When you travel across more than two time zones on an airline flight, you are certain to be affected by jet lag to some degree. Jet lag usually identifies itself by making you feel very tired and lethargic. Your body clock becomes disoriented because you are now in a place where everything happens at a different hour than what you are used to. Just remember that it takes anywhere between 12 and 24 hours to make the transition for every time zone you cross. So, if you have crossed 4 time zones, it will take you around 2-4 days to adapt to the change.

Fortunately there are many ways to cushion the affects of jet lag and here are just a few of them.

If you are having trouble sleeping during the flight, it can compound the effects of jet lag. First of all, get as comfortable as possible. Recline your seat back as far as it will go, place an inflatable neck rest around your neck, put in some ear plugs and wear eye-shades.

Still not asleep? Make sure you have a heavy meal with lots of carbohydrates before you sleep. Your body will be working overtime digesting it, which in turn will make you quite drowsy. If this still doesn’t help, try taking melatonin. It is a drug that mimics the natural hormone found in the human body which promotes sleep. You should ask your doctor before taking any medication.

Try to sleep during the “night” hours of your destination. If your flight arrives in the morning, try to sleep on the plane. If the flight arrives in the evening, try not to sleep on the plane so that you will want to sleep when you arrive. If you are dead tired when arriving during the daylight hours, go for a walk outside. The sunlight will help you wake up and feel more alert.

A few days before you leave, change your watch’s time so that it corresponds with the time of your destination. Try to live your life according to that time. This means you might be having your dinner 5 hours earlier or going to sleep either much earlier, or later than usual. It will seem strange but it will help to make the transition easier.

• Make sure that you have slept well in the previous few nights before the trip. If you arrive at the airport already tired, then you have a long trip ahead of you.
• Avoid stress where possible. Arrive early at the airport and try to stay relaxed.
• Alcohol compounds the affects of jet lag so try to abstain from drinking during the flight and drink lots of water.
• Exercise is another effective way of waking yourself up.

Fear of flying can be a problem when you first start traveling overseas. What you need to realize is that flying is far safer than any other mode of transport (including walking). In fact, Boeing correctly points out that in the US, it is 22 times safer flying, than driving in your car.

All commercial aircraft have the strictest maintenance schedule, which every airline must adhere to. Every aircraft (whether it be Boeing or Airbus) has a countless number of backup features so that if a system fails, there is another system that takes over. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it. Flying is extremely safe and is getting safer.

Still not convinced?

In the US, a commercial aircraft accident happens approximately once every 2.2 million flights. Boeing points out that, if you board a commercial airliner every day of the year, for the rest of your life, chances are it would be 29,000 years before you are involved in an accident. Even then, chances are good that you would survive.

Here are some points to think about when flying:

Most airline crashes (85%), which occur, are unrelated to mechanical failure. Human error plays a big part on many accidents. Pilot training is therefore an important factor in flight safety. Most airlines now have plenty of flight simulators so that their pilots are getting thousands of hours of experience before even climbing into the cockpit of a real aircraft.

Some people believe that a 4-engine airplane (such as the 747 or A380) is safer than a twin engine airplane because if an engine fails, there are still 3 left as a back up. Obviously, if an engine fails in a twin, there is only one left as a backup. So, on those long over-water flights, it is comforting to know that you have the security of 4 engines powering you along.

Some people believe that the newer the aircraft is, the safer it is. In reality, it doesn’t matter how old an aircraft is, but how well it is being maintained.

Are you worried about those unusual noises and vibrations the aircraft makes? Here are some explanations for those noises:

1. Can you hear a noisy clunk and short vibration coming from underneath the aircraft just after take-off and a few minutes before landing. That’s the landing gear coming down or being retracted.
2. Can you hear a whirring sound coming from the wings a few minutes before landing and just before takeoff. The flaps are being extended or retracted. Flaps give the wing a larger surface area so the aircraft can fly safely at a lower air speed (for take-off and landing).
3. Can you hear a loud windy noise and vibration coming from the wings during descent. The air brakes have been deployed. These help slow the aircraft down and control the level of descent.

