Category: Travel Tips

When Pigs Don't Fly

2/9/2018

You may have to leave that Service Pig at home

Delta Airlines transports over 700 service & support animals each day and they have seen it all. Because of policy-abuse, starting March 1 they will be changing their service & support animal policy.

“Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more,” an airline spokesman explained. “Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can be a disservice to customers who have real and documented needs.”

Here's a primer:

TRAINED SERVICE ANIMALS VS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT/PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE ANIMALS

Trained service animals receive training to assist those with visual impairment, deafness or hard of hearing, diabetes, seizures, mobility limitations or other needs.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals assist those with emotional, psychiatric, cognitive or psychological disabilities.

On Delta Airlines, to travel with an emotional support animal, passengers must:

Download the official PDF. You may submit a copy of vaccination records in lieu of the Veterinary Health Form as long as the vaccination dates and veterinary office information are included.
Upload it to My Trips through the Accessibility Service Request Form
Keep completed paperwork with you while traveling

BEHAVIOR
We know that service and support animals are highly-trained working animals. We will only refuse transportation of the animal if it engages in disruptive behavior such as:

Growling
Jumping on passengers
Relieving themselves in the gate area or cabin
Barking excessively, not in response to a handler’s need or distress
Eating off seatback tray tables

Other airlines are following suit.

* statistically, you'd have to fly 200 flights to have a service/support animal on board

more news here

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November 7, 2017: The last flight of the 747

11/7/2017

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For the last flight of the infamous 747, United plans to recreate its own 1970 inaugural San Francisco-Honolulu flight*. Since then, over 1,530 have been manufactured.

The 4-engine 747 saw passenger load shrink as competing 2-engine aircraft have become available. The Airbus A340 (1993) can fly longer trips. The Boeing 777 (1995) is more fuel efficient. The A380 (2007) carries more passenger.

More recently, even more efficient aircraft: the Boeing 787 (2011) and the Airbus A350 (2015) signified the beginning of the end for the 747,

“The 747 is, was and always will be an iconic aircraft. It ushered in the wide-body era, it became prestigious to operate, it was prestigious to fly in it, and state-owned airlines that often had no business buying it did so anyway for the prestige.” commented aviation consultant Scott Hamilton.

* the first flight was by Pan Am, January 22, 1970

more news here

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Hackers publish 3D blueprints for TSA "Master Keys"

8/4/2016

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“TSA locks [are] only one step above having no lock at all”

At a conference in New York., a group of hackers released files that allows anyone with a 3D printer to produce the eighth and last TSA master key (TSA approved luggage locks allow TSA and other luggage security personnel to unlock and inspect your bags using master keys).

In 2014, the Washington Post inadvertently published an article which included a high resolution photo of all seven Travel Sentry TSA master keys from which someone was able to digitally recreate the keys, and then share the files.

The hackers have said that the purpose of the project was not to scare people but to highlight the dangers of "government key escrow", a data security measure in which a third party is trusted with a cryptographic key that they may only use with the authorization of the entrusting agency. Nevertheless, the net result of their move was that anyone with a 3D printed key could have access to your luggage,

What to Do?
Security experts have long touted that, even before the breech, TSA locks do not fully protect your belongings. Matt Blaze (University of PA computer science professor) told Wired that he sometimes picks his own TSA locks as it's faster than locating his keys.

security consultant Chris McGoey told the Intercept that “TSA locks on luggage [are] only one step above having no lock at all -- especially on soft-sided luggage”

So we recommend you continue using TSA-locks, but put high-valued items in your carry-on or arrange to have them shipped via an insured carrier (e,g, FedEx, UPS).

What Are TSA Locks?

In the United States the TSA requires access to luggage without the passenger being present; to allow travelers to secure their luggage they have accepted certain locks which the TSA can open and relock. to avoid a forced (lock-breaking) action.

Locks with the Travel Sentry identifying mark (red diamond) are TSA-accepted.

Some TSA accepted locks feature an indicator which will appear red if opened by a master key, so the owner will know that their bag has been accessed.

more news here

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“If you see something, say something"

4/19/2016

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... can we be more vague?

Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak addresses the balance of vigilance and common sense, especially regarding unknown cultures, in her April 18 article.

What’s even scarier is the “something” that was part of a leaked TSA checklist ... included such gems as:
~ arrives late for flight,
~ increased perspiration,
~ increased breathing rate
~ or excessive fidgeting.

That describes just about every parent who has ever flown anywhere with small children.

