Tips for flying - Revision history

Mousy mouse: /* Special meal requests */

2013-05-17T17:44:49Z

‎Special meal requests

Mousy mouse: /* Flying with children */

2013-05-12T23:55:56Z

‎Flying with children

Hybridace101: /* Online check-in */

2013-04-11T12:18:04Z

‎Online check-in

Hybridace101: /* Carry-on only travel */

2013-04-11T12:15:26Z

‎Carry-on only travel

Hybridace101: /* Trade-offs of budget flying */

2013-04-11T12:10:21Z

‎Trade-offs of budget flying

Blist at 23:56, 6 December 2012

2012-12-06T23:56:27Z

Blist: /* Deep Vein Thrombosis aka DVT */ moving to in the aircraft

2012-12-06T23:52:24Z

‎Deep Vein Thrombosis aka DVT: moving to in the aircraft

Blist: from fundamentals of flying

2012-09-28T12:19:22Z

from fundamentals of flying

Blist: /* Special meal requests */

2012-09-28T00:08:22Z

‎Special meal requests

Blist: /* Choosing a good seat */

2012-09-27T23:54:35Z

‎Choosing a good seat

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 ==Special meal requests==
 : ''See also [[Veg-friendly air travel]].''
-Special meals are a variation from the standard food offered by the airline.  They generally match a variety of dietary or religions requirements, such as kosher, halal, vegetarian, diabetic, Low salt etc.  Children's meals are often also available as special meals.
+Special meals are a variation from the standard food offered by the airline.  They generally match a variety of dietary or religions requirements, such as [[kosher foods while traveling|kosher]], halal, vegetarian, diabetic, Low salt etc.  Children's meals are often also available as special meals.
 Special meals are offered by some airlines, often they can be ordered as part of the online booking process, or subsequently by managing the booking online.  Special meals always need to be ordered at least 24 hours in advance, and the chances of getting one at check-in or when on the plane are slim (although it can never hurt to ask, as occasionally there are special meals on the plane from people who failed to board).

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 Anticipate delays.  Even the shortest flights can be delayed, involving additional time both in the terminal and on the aircraft.  Ensure you have sufficient food, clothes, nappies, entertainment, to avoid turning a couple of hours delay into a nightmare.
 {{usabletopic}}
 [[de:Reisen mit dem Flugzeug]]
 [[fi:Vinkkejä lentomatkustamiseen]]
 [[ja:飛行機旅行のコツ]]

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 The airline will usually provide a special lane for those who checked-in online; be sure to use it for faster service.
-Don't know where to print your boarding pass? An emerging trend in the issuance of boarding passes is having electronic boarding pass.  Some airlines such as American Airlines, Air Canada and KLM already offer this service to passengers flying selected routes.  All you need is a WAP or WiFi-enabled mobile device (such as a Blackberry, iPhone, iTouch) and depending on the airline's system, you can check-in online or via your mobile device.  You will receive a link to your electronic boarding pass or sometimes the boarding pass itself via SMS, MMS or e-mail on your mobile device (consult your mobile device manual on how to save SMS, emails).  The boarding pass will contain a barcode which will be scanned at the checkpoints and gate.  If you are on a "domestic" flight, you will only need to bring the mobile device containing the boarding pass in addition to your ID as required documents.
+Don't know where to print your boarding pass? An emerging trend in the issuance of boarding passes is having electronic boarding pass.  Some airlines such as American Airlines, Air Canada and KLM already offer this service to passengers flying selected routes.  All you need is a WAP or WiFi-enabled mobile device (such as a Blackberry, iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad, Android) and depending on the airline's system, you can check-in online or via your mobile device.  You will receive a link to your electronic boarding pass or sometimes the boarding pass itself via SMS, MMS or e-mail on your mobile device (consult your mobile device manual on how to save SMS, emails).  The boarding pass will contain a barcode which will be scanned at the checkpoints and gate.  If you are on a "domestic" flight, you will only need to bring the mobile device containing the boarding pass in addition to your ID as required documents.
 ===Other remote check-in methods===

