.  My friend, a Public  Relations colleague from a decade or so ago, has since made a second career out of travel writing — about destinations, services, facilities, and countries, has traveled to and from 6 continents, and is now based in Singapore.  She has written about a river cruise in Vietnam, a cross-country train ride in Europe, backpacking in the Rockies, and many other adventurous experiences, including scouring the backstreets of Budapest for treasures. She freelances now, having decided to retire from the pressures of corporate PR, and preferring to leisurely earn her keep while traveling.

That was a little more than 2 years ago, before I pursued an online business as a travel agent.

One of the resources my friend followed up on was a 150-page ebook with by a real travel writer Mel McIntyre, entitled Travel Writing Secrets.  Mel says:

“Travel writing is a true hidden gem.

Travel to the most exotic locations for free.  Stay at the world’s finest hotels.  Enjoy the best food available.

And on your flight on the way home, knock out a couple of articles – and get paid big money to wit about your experiences.

Travel writing is definitely THE most exciting writing job around.”

And perhaps the next best job to being a travel agent.

Learn more about Travel Writing Secrets

More resources for writers and authors

ONLY from My Dream Travels
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Preparing for Your International Flight

Each year, millions of people worldwide make the decision to travel out of the country — some for personal reasons, others for business. Whatever your reasons for flying, you will find that international flights are not like most domestic flights, and you will need to prepare for an international flight differently.

The first  step is to arrange your basic travel documents.  Surely you will need a passport,  which your government issues as your identification document.  Most countries will require that your passport is  still valid 6 or 7 months after you complete your trip.

Traveling to another country also may require you to have a visa to enter it.  Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality.  Don’t hesitate to ask your travel agent if in doubt.  Or search the country’s website, which will normally have a page for visa requirements.  If online visa application is available, go ahead, apply and request an interview schedule if this is required.  This act can save you a lot of commuting and waiting.  Take note of visa processing fees and if they have to be paid ahead of time.

Nationals from ASEAN member-countries are not required to get visas to get these countries — Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnamm and Burma (Myanmar).  But the same nationals will need to acquire a visa to travel to the USA ahead of time, sometimes 3 months ahead.  They too need visas to enter Japan, Korea and India.

Once your national identification and entry documents are being processed and assured, you can start start searching for your flight tickets and booking your accommodations. Don’t forget your airport shuttle arrangements, since not all hotels provide shuttle service.  Consider too any arrangements for visits to friends or relatives in the destination country, possible tours, as well as the oft-forgotten plan for meals.

Some people start packing weeks ahead of their planned international trip. Airport security rules will only allow you to bring small containers (30 oz) containers of drinks, shampoo, gels, medication, lotion, mouthwash in a 1-quart resealable sea-through bags.  (We recently discovered a company that supplies your favorite toiletry brands in these approved travel sizes. Order them at traveltoiletrykits.com and get them delivered to your home or destination hotel.)  It is also important to note that all explosive and flammable objects are completely banned from airplanes, including your checked baggage.

You will also need to know the actual check-in luggage allowance unless you’re openly willing to be charged for excess luggage.  Your online booking engine or airline should give you this information.  If not, feel free to ask.  Most airlines have lowered their baggage allowances, and will charge extra for the 2nd bag. Some airlines, like United, will charge $15 for even the first piece of checked-in bag.

Familiarize yourself with the items that are banned aboard an airplane in the United States, you should also familiarize yourself with the bans enforced in the country that you will be flying to. This is extremely important because not all areas of the world are the same.  Essentially, this may mean that although a certain item may be allowed in your carry-on luggage in the Untied States, it may not be in another country. To prevent a problem from arising with airport security, you are advised to examine the most commonly banned items, throughout the entire world. Here’s a good support article on these items.

Try to  familiarize yourself with the international airports in which you will be flying in and out of.  You may want to print  or request a map of each airport, as well as familiarize yourself with all airport screening procedures.  Although airport security is heightened all across the globe, even in domestic airports, you will find that the security at international airport is more intense.

The security measures taken at each airport will vary depending on the preference of the airport in question. Despite the fact that specific airports can add in their own precautionary measures, there are some rules that be must followed. These rules often involve the proper screening of all passengers and bags. Since this screening may take some time, you are advised to arrive at the airport as early as you possibly can. For international flights, it is advised that you arrive no latter than three hours before your flight is set to take off. In the event that a problem should arise, three hours should give you enough time to, hopefully, get the problem straightened out.

