Summer 2010 enewsletter

News you can use about packing and travel from Susan Foster, packing expert and author of Smart Packing for Today's Traveler.

Pack up the family and get going – it’s time to travel again! The summer travel season is here - are you prepared? I hope you’ve planned ahead because air travel this summer may return to high traffic levels of past years but with far less aircraft capacity.

This is NOT the summer to wait for the best deal, this time it is the advance planner who scored the low fare or the very flexible last minute traveler who may luck out. Read “2010 Travel Strategies” below for a reality check on the state of travel today.

And what about me? I plan to stay home this summer, having traveled frequently during the past year. I live in Portland, Oregon where we have had record rain in May and early June, but I plan to stick close to home for the good weather (I hope!) to come.

Included in this newsletter:

1. 2010 Travel Strategies
2. TIME SENSITIVE Great Value from Grand European Tours!
3. Fees Fees Fees: More Added, Many Increase
4. Forget Baggage Fees! These People Packed Light and So Can You
5. Strikes and Volcanic Ash Cancellations Cripple Travel Plans
6. New Consumer Protections for Air Travelers
7. Kudos: Some of Our Readers Say the Nicest Things
8. TSA Increases Inspections
9. Our Fall Cruise

** 2010 Travel Strategies

Here are some current travel realities and suggestions to help you find the best values or avoid the pitfalls:

- Air travel demand is up and the number of flights flown is down so flights are full. The result is increasing airfares. Fees are – well, everywhere, see details below.

- The good news? The proliferation of fees has actually reduced base fares in some cases. I have flown between PDX and NYC several times a year for 30 years and paid an average of $400 R/T. The fare for my May 2010 trip was $299 R/T plus taxes. Even adding in the fee to check one bag, the fare was well below my average. (Yes, I do pay to check my small 22” legal carry-on bag! I’m a small, short woman with wimpy upper body strength so it’s hard to lift my bag into the overhead bin and it is my job to do this. Even though I travel light, I seldom carry my bag onboard.

- Business travelers have been forced to abandon the business /first class sections for coach so business class seats are available worldwide at deep discounts. There has never been a cheaper time to pay to sit up front.

- Hotels are struggling to fill rooms – again because the business traveler has been forced to cut back on travel – so look for “stay 3 nights, get the 4th night free” type of bargains. Hotels are loathe to lower rack rates (the regular published room rate without any discounts) but are willing to deal in other ways such as including breakfast or parking, or bundling value into a deeply discounted package while retaining the advertised nightly rack rate.

- Rental cars may be scarce and/or expensive in some cities as fleets were downsized. According to Travel and Leisure January 2010 issue, Hertz downsized by 15,000 cars last year and Avis/Budget eliminated 77,000 cars or 19 percent of their combined fleet. Shop around for the best price, rent for fewer days, and make sure you really need a car at all. In many cities, improved public transportation makes getting around easier and more efficient than struggling with a rental car in an unfamiliar place.

- Cruise lines are still offering great savings to fill ships, both for last-minute purchases and travel six months out and more. Look for “2 for the price of 1”, or airfare included, or onboard ship credits in the brochures and cruise line websites. My husband and I are taking advantage of the current great pricing and planning a fall cruise – more details below.

** TIME SENSITIVE - Great Value from Grand European Tours!

Grand European Tours, home of “The World’s Most Leisurely Tours TM”, is offering a valuable additional discount of $100 per couple to Tips for Travelers subscribers. This discount is in addition to their current Early Booking Discount and “Seat Sale” savings of up to $750 per couple for a total discount of up to $850 per couple!

Offer ends June 25, 2010 so call now and use code SP77.

Fully escorted tours are the best value in travel today. I am very impressed with Grand European Tours, both the quality of the people and their trips. Traveling internationally on a tour means almost zero planning time for you – the tour company does all of that work. Grand European’s tours feature 2 and 3 night stays to allow you to experience each destination in a relaxed style – less packing and unpacking!

Jo Basley, GET’s Marketing Manager, says “With over 40 tours across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America, Grand European Tours makes your world travels effortless and rewarding. Each fully escorted tour includes international airfare, first class accommodations, most meals and extensive sightseeing. Our competitive pricing, combined with our exclusive savings programs, can make your European vacation a reality today!”

Book by June 25, 2010 to receive the additional $100 per couple Tips for Travelers savings. Call 1-800-552-5545 or visit http://www.getours.com/ and be sure to mention code: SP77 for the discount.

To request a copy of their catalog click here.