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 ==Carry-on only travel==
-If you do not really need loads of luggage and will be away from home for a very short time, it may be worth considering taking carry-on only.  This saves time at your destination because you don't have to wait to claim your checked luggage, and certainly carry-on luggage is less prone to getting lost or stolen. It might also save you money because many airlines charge a fee for each checked bag.  Check with your airline to make sure that your bag fits within their size/weight restrictions for carry-ons, and whether your purse or laptop counts toward the limit of how many bags you can carry (or see our [[List Of Airline Baggage Limits]] to help you compare airlines).  Also, with tight security restrictions on what kinds of items you can take with you into the passenger compartment (particularly nothing that could be used as a weapon and liquids in anything except small bottles), a carry-on-only strategy may not be practical so it is also useful to check the airport which you will departing out of to see restrictions in addition to the ones implemented by the airline you will be using. It is worthwhile to carry all critical items in the carry-on luggage, such as underwear, extra clothes, toothbrush etc.
+If you do not really need loads of luggage and will be away from home for a very short time, it may be worth considering taking carry-on luggage (or hand luggage) only.  This saves time at your destination because you don't have to wait to claim your checked luggage, and certainly carry-on/hand luggage is less prone to getting lost or stolen. It might also save you money because many airlines charge a fee for each checked bag.  Check with your airline to make sure that your bag fits within their size/weight restrictions for carry-ons, and whether your purse or laptop counts toward the limit of how many bags you can carry (or see our [[List Of Airline Baggage Limits]] to help you compare airlines).  Also, with tight security restrictions on what kinds of items you can take with you into the passenger compartment (particularly nothing that could be used as a weapon and liquids in anything except small bottles), a carry-on-only strategy may not be practical so it is also useful to check the airport which you will departing out of to see restrictions in addition to the ones implemented by the airline you will be using. It is worthwhile to carry all critical items in the carry-on luggage, such as underwear, extra clothes, toothbrush etc.
 If you want to travel with carry-on only but also have luggage that should be checked-in, you can use a company that provides a [[luggage delivery service]].  Alternatively, you can use a wardrobe management company like [http://www.travelercloset.com The Traveler's Closet] that not only stores and ships your luggage belongings, but provides you with a database to 'virtually pack' your items, and cleans them for you between trips. You can even arrange to have clean pressed apparel awaiting your arrival.

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 *No mileage accrual, or miles earned earlier for the airline or its travel allegiance may not be usable, e.g., to obtain a seat, get an upgrade or enjoy any free amenities.
-Virtually all carriers everywhere charge fees for amenities and services for economy class, even if you've purchased a full-price economy ticket.  Pre-paying services or amenities on-line (when possible) may lessen extra costs somewhat.  If an on-line promotion or point-of-sale is based outside the U.S., the advertised price often will not include taxes (by law, it must in the U.S.).  Other charges may not be reflected in the initial price nor obvious on the "page" when an offer is made from anywhere, e.g., baggage charges, fuel surcharges, seat selection fees.  Your full cost for a flight can be quite different from that initially touted.  For more advice on budget traveling, see [[Discount airlines]].
+Virtually all carriers everywhere (especially in North America) charge fees for amenities and services for economy class, even if you've purchased a full-price economy ticket.  Pre-paying services or amenities on-line (when possible) may lessen extra costs somewhat.  If an on-line promotion or point-of-sale is based outside the U.S. and E.U., the advertised price often will not include taxes and surcharges (by law, it must in the U.S. and E.U.).  Other charges may not be reflected in the initial price nor obvious on the "page" when an offer is made from anywhere, e.g., baggage charges, fuel surcharges, seat selection fees.  Your full cost for a flight can be quite different from that initially touted.  For more advice on budget traveling, see [[Discount airlines]].
 ==Frequent flyers==

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 Commercial aeroplane flight is one of the most common forms of international travel. These are some tips for making your flights safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.
-For a guide to the standard procedures, rules, and other basics of travelling by air (some of which have changed in recent years), see [[Fundamentals of flying]].  See also [[First and business class travel]], [[Discount airlines]].
+For a guide to the standard procedures, rules, and other basics of travelling by air (some of which have changed in recent years), see [[Fundamentals of flying]].  See also [[First and business class travel]], [[Discount airlines]] and [[In the aircraft]].
 ==Booking==
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 ==At the airport==
 : ''See [[at the airport]].''
 ==Special meal requests==
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 ==Jet lag==
 Jet lag is  a form of disorientation and fatigue caused by abruptly switching to a different sleeping/waking schedule and different daylight hours.  Some people are affected more than others, but it tends to happen when crossing two or more time zones in a single flight (which first became commonplace with the development of commercial jet air travel, hence the term).