Keep the above points in mind, so you can successfully prepare for your next international vacation or business trip.  When it comes to international travel, nothing is more important than the proper planning.

Surviving Airport Screening Checkpoints

In recent years, as well as recent months, air travel rules have changed.  If you are planning on flying, you will find that most of these changes have occurred right at airports, particularly airport security checkpoints.  Before you head off to catch a flight tomorrow or  in two weeks, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with these new air travel rules.

Most passengers think there is only one checkpoint at the airport, but the reality is that there are three and sometimes four.  The first checkpoint in several airports is upon entering the airport building, as in the Manila International Airport.  Only passengers are allowed to enter, and guards ask for one’s passport as identification.

At most airports though, security points starts at the airline Check-in counter, where the passenger checks in for a flight.  Here, the passenger is given his seat assignment and is issued his boarding pass.  He also hands over any baggage to be check-in.  In addition to handing over your plane tickets or requesting your boarding passes, you will need to show the proper forms of identification such as  a driver’s license or a government issued identification card or passport.

Once you have received all of your boarding passes, for all of your flights, you will need to hand over your luggage that you will be loaded in the plane’s cargo hold. These bags are commonly referred to as checked baggage or checked luggage.  As with your carry-on luggage, your checked baggage will need to be checked for prohibited items. In the past, only a small number of bags were hand checked, but now almost all are.  Many of these checks are quick look-overs, but you may be subject to a random, extensive search. This search often includes the checking of all baggage compartments, as well as the wiping of a cloth, which is looking for powdery substances.

When you have been cleared to the next stage, you will need to go through the main airport security checkpoints. This point is where you will be required to have your carry-on luggage scanned by an x-ray machine. You will also need to walk through a metal detector.  the past, only random travelers were asked to remove their shoes for checking.  However, after 9-11, all air travelers, with the exception of those with a disability or hindering medical condition, are required to remove their shoes. Your shoes will be x-rayed, along with the rest of your carry-on luggage.

Unnecessary incidents can be prevented by familiarizing yourself with the items that are banned aboard an airplane,  for both checked luggage and carry-on.  In the event that you are found carrying a prohibited item, certain steps will be taken. Depending on the item in question, you may be required to return the item to you car, discard it, mail it to your home, or turn it over to airport security.  Ensuring that you leave all prohibited items at home is the best way to prevent this unnecessary tie up, which may cause you to miss your flight.

Once you have been cleared at the main security checkpoint, you will need to go through one more final security checkpoint before being able to board your airplane.  When entering the airport terminal, after your airline has granted permission for passengers to board, you will need to present airline officials with the appropriate boarding pass.  As this time you may need to show your identification again; however, it isn’t always necessary. Most travelers are easily able to board their airplane, but you may be pulled aside in the event that you are acting suspicious or drawing unwanted attention to yourself. That is why it is best that you stay calm during all airport checkpoints, including the final boarding stage.

Perhaps, the best way to ensure that your next flight is as pleasant as it can be is to follow all air travel rules.  Knowing these rules ahead of time, including the screening process, you should ensure that you are able to board your plane and make it to your intended destination without incident.

Dictionary of colloquial Filipino

The Philippines boasts of a highly literate population, and one that actually speaks English.  No less than 96% of Filipinos anywhere around the 7100+ islands can understand and speak English, a result of the Education Department’s stress on English as a medium of instruction.

Yet because of the predominant use of the national language, Filipino, one can expect Filipinos to understand and speak at least 2 languages plus one, two  or more of the 100+ regional dialects. Expectedly, over the decades of migration to the cities, several sub-languages are evolving, which leave even some locales wondering how best to use the words.

Yet, the sub-languages seem to be the colloquial Filipino, a creative, sometimes funny, fusion of English, Filipino, Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampanga, Ilongo, and several other dialects.

Surely passing travelers can safely survive the tour with English spoken clearly and slightly slower than normal.

For natural and alien residents, a working knowledge of the colloquial language can work wonders, especially when trying to negotiate a bargain.

Fortunately,  there’s an online reference (and a book) to refer to, for those oft-intriguing bastardized words, phrases and idioms that local Filipinos use — the better for our immigrant and foreign-based Pinoys to understand our language and culture, and for foreigners in the country to finally learn to speak some colloquial Filipino.

