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Travel during the Christmas holidays.

Travel during the Christmas holidays.

by | Dec 22, 2021 | 0 comments

Travel during the Christmas holidays can be stressful with extra crowds and often densely packed airplanes.  With COVID, holiday travel takes on an even more stressed environment. However, it’s also a chance to visit family and friends, and maybe spend the holiday in a new destination.  The holidays are celebrated worldwide, and they may not be as meaningful in some destinations. However, foreign travel allows travelers to experience Christmas celebrations shared across the globe.  Here are a few tips that may help you navigate traveling during the holidays with less stress.

Pre-trip planning

Plan accordingly and know your flight times. In addition, prepare for extra airport crowds.  Most airlines advise getting to the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international trip.  Typical airport rush hour times are between 5 am to 7 am and 4 pm to 6 pm.  If you plan on traveling around those times, adding some extra airport travel time would be wise.

TSA Pre-check/Clear

Another way to plan for holiday travel is to pre-register for many travel programs that help the travel process go more smoothly.  TSA Pre-check helps to expedite screening at the airport.  It sure helps not to have to remove shoes, belts, laptops, or light-wear jackets as you go through security.  Clear is another program that can help expedite the screening process.  Unlike TSA Pre-check, verification is done through eyes or face, making for a touchless process.

Travel registration

Many foreign destinations now offer travel registration.  Part of any travel research is the know before you go tips available on many country websites.  This research helps travelers know of any visa requirements, but in this time of COVID, it is beneficial also to be aware of any health travel guidelines for your destination.

Travel insurance

As with any travel you purchase, travel insurance is vital for any unexpected travel delays or interruptions.  Now more than ever, it’s essential that your travel insurance include COVID medical insurance.  Travel insurance not only protects the traveler in the event of a COVID infection, but many foreign destinations now require it before allowing entry into the country.

Embassy registration

Many travelers are unaware of the protections they can receive from their government when issues arise in a foreign country. US citizens can find helpful safety and general information about foreign destinations on STEP, The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  It also helps the embassy, friends, and family contact you more easily in an emergency.

These travel tips can be helpful all year round, but especially during the travel holidays, it’s essential to be well prepared. Are you planning on traveling this holiday season? Are you prepared and ready? I’d like to know.  

https://step.state.gov

https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

https://www.clearme.com

No retirement regrets

No retirement regrets

by | Nov 3, 2021 | 0 comments

Since retiring from my flight attendant career, my most asked question is, do I miss it?  I do, but not in the way most people expect.  My flight attendant career gave me some of the most incredible memories of my life.  However, as I think about the job and the realities that flight attendants face now, I have no regrets about leaving the career.

Recently, a flight attendant was assaulted on an American Airlines flight and may have had her nose broken.  The assailant claimed that the flight attendant “hit her nose against the palm of his right hand” and claimed he had “psychological damage from the injury.” I have read and listened to stories about the incident, but few from the flight attendant’s perspective involved or any other flight attendant’s perspective.

According to reports, the issue began when the flight attendant informed the flight attendant of the Fasten seat belt sign.  She was doing her job!!! Contrary to what many people think, the primary duty of a flight attendant is to save lives.  They train continually and yearly for the career, guided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules.  Not advising the passenger of this obvious fact was putting her job in jeopardy.

Flight attendants, like many others, are not self-employed, and they have families and loved- ones that depend on their ability to provide. Their job is governed by the rules and regulations not only of the airline but of the FAA.  Most importantly, interfering with the duties of a crewmember violates federal law.  Recently the job has brought more risk than reward.

An airline ticket is valid only to and from the cities on your ticket or trip record.  An airline will provide service as they see fit, and the flight crew does not determine that service.  The flight crew performs the service provided by the airline.  They cannot deliver items or services not provided in advance by the airline.

A flight attendant may have several flights in a day and be on several different airplanes within the same day.  Sometimes their duty days are more than 10 hours, and rarely is there time to get off the aircraft and purchase food.  More so, once duty starts for a flight attendant, there is usually no designated lunch break until the duty day ends.