** Fees Fees Fees: More Added, Many Increase

Checked bag fees increased from last summer as much as $10/bag for the first bag. For example, in May 2009 United Airlines charged $15 for the first checked bag if paid online/$20 if paid at the airport; the second checked bag was $25 online/$30 at the airport. In 2010 UA charges $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second at the airport and the online fee is not stated. I recently checked a bag with Delta and paid $23 online/$25 at the airport, a meager saving but paying in advance saves time at the airport.

Click here for the latest airline bag check fees chart for domestic travel

Click here for bag fees for European travel

Other fees for coveted aisle and exit row seats, airline food (not so coveted), pillows, blankets, movies, and more add up quickly. For a family, these extra fees can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of an already increasing airline ticket price. And there’s more: US airlines are considering an increase in the fuel surcharge for flights this summer as the price of jet fuel goes up. “Peak travel days” fees were introduced during the 2009 Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday period but this has been expanded to nearly every travel day for the entire summer. According to Travel and Leisure, US carriers collected $2.4 billion in fees in the first half of 2009 so don’t think this will go away soon.

Spirit Airlines (regional carrier serving primarily the East Coast, Florida, and the Caribbean) will charge as much as $45 each way for a carry-on bag starting Aug. 1. Personal items such as purses and laptop computers that fit under the seat will still be free. Spirit's new charge for a carry-on is $45 if paid at the gate, and $30 if paid in advance. Customers who pay for space in the overhead bin will also get to board the plane earlier. The new policy limits paid carry-on bags to one per passenger. On domestic flights, passengers who pay in advance will pay $30 to carry on a bag, but just $25 to check it. That could encourage passengers to check more bags.

Initially travelers feared this new fee would appeal to all airlines, but that has not yet happened. Consumer reaction was extremely negative, even drawing comments from a US senator who threatened regulatory bills so at this point only Spirit is bold enough to charge this new fee.

Solution: Always check your specific airline baggage regulations before booking as you may find that the fees dramatically increase the fare. Comparing airfare AND fees is the smartest strategy.

** Forget Baggage Fees: These People Packed Light and So Can You

Margie and Bob spent 4 weeks on a tour of Europe in May, traveling with a 21” bag and a backpack each; Judy and Buzz traveled first on a European river cruise, flew to London to visit their daughter, then went to Egypt for 2 weeks – cold and rainy weather to city chic to hot desert – and each packed into a 22” bag plus a carry-on; Jane and Bud spent 25 days in Australia and New Zealand with a 21” carry-on bag each plus a “personal item” of a tote bag for her and a backpack for him (and Bud said neither of them wore every item packed!)

How can you learn to pack as light as these smart travelers? Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler (the book) and Smart Packing, It’s a Suitcase, Not Your Closet! (the DVD) were created to show you exactly how to pack light and right for every trip. Shopping is simple; just click here for the Smart Packing store.

In addition to the book and DVD, there is a wealth of information on our website that can help you pack less. Here is a link to Susan’s Seven Smart Packing Tips.

Using these tools is how successful light packers manage and you can learn to pack less too.

P.S. Judy mentioned above is “height-challenged” so her feet do not touch the floor on an aircraft, making long flights very uncomfortable. She has a new favorite solution – the Inflatable Foot Rest from Magellan’s.

Judy used the foot rest to elevate her feet and to exercise at her seat by rocking her feet back and forth against the foot rest to improve circulation. The foot rest deflates for easy storage. Click here for more information.

** Strikes and Volcanic Ash Cancellations Cripple Travel Plans

How can travelers cope with airline strikes or AOG (‘Acts of God’) such as the recent Icelandic volcano ash closing airports around Europe?

British Airways (major international carrier) and Spirit Airlines (regional carrier serving primarily the East Coast, Florida, and the Caribbean) have completely stopped flying at times this month due to strikes that stranded travelers along their routes. Unions generally announce in advance when and why they will be striking, so paying attention to the news can help you to book away from possible problems, but what can travelers do when plans change instantly?

Solution: Savvy travelers always have a “Plan B”; they don’t leave home without having options in place.

- Sign up for trip alerts either from the airline you’re flying, from FlightStats.com or both. Check your airline website or FlightStats periodically for early announcements of delays or cancellations.

- Locate all flights between your departure and arrival city on your day of travel, print and take to the airport. If your flight is cancelled or you voluntarily (or involuntarily) get bumped, you will know what other flights are possible to your destination. Be creative with your options and you may still arrive at your planned destination.

- Program airline phone numbers (or frequent flyer reservation numbers) into your cell phone, or note them on your itinerary. If your flight is seriously delayed or cancelled, immediately phone the airline to rebook yourself. This is a speed issue – only so many people will be rebooked and the slow traveler will be stranded. It is smart to do this while standing in the suggested “customer service” line for rebooking in person, as important announcements are often made there.