Ano ba ‘yon? Ano ba ‘yan? http://www.anoyon.com is authored by Cynch Sta. Maria-Baron, and enriched by contributions of family, friends, and the general public. The site is a great reference for conversational Filipino, at least for use of some phrases, though it is a continuing work in progress. As I went through the long list, I actually learned a word or two, perhaps less commonly used, but nonetheless a part of colloquial Tagalog. I see the site evolving with thousands of additional words and phrases, corrections and adjustments, as well as a section on sample usage of these words, phrases and idioms.

The book version of the website was  launched November 15, 2008, and available at all major bookstores.

Travel-size toiletries facilitate check-in

If you make frequent short trips by air, and want to be able to carry your personal care items with you on the plane, make sure to bring along TSA-approved travel size versions of your favorite toiletry/personal care products. This will enable you to breeze through airport security checkpoints.

As you may already know, the TSA now requires that any personal care items, such as liquids, gels, and aerosols, must meet certain requirements in order to be taken through an airport security checkpoint–what they call the 3-1-1 rule. Specifically,

• 3-ounce bottle or less (by volume)
• 1 quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag
• 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin

But travel-size versions of my favorite toiletries are so difficult to find, right.  We have discovered a company that sells such items online and delivers to your home or your destination.  Check out the items at TravelToiletryKits.com, which are under 3 ounces and easily meet the 3-1-1 requirements.

They carry travel-size versions of popular brands of baby care products, deodorants/ antiperspirants and body sprays, hair styling gels, hairspray, shampoo and conditioners, toothpaste, mouthwash, denture adhesives, shaving cream, after shave lotion, skin creams, hand lotions, moisturizers, body wash and body powders, foot care products, insect repellants, lip balms, sunscreen and suntan lotion, as well as items such as nasal spray, feminine deodorant spray, nail polish remover, makeup remover, and antibacterial wipes, as well as a selection of aromatherapy inhalers.  And if they don’t have what you need, just let them know. They can probably get it for you.

The available brands offered by TravelToiletryKits.com include Johnson & Johnson, Mennen, Dove, Right Guard, Old Spice, Secret, Soft & Dri, Ban, Tom‘s of Maine, Pantene, Tresemme, Breck, Head & Shoulders, EO, Sunsilk, FDS, Visine, Choraseptic, Cutex, Ponds, Crest, Colgate, Scope, Listerine, Fixodent, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer, Aramis, Addidas, Pierre Cardin, Chaps, Gillette, Nivea, Gold Bond, Pharmacopia, Caress, Old Spice, Purell, DrScholl’s, Blistex, Vaseline, Coppertone, Chapstick, Lubriderm, and Aveeno, among others.

And with every order, they will include a FREE TSA approved one-quart Zip Top clear plastic bag and pack your travel size items into the bag for you.

They also ship your travel-size personal care items directly to your hotel or destination, if you enter all the details of date and address in the comments box at the online checkout.

TravelToiletryKits.com accepts via Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discovery, and Paypal.

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We have just discovered an online store that sells ultra-light-weight face and beach towels that can fit inside a pocket.  Lightload Towels actually takes the load off the trouble of packing towels for those nice walks and hikes, as well as those extended lounging at the beach.  We understand that  these towels are easy-to dispose, environment-friendly, and are available at many stores in the US. We’ll talk about this ingenious travel essential soon.

How to get through the line faster

Article from the Transportation Security Administration, US Department of Homeland Security

Passengers are asked to bear in mind the following advice to help make their passage through the airport as efficient and comfortable as possible.

Pack Smart

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what’s in your bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they’re packed.

• Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage when possible. However, please be advised that you will be required to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray screening. Click here for “checkpoint friendly” laptop bag procedures. Small electronics, such as iPods, can remain in your carry-on.
• Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport. For more information on liquid rules: 3-1-1 for carry-ons, click here.
• Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.
• Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait until you’ve reached your final destination to wrap gifts.
• Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a transportation security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home. Click here to see the list of prohibited items.

Dress the Part

Transportation security officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint. If the metal detector alarms when you pass through, you will be required to undergo additional screening. This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.

Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:

• Keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs)
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras

Body Piercings. Certain metal body piercings may cause you to alarm at the metal detector, which will result in you getting additional screening. If additional screening is required, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
Head Coverings. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items. For more information, click here.
Shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the walk-through metal detector at all U.S. airports and put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. This allows officers to see if the shoes have been tampered with in any way.