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 6 December 2012
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	If you have a lot of baggage, consider flying business class or even first class. Domestic tickets may not cost that much more. International flights will cost considerably more and may not be recommended. With most airlines, those seat classes will you get a larger luggage allowance.		If you have a lot of baggage, consider flying business class or even first class. Domestic tickets may not cost that much more. International flights will cost considerably more and may not be recommended. With most airlines, those seat classes will you get a larger luggage allowance.
−
−	~~==Deep Vein Thrombosis aka DVT==~~
−	~~{{disclaimerbox\|The following discussion should not be used as medical advice. Consult your doctor if you think you might have or be at risk for DVT during planned travel.}}~~
−
−	Passengers on long flights can be prone to DVT, which is essentially blood clots forming in the veins, especially those in the legs. It actually '''affects anyone who remains seated for long periods''', e.g., train travelers, car passengers. You can take precautions to avoid it:
−	* Stretch and/or walk every 2 hours or so. Even a trip to the washroom and back is better than nothing.
−	* Do in-seat exercises, e.g., flexing legs and torso, rotating/flexing feet.
−	* Prefer aisle seats that will let you more easily get up and move around.
−	* Stay hydrated by drinking water, or other non-alcoholic, caffeine-free beverages.
−	* Consult you doctor to see if certain preventative measures are needed for you. They may include wearing calf-length compression hose (ask about the right kinds), perhaps taking a blood-thinner (e.g., simple infant dose of aspirin) shortly before your flight.
−
−	Be aware of the early symptoms (e.g., pain or swelling in the legs) which you may notice during flight or later. If suspected, seek medical treatment promptly. If neglected, the condition can become serious, even fatal.
−
−	~~You'll find a full article at [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVT#Travellers]].~~