The realities of Covid have not only increased stress for air travelers but flight crew as well.  Flight crews are not provided meals in many cases, and if they are, individual dietary needs are not acknowledged.  Before Covid, many airlines cut back on service, and passengers were advised to purchase food at the airport or bring their own.  

The career I left provided many opportunities to travel the world.  Currently, airplanes are more crowded, services are fewer,  and people are more frustrated by wearing masks or being told to comply.  In addition, the stress of airport security and baggage fees or allowances make the travel experience much more stressful than it ever has been.

The next time you travel, I hope you have no regrets but, more importantly, cause your flight crew to have no regrets as well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-charged-after-alleged-assault-on-american-airlines-flightattendant/ar-AAQf6cP

Travelers Beware-Drug mules.

Travelers Beware-Drug mules.

by | Oct 17, 2021 | 0 comments

I recently wrote about theft on an airplane and got so many responses.  Today I’d like to discuss another aspect of air travel many do not consider.  As flight attendants, we knew to look out for the warning signs of drug mules, excessive sweating, refusal to eat or drink, or acting nervous.  I recently saw a post on social media where a lady shared the story of her interaction with a drug mule.  I like to write short insightful pieces, but I had to share this as is. This story is not my story, but I am sharing it because it is accurate and does happen.

COPIED (As was written by the unknown author without correction)

If you travel by air a lot, beware of over friendly chatty seat neighbours.

 The older lady comes and sits next to me inside the plane. She asked me to help her put her bag in the overhead luggage compartment. But a gentleman sitting across quickly came through. (I am not very tall and the overhead luggage compartment is something I try to avoid at all costs.

Immediately she sits down she strikes up a conversation.  She was very pleasant and well spoken.  So we chatted all through the flight to Dubai.

Suddenly, when the pilot announced that we were now proceeding to begin our descent into DXB, my good friend ‘developed’ stomach pains.  Me with my good heart, I pressed the stewards button, and the stewardess came to find out what the problem was.  I told her my seat mate was not feeling well.  And this lady, she suddenly began to address me as ‘my daughter’. The stewardess told me that there was nothing they could do except give her some painkillers and wait until we landed.  The pilot announced that we had a medical emergency on board and advised us all to stay calm.  My new friend was crying and sweating like crazy.  And she refused to let go of my hand… everyone assumed we knew each other. 

So we landed at DXB and the same gentleman who helped put up her luggage in  the overhead compartment removed her luggage.  But as he removed the luggage, he advised me to distance myself from this lady and make it clear to the cabin crew that we were NOT travelling together. He was a godsend!

So indeed, the cabin crew came and asked me if we were related, I categorically told them we had met on the plane.  I didn’t know her at all.  So we began to deplane and as I said goodbye she kept begging me to carry her handbag. I was so torn… but the gentleman looked me in the eye and emphatically shook his head.  He passed me a note telling me to let the cabin crew handle her. 

So I exit the aircraft and leave my ‘new friend’ to wait for the wheelchair and be handled by the cabin crew feeling very guilty. 

As we waited for our luggage to come through, I hear this commotion. My ‘new friend’ was running, trying to escape the cabin crew, having gotten out of the wheelchair! She left the stewardess with her handbag and just ran towards the exit with the rest of her hand luggage! Luckily the airport police were faster than her.  They got hold of her and brought her back in handcuffs. 

This lady starts calling out to me.. my daughter… my daughter!.. how could you do this to me….. that’s when I caught on.  She was carrying drugs and she was trying to implicate me!

Luckily for me, the gentleman who had helped her with her luggage came forward and told the airport police that me and her had just met on the plane.  The police took my passport and asked her to reveal my full names if it was true we were travelling together.  By God’s grace, I had not even told her my first name! I was still asked to follow the police to a little room where I was questioned extensively.  Where did I meet her?… where did I board…  where did she board. Etc… And my luggage was extensively searched and dusted for fingerprints. 

They dusted all her luggage and my fingerprints were not found anywhere on her luggage or on her handbag!