Have the Following Ready

The items you’ll need to present to a Transportation Security Officer at the checkpoint are:

• Boarding pass
• Identification (click here to see a list of acceptable IDs)

We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification).

If you do not have identification (if it is lost, stolen, etc.), you will be required to provide the document checking officer with some information to help verify your identity. This will slow down your screening process and will result in additional screening.

Hassle-Free Security Tips

• Arrive on time. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
• Wear slip-on shoes. This will allow you to take them off and put them back on quickly, without having to sit down.
• Pets. Please remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the case through the X-ray machine. Hold your pet in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Children. Please take your infants and children out of baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector. For more information traveling with children, click here.
• Think before you speak. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated. They will result in delays and possibly missing your flight. Local law enforcement may be called as necessary.

Helpful Videos

Make your screening experience as smooth as possible. Select a video to help you understand the screening process.

• Step-By-Step Screening (WMV, 3 MB)
• Female business traveler (WMV, 3 MB)
• Male business traveler (WMV, 3 MB)
• Traveling with a baby or small child (WMV, 3 MB)
• Travelers with special needs (WMV, 3 MB)

Do you need a visa to enter the Philippines?

“For stays of up to 21 days (three weeks), tourists and business travelers from 146 countries with a valid passport for 6 months beyond the period of stay and a return or onward ticket are given free entry into the Philippines.  Visitors wishing to stay longer than 21 days need a visa. Here is a list from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.  Inquire here for a visa for the Philippines.

Nationals of the following countries require a visa even if staying less than 7 days: Afghanistan*, Albania, Algeria*, Bangladesh, Belize, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China (People’s Republic), CIS, Croatia, Cuba, East Timor*, Egypt*, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, India*, Iran*, Irag*, Jordan*, Korea (Democratic Republic), Latvia, Lebanon*, Libya*, Lithuania, Nauru, Nigeria*, Pakistan*, Palestine*, Sierra Leone, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Sri Lanka*, Sudan*, Syria*, Tonga, Vanuatu and Yemen*.

*Nationals of these countries must apply for a Temporary Visitor Visa in their country of origin or place of legal residence.”

SOURCE:www.RetireAsia.com

What types of visas are issued by the Philippine Government?

Visitors to the Philippines may apply for an entry visa depending on their length of stay in the country, as well as the country they’re coming from, as indicated in the above information.

The Philippine Government issues 3 types of visas:

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA issued by the Bureau of Immigration

A foreign national may apply for a temporary visitor’s visa as a “foreign tourist . . . defined as a person without distinction of race, gender, language or religion, who is proceeding to the Philippines for a legitimate, non-immigrant purpose such as sightseeing, sports, health, family reasons, training or study (excluding enrolment in schools for the purpose of obtaining a title or degree), religious pilgrimage, business, cultural and scientific purposes.” (SOURCE: Department of Foreign Affairs). Get more information from the Bureau of Immigration’s website on Non-Immigrant Visa, particularly for foreign government officials, students and pre-arranged employment.

IMMIGRANT VISA issued by the Bureau of Immigration

Foreign nationals may apply for immigrant visa if they meet very specific requirements, and even quotas.  Learn if you are entitled to apply for this visa type, and other requirements from the Immigrant Visa pages the Bureau of Immigration’s website on Non-Immigrant Visa

SPECIAL RETIREE RESIDENT VISA issue by the Philippine Retirement Authority

The SRRV is a special type of visa issued for returning Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship as well as foreign nationals who wish to retire in the Philippines.It is a special non-immigrant visa separate that entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines for an indefinite period with multiple-entry privileges as long as the required minimum deposit investment subsists.

We have a special page explaining this visa. . . the SRRV, or you may check out the pages of the Philippine Retirement Authority.

British travellers must give notice before visiting US

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

By Graham Tibbetts

British tourists will be banned from traveling to America unless they have applied to US security for approval to travel before they depart under increased security requirements.

Under the new scheme tourists will be advised to apply online for approval for travel from the US Department of Homeland Security at least three days before they leave.

Anyone denied permission will be barred when they attempt to check in at the airport.

The measure is aimed at tightening US border controls to prevent a repeat of the September 11 terror attacks.