-Petula Dvorak
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E.Z., Phone Home

7/24/2015

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Phoning home has gotten easier but can still be tricky. Here are four top tips:

1. Confirm that your phone will work:
If your carrier confirms that:

The phone hardware will work at each destination,
Your plan allows for international calling,
Your International calling is activated,
Your plans rates are competitive,

that may be the easiest option.

2. Plan B: Using local SIM card
If your phone hardware is compatible and unlocked, but their per-minute rates are too consider installing locally-bought SIM cards. These SIM cards can be purchased at phone, music, or even grocery stores, and allow your phone to use local, cheaper carriers.

Even if your phone is not unlocked, your carrier can usually help you with unlocking it, but start this process at least a week prior to leaving.

3. If your phone isn't compatible or can't be unlocked,
you might consider buying an inexpensive, unlocked phone just for traveling.

4. Take advantage of Wi-Fi:
If your smartphone can access local WIFI, then by using Skype, FaceTime, Viber, or Google Hangouts, you may be able to handle all your communication needs, rendering all the SIM, hardware, and carrier compatibility issue irrelevant.

For more tips, visit onecallinternational

If you could benefit from a locally-purchased SIM cards, here's a primer on how to replace SIM cards (be sure to keep track of the original SIM card)

SIMM Card: iPhone

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A Case for Luggage

7/24/2015

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According to NBC's Ben Popkin, everything you know about packing is wrong as wrong.

Our typical approach actually promotes wrinkles. In the video, Ben's alternative approach reduces wrinkles and takes up less space.

No matter which method you use to pack, there is still making sure you know what to pack. Brian Teeter, in his book, Healthy Trekking Guides (Irvine CA), presents us with advise on what to bring and what NOT to bring:

Be ruthless. Aim to fit everything inside a carry-on bag. You’ll cut down on excess luggage fees, eliminate the possibility of lost luggage and simplify your life.

A few days before your trip, lay out everything you’ll think you need. Plan ahead on what you’ll wear. Put away anything that’s not absolutely necessary. Take what remains and cut that quantity in half. Also, don’t wait until the last moment to pack. You’ll rush, and end up bringing what you don’t need.
Use [the Accolades] packing list to help you organize.
Make traveling wrinkle-free with the right fabrics. Pack knits, wools and cotton clothes – these wrinkle less and offer more versatility. Travel-specific clothing from Travelsmith and REI might cost more, but stay cool, dry quickly and can be washed in your hotel sink.
Shoes take up a lot of space in your bag. So fill them with underwear and socks. Try to eliminate bringing extra pairs by coordinating your clothes around one packed pair. If you can, wear the bulkiest shoes when you fly and pack the other pair(s).
Pack your toiletries in a Dopp kit or Ziploc bag. (If you’re traveling with a carry-on containing liquids, put them in a Ziploc bag to comply with the TSA 3-1-1 rule). Save space with sample bottles of shampoo or make-up.
To keep necklaces and bracelets from tangling, string them through drinking straws and then fasten them.
No gym at your hotel? No problem! A jump rope, resistance bands and other items can turn your hotel room into a gym while hardly taking up any space in your suitcase.
To sleep better on the road, pack an eye mask and foam earplugs. They can help assure a good night’s sleep, and that’s important for overcoming jet lag.
If you’re traveling with a loved one, a good trick is to pack half of your clothes and items in your bag, and half in your partner’s, and vice-versa. That way, if you lose one of your bags, you’ll still have something to wear.
Take pictures of your luggage before your trip, especially bags you might intend to check. If the airline loses them, having photos of the missing bags will make them easier to find.

Finally, from onebag.com comes this enlightened promise:

If you persevere [with minimizing what you pack], you will at some point reach a transcendent moment, in which your (one) bag will be small and light enough to carry without consequence -- no longer of any meaningful concern. And from that instant, your travel experiences will be forever changed with an unfettered freedom that is beyond the comprehension of those who remain bound to their baggage.

courtesty of www.onebag.com

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Here you'll find a mix of tips, tricks, and articles from our staff, group leaders, group travelers, and other expert sources. Within the archives (below) are instruments you've never seen or heard, ways to travel like a pro, and some of the most beautiful spots on earth.

When Pigs Don't Fly

You may have to leave that Service Pig at home

November 7, 2017: The last flight of the 747

Hackers publish 3D blueprints for TSA "Master Keys"

“If you see something, say something"

... can we be more vague?

E.Z., Phone Home

A Case for Luggage

Accolades News

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