- Carry hotel reservation numbers with you unless you relish the idea of sleeping on an airport bench. “Close to the airport” rooms sell out quickly and this is another place where speed is important to book a room. Frequent guest program phone and account numbers are helpful. Make sure the room is cancelable just in case the situation changes and you actually can fly out!

- Pack all valuables, a partial change of clothing and necessary medications in your carry-on bag. This way, if you are delayed you can at least take your meds and change your underwear and shirt.

** New Consumer Protections for Air Travelers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently proposed new consumer protections for air travelers, building on the recent rule banning carriers from subjecting passengers to long tarmac delays and other deceptive practices. Specifically, the new proposed rule would:

- Increase compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped from flights to $650 if you are delayed two hours and $800 if you are delayed four hours. If you are bumped from an international flight and arrive four hours late, the penalty is $1,300. The airline also must pay if you are bumped when you are using a frequent flyer award or other "zero fare" ticket.

- Allow passengers to cancel reservations within 24 hours of making them without penalty

- Require full and prominently displayed disclosure of baggage fees as well as refunds and expense reimbursement when bags are not delivered on time

- Require fair price advertising

- Prohibit price increases after a ticket is purchased

- Mandate timely notice of flight status changes

For more information on this ruling, click here.

** Kudos: Some of Our Readers Say the Nicest Things

"Thanks, Susan. I also wanted to tell you I used some of your tips the last time I traveled, and they made my life much easier!" Corie R. New York, NY

"Some time ago I purchased your awesome Smart Packing for Today's Traveler DVD. …I love your helpful tips and found them so useful when I took an extended vacation last year." Marilyn W. Canada

** TSA Increases Inspections

My husband was randomly singled out for a hand swab test as we passed through security in the Phoenix airport recently and here is the reason: the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that in U.S. airports it has increased use of explosive trace detection – when a swab is run over hands or belongings and then tested for dangerous chemicals. TSA agents are now swabbing passengers' hands to check for explosives as fliers stand in line for security screening or wait at gates. Random tests on carry-on bags will also increase using portable detection machines.

Aviation security is a shared responsibility and countries around the world are working together to increase the safety of air travel. Passengers traveling on flights to the U.S. from international last point of departure destinations are likely to notice enhanced measures throughout the check-in and boarding process including the increased use of explosives trace detection, canine teams, advanced imaging technology, and behavior detection among other measures. For security reasons, the specific details are not public. Be sure to allow plenty of time for security by arriving at the airport early and make sure connecting flights allow enough transit time.

** Our Fall Cruise

We are flying from Portland to Istanbul for several days before boarding our ship for a 10-day cruise from Istanbul to Venice through the Greek islands and the Aegean including a port in Croatia. We are both excited as we have not visited Turkey before and my spouse has never been to Venice where we will spend several days after the cruise. Needless to say, I am already planning what we will pack. Remember that in late September when we depart local retailers will be fully into winter clothing, so we must be planning now for any wardrobe additions. My husband swore when he retired that he was never going to buy another suit, but I think he will relent for this trip as the lesser of evils – a new dark suit in place of his uncomfortable tuxedo.

It takes time and advance planning to pack less, and that’s the goal. We should both be able to spend 19 days living out one 24” suitcase each plus a carry-on rolling tote for me and a backpack for him. Three formal nights and warm to cool fall weather days should not be a problem with good planning – we have done more days with smaller bags! I will share more as we get closer to departure.

That’s all for this edition of Tips for Travelers. Smart Packing has its own page on Facebook as well; become a Fan for quick travel tips and updates on your Facebook wall by clicking here.

As always, I invite you to share this newsletter with friends, family and colleagues by forwarding this message or they may sign up for Tips for Travelers at smartpacking.com. I personally respond to every question and welcome your e-mails and comments.

Smart Packing for Today's Traveler is available in bookstores, travel and luggage retailers online, in catalogs, and in shops, and from our website, click here to learn more or to buy.

Pack smart and travel easy!

Susan

Susan Foster, Author, Packing Expert, Speaker, Spokesperson
Smart Travel Press
PO Box 25514 Portland, OR 97298-0514
503.452.9384 fax 503.452.7558
http://www.smartpacking.com
Smart Packing for Today‘s Traveler, Third Edition, the most complete guide for what to take and how to pack
“Smart Packing – It’s a Suitcase, Not Your Closet!” DVD, pack for a week or more in one carry-on bag

Susan Foster
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Spokesperson
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