Known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), it was introduced in a soft launch in August but will be compulsory from January 12.

It replaces the I-94 form, which is currently handed out during the flight to passengers from Britain and a number of other countries who do not require visas.

Applicants will provide the same biographical information and passport details, including names, passport numbers, date of birth and destination, as with the I-94 form. The scheme is free and is valid for multiple entries for two years.

Paul Morris, executive director of customs and border protection, told The Daily Telegraph that he expected 99.6 of all applicants would be approved for travel within four seconds. The rest will be subject to closer scrutiny before a decision is taken or will be rejected outright.

So far 1,000 out of 300,000 applications have been refused. Anyone turned down can still apply for a visa from the US embassy.

Mr Morris urged people to apply at least 72 hours before they travel to ensure their application was processed before they reached the airport.

“The last thing we want is somebody traveling to the US, finding there is an issue and we refuse them admission,” he said.

“By knowing more about people coming to the US we can better identify those we want to take a look at.

“It will enable us to look for individuals who are a national security concern or individuals who are a threat to civil aviation – people who would have been a threat if allowed to board an aircraft. The aim is to prevent these people coming to the US without addressing the issues behind them.”

The procedure would allow security officials to weed out those with a lost or stolen passport.

But it would also free up officials to help travelers pass through America’s notoriously difficult immigration desk more quickly, said Mr Morris.

He admitted that there was an image problem and said steps were now being taken that would overturn America’s reputation as having one of the most unfriendly immigration services in the world.

“We can put more people into inspection lanes, we can address waiting times and can once again be looked upon as a welcoming nation, because that’s what we are. In no way do we want to leave travelers with the notion that we are anything but a welcoming nation,” he said.

“There is a perception problem and we are doing all we can to address that. We recognise we must do a much better job of being welcoming.”

He said they were deploying passenger service managers to assist visitors waiting at immigration “to address questions and make them more comfortable about the process”.

Officials are also being trained to greet passengers with a standard greeting.

“When Americans are returning home they will say ‘welcome home’ and when it is visitors they will say ‘welcome to the US’.

“We have installed video monitors to take people’s minds off queueing. They will show videos of people in the US saying ‘welcome’. It’s a feel-good video that’s meant to take their mind off the fact that they’ve just got off a 12-hour flight and they are in the middle of the immigration process.”

He said that they had also worked with airlines and airports to speed up the immigration process.

How not to be charged for excess luggage

Even travel agents learn new things every time they travel.  In the travel industry, the best way to learn is to actually travel, and share the experience with others.

Recently, a girl friend and I travelled to LA on United Airlines.  She flew in from New York, and I flew in from Minneapolis.  We both had a stop at Denver.  As we got to talking about flight experiences, we discovered that I was charged $15 for my 17 kg. checked-in bag, while she was not charged a cent for her 21 kg bag.

Feeling sorry for myself, I soon learned that a lot has to do with what you tell the guy at the check-in counter.  I had assumed that I would be charged $15 because I was traveling within the US.  I was still too cool and calm following my 3-day spiritual retreat to request certain concessions as a travel agent, that I did not even think to ask if I could get an exception to the pocket-hurting charge.

My girl friend, on the other hand, was bubbly when she checked in for her flight, and started to make small talk with the guy at the counter.  She asked how he was doing, and smilingly told him that she had a most lovely and memorable stay in NYC.  She also mentioned that she was also starting to miss her children back in the Philippines, but that she would also be joining them soon.  “Oh, so you’re on your way back to the Philippines.” He noted her passport, and after a short while gave back her documents with her boarding pass.  “Have a safe flight back home, mam.”  She thanked him with a smile.

So what’s the lesson here? We can only surmise that that guy at the check-in counter thought my friend was taking a connecting flight to LAX, where she would take her flight back home to the Philippines, which in a way made her NYC-LAX flight part of her international flight. She was acually scheduled to fly out from San Francisco 2 weeks later. On the other hand, since I didn’t volunteer any clues or information, my counter guy assumed I was traveling local for a long while, which of course I was for the next week at least.

Now, this story by no means suggests that you provide should false information about your flight plans. No, no, no, that’s not how things work. Nor does it assure that my friend’s tactics will work 100% for you.  But,  being friendly especially to a counter guy who isn’t is he’s still gonna have a job the next day, can be a key to getting a few more travel savings. All things said, we are still human beings subject to emotions and moods.