Once there were a variety of services that the airlines included on the purchase price of the ticket – but those days are long gone and the industry is now raking in billions on a laundry list of extra and sometimes hidden fees. This led a congressional committee to call multiple airline executives to discuss the validity of these fees.

The government asserts that airline customers are having what amounts to an impossible time trying to determine how much it will actually cost them to fly and are looking at increased regulation to make sure the airlines are playing fair.

The airlines generated revenue of nearly $8 billion during 2008-2009 from a combination of baggage fees, cancellation penalties and reservation change charges.

The house committee noted that the airlines are guilty of using complexity and confusion to hit each customer with an onslaught of hidden fees that should be advertised up front.

Some of the government “full disclosure proposals include:

1. Listing of mandatory costs, taxes and fees
2. Spelled out optional fees for checked bags, seat selection and food
3. Baggage Fee refunds for luggage not delivered in a timely manner

You’re finally leaving on your hard-earned summer vacation or your hundredth business trip this year, and you’re looking forward to your final destination but wouldn’t mind a little in-flight escape, as well.

Do you know what you need? The perfect “plane read!” We suggest picking up New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak’s new Department 6 Trilogy. Set in the Arizona desert during the heat of the summer, these atmospheric romantic suspense novels have been called “the best high action thrillers of 2010” (Susie Housley, Midwest Book Reviews). Sue Grimshaw, national romance buyer for Borders/Waldenbooks adds, “Brenda is really one of the best storytellers.”

The first in the series, White Heat, is available on July 27th and will soon be followed by Body Heat on August 31st and Killer Heat on September 28th. And if you’re looking for a little diversion either at home or while traveling, you’ll definitely want to attend Brenda’s Twitter party on August 4th, 8 – 10 p.m. eastern time. She’ll be discussing her work and giving away three iPads and other fun goodies. To receive a snail mail “party pack” containing your raffle tickets, register at www.brendanovak.com.

Even on your home turf it can sometimes be confusing—am I supposed to tip this person, and if so, how much? When you’re traveling, however, the confusion can be compounded.

For example, in the US 15 % of the bill is considered the least we should leave in a restaurant, but in many other countries the gratuity is automatically added to your total, so no additional tip is required. And if it isn’t added, 10 to 15 % is generally what’s expected—except in countries like Japan where tipping is considered an insult.

But what about all those other people we depend on when we travel—the housekeeper, the concierge, the bell hop, the doorman, taxi drivers, and airport sky caps? In most countries it’s customary to tip them all when they perform a service for you. But again, how much?

Here’s a guide to use as a general rule of thumb, although none of this is written in stone.

Housekeeper: $2 to $5 per day, paid daily since the person taking care of your room may change from one day to the next.

[Read more →]

A new health study completed in the U.K. shows that people with minor heart conditions can fly without with out risking their health. The British Cardiovascular Society completed the finding showing that low-risk patients can fly just three days after a heart attack.

However, the study strongly recommends that high-risk heart patients – hold off on air travel until their condition improves. But even the most severely affected people can still fly if they follow important guidelines.

The health guidelines insist that heart patients drink plenty of non-caffeinated beverages with no alcohol, tea, or coffee. They must also wear compression stockings and take blood thinners.

The study concludes that the risks associated with flying are about the same as those associated with other modes of transportation including trains, buses and cars.

Airlines can (and do) refuse to carry sick passengers and people are advised to warn their airline if they have a condition.

The study indicates that one of the most troubling parts of the trip could take place before the person ever boards the plane because of the stress associated with crowds, delays and carrying heavy luggage.

I was impressed that 2 mothers came up with this great idea to create Little Passports. It is a unique way to increase kids’ curiosity about countries around the world, and it’s nothing like the geography classes you sat through in school.

The first month children receive a travel suitcase and passport with an introductory letter from “Sam and Sophia,” a map of the world, assorted stickers, and a “boarding pass” that give them access to online games and activities.

Then, for the next eleven months, as Sam and Sophia travel to a different country, they’ll send the child a monthly kit consisting of a letter describing their latest adventures as well as souvenirs that bring the country to life and a “secret code” that gives kids access to more online interactive games and activities.

Sign up your own kids or give it as a great gift to a niece, a nephew, or a friend’s child (as I did) who’ll be sure to remember you throughout the year to come.

If you don’t know in advance that shops, banks, and perhaps even restaurants will be closed, or that public transportation is curtailed because it’s a holiday in the country you’re visiting, even your best-laid plans could easily go up in smoke.

For example, some countries celebrate religious holidays or festivals you may not even be aware of, and their dates may change from one year to the next because they’re based on the lunar calendar or some other arcane formula.

[Read more →]

So you get to the airport in Europe and your flight is cancelled. What do you do next? Crack open your wallet, try and find a hotel and hope for the best, right??

NOT SO FAST!!

According to the rules of the European Union – airlines MUST pay penalties of up to $750 American for cancelling a flight and cover your hotel and meal expenses. Not one or the other – BOTH!! This rule (law #EC 261) applies to every traveler who leaves the European Union – And that includes Americans! I know, I can’t believe it either.

U.S. Air, American – it doesn’t matter what airline is due to ferry you across the Atlantic – all travelers are supposed to be protected by the European Union’s passenger’s right laws. According to the New York Times, every domestic carrier reluctantly admitted to knowing about this law (with the exception of United – they must have missed the memo.)

Now just because the law is on your side – that is no guarantee that the airline will actually pay up. But rules are rules. However, there’s another key element to this European law. If you are flying on a European airline, you don’t even have to ask. They comply with the law without any hassles.

Sooooo – Next time you fly to and from Europe – you might want to explore the Euro-Airline option. That way, if your flight gets cancelled – you can actually get some compensation without going into battle.

We all love luxury when we travel, but sometimes it’s a luxury just to know that you have everything you’re going to need. To make sure you’re never again caught short, Flight 001 has done the sourcing for modern and innovative travel products you so that you don’t have to spend precious time going from shop to shop to locate all the essentials.

Founded in 1998 by two business travelers who were tired of all the legwork they had to do when preparing for a trip, the “crew” of Flight 001 now scours the globe to satisfy the frequent traveler’s every need.

Among the many must-have products they offer are individual foil-wrapped packets of Woolite that are approved for carry-on, and a set of 7 TSA-approved, carry-on size bottles (3.4 ounces or less) in a reusable plastic zip case that will get you through security without any problem. They also have my own favorite world travel adapter, which includes plugs for more than 150 different countries in a single, compact case.

Their exclusive Spacepak for clothes not only allows you to separate clothing items (something I always do when I pack) into 5 separate compartments but also provides maximum compression so that you can carry on more and avoid baggage claim altogether. These are just a few of the literally hundreds of really great, innovative, modern must-haves they provide, many of which they’ve created and offer exclusively.

No one wants to be told how to behave, and I certainly don’t want to preach, but as our culture becomes more casual, we’ve all developed a pretty laissez-fair approach to what’s expected in different social situations.

So, at the risk of sounding a bit school-marmish (and I apologize in advance if that’s how this comes off), I wanted to offer this gentle reminder that there are still some cultural rules that differ not only from country to country but also from one part of our own country to the next.

Whenever we travel, even within our own borders, we’re guests of the place that we visit, and to be a good guest we need to know and respect our host’s cultural expectations. There are many books and Web sites these days that offer quick courses in the cultures of various countries—from Italy and France to Japan and China—so that travelers for business or pleasure can be assured that they won’t inadvertently offend.

But when we’re in our own country we may forget that those differences still apply. People in the South, for example, are known for their gracious hospitality, but what goes along with that Southern charm is an attachment to old-fashioned etiquette and a dress code that leans toward formality—dresses, stockings, and heels for the ladies and jackets for the gentlemen.

People on the West Coast tend to be more casual and friendly, but they are also, in general, more environmentally aware and health conscious than those in other parts of the country.

And in the North East we can expect a faster pace and a more competitive spirit. Particularly in the big cities, there’s a “let’s get to the point and get on with it” attitude that can sometimes be disconcerting to those accustomed to a more leisurely approach to life.

So, wherever you’re going, learning what you can of what to expect and what’s expected before you get there can insure a more pleasurable experience for both you and your “hosts.”

These safety precautions are useful for everyone, but I think they’re particularly important to have in place if you’re going to be traveling alone.

I’ve traveled to all sorts of places by myself, so I’ve learned what to do/not to do and how to take care of myself. When I was in Dubai (even though it is considered very “Western”), for example, where some women are covered from head to toe, I found that I was uncomfortable, even inside my hotel, just wearing a short-sleeved dress. So I quickly learned to cover my arms—for my own comfort as well as that of the people whose country I was visiting. Here are 7 ways I’ve found to make myself feel safer—and therefore better able to enjoy myself—wherever I am in the world.

1. Be mindful of how open you are about your plans—particular departure and return dates. Especially if you use a social networking site such as Facebook, you can’t be sure of exactly who has access to your site or the information on it. You simply don’t want to advertise exactly when you’ll be away and your home will be vacant.
2. Make sure you’re aware of the travel benefits or Concierge Services on the credit card you use to book your flight and hotels. What kind of travel insurance do you get? Can you change your flight plans without incurring penalties? Can you change hotels easily? You don’t want to get stuck in a place you’re not happy just because it’s going to cost you more to leave.
3. Always carry a few hundred dollars in cash (the currency of your destination) so that you don’t have to hunt for an ATM in a strange city at the last minute if you need to take a taxi or discover that a restaurant doesn’t take credit cards. Particularly in Europe, ATMs are not always readily available or well stocked, and you could wind up in an unsavory or unsafe neighborhood trying to locate one that works. [Read more →]