Understanding and Preparing for Turbulence

Airplane turbulence refers to air movement, which is unseen and sometimes unexpected. Many different conditions create turbulence. Jet streams, changes in the weather (cold fronts), heat rising off mountains and thunderstorms.

Fortunately, advanced technology means that pilots can identify any turbulence in their flight path and make adjustments to detour the worst of it. However, not all turbulence is visible to the pilots, so the best advice is to always wear your safety belt when you are sitting at your seat. It’s as simple as that. To date, no turbulence encountered above 30000 feet has ever caused a large airliner to crash. Pilots are always in control, even during the worst turbulence. Don’t be afraid. All commercial airliners are built to withstand the worst turbulence thrown at it – and then some. However, humans don’t fare as well – so fasten that safety belt.

Dealing With A Flying Phobia

The best way to get your mind off your fear of flying is to try and sleep during the flight. If you can not get some sleep naturally you may need the assistance of a drug like melatonin, which helps promotes sleep. Many community centers and churches offer Fear of Flying classes to help you relax on your upcoming flight.

Did you know the checked baggage allowances are decreasing more and more as time passes? While traveling within the country, these allowances are highest, but once the individual leaves the country – especially while traveling abroad the amount of checked baggage which is allowed can decrease drastically, causing the individual to have to pay extra money if the amount is over the allotted weight and even paying if more than one bag is checked. The average cost for this service can range between seventy five and two hundred dollars depending on the type of baggage which is being checked, as well depending on the weight of the item.

How can you avoid paying these extra costs for the baggage when it comes time to fly and check your baggage with the airport? Checking the baggage requirements and limitations before packing can be an effective way to avoid the extra costs which are associated with checked luggage that is too heavy, or when the individual has more than the allotted bags which are allowed through the entire flight. Ensuring that you are able to weigh the baggage before it is applied to the flight, or even before you arrive the airport can be an effective way that you can ensure that you are under the weight limitations which are associated with the airline.

Every airline has different flight requirements when it comes to the sizes and weight of the baggage which can be checked into the cargo and luggage portion of the airplane. Every airline also has different rules when it comes to carry-on baggage. Although there are standard carry-on bags available which are toted as standard airline sizes, there are certainly differences which are available through each various airline as well as different standards which are associated with the weight of each bag. Being aware of these limitations can save you from having to pay extra to have the baggage checked through the use of the cargo carrying limits, which can cost upwards of one hundred dollars for bags that are checked above the allotted amount.

No traveler likes to go over the amount which is allotted for regular baggage, as these costs must be paid before the traveler is even allowed to check the baggage. This can create non essential travel expenses on to the trip and therefore travelers should avoid this by packing light.

How can you be sure that your baggage isn’t too heavy? While traveling, if you are going to be purchasing many souvenirs or other items while traveling, consider traveling with an extra allotted bag, in the case that the airline allows the traveler to have two bags. This can help the individual to be able to fill one bag with the items that are accumulated through traveling, as opposed to the individual having two suit cases or bags which are filled with items that are going to be used on the trip. Packing lightly can save you hundreds of dollars when it comes time to travel.

Traveling with infants on airlines can be hectic, but taking note of certain tips can help to reduce the stress that is associated with traveling with infants. Using these tips from local experts can help to make the travel experience a breeze when it comes to traveling with infants:

Keep in mind that a separate seat for the infant is not often required as most infants and children that are under the age of two can sit within the lap of the parent free of charge. You may want to take into account the length of the flight and the amount of people that are flying with your party to ensure that you are able to have help, especially through long flights. A long flight can be uncomfortable enough, but a long flight with an infant on your lap throughout the entire duration of the flight can be difficult, especially for the parent.

Although you will require supplies while traveling with the infant, keep in mind that the diaper bag is going to be considered a carry-on bag. Finding a bag that is easy to carry that can be used as a carry-on bag, as well as being used to carry everything that the infant requires is an effective way to save space while traveling, as well as being sure that you are able to get everything that you need on board.

