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 starts Daylight Savings Time on March 28, 2010, which is two weeks later than March 14th, when we do it in North America. In Asia it varies from country to country, anywhere from two days to two weeks. In Israel the “spring ahead” date is March 26^th this year, but in Pakistan it isn’t until April 15^th. 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.

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There are a variety of reasons why an animal might be flying unaccompanied, but whatever the circumstances there rules and concerns you, the human, will have to deal with to prepare for his trip. An unaccompanied animal flying in baggage is considered “cargo,” and you will want to be certain that your precious cargo is safe.

1. Be sure that your crate of kennel meets the minimum standards for size, ventilation, strength, sanitation, and design. If you’re in doubt, Sky kennels, which are furnished by the airlines, are designed to meet these requirements.

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“Question…I was told that I should choose flights based on the type of plane on the route. How do I know which type of plane is best for me? And which planes are best for what reasons? Any ideas?
Thanks.”
Susan P.

Susan, there are a variety of factors at play when deciding on which airplane is best for you. Sometimes you don’t have much of a choice. To know which airplane/airline to select, first figure out what’s important to you. If you love a window seat for the views then avoid the over wing area, you won’t be able to see much of the landscape. Window seats are great, except on the B-737 and B-757 3-3 seating configuration- it becomes problematic if you like to get out of your seat often. MD-88′s have a 3-2 seating, but beware of the back of the airplane because the engines are mind-numbingly loud, the last row is without windows, you are next to the bathrooms, and the seats barely recline.

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Virgin Atlantic’s Flying without Fear course, which boasts a 98% success rate, is now available for downloading by anyone with an iPhone or an iPod Touch. In his announcement of the new video app, Virgin’s president, Sir Richard Branson, called it “Virgin Atlantic innovation at its best” and stated that it would “put many travelers at ease.”

The video-based program starts with an introduction by Branson and then a pilot describes every phase of the flight, why different things are happening, and what all the noises you hear in the cabin really mean. There’s even a touch of appropriate humor and well-thought out answers to passengers’ FAQs.

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In 1997 Virgin Atlantic’s founder, Sr. Richard Branson, created a course called Flying Without Fear that has now helped thousands of frightened flyers including Whoopi Goldberg overcome their fears. The course, which is led by an experienced pilot, a senior safety trainer, and a psychologist, is now given at 11 airports throughout the UK. According to the Flying without Fear website, it is the leading course in the industry and has a 98 percent success rate.

And if you can’t take Branson’s course, you can still quiet your fears by reading the book written by the course’s two directors. Titled Flying with Fear: 101 Fear of Flying Questions Answered, it is available from Amazon.