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	Airline Travel Tips
	By Ramona Creel

Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.

• ask if your airline offers discount seats for children
• look for airline agents who work with "consolidators"
• check several nearby cities for the best fare
• flying farther away and renting a car can save money
• if lower advertised fare, ask to be re-ticketed at lower price
• shop for internet discounts and web-only fares
• be flexible on flight time and day to get a better the deal
• plan for a Saturday stay-over for a better rate
• travel mid-week and return mid-week for good fares

• schedule your flight early in the day to reduce potential delays
• avoid stops in areas that regularly experience bad weather
• avoid sitting by lavatories or kitchen for quieter trip
• request seats near the front for easy disembarking
• ask for an aisle seat or one behind a bulkhead for more leg room
• seats at rear or in front of emergency exit don't recline fully
• emergency exit seats have more room but more responsibility

• knives, box cutters, straight razors, or blades of any kind
• sharp point metal scissors or nail files
• knitting needles, ice picks, corkscrews, or other sharp items
• guns
• explosive or flammable items
• pressurized containers
• household cleaners or toxic chemicals
• when in doubt, transport items in your checked baggage

• buy your ticket with a credit card in case you have problems
• travel insurance will protect you if flight cancelled or delayed
• read travel insurance policies carefully for exclusions
• check your tickets for errors as soon as you receive them
• put your tickets in a safe place
• give someone your itinerary -- arrival, departure, flight
• place your name, contact info, and itinerary in your luggage
• minimize the number of plane changes to avoid lost luggage
• try not to check your bags if you don't have to
• lock your luggage before checking your bags
• bumped flight owes you compensation and a seat on next flight
• if you are unhappy, complain to the airline
• you may also complain to the Dept. Of Transportation

• plan to leave so you arrive at the airport at least 1 hour early
• plan for transportation to and from airport
• check the weather at all airports along your route
• double check your departure time and flight number

• bring snacks in pre-packed ziploc bags
• give your infant a bottle to suck to reduce ear pressure
• bring a bag of toys, coloring books, etc. to keep kids occupied
• bring wet wipes, a rag, and a change of clothes for your kid
• request an aisle seat for easy access to the bathroom
• try not to sit in a middle or window seat with a fidgety child

 

Copyright Ramona Creel, all rights reserved-- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box.

Ramona Creel is a modern Renaissance woman and guru of simplicity -- traveling the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of radically downsizing, and inspiring others to regain control of their own lives. As a Professional Organizer and Accountability Coach, Ramona will help you create the time and space to focus on your true priorities -- clearing away the clutter other obstacles and standing in the way of that life you've always wanted to be living. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a travel writer, social commentator, and blogger, she shares her experiences and insights about the world as we know it. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at www.RamonaCreel.com. And be sure to follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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