Travel and Vacations

Avoid Air Travel Mishaps - Air Travel Safety Tips

Story Published on August 2, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Here is a great list of tips for trouble-free air travel. An air trip can easily be ruined from just one small thing going wrong. Use these tips as a useful checklist whether you fly frequently or just occasionally.

Check your passport expiry date. Ideally it needs to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel return date. Some countries actually require that your passport be valid for at least six months into the future.

It is important to decide what you will be taking as onboard hand luggage and what you will be consigning separately. Do this several days before you travel as it could affect what luggage bags you take. It could also affect your air ticket booking, particularly if booking online. Check that you know what luggage restrictions may apply.

Confirm flight times and dates for all portions of your trip to make sure that it matches up with your information.

Make copies of your air travel itinerary and your passport photo page, and leave copies with your workplace and family members or friends. This is a very useful contingency in case you suffer a mishap or in case you need to be contacted in an emergency. Remember to include phone numbers and addresses of where you can be contacted at each stage of your journey.

If traveling internationally make sure that you have the correct visas that may apply. Check whether you need a business or tourist visa and apply accordingly.

Make photocopies of your passport, visas and any other pertinent travel documents. Pack copies in your luggage as a contingency in case your original documents are lost or stolen.

Bring a copy of your medical history with you. This could simply involve listing any medical conditions, blood type, etc. If you are allergic to any medications, include this information. When traveling internationally try to have these items listed in the local language (if possible).

When you travel abroad, if you are not familiar with the local language it’s a good idea to know some key phrases. Simply prepare a short list of words such as: yes, no, please, thank you, where is, help, and so on. All you need is a small slip of paper showing the translations of a dozen or so words that you may have to use.

Theft is always a concern at airports, but also on flights. Never leave valuables on or near your airline seat - take them with you if you leave your seat.

Constantly be aware of your surroundings while in the airport. Many thieves go to airport specifically to steal.

For tips relating to the air trip itself, see Air Travel Safety Secrets (contact details given below). This free ebook reveals extraordinary safety information that airlines don’t tell you. I strongly recommend this free ebook to anybody traveling by air.

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