Take advantage of early check in for parents that are traveling with small children and infants. Prior to the beginning of regular check-in, the flight attendants or airport personnel will often announce early check in for parents with small children. This can help you to avoid the wait times and lines which are associated with checking into your flight.

What will you need on board for baby? Think about supplies that you will need through the duration of the trip including food and drinks for the infant (formula and milk, as well as breast milk are often exempt from the rules of liquids which can be brought on board the plan. Be sure to bring enough diapers, usually at least one per hour of traveling time, but it is always great to have extras, and also something to amuse the child such as a small toy or rattle.

To deal with the discomfort that can occur within the ears through take off and landing, parents are encouraged to feed the child or offer the child something to drink during these times. This can help to reduce the discomfort that the child may feel in their ears. Through this time, the child should be fed or given a drink – as this can also reduce the crying that typically occurs.

A travel stroller, or light stroller which can attach to the travel system is necessary if you are making a connecting flight, or if you are spending time within the airport. This can help to save the parents arms, especially after carrying the infant throughout the entire flight. Taking advantage of light strollers, with straps, can be an effective way to make traveling, especially in the airport, easier.

Flying is a convenient way to travel that can help you to reach your destination as quickly as possible, through the use of connecting flights. There are flights that can take you anywhere in the world, to any location that you desire and therefore the options are endless when it comes to planning a family vacation, exploring or even visiting old friends. Although flying is a very convenient way to travel, it is not always the most comfortable experience, with cramped airline seats, expensive snacks and pillows which are often inflated with air, or created from a very thin type of foam.

Here are some ways that you can make your flight more comfortable in the future:

1. Bring your own small pillow, especially for long flights or if you are able to sleep on planes. There are certain types of travel pillows that are available that can fit comfortably around the neck. Through these types of pillows, you can provide support for the neck that cannot come from a traditionally shaped pillow, especially while sleeping in a sitting position. These are available at travel stores, as well as department stores and even luggage stores from under twenty dollars, made in a variety of materials.
2. Bring your own healthy snacks. There are many snacks that you can bring on board the airplane in a carry-on bag to ensure that you are able to maintain a routine while traveling. Avoiding the overpriced and unhealthy snacks on airplanes can help you to feel better when it comes to traveling and can help with the travel budget as well. Simply choosing small snacks which can be tossed into the carry-on bag to be enjoyed while at the airport and on the airplane can save you upwards of fifty dollars per trip.
3. Make use of early and online check in systems that allow you to choose the seat that you would like on the plane. This way, you can be sure that your preference of a window or an aisle seat is adhered to. This can also make the check in process easier, as you have more than likely already printed the boarding pass and can visit the airport and check in the baggage within a matter of minutes. Being able to choose your seat, you can also determine how full the flight is by how many seats have been chosen.
4. Dress in layers. While traveling, there are often different climates which can be traveled to and therefore it is important to realize the change in temperature. There can even be drastic changes in temperature from the airport to the plane and therefore dressing in layers can be an effective way to remain comfortable, without being too warm, or too cool throughout the entire duration of the trip. There is nothing worse than being too warm, or too hot – especially while traveling and being confined to a seat.

Booking and reserving seats on the internet is an effective way to reduce wait times and allow yourself a preference for window or aisle before the flight has begun to fill up and you are stuck in the middle of passengers as you waited too long to book the flight. Are you looking for a way to increase the convenience of traveling by air? Consider booking the flight online to ensure that you are able to book and reserve the flights through the online reservation system for seats and check in times.

How should you go about booking your seats online before and checking into the flight before you reach the airport? The majority of airports offer services which allow travelers to not only check in from home up to twenty four hours before the flight, but to book their seats at the same time. Through the use of services like this, the traveler can use the personal information which can be found on the paper ticket or the E-ticket to check into the flight. When arriving at the airport, this makes it simple to check in and you can do so through the scanning of the confirmation code which was received upon check in. This way, checking in the baggage is the only thing that will have to occur once you have reached the airport.

