Become a Home Based Travel Agent

Air Travel Survival in the Not-So Friendly Skies
By Nancy Norris

I am sure I am not alone in thinking that sprouting a pair of wings would sometimes be easier than relying on those provided by the commercial airlines. We all have our air travel nightmares to recount, not to mention those that our clients have suffered. In the last several months I have found myself doing more air travel than usual and, out of necessity, compiled five helpful tips for making it a stress-free experience (well, okay maybe not “stress-free”, but at least tolerable).

Tip #1: If your goal is to land at your destination near the estimated time of arrival AND have your luggage waiting for you at baggage claim as well, your expectations may be set too high. Never underestimate the power of flight delays and cancellations to foil your plans. As a rule of thumb, expect to arrive 26 hours later than originally planned. If you (or your clients) live in a cold weather state, as I do, OR hoping to catch a cruise in a foreign port, I have found it best to anticipate arriving at least 36 hours later than my scheduled arrival. By building in this cushion, even if you by some quirk of cosmic fate arrive on time, it allows time for your luggage to catch up to you.

Tip #2: Know the TSA’s latest requirements for getting through security. As knowledgeable travel agents, this may seem like a no-brainer, but I am amazed at how often I have traveled with other agents that had “no clue” what was not permitted. I have sadly watched a young traveler breakdown and cry as her brand new bottle of very expensive perfume (a gift from her amazing “new love”) was casually confiscated by the screener. Mom and Dad stood hopelessly by trying to explain that no one had told them about these restrictions. Even if YOU know the rules, make sure your clients fully understand all the guidelines. If that young traveler was your client, guess who would be held accountable?

To streamline that trip through security checkpoints, wear shoes that are easy to remove. AND from personal experience, I advise you to wear socks without holes in them on your travel day to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment. If nothing else, I do learn from my mistakes.

Tip #3: Pack protein! While this may seem like an odd suggestion, you need only be stranded in the Newark airport once when a blizzard has shutdown the airport and the thousands of other displaced passengers have already consumed every edible morsel in sight. It doesn’t take up much space, but that bag of mixed nuts, dried fruit or cheese and crackers in your carry-on bag may be the only thing that saves you from utter starvation. You can’t carry bottled water through security and, once in the airport terminals, it tends to be expensive. So, as a cost cutting measure, pack an empty water bottle which you can fill once you get through security. Trust me, having once found myself stranded on the tarmac for several hours without any service, that bottle of water on the airplane helped me maintain some semblance of decorum. (By the way, that was no easy feat as I was experiencing “hot flashes” at the time.)

Tip #4: Think of your carry-on bags as your survival kit. Carefully focus on the articles that win a coveted spot in those bags. With strict airline regulations on number and size of carry-ons that are permitted, strategic planning is imperative. I have learned from experience that to be battle ready, assume that your checked baggage will be delayed or lost and the only items you will have when you reach your destination are those you packed in your survival kit. Obviously, medicines, prescriptions, passport and valuables should receive the highest priority. From here, your own needs must be addressed. Personally, my survival kit always includes my 1 quart Ziploc bag of minimum make-up, liquids and gels that are required for physical maintenance. (Granted, my vanity plays no small part in this decision.) I always pack my toothbrush, hairbrush, a change of underwear and a change of clothing (opposite attire from what I am wearing on the plane). As I am “sun bunny”, I always reserve a small space for a bathing suit. My carry-on also includes the aforementioned protein snacks and water, and almost as important: items that will occupy the inordinate amount of time I will need to keep myself entertained. For me it is a good novel and a Sudoku book. For many, computers, DVDs and I-pods do the trick. And, oh yes, for those long overnight flights, I don’t leave home without an Ambien.

Tip #5: Don’t be an idiot! When flight plans are delayed or otherwise disrupted, I have found that airline passengers fall in to one of three categories: “innocents”, “intellectuals” and “idiots”. If the plane headed for Cleveland gets diverted to Chicago due to weather, the “innocents” are easy to spot by the dazed and confused expressions on their faces as they deplane. While these kinds of passengers need lots of assistance, they are docile and appreciative of anyone that offers aid or reassurance. The “intellectuals” calmly assess the situation, quietly explore all their options and philosophically accept the inevitable. And the “idiots”, well they just act like idiots! They are the ones loudly vocalizing their frustrations, screaming at the flight attendants, cursing out the airline and generally being obnoxious. Not only is this wasted energy, but the results are often disastrous. If you are the reservation attendant placing stranded passengers on the last flight out of Chicago to get them to Cleveland, would you give the last seat to the sweet innocent grandmother trying to get to Cleveland for her granddaughter’s graduation or the idiot blowhard that is yelling at one of your associates? We all know who will win.

So, pack wisely, allow yourself (or your clients) ample travel time and when travel plans go horribly awry (as they so often do) accept it gracefully. Stay calm by practicing deep-breathing exercises when delays are announced, and if all else fails, most airports have easily accessible bars and pubs where the alcohol is freely dispensed. That’s where you’ll find me!