I was let go with advice never ever to touch anyone’s luggage either in flight or at the airport.  So from that day, I don’t care how much luggage you have, you will deal with it yourself.  I will not even offer you a trolley to put your luggage on! Your luggage… your problem….  is my policy.  And if you can’t reach the overhead compartment, and I am the nearest person, please call the cabin crew because all I will do is give you a blank stare and then look away!

A lesson to glean therein for intending air travelers.

COPIED.

Just as I wrote about theft on the airplane, I could not have relayed the dangers of being too friendly more pointedly.  Travelers should be relaxed and have fun, be nice, but most of all, be cautious.  I hope this story opens your eyes a bit.

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

by | Oct 10, 2021 | 0 comments

Recently a friend traveled from Washington DC to Egypt. She discussed with me the harrowing experience of trying to get a required Covid test for travel. With recent federal guidelines, the need for Covid testing has increased, and availability has decreased. As the holidays are a busy travel season, it stands to reason travelers needing testing during the holidays will also surge.  Here are a few things to think about regarding Covid testing and the holidays.

A surge in Covid testing

Many of the issues involved with the current availability of Covid testing affect the recent executive order requiring Covid vaccination for federal employees. Companies with over 100 employees will be required to comply with the order or face significant fines. As expected, there are many questions regarding the order and implementation that need an answer.  However, the demand for Covid testing has risen, and so travelers need to prepare.

Thanksgiving travel

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s usually one of the busiest times for people to travel.  In 2020, many suggested curtailing travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, and many ignored that suggestion.  In preparation for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving travel season, the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act may require all passengers on domestic airlines to either be fully vaccinated, tested negative, or fully recovered from Covid.

The World and Covid

Preparing for holiday travel

In essence, travelers should be aware of travel restrictions and Covid guidelines. They should know where their Covid testing sites are. Find out if they need to have Covid symptoms or can test as a precaution. Research the timing of their test before seeing friends and family as exposure varies. It’s also good to know the different Covid test options, PCR or antigen.

As with any travel experience, preparation is critical.  Stay safe this holiday season and if you choose to travel, do it safely.

Travel and the language barrier

Travel and the language barrier

by | Oct 6, 2021 | 0 comments

It’s true that not being able to communicate can be frustrating and scary. However, it should never be an excuse for not traveling.  There are universal ways of communicating like yes and no, and many other common gestures.  There are also plenty of mute, blind, and or deaf people who travel.  Not knowing a local language is very similar in that a few key phrases or gestures will help travelers through most situations.  Here are a few ideas on travel and the language barrier.

Body language.

People communicate both verbally and nonverbally.  If there’s one universal language that crosses all borders and cultural differences, it’s body language.  Often, we don’t realize how much we communicate through facial expressions or gestures.  When language is a barrier, the power of body language becomes enhanced.  It’s incredible how much miming and pointing will suffice in any language.

English

Just as body language crosses borders, English is also considered the universal language of travel.  Many tourist attractions have signage written in both the local language and English.  The chance of traveling to a place where no one speaks English is very slim.  However, communicating to locals in their language, no matter how inadequate your language skills, makes you a better world citizen.

Facial expressions.

It’s incredible how much we can communicate with our facial expressions.  Our faces express and provide hints to our thoughts and feelings.  Looking confused or worried will most often get you a response of help.  A smile is understood universally as being friendly and open. With facial expressions, sometimes no words are needed.

Hello and thank you.

Just these two phrases will suffice despite any language barrier.  No matter the destination, learning just these two phrases in the language of your destination will allow you to get by.  Although these two words are not enough to carry a conversation, they will indicate respect for the language and people.  Respecting the language of your destination will always get you the assistance you need for further communication.

The essential part of communication is giving and receiving information.  When language is a barrier, it can be frustrating, stressful, and scary.  However, travelers do not have to speak the native language to be understood when traveling to a country with a language barrier. Knowing a local language can enrich your travel experience, but not knowing should never be an excuse for not traveling.

Have you traveled and experienced a language barrier?  How did you overcome it? I’d like to know.