Through the use of these services, it can be simple to book the seat and check in online. Although there are certain restrictions which are used through this type of booking, it is important to have all paperwork, including passports available when booking and checking in, as well as once the baggage is being checked while at the airport. This can help to expedite the entire process.

As we have previously mentioned, seats can be booked upwards of twenty four hours in advance of takeoff. This provides a great level of convenience for those seeking to reduce the time which is spent in lines while waiting at the airport. Through the booking of the seats online, you are even able to convey to the airport the number of bags which are being checked, pick up tickets and expedite the entire process of checking the bags.

With such a high level of convenience while checking into your flight online, there are many consumers and travelers that take advantage of these time-saving techniques. Booking your seat early can ensure that you are able to sit where you would like throughout the duration of the flight, which is especially important for individuals that are traveling on long or extended flights.

Although it can be convenient to book the seat and check in online – there are also kiosks which are available through most airlines that can also help to expedite this process. Through the use of these kiosks, the same technology is applied to allow the traveler to check in, scan the passport and print their boarding pass without speaking to an agent or waiting in the long lines which seem to occur throughout the day at the airport.

Traveling with pets, from booking the ticket to arriving at the airport can be stressful. Although there are many aspects of traveling with pet which need to be considered before making the decision, paying attention to certain elements can make air travel with pets that much easier.

Here are some tips that can be used to ease the process of traveling with pets:

• Are pets able to travel on board the plane? In most cases, the pets are unable to travel on board the plane through the use of carry-on pet carriers, unless they are very small. Small pets can be placed inside of airline approved carriers for travel but must remain inside of the pet carrier and tucked under the seat at all times to ensure the safety of the pet as well as the integrity of the airline.
• Ensure that all paperwork is in order when traveling with pets. In order to maintain an easy traveling experience, especially while traveling outside of the country; ensure that all records are available including veterinarian records and vaccination records of the pet. Having all of this information readily available when it is requested by airline employees can help to expedite the process of traveling with pets.
• An airline approved pet carrier in the appropriate size is necessary. Through the use of this carrier, the airline can reduce any instances of unsafe travel and the pet can remain as safe as possible while traveling. It can be helpful to have small amounts of food available for the pet throughout the duration of the trip, as well as a small amount of water. This will most often be given to the pet prior to the flight to ensure that they are comfortable throughout the traveling experience.
• While traveling with pets, be sure that they are able to remain comfortable within the pet carrier. Through the use of a pet bed or blankets, especially beds or blankets which are familiar and used at home, this can help to relieve the stress which is associated with traveling with pets.
• Taking the pet outside immediately before the pet is checked in with the cargo portion of the airline can ensure that there are no accidents in the traveling kennel in which the pet is housed. Remember, depending on the length of the flight, it can be hours before the pet is able to go to the bathroom again and therefore this last trip out is an important part of airline travel.
• In the case that the pet is nervous or has not traveled well in the past, there are certain medications which are available from a veterinarian which can be used to sedate the pet through the duration of air travel. Remember, a note may be necessary from the veterinarian to explain the medication and the reasoning that has been used to ensure the pet has been sedated for the trip.

Using these tips, you should be able to travel easily with the pet and ensure that both you, and your beloved pet arrive to the destination both healthy and happy.

Have you seen the photographs of the new Airbus A380? From the overall size to the roomy seats & comforts it will provide passengers – it is impressive to say the least.

Unfortunately the aircraft has been plagued with delay after delay. Instead of late 2006, the first A380 is now set to arrive with Singapore Airlines in October of 2007. Other big customers such as Emirates Airline will be waiting until 2008 while Virgin Atlantic Airways will be waiting until 2013 for their first delivery.

But delays in production may not be the only delays that will be occurring.

There is speculation that because of the utter size of the aircraft there will be significant wind sheer activity after take-off which will in turn cause delays for the next aircraft waiting to land.

Technically known as a ‘wake vortex’, this tornado-like wind is produced by the wings and flaps of an aircraft during take offs and landings. The winds can last for several minutes and have varying results including damage to local buildings (primarily roofs) and can possibly be attributed to causing other aircraft to crash.

With 555 passengers on board an Airbus A380, the traffic coming into any airport could be dramatically increased. But if the wake vortex proves to cause delays as expected, this in turn will delay other flights from landing which could mean further delays overall that passengers will be left to deal with.

In the fall of 2006 the Airbus A380 Wake Vortex Steering Group finally completed it’s three year study. According to a press release on the Airbus.com website – “The A380 is considered to be identical to any other aircraft, both for vertical and horizontal spacing between it and any following aircraft.” However, the study does go on to say that this is “subject to review and possible reduction based on further study… and operational experience.” Do you think?

Oh well, it looks like we’ll have to wait until late 2007, or 2008, or maybe even 2013 to find out anyway.

According to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD), over two million pets and other live animals are transported every year in the United States alone. Comparatively speaking, 85 reported incidents is relatively small overall but the majority of these animals are not just pets – they are truly family members.

“Many injuries, deaths and escapes can be attributed to either the pet trying to escape the kennel…a dog can chew it’s way out…dogs and cats are able to push the door open or partially open and escape…the kennels itself if not properly and securely assembled…the kennel lock is broken or not properly latched” – these are all reasons, according to the United States Department  of Agriculture (USDA), as to why pets can be injured or worse during transportation.

Unfortunately, many animal rights groups in the United States believe that the new legislation simply did not go far enough. There have been no provisions to improve the temperature control or ventilation systems of the cargo and baggage areas of aircrafts. In the event of a tragedy, the dollar amount that families can recover is still also severely limited.

The Toronto Humane Society goes so far as to boldly state that they “do not recommend shipping pets by plane unless there is no alternative.” Basic recommendations include avoiding flying your pet during the high traffic months of May to August (as these have the highest reports of incidents), properly and securely assembling a quality kennel and then acclimatizing your pet to their kennel prior to travel. Detailed safety tips for your pets travel are available on most airline websites, the DOT website at www.dot.gov and the Humane Society of the United States online at www.hsus.org

And as to Vivi, the prized whippet who was last seen in January 2006 bolting down the runway at JFK, there have been unconfirmed sightings as recently as November 2006 but to date she has not yet been found by her family.

Having been a travel agent for many years, I constantly heard the horror stories about clients traveling by Air with pre-wrapped Christmas presents. Here are some suggestions to make your Christmas thoughtfulness a little easier.

It’s great that you’ve planned in advance, purchased those Christmas gifts in July, wrapped them in September – you are definitely ahead of the game. But if you’re now going to travel by any commercial Airline with those presents, you need to do some back tracking.

If you can fit them easily and safely into your checked luggage, you might be in luck. But if airport security flags your bags to be screened, they won’t be impressed. If you plan on taking them as carry-on luggage, you can’t. They will have to be un-wrapped in order to go through security.

Remember that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still has restrictions in effect for carry-on items. Possible Christmas gifts could include snow globes, jams, syrups, sauces, lotions, creams and perfumes – these are only allowed if 3 ounces or less and they must all fit inside a one-quart, clear plastic, zip-top bag. Just try and guess what a snow globe holds. Only one zip-top bag is allowed per passenger. Of course, items such as knives, other weapons, tools and sporting goods are still banned as carry-on items. For the most up-to-date information, check out the TSA website at www.tsa.gov

If you do decide to take the presents, wrap them once you arrive. For alternatives to taking Christmas presents with you, consider shipping them to their destination. Or think about getting your airline tickets early and arriving a few days early so you can do your Christmas shopping upon arrival. Another great idea is to simply purchase gift cards – easily portable, they can be matched up to your family’s favorite stores – and this way they’ll be sure to get something they want.

Other alternatives to traditional Christmas presents could be the gift of travel itself. Many travel agencies offer gift certificates that can be redeemed towards a variety of travel options – flights, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and more. Think beyond Christmas with this gift – it could to help celebrate that special anniversary or birthday next year – now that’s really planning ahead. Kudos.

Even though Christmas presents can play an overwhelming part of our holiday festivities Airlines.ws, suggest concentrating more on the true Christmas spirit – it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends that we love.