Best Vacation Advisor

Archive for November, 2010

Tips For Breezing Through Airport Security

Heightened security measures and seemingly everchanging rules and regulations can make getting through security at the airport a not so pleasant experience for even the most savvy of business travelers. But if you do a little planning and follow the tips below getting through airport security can be a breeze.

Know the Rules
The rules on what you can carry onboard with you have changed recently and they are expected to remain as they are for sometime. Knowing what you are allowed to bring onboard and what needs to be checked will avoid delays and frustration.

Liquids Gels and Aerosols With a few exceptions only liquids gels and aerosols in 3 ounce or smaller containers are allowed to be carried on board. All items must be placed in a one quartsize ziptop clear plastic bag and fit comfortably. Each passenger is allowed one of these bags. TSA calls this the 3/1/1 system 3 quarts/1 bag/1 person.

Exceptions Exceptions include baby formula and breast milk if traveling with a small child all prescriptions and overthecounter medication and liquids for travelers with a medical condition or disability.

For more detailed information about items that are permitted and prohibited for either carry on or checked baggage view this TSA brochure.

Start with Your Shoes
Everything you are carrying with you will need to be screened. If you are carrying a laptop it will need to be removed from its case and placed in a bin by itself. You will also need to remove any outerwear including sweaters coats and jackets.

Any metal including belt buckles gum wrappers change keys and watches can set off the metal detector and should be removed. To get through security faster and avoid misplacing any of your items you may want to put these smaller items in a plastic bag before going through security.

All airports now require shoes to be removed for screening. When putting your items through screening put your shoes through first. The first items people usually go for on the other side of the metal detector are their shoes. Also shoes usually go though faster than your other items that need to be more closely examined so you can be putting on your shoes while waiting for everything else.

Finally if you followed the 3/1/1 rule and have small toiletry items in a plastic bag you will need to remove the bag from your luggage and place it in a bin for screening. Save time by placing the bag at the top of your luggage when packing.

Be Patient and Polite
The security screening process can be frustrating especially if you are stuck in a long line or are selected for random searches. But keep your cool comply with the TSA screeners and you will be on your way in no time!

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Safe Harbors Travel Group is shaping a new age of business travel management. Safe Harbors expertise in business travel global travel infrastructure vendor management expense and accountability reporting and travel information systems is helping clients achieve their business goals with a higher returnontravelinvestment. Headquartered in Baltimore Safe Harbors provides global travel management to more than 100 corporate clients.

To learn more visit SafeHarbors.com.

For more travel information from Safe Harbors visit SafeHarbors.com/TravelBlog.

Super Jumbo Jet Promises Cheaper Air Fares

If youve seen any of the latest developments in passenger jets then chances are youll know about the enormous A380 the giant of the skies. The A380 can seat 450 people in varying degrees of prestige from economy premium economy business class and firstclass.

The size of this aircraft is a sight to behold with it nearly being the full length of a football pitch; the wingspan would easily poke into the seating of a football stadium too. The A380 has three floors to it with a full length middle floor housing the majority of the seating; a stair case toward the front of the plane ascends to the firstclass floor.

The lower floor is expected to be set aside by many airlines as cargo storage but some plans being formulated by some flight companies have converted these into sleeping areas or a child care facility.

Compared to the current airlines and passenger aircraft the A380 can accommodate 3050 more passengers on board and its credentials seem to make it the logical choice for flights in the future. Airbus the company who created the A380 claims to have developed such a technological advance that makes the A380 more economical and environmentally friendly that the current fleet of Boeing 747s despite its size.

Airbus say their A380 runs on 20 less fuel which is a major sticking point for cheap flights providers these days they also claim it runs quieter and cheaper too. The flights and tourism industry has suffered many setbacks in the past 12 months with the cost of fuel running higher it has meant many cheap flights companies have been forced to bow out of the holiday market.

With a larger capacity and more economical energy usage the A380 may become a more viable option for many airlines and not surprisingly 66 airlines companies signed up to order some A380s to their army of aircraft. Australian flights company Qantas bought twenty for their flights to Australia with recent test flights from France to Australia being completed recently there are plans to open up flights going between London and Melbourne as well as to Los Angeles.

As the new king of the airways can the A380 reignite the ailing flights industry? The numbers on paper look favourable but will airlines still be able to pay their fuel bills by the time their new toys arrive? Only time will tell.

About the writer:  Andy Adams is an IT worker and experienced writer

Some Interesting Facts About Gatwick Airport That You Might Not Know

If you are a frequent traveller you must have cursed your bad luck and jinxed trip upheavals. I have been stranded at the airport a couple of times. And each time I swear it will be my last. Unfortunately finances and the Curse of the Billy Goat conspire each time for people of meager means like me to dictate my travel needs. So I travel cheap and when stranded I can’t afford the VIP lounge. Having some advance knowledge of the airport you are flying through can be useful. Here is what I like about Gatwick Airport.

The Airport is 32 miles from the centre of London and 25 miles from Heathrow airport the biggest airport in UK. The fast Gatwick Express train runs every 15 minutes into Victoria station an important station that has bus and rail connections to the whole of England. Over 115 million people pass through the Victoria station each year.

I have had backpackers say that the airport is a good and popular airport to sleep if you are on transit. The places often cited as safe for passengers is the recliners past security I cant independently confirm that. I know for a fact that although inevitable sometimes sleeping at the airport is not easy. There are the cleaning staff making noise scraping stuff off the floor there are frequent and booming announcements to contend with and of course the noise and banter from armed police patrolling down the corridors.

For those travelling with childrensoft children’s play areas are available after security controls on the lower levels of the North and South’s International departure lounges. There are also children’s interactive and educational games and consoles facilities for children under 6 years. However play areas are unsupervised so all parents and guardians are responsible for the safety and security of their children. Arcade games for older children and teenagers including computer games ice hockey and table football are also available. If you still have time before your flight you can always take the kids for a free rides on the Inter Terminal Transit train that runs every 3 minutes between the North and South Terminals.

There is a service only available to passengers travelling within the European Union including the UK and Republic of Ireland. The deal is that you can buy stuff while you wait for your flight and they will keep it all safe until you return. All you do is to tell the retailer that is what you want to do and they will give you a receipt. Your purchases will be waiting for you to collect upon your return at the Shopping Collection point located in international arrivals.

The Airport also boasts great views of the runway and planes from both the North and South Terminals departure lounges which is an educational and exciting way to keep your children amused whilst waiting to fly. The second floor smokers’ area had nice padded benches. And for the religious type there is an interfaith chapel is available for private prayer in section named The Village.This article is not a complete guide to Gatwick Airport. There are many guides out there on the net.

About the writer:  Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Gatwick Airport Parking. Gatwick Airport Hotels and I have a little hobby site safari news.