Community Magazine January 2019

82 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE If you're traveling a great distance over the holidays, the last thing you need is a stressful airport experience to start your vacation on the wrong foot. Consider the following airline travel tips that can help to alleviate your worries. PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR OWN SANITY – Waiting to the last minute always leaves a great deal of your trip up to happenstance. Of all of the top winter travel tips you may find, this is the one piece of advice that will be well worth spending the extra time and effort to incorporate. Contact your travel agent to book your vacation in advance, as soon as you can manage. Then, you'll be able to avoid peak travel dates, get lower airfares, fly direct (or minimize your connections) and fly early or late in the day to avoid the bigger crowds. LEAVE AT LEAST AN EXTRA HOUR EARLIER – As you prepare for your winter vacation give yourself more time than usual in order to anticipate any delays that may occur. Remember to bring some reading material for while you wait in the security line or at your departure gate. In cities with snow or ice, arrival delays can exceed two to three hours, and de-icing procedures can take up to an hour before takeoff. PACK AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TRAVEL – Since more airlines are getting stricter on baggage limits and weight allowances, packing less and taking lighter suitcases could save you money and time. If you're planning to travel with your family and friends, consider shopping online and having your gifts shipped to your destination. This strategy will help cut down on luggage and will minimize the risk of losing any special gifts. STEER CLEAR OF INFLUENZA – Winter travel can expose you to others suffering with colds or the flu. Catching either will add a miserable element to your winter or holiday travel. Before you leave, visit your doctor's office to get the flu shot or nasal spray flu vaccine, which is only available for those aged 5-49. Most germs are spread by contact, so wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer frequently. STRETCHYOUR LEGSOFTEN – If you find yourself in cramped quarters or passing time on long flights, there's the possibility you could develop Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), which leads to blood clotting in your legs. So, remember this essential airline travel tip on your next flight – get up and walk around and stretch your arms and legs once every hour. TRAVEL TIPS WINTER It's no secret that vacation travel can be stressful. Especially when the hustle and bustle of winter vacation travel starts, people become more distressed, with long waits and unexpected challenges. If you travel by air or car during the cold season, you can count on more delays than you'd experience in the summer. Once bad weather appears during the peak times for air travel, we end up with the lengthiest flight delays and the most cancellations and missed connections of the year. On the other hand, road travel has its share of annoyances and risks. There may be road closings, slower speeds due to snow or sleet, traffic accidents, and other obstacles to throw you off track. However, don't let the winter and vacation travel season make you blue. Below are some travel tips to make life easier as you journey to and from your destination. AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS