It’s that time of year again, this Sunday March 11th at 2:00 am it’s time to spring forward! And when it comes to traveling, most of us are aware that there will be some time change to deal with—which is how jet lag got its name. But at certain times of year—specifically spring and fall—the time change can be a bit more confusing than usual.

Most places in the world “spring ahead” and “fall back,” time wise that is. But not always on the same day. For example, virtually all of Europe will begin Daylight Savings Time (DST) on March 25th, 2012, which is 2 weeks later than March 11th, when we do it here in North America.

For example, in Mexico (except for the 10 municipalities that boarder the US and observe DST, their time change is March 11th), Cuba,  New Zealand and Australia the time change will occur April 1st, and in Israel the “spring forward” date is March 30th, 2012. And Chile (Santiago) is even later, DST doesn’t go into effect until April 29th! And even when you’re traveling within the USA it can be a problem because Hawaii and Arizona don’t change their clocks at all (after DST this Sunday Arizona will be 3 hours behind New York’s EST).

To avoid unnecessary confusion, you can check online before you go at worldtimezone.com, call your concierge, or the local embassy of the country you’ll be visiting. Especially if you’re traveling on business, you don’t want to run the risk of missing a flight or arriving at your first appointment an hour early—or even worse, an hour late!

When it comes to passport advice, I turn to G3 Visas and Passports. Communications Director Summer Jenkins advises what how to  avoid complications before you travel.

Your tickets are purchased, your bags are packed, you’ve checked to see if your destination requires a visa… but have you checked to make sure your passport is valid for travel?

Check Your Expiry Date
All too often, we receive frantic calls from the airport from travelers who have been denied boarding because their passport is too close to its expiration date.  Almost every country in the world follows the “six month rule,” meaning that your passport must be valid for six months after your planned departure from the country.  Even if you don’t have any travel planned, we recommend that you keep an eye on your expiry date and renew your passport when it nears that six-month mark.

Check Your Pages
Before you travel, flip through your passport and check to see if you still have any blank pages marked “Visas.”  You will need to have at least one completely blank page for entry to any country, and the pages near the back of the passport that say “Amendments” or “Endorsements” do not count. Some countries, such as South Africa, require you to have two blank pages next to each other.

Check Your Passport’s Condition
If your passport has endured hard wear or has taken a trip through the washing machine, it might be considered mutilated.  Common examples of mutilated passports include loose or missing covers, water-damaged pages, or peeling plastic coating on the photo page.  Mutilated passports aren’t just invalid for travel; they no longer count as valid proof of US citizenship.

If you need to renew your passport, have passport pages added, or replace a mutilated passport, G3 can help with expedited passport services.  We even offer same-day passport service through our Concierge Level Emergency Passport Service – just call G3 or email CLS@g3visas.com to begin your customized emergency service.

Editors’ Note: Carolyn Paddock writes about products and services that are beneficial for travelers. The products and services mentioned are neither commissioned by nor written in cooperation with the product company or manufacturers.

With the Grimsvotn volcano erupting over the weekend, it is a sobering reminder of last year’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption that reached Europe, closing much of its airspace!

My advice… Be prepared– travel rarely goes as scheduled. I learned the hard way, even for the day trips I used to take a suitcase with me (overnight clothes/toiletries/snacks)  – If it can happen, it WILL happen, and it did indeed happen on more than one occasion.

It just took just one time for me to get stuck on an island without any clothes or supplies before I learned the hard way (Snowstorm shut down the East Coast.) My only alternative was to shop at the hotel gift shop.

In your case, I recommend when taking your trip, ask yourself– what if I don’t get home on time? Always have a Plan B. 

1. Leave home with a clean slate. Take care of anything that’s pressing before you leave home (apts, meetings, obligations) not only will it make your re-entry into your life easier, but it will de-stress your entire trip.

2. Whats your Plan B? Have a back up plan before you leave for your trip. Now, if you don’t get home as scheduled things can still run smoothly without you (meetings, kids, apts.) For example, don’t schedule important doctors appointments for the day of your arrival. That way, if you don’t get home when you are scheduled, it isn’t a catastrophe. [Read more →]

Most of us are aware that when we travel there will be some time change to deal with—which is how jet lag got its name. But at certain times of year—specifically spring and fall—the time change can be more confusing than usual.

Most places in the world “spring ahead” and “fall back,” time wise that is. But not always on the same day. For example, virtually all of Europe ends Daylight Savings Time on October 31st, 2010, which is 1 week earlier than November 7th, when we do it here in North America.

In Asia it varies from country to country, anywhere from two days to two weeks. In Israel the “fall back” date has already taken place as of September 12th, 2010. And even when you’re traveling within the USA it can be a problem because Hawaii and Arizona don’t change their clocks at all.

To avoid unnecessary confusion, you can check online before you go at worldtimezone.com or call the local embassy of the country you’ll be visiting. Especially if you’re traveling on business, you don’t want to run the risk of missing a flight or arriving at your first appointment an hour early—or worse, an hour late.

Traveling can always be a volatile proposition, but with the holiday weekend approaching and hurricane Earl churning up the east coast– checking on your flight staus before heading out to the airport is a necessity.

Your flight can still be impacted – even if you are nowhere near a troubled area. This is the travel ripple effect that can send shockwaves through the most well-planned trip. When a flight is cancelled, it doesn’t just impact the first destination, it cancels every subsequent flight that plane was to make throughout the day.

So what can you do? At this point, gathering information is critical and the In-Flight Insider has some valuable tips that can help you salvage your trip before it breaks down:

1. Be proactive – with the looming hurricane make sure to have alternative travel plans.
2. Schedule flights early in the day, so even if there are cancellations, you have more flight options to choose from.
3. Be prepared to stay longer than your trip lasts - Take extra clothes, extra medication and other necessities. And if you check your bags, keep essential items (such as your medication) in a bag with you onboard.
4. Know what is and what is not covered with your travel insurance in case your flights are canceled.

Following these simple steps and staying well informed can transform a nightmare travel scenario into a successful trip where you know your options and strategies beforehand.

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.

The Department of Transportation outlined a new set a consumer protections for passengers who are involuntarily bumped from oversold flights. The proposed change could put up to $1,300 into the pocket of each passenger that gets left behind.

Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, proposed that airlines must reimburse passengers checked baggage fees, if an airline loses bags or delivers luggage late. As it stands now, airlines keep the fees, even if they lose the bag.

Other proposed changes will allow passengers to cancel a reservation within 24 hours without facing any additional penalty fees. LaHood says if they go through, the proposed rules could be in place within six months.

In the meantime, the In-Flight Insider has some valuable tips to make sure your not one of the “unlucky ones” who gets the boot or the bump!

Busting the Airline Bumpers: [Read more →]

I’ve been following the progress of a company called MedjetAssist for some time and I have recently become a member. I’m so impressed by the service they offer and have decided to form a partnership with them on my website.

Medjet membership services go far beyond most of the benefits provided by travel insurance providers and Platinum Card statuses. Medjet delivers “true” piece of mind, which really helps to reduce your stress levels while traveling.

Medjet will arrange a “bedside to bedside” medical transfer to the hospital of your choice, wherever that may be – as long as that member is 150 miles or more away from home. There is no requirement that the transfer be medically necessary and no charge other than the nominal Medjet annual membership fee.

It almost sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t. As publicist and travel writer Geoffrey Weill wrote after breaking his leg badly in the Peruvian Andes and experiencing Medjet’s service at first hand, “Any traveler who doesn’t take advantage of the program that takes such exquisite care of injured travelers should truly stay home.”

As a longtime professional flying both for commercial airlines and on private jets, I’ve been trained to take my own travel health and safety very seriously. I believe that taking precautions and minimizing risk is the best way to take the worry out of travel. Personally, I hope I never have to use the MedjetAssist services, but I will never again leave home without it.

As many of us find out the hard way – booking an airline reservation doesn’t mean the airlines are actually going to put us on our intended flight.

The majority of airlines overbook each flight to cope with cancellations, no-shows and missed connections -but when they get it wrong, air-travelers pay the price.

Studies show that fewer and fewer flyers are willing volunteer to take a later flight.

The Department of Transportation reports that the number of travelers bumped against their will soared more than 45% between 2005 and 2009.

The In-Flight Insider says one way to combat this problem is to build trouble into your schedule.

Tip #1 – First Flight Out
If you really need to make it home on a certain day, book the first flight out that morning. That way, if your flight runs into time delays, you have priority over the people on later flights.

Tip #2 – Early bird gets the worm
TSA says get there an hour early – If your flight is packed, try getting there 90 minutes early to secure your seat. And – if you’re really nice – you can still get your upgrade to first class.

Tip #3 – Be a Weather Watcher
Take the weather and traffic into account. If you’re flying to the Southeast in the summer (watch for thunderstorms). If you’re flying into the Northeast, air traffic is always a factor.

Use these In-Flight Insider tips to make your escape and overcome the “overbooking travel bug!”