	==Flying with children==		==Flying with children==

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 28 September 2012
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	Virtually all carriers everywhere charge fees for amenities and services for economy class, even if you've purchased a full-price economy ticket. Pre-paying services or amenities on-line (when possible) may lessen extra costs somewhat. If an on-line promotion or point-of-sale is based outside the U.S., the advertised price often will not include taxes (by law, it must in the U.S.). Other charges may not be reflected in the initial price nor obvious on the "page" when an offer is made from anywhere, e.g., baggage charges, fuel surcharges, seat selection fees. Your full cost for a flight can be quite different from that initially touted. For more advice on budget traveling, see [[Discount airlines]].		Virtually all carriers everywhere charge fees for amenities and services for economy class, even if you've purchased a full-price economy ticket. Pre-paying services or amenities on-line (when possible) may lessen extra costs somewhat. If an on-line promotion or point-of-sale is based outside the U.S., the advertised price often will not include taxes (by law, it must in the U.S.). Other charges may not be reflected in the initial price nor obvious on the "page" when an offer is made from anywhere, e.g., baggage charges, fuel surcharges, seat selection fees. Your full cost for a flight can be quite different from that initially touted. For more advice on budget traveling, see [[Discount airlines]].
		+
		+	==Frequent flyers==
		+
		+	Many airlines offer a '''frequent flyer''' loyalty program, rewarding patrons who fly regularly with them or who fly long distances. The loyalty schemes work on a '''segments''' or '''miles''' basis: you get rewards after you fly a certain number of trips ('segments') or after the total distance of your flights exceeds a certain amount. Business and first class passengers may receive bonus miles for each journey; sometimes there are available credit card and hotel bonuses for economy class tickets as well. If you are not a member of a frequent flyer program, consider joining one - especially if you travel to an intercontinental destination or plan to take additional trips. You may get something out of it, at the price of having your data profiled and used for advertisement. To join a frequent flyer program, brochures are handed out at the airport, an airline's lounge or an airline's ticket office. Submit them to the ground staff and your frequent flyer number becomes effective immediately. You can also join online. Most frequent flyer programmes don't charge a fee to join but some such as Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club do (in exchange for a few perks such as dedicated check-in counters and priority boarding at the base level).
		+
		+	The frequent flyer rewards typically include:
		+
		+	* '''Free flights''' and '''Upgrades'''. Once you have earned enough miles/points, you can claim a flight and/or an upgrade award. The mileage cost of the award will vary depending on your itinerary. Take note though that although the fare is free, you will still have to shoulder government taxes and surcharges collected at the point-of-ticketing.
		+	* Redemption of free goodies (such as consumer goods and hotel stays) on other non-flight partners.
		+	* If you collect enough points in a year you can become an '''elite member''', which can include additional perks such as check-in at the first/business class counter, early boarding, priority in waitlists, complimentary upgrades, and access to '''airport lounges'''. Lounges are also available to holders of some credit cards: Diners Club [http://www.dinersclub.com/en/DCIHome/airport.jhtml]; GlobeCard Platinum; Master Card; and American Express.
		+
		+	Not all fares are eligible to earn miles so ask the ticketing agent or read the fare rules at the time of booking. You can usually claim miles for flights up to 12 months after you've taken them, as long as you were a member when the flight was taken, but you will need to keep your boarding pass stubs. It's easier to log-in using your frequent flyer number prior to booking.
		+
		+	Currently only Travelgrove's [http://www.travelgrove.com/] meta search engine is showing the miles that can be earned for each flight. In cooperation with MileBlaster, extras like Credit Card bonuses, Hotel bonuses, special offers are also available, and the results can be ordered by the percentage of the free flight that can be gained by booking the given flight, so it is definitely a good choice for frequent flyers looking to collect enough miles for a free flight.
		+
		+	Your airline of choice may be a member of an '''airline alliance''', which allows you to earn and use your miles on other airlines in the same alliance as well. The big three alliances are Star Alliance [http://www.staralliance.com], oneworld [http://www.oneworld.com] and SkyTeam [http://www.skyteam.com]. With the many frequent flyer programmes out there, it will be ideal to be a member of one programme per alliance at most.
		+
		+	Being a frequent flyer programme of a particular carrier somehow makes it more convenient to make bookings with that carrier. When you log-on using your frequent flyer number and book a flight, your details (such as name, passport details etc.) are automatically filled-in whether the flight is mileage accruable or not.
		+
		+	You may also be able to claim points from '''other sources'''. Credit cards affiliated to a program are particularly useful, as you'll typically get miles every time you use them and this can quickly rack up to a free trip per year, but hotel stays, car rentals and even mobile phone bills may garner you points.

	== Ticketing ==		== Ticketing ==

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 == Choosing a good seat ==
-See [[Fundamentals of flying#Choosing your seat]] for an introduction to choosing a good seat. However, in addition to the choice of window seats (good views), aisle seats (more freedom to move) and middle seats (lacking the advantages of either window or aisle seats) there are several other considerations for choosing a slightly more comfortable economy class seat.
+In addition to the choice of window seats (good views), aisle seats (more freedom to move) and middle seats (lacking the advantages of either window or aisle seats) there are several other considerations for choosing a slightly more comfortable economy class seat.
 How close you sit to the front or back end of the plane is a mixed bag of benefits and drawbacks.  In most jet aircraft, seats in the back experience more '''cabin noise'''; the difference can be significant enough to cause discomfort, and it's one of the reasons why first class is always located in the front.  In wide-body aircraft, rear economy window seats will provide you with a better '''view''' than in the front of the economy section, where the view is obstructed by the wings.  The effects of '''turbulence''' are weakest near the leading edge of the wing, in the middle of the aircraft.  Finally, US National Transportation Safety Board data from accidents in which some passengers survived and others did not, indicate that seats at the rear of the plane are statistically '''safer'''.