Simply Juicy Travel

Important Update for Travelers Departing From NYC Area Airports

In an effort to improve
customer service at JFK International Airport in NYC,
Delta Airlines now requires baggage be checked a minimum of 45 minutes before departure time on DOMESTIC flights. The change, effective October 15, also applies to customers flying Delta Connections well as code share flights operated by the airline.

Gone are the days when you can arrive at the airport with 15 minutes to spare and still make your flight. Despite the fact that schedule delays have hit an all-time high, your chances of getting bumped have increased. Overbooking is now commonplace and your best protection is to arrive early.

Customers who miss the 45-minute window, will be notified during check-in. Similar policies are already in place at airports in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Denver. Delta's International flights still require a minimum 1 hour advance check-in.

It's important to check with your carrier, as policies change frequently. Click here for FAA's site list of U.S. airline websites or contact Simply Juicy Travel for further information.

Best Regards,

Eileen
Simply Juicy Travel, New York

1-888-26JUICY

Top Ten Travel Tips: 5 More

Dear Simply Juicy Traveler,

This is the second installment of my Top Ten Travel Tips.  These tips, you might even call them  insider "secrets" were born as a result of my own travel mishaps.   But, as all girls know, good secrets aren't any fun unless shared with others.  By taking a few extra precautions, you can help ensure that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons!

6.  Keep a small flashlight in your luggage, preferably a flashlight that doesn't need batteries. You never know when you'll need it!  (I used mine in Florence when I blew a fuse, and Niagara Falls during a blackout.)

7.  Give a friend or family member a copy of your itinerary.  Include all pertinent information such as travel dates, flight numbers and any hotel/ship/tour contact information.  This way they can contact you if a problem arises at home.  Conversely, the itinerary may be helpful if you run into complications while away.

8.  When traveling overseas, carry a photocopy of your passport in a location separate from the original.  This copy will become your backup, in case you loose your passport.  (My son left his passport on an aircraft in London two years ago, and was allowed through British customs with the backup photocopy...without it, we would have been on the next flight back to New York!)

9. Don't SUPER-SIZE your bag!  Pack two smaller suitcases instead of one big one. Smaller bags are easier for the TSA to screen and faster to process. Chances are, you'll have fewer problems with your luggage. Your bags are more likely to make it on the plane with you and their contents less likely be stuffed back in (remember the recent surge in baggage complaints?) With two bags, it's also less likely that you'll go over allowed the weight limit.

10.  Use GALLON sized zippered plastic bags to organize and store items in your suit case. (Note:Carry-on liquids need to be contained in a QUART sized zipper bag)  With the knowledge that someone is physically touching my clothing during the screening process, I choose to pack certain personal items like my underwear, pajamas, and bathing suit in clear plastic bags.  (By the way, pack ALL jewelry, medication and film in your carry-on baggage.  I found a favorite silver necklace broken after my check on was searched.)

I look forward to sharing more travel secrets in future posts. If you've got a tip that you'd like to share, send it to eileen@simplyjuicytravel.com for us to post.  You may actually help make someone's trip a happy one!

All The Best,

Eileen@simplyjuicytravel.com

Top Ten Travel Tips

Dear Simply Juicy Traveler,

A recent travel poll conducted by American Express Travel revealed that the week between Christmas and New Year's - not Thanksgiving weekend - will be the most popular time for holiday travel.  Because of the increased holiday traffic and heightened security, I wanted to share my list of top travel tips. You may know some of these, and some may be new. The important thing to remember is that being prepared will go a long way to making your trip enjoyable.

Here are my first five travel tips:            

1. Fly non-stop.  There are too many pitfalls to consider when booking a connecting flight, especially during the holiday period. Is the connection time too tight? Will you be connecting into a huge airport where it may be difficult to get from one gate to another? Is your connection through a major hub(like Chicago's O'Hare) with a disastrous history of delays?  Also remember that by taking a connecting flight you increase the odds of ending up in a different destination than your luggage!
2. Check in online!  Most carriers allow passengers to check in from their websites as much as 24 hours prior to departure. After logging in and entering the required information, just print out your boarding pass at home. Once at the airport, unless you need to check a bag, you can go straight through security. If you do have luggage, you'll still need to stop at the skycap or front counter to check your bag, but you will have already confirmed your seat.
3. Arrive at the airport early. I can't stress this enough. Get to the airport AT LEAST 2 hours prior to domestic and 3 hours prior to international flights. Even if you check in prior to arriving at the airport, you and your luggage have to pass through security. With flights @ 95% capacity and recent changes to carry-on regulations, more baggage is being checked on, leaving less room in cargo and requiring more time for the TSA to screen it.
4. Pack a spare set of clothes in your carry-on. Don't let lost luggage ruin your vacation! NBC news recently reported a 90% increase in complaints of delayed, damaged, and stolen luggage. Pack enough in your carry-on to last 24 hours, including an exra pair of underwear, a bathing suit (for beach destinations) and set of clothes for day and evening.  Because it can take upwards of 48 hours for the airline to reunite you with your bags, you can make due by hand washing your garments or using the hotel laundry service.  (I was once stuck on a business trip, in the Dominican Republic, for 48 hours with just the clothes on my back.)
5. Carry anti-bacterial wipes.  Minimize the chances of catching someone else's cold, flu or virus by wiping down your arm rest, snack tray, head rest and anything else another passenger may have touched. Bring the disinfectant wipes with you to the bathroom and use to open and close the door. Studies have shown high levels of e-coli lurking in airplane lavatories that have been cleaned before take-off. (Pack extras for fellow passengers - instead of thinking you're nuts, they may want to borrow some!)

Check back tomorrow for the second installment of my Top Ten Travel Tips.  And don't forget to click on the links for some useful and interesting websites.

All the best,

Eileen

Simply